M
musicsdarkangel
New member
well. What is the best way I can learn to home record well?? I read books and stuff. Should I get a video? go to a course? i'm really not sure. I'm thinkin about trying to work at a studio.
Blue Bear Sound
New member
If you haven't already, get yourself some basic recording gear and start experimenting... read the forums at this site and practice any techniques you pick up!
Bruce
Bruce
sonusman
Banned
I second that!
Ed
Ed
MISTERQCUE
Not Just Anutha Brutha
Practice,practice and som' mo' practice. The most fun I have in recording is producing 5-6 different mixes of my recordings,using diff eq gains,sig processing,trim gains&defeats,comping, salt and pepper! 
I'll record a track, re-record it if I don't like and re-re-record it for comparison making small subltle changes to my liking! Man, I love to record and mix!
I know I prob'ly didn't answer your question,just sittin' here babblin' about recording!
I'll record a track, re-record it if I don't like and re-re-record it for comparison making small subltle changes to my liking! Man, I love to record and mix!
I know I prob'ly didn't answer your question,just sittin' here babblin' about recording!
T
The Green Hornet
New member
Yo Angel in the Dark:
Hey, hey, hey. I just want to tell you that I took a cut of a session I did about six months ago with a gal who did the vocal.
I have mixed this tune maybe 18 times prior. I fiddled and faddeled with reverb settings and adjustments and found a delay reverb setting and adjusted it and remixed the vocal and came out with a real winner of sound.
I will be putting this cut to CD with several others that were reworked and reworked and reworked.
So, I guess, as the others have said, work on it and don't expect the best at first but expect to be first expecting the best.
Green Hornet
Hey, hey, hey. I just want to tell you that I took a cut of a session I did about six months ago with a gal who did the vocal.
I have mixed this tune maybe 18 times prior. I fiddled and faddeled with reverb settings and adjustments and found a delay reverb setting and adjusted it and remixed the vocal and came out with a real winner of sound.
I will be putting this cut to CD with several others that were reworked and reworked and reworked.
So, I guess, as the others have said, work on it and don't expect the best at first but expect to be first expecting the best.
Green Hornet
K
Krystof01
New member
If you are a musicain as well; get your priorities right either way. It's always good to learn about recording/mixing etc that your can get to tied up in perfecting a mix that you don't for example play guitar anymore.
I play a range of instruments, guitar my main. I had a periods of two weeks where I got really into the mixing side of recording (played inly about half an hour guitar a day; as opposed to 2-4) . I spent two weeks perfecting one song (12 tracks). When I had finished I didn't regret the time I had spent on this one song (obtaining experience, grasp terminology) but I wouldn't do it again. I'll leave that to those that specialise in it (which might be your area). I could have written numerous songs in this time period or become a better player.
Bottom line. I record the tracks to a song and have a decent mix within a day. Now I leave it like this, as an adequate song, better than a standard demo but not "top notch". The law of diminishing returns springs to mind.
prioritize.
I play a range of instruments, guitar my main. I had a periods of two weeks where I got really into the mixing side of recording (played inly about half an hour guitar a day; as opposed to 2-4) . I spent two weeks perfecting one song (12 tracks). When I had finished I didn't regret the time I had spent on this one song (obtaining experience, grasp terminology) but I wouldn't do it again. I'll leave that to those that specialise in it (which might be your area). I could have written numerous songs in this time period or become a better player.
Bottom line. I record the tracks to a song and have a decent mix within a day. Now I leave it like this, as an adequate song, better than a standard demo but not "top notch". The law of diminishing returns springs to mind.
prioritize.
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Krystof,
For some of us the recording process and mixing is just as much fun as playing....if that theory of prioritizing works for you, thats beautiful....but if the guy is trying to learn something, thats beautiful, too....
For some of us the recording process and mixing is just as much fun as playing....if that theory of prioritizing works for you, thats beautiful....but if the guy is trying to learn something, thats beautiful, too....
VOXVENDOR
New member
Learn to record and mix...........
Heres how,
1. Stay away from recording schools.
2. Don't waste money on "How to record" books.
3. Offer to record musicians for free, for experience.
3. Don't buy a shitload of equipment, cause once you get better, you will realize how wrong your initial equipment desicions were.
4. Ask questions here, and lurk.
5. Ask a local studio if you can sit in on sessions... If you offer to run coffee around to the workers, and artists or bring the beer, most will say yeah.
6. Listen to all styles of music, constantly. Don't get stuck in a "rut"
7. Practice, practice, and use trial and error, and experimentation.
8. In all aspects of recording there aren't really rights or wrongs. It is largely what works for you personally.
9. I want to stress the importance of not rushing into equipment purchases... Once you gain knowledge you will realize how stupid your original equipment set-up was.
10. Did I mention staying away from recording schools?.... Everyone I know who went, works at guitar stores now, pushing picks and strings, to the local garage bands.
Joe
Heres how,
1. Stay away from recording schools.
2. Don't waste money on "How to record" books.
3. Offer to record musicians for free, for experience.
3. Don't buy a shitload of equipment, cause once you get better, you will realize how wrong your initial equipment desicions were.
4. Ask questions here, and lurk.
5. Ask a local studio if you can sit in on sessions... If you offer to run coffee around to the workers, and artists or bring the beer, most will say yeah.
6. Listen to all styles of music, constantly. Don't get stuck in a "rut"
7. Practice, practice, and use trial and error, and experimentation.
8. In all aspects of recording there aren't really rights or wrongs. It is largely what works for you personally.
9. I want to stress the importance of not rushing into equipment purchases... Once you gain knowledge you will realize how stupid your original equipment set-up was.
10. Did I mention staying away from recording schools?.... Everyone I know who went, works at guitar stores now, pushing picks and strings, to the local garage bands.
Joe
Prism
New member
A know a guy who went to Fullsail, but he had already been in the recording business for about 10-15 years before he decided to go. He's been in the business about 25 years now.
Isaiah
Isaiah
BBB
Member
Good points Vox.
Most important:
Practice
Second most important:
Practice
Third most important:
Practice
Yeah. Experiment. Offer to record other people for fun and free. Record and rerecord mixes with different settings. Extremely tweak things to understand their interactions.
Make sure you do numerious mix downs and audition them on other systems. E.g. audition them on boomboxes, car stereos, expensive hifi euqipment. Take notes, and go back and tweak.
Also, educated practice/experience is valuable. Read some books, lurk in this forum, read relevant websites. Then implement what you have learned.
Me
Most important:
Practice
Second most important:
Practice
Third most important:
Practice
Yeah. Experiment. Offer to record other people for fun and free. Record and rerecord mixes with different settings. Extremely tweak things to understand their interactions.
Make sure you do numerious mix downs and audition them on other systems. E.g. audition them on boomboxes, car stereos, expensive hifi euqipment. Take notes, and go back and tweak.
Also, educated practice/experience is valuable. Read some books, lurk in this forum, read relevant websites. Then implement what you have learned.
Me
C
czar of bizarre
New member
vox hit the head on SEVERAL points.
heres another technique and this is how i learned about mixing and panning. this is what got me hooked. LISTEN TO A BUSTED WALKMAN. if it has a short the sound will mostly come out of 1 side of the earphones. mainly the left. thats how i learned about different sounds and placements. also stick the earphones into the walkman but NOT all the way. you WILL hear things in the background that you DID NOT hear as if the earphones were plugged all the way in. try it.
i do think you should READ a book. your READING these posts. the same info on here you can find in a book. you want to soak up as much as you can. i READ a lot. from apocrypha and torrah to books on how to PROPERLY maintain an ootheca. whatever interests you READ IT.
czar.
make sure you LISTEN to his "second" #3. i repeat LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID. GET IT IN YOUR HEAD!!!!!!
listen to the man!!!!! lol!!!!
heres another technique and this is how i learned about mixing and panning. this is what got me hooked. LISTEN TO A BUSTED WALKMAN. if it has a short the sound will mostly come out of 1 side of the earphones. mainly the left. thats how i learned about different sounds and placements. also stick the earphones into the walkman but NOT all the way. you WILL hear things in the background that you DID NOT hear as if the earphones were plugged all the way in. try it.
i do think you should READ a book. your READING these posts. the same info on here you can find in a book. you want to soak up as much as you can. i READ a lot. from apocrypha and torrah to books on how to PROPERLY maintain an ootheca. whatever interests you READ IT.
czar.
Buffalo Bob
New member
Go to the Discount books section here- get Peter McIan's Home Recording Techniques. It explains all the fundamentals, without which your learning curve will be long indeed. Also listen to the pros who contribute to this site - their experience is invaluable.
Good luck!
Bob
Good luck!
Bob
Cyrokk
Farce of Nature
These are all excellent suggestions for those just starting....
I'd also emphasize the importance of simply... listening.. I have gained so much from simply listening to music in the car when commuting to and from work. Listen descrimnately: try to listen to the individual instruments in the professional mixes, as well as how good (or bad) certain pieces of the sonic puzzle fit together.. Not only will you gain a personal reference point of what to listen for in your future mixes, you'll also get the added benefits of descriminating between certain mixing and production styles, which can help you break out of some of the recording ruts we all run into from time to time...
Also fool around with whatever equipment you have lying around: I spent my earliest years playing around on a Radio Shack tape recorder, putting on silly recorded shows for friends.. (Hell, I even made a kitchen-style drum set with pots and pans when I got my first four track and didn't have a drummer or drum machine).. and I still monkey around with my cassette deck despite the digital revolution....
Have Fun!
Cy
I'd also emphasize the importance of simply... listening.. I have gained so much from simply listening to music in the car when commuting to and from work. Listen descrimnately: try to listen to the individual instruments in the professional mixes, as well as how good (or bad) certain pieces of the sonic puzzle fit together.. Not only will you gain a personal reference point of what to listen for in your future mixes, you'll also get the added benefits of descriminating between certain mixing and production styles, which can help you break out of some of the recording ruts we all run into from time to time...
Also fool around with whatever equipment you have lying around: I spent my earliest years playing around on a Radio Shack tape recorder, putting on silly recorded shows for friends.. (Hell, I even made a kitchen-style drum set with pots and pans when I got my first four track and didn't have a drummer or drum machine).. and I still monkey around with my cassette deck despite the digital revolution....
Have Fun!
Cy
L
little z
New member
Uh, Yeah, what they said!!!!!!!
Man, I have no business commenting on this, LOL, but here goes. Listed below are the most important things to do...........
1) EXPERIMENT
2) PRACTICE
3) STAY BUSY WITH IT AT DIFFERENT STAGES, BY THAT I MEAN, KEEP IT INTERESTING, DONT GET BOGGED DOWN WITH ONE TRACK OR ONE SONG, OR EVEN WITH ONE STAGE. TAKE TIME OFF TO JUST LISTEN TO SOME TUNES YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK TOWARDS SOUNDING LIKE OR EMULATING, OR JUST SONGS THAT HAVE GOOD SOUNDS.
4) REFER BACK TO # 1
5) REFER BACK TO # 2
6) AGAIN, REFER BACK TO # 1
7) TRY SOME MORE # 2
8) SENSE A PATTERN HERE??? LMAO
9) DON'T GET DISCOURAGED
10) DO IT YOUR WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Little Z (Steve)
Man, I have no business commenting on this, LOL, but here goes. Listed below are the most important things to do...........
1) EXPERIMENT
2) PRACTICE
3) STAY BUSY WITH IT AT DIFFERENT STAGES, BY THAT I MEAN, KEEP IT INTERESTING, DONT GET BOGGED DOWN WITH ONE TRACK OR ONE SONG, OR EVEN WITH ONE STAGE. TAKE TIME OFF TO JUST LISTEN TO SOME TUNES YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK TOWARDS SOUNDING LIKE OR EMULATING, OR JUST SONGS THAT HAVE GOOD SOUNDS.
4) REFER BACK TO # 1
5) REFER BACK TO # 2
6) AGAIN, REFER BACK TO # 1
7) TRY SOME MORE # 2
8) SENSE A PATTERN HERE??? LMAO
9) DON'T GET DISCOURAGED
10) DO IT YOUR WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Little Z (Steve)
M
musicsdarkangel
New member
damn, thanx people
hey, thanx everyone. this helps. a few things though. Is it really that bad to go to a recording school?? i'm attending one at columbia college chicago during the summer that's supposed to be great. One other thing. I know where i want to take my mixes and all, and they have some great songwriting. However, I have no clue how to do what I want. Like what eq ranges?? how to compress? i have no clue how to do this stuff. I'm on cubase 5 and n-track. By the way, how good is pro tools compared to those 2?? I'm no rich guy but its on my computer. heh. If any of you have suggestions please tell me. I just wish I could do what i want to my mixes. I have the effects and stuff but the computer can't take more then like 5. And i'm on a pentium 2 and a pretty descent computer. That's why i'm probably gonna get the DSP Factory DS2416 soundcard offa ebay. I'm gonna have to start working though =).
hey, thanx everyone. this helps. a few things though. Is it really that bad to go to a recording school?? i'm attending one at columbia college chicago during the summer that's supposed to be great. One other thing. I know where i want to take my mixes and all, and they have some great songwriting. However, I have no clue how to do what I want. Like what eq ranges?? how to compress? i have no clue how to do this stuff. I'm on cubase 5 and n-track. By the way, how good is pro tools compared to those 2?? I'm no rich guy but its on my computer. heh. If any of you have suggestions please tell me. I just wish I could do what i want to my mixes. I have the effects and stuff but the computer can't take more then like 5. And i'm on a pentium 2 and a pretty descent computer. That's why i'm probably gonna get the DSP Factory DS2416 soundcard offa ebay. I'm gonna have to start working though =).
VOXVENDOR
New member
Re: damn, thanx people
Just make sure you use the knowledge Bro!
Joe
musicsdarkangel said:
Just make sure you use the knowledge Bro!
Joe
Krakit
Rzzzzz!
About going to school
I went to The Center for the Media Arts in NYC 1984.
I don't remember what I paid to go, but it was worth every penny!!!!!!!
After the first 80 hours of theory (which is kind of what you get by lurking here) and lab (think of a room full of cubicals, each with a 12 track porta studio, small effects rack and master tape in it), you get to spend the other 1020 hours in one of three recording studios with professional gear for 8 hours a day.
I got to assist on a ton of sessions and then I got to head engineer a bunch more. Local musicians were given free studio time to be guinea pigs. There was never any down time.
Other courses included
Mixing to the image were you learned how to engineer movie soundtracks
Broadcast Engineering for radio and TV
The "Tact Factor" where you learned how to handle yourself diplomatically
and
Jingle House production where you produced mock commercial carts
You don't get that kind of hands on by just hanging around a recording studio. Trust me, I know you don't because kids were always coming around to hang out at some of the studios that I worked at and they weren't allowed to touch anything. "Be quiet and take notes but hands off! These people aren't paying $X an hour for YOU to go to school on them!" That's if they were even allowed in.
CMA also had a "free for life" internship program. Essentially, they got you working (albiet for free) in a real studio. I spent a year doing that.
I went to The Center for the Media Arts in NYC 1984.
I don't remember what I paid to go, but it was worth every penny!!!!!!!
After the first 80 hours of theory (which is kind of what you get by lurking here) and lab (think of a room full of cubicals, each with a 12 track porta studio, small effects rack and master tape in it), you get to spend the other 1020 hours in one of three recording studios with professional gear for 8 hours a day.
I got to assist on a ton of sessions and then I got to head engineer a bunch more. Local musicians were given free studio time to be guinea pigs. There was never any down time.
Other courses included
Mixing to the image were you learned how to engineer movie soundtracks
Broadcast Engineering for radio and TV
The "Tact Factor" where you learned how to handle yourself diplomatically
and
Jingle House production where you produced mock commercial carts
You don't get that kind of hands on by just hanging around a recording studio. Trust me, I know you don't because kids were always coming around to hang out at some of the studios that I worked at and they weren't allowed to touch anything. "Be quiet and take notes but hands off! These people aren't paying $X an hour for YOU to go to school on them!" That's if they were even allowed in.
CMA also had a "free for life" internship program. Essentially, they got you working (albiet for free) in a real studio. I spent a year doing that.
M
musicsdarkangel
New member
hmm
any places i could go as a high school student that would help me? not too expensive? Oh yea, one more thing, my soundcard sucks, do you guys have any recommendations for a good 24 bit under 500$?
any places i could go as a high school student that would help me? not too expensive? Oh yea, one more thing, my soundcard sucks, do you guys have any recommendations for a good 24 bit under 500$?
nwsoundman
Vintage Gear Junkie
Hi,
If you want to mix well PRACTICE.
I will also stress that it is almost 100% a requirement to go to a recording school if you want to work in a pro studio or as a pro engineer. Even with a few years experience on a SSL and Pro Tools it is hard to get a internship. Forget it if you only have a few years on a Mackie and Cubase.
Also you need to read or learn in school about the science of audio. There is so much to learn in a good school.
If you want to mix well PRACTICE.
I will also stress that it is almost 100% a requirement to go to a recording school if you want to work in a pro studio or as a pro engineer. Even with a few years experience on a SSL and Pro Tools it is hard to get a internship. Forget it if you only have a few years on a Mackie and Cubase.
Also you need to read or learn in school about the science of audio. There is so much to learn in a good school.
Roel
That SMART guy.
Another good mixing school is doing life concerts... Look around for somebody that does it, and ask if you can help him out for some concerts. When you get the basics, you'll soon be able to do it on yourself...
The way we started at our youthclub: they rented a PA, and to save some bucks they had me and a friend doing it. We knew a little about mic-placement, and we had an idea about how the mixer worked... No idea about inserts, comp/lim, gates. We did pretty good anyway.
Now I always get to do it, and I'm the fixed mixer of the other guys band, some other bands on occasion. One of the guys at the club is organizing another show next friday, at a different club, also with me (payed!) behind the desk, because I get it to sound better as the lame PA kid. (I got to know him pretty well over the past year. He's used to having us rent only a PA, with me behind the knobs.)
Another good thing is just going with a band, and ask the PA dude to help you out. He knows his material, you know what the band wants to sound like. And then look VERY good at what he does.
The way we started at our youthclub: they rented a PA, and to save some bucks they had me and a friend doing it. We knew a little about mic-placement, and we had an idea about how the mixer worked... No idea about inserts, comp/lim, gates. We did pretty good anyway.
Now I always get to do it, and I'm the fixed mixer of the other guys band, some other bands on occasion. One of the guys at the club is organizing another show next friday, at a different club, also with me (payed!) behind the desk, because I get it to sound better as the lame PA kid. (I got to know him pretty well over the past year. He's used to having us rent only a PA, with me behind the knobs.)
Another good thing is just going with a band, and ask the PA dude to help you out. He knows his material, you know what the band wants to sound like. And then look VERY good at what he does.