Boray said:The mp3:
* Always record the drums first. Then the bass. These two components is the foundation of your recording.
I recorded the drums LAST except for some guitars! The bass almost last on the previous version.
* To get a good drum sound, you need fresh drumskins, good cymbals, fresh sticks and a well tuned set. You need to place the drum mics very carefully.
My drumskins are many years, my cymbals are total crap. (One has a big crack going almost all way around). I haven't tuned the set in years. And placing the mics didn't take hours if you know what I mean.
* Don't use much EQ (rather none at all), and if you use EQ anyway, then reduce rather than add.
I used loads of EQ. And I mostly ADD! I don't think you really can imagine how much EQ I used to do some tricks with the guitar in there...
* Never use a recording media that uses destructive compression.
I use a Roland VS1680 that uses destructive RDAC compression.
* To get a good recording, you need a good preamp and good converters.
I use a Behringer preamp + a behringer mixer. And the 20 bit converters of the VS1680 is hardly top quality either.
* Never use Behringer.
Seems I've already failed that one ;-) I also used a Behringer compressor.
* Of course you also need good mics. The more of them and the more they cost, the better. Because you need different mics for different purposes.
I have two condensers and two dynamics. That's it. No matched pair or anything. Two Audio Technica ATM31a and two ATM29HE.
* Never do a sample rate conversion. (If you really don't need to).
Well, I recorded at 44.83kHz (I think) just because the song I started on was out of tune. I used the sample rate converter of the Philips CDR870 audio CD recorder.
* If you record in 24 bit, you have to dither down to 16 bit, or there will be a horrible distortion to the sound.
Guess what, I just truncated.
* Guitar amp simulation sucks.
I used the Pod 2.
* Guitars need to have fresh strings to sound good.
I haven't changed them in a year or two. I've NEVER changed the strings on the bass.
* You should use good quality cables, for example Monster cables.
I often use the cheapest RCA cables there is with a couple of adaptors.
* You need Genelec's or at least Mackie monitors to mix. Everything less is crap and your mix will never translate well on other systems. You also need to check the mix on different systems.
I used my Alesis M1 active Mk2. And I have NOT listened to the mix on different systems before I made this mp3.
* Always monitor at a sound pressure level of 85dB
That's the most idiotic advice I've heard. I monitor at a comfortable low level.
* Your music needs to be professionally mastered.
This is not mastered at all.
....So.... According to the experts, this mp3 must sound like crap... Maybe it does...?
But seriously, what I wan't is some honest feedback! Say exactly what you think, I can take it! (The mp3: )
And if you like, you are also welcome to compare it to the old version and tell me if this is an improvement or if this new version just was a waste of time. The old version can be downloaded here:
What I've done since then was to add a couple of guitars, record real drums, remove most of the synths and added one organ from my old Ensoniq SQ1+ synth. And mixed it quite differently. The whole song sounds VERY different. I broke one more recording rule on the old version, by using 8 bit 20 kHz sound for the drums!
Myself, I think the new version rocks more, but maybe also sounds more like a home recording. I wonder how it would have sounded if I not had broken all those recording rules...
Thanks for listening.
/Anders
)
