Dead Poets' Suiciety

[chrisharris]

Okay...I usually post songs that I write, and I usually hate the recordings I make... Then I get help, and they get marginally better. This one's different.

I didn't write a word of it, and the "music" is hardly unique or inspired. This is a gear check.

Due to all the "encouragement" (or bitching, or whatever), I went out and bought a Neumann and a real soundcard and some guitars and some other stuff. I just wanna' know if it made a difference, or if my technique is hopelessly flawed.

"CTB"
www.nowhereradio.com/honestmango/singles

(oh yeah - the first person to guess where the lyrics are ripped from gets...something)

 

[crawdad]

Chris--first, answer these questions, please.

1. What Neumann did you buy?
2. Did you "EQ" these tracks or are they just as you recorded them--flat?
3. Are you recording to a computer? Duh! I guess so, since you bought a soundcard! No need to answer this.
4. What rate was this compressed for with your MP3 software? 128, 160 or other?
5. What preamp are you using? Mixer? Outboard gear?
6. What are you using for monitors?

The vocals sound like you boosted the lows and highs, leaving some big gaps in the midrange, both low and high mids. My guess is that you are using too much EQ with this gear. If this is a mix treated with EQ, please post a version without any. Thats the only way to really tell what is going on. If this is a "flat" mix, something is not right.

I'll look for your reply.

 

[Toki987]

Sounds like you got a mic that captures everything, really good. Your a good player and singer. Sounds like you got some really sensitive equipment and you`ll get it tamed quickly. The eq thing will come but the natural presence and smoothness is really nice

 

[chrisharris]

Hey Crawdad: Well of COURSE I EQ'd the snot out of everything... Lemme' get a tamer version up...and lemme' get a brief prepared to respond to your post (very cool of you, actually).

Good thing we get an extra hour this weekend, eh?


-The EQ Dork

 

[crawdad]

Great! That would be very helpful. See, I think you are a natural talent and my goal is to help you capture that talent in a "natural" way! First step is to ween you off the excessive EQ. When I hear the flat mix, I will have a much better idea what the mic and soundcard are giving you before any other processing.

Again, I'll wait for your "brief" and get back to you.

Yeah, this extra hour is great, but I'm starting to fade!

 

[chrisharris]

Well CRAP! Okay...I can't undo the EQ on the guitar tracks because I don't have flat versions anymore, and I can't retrack them dry right now because I'd like to STAY married for awhile.

I'll post a version with a flat vocal and no "mastering" in the morning. Thanks for caring.

Go To Bed

 

[crawdad]

Please--stay married! I would like to hear what just the mic and soundcard are doing though. Manyana...

Hey, I'm digging the new CH avatar, as well as the Lt Bob and Crawdad models! Thanks again. (Folks, Chrisharris made me my new avatar. Is there anything this guy can't do?)

OK. Nite nite......
.......
.......
..........

Fading...................away!

 

[chrisharris]

Chris--first, answer these questions, please.

1. What Neumann did you buy? -
K-183 - It's like a spot mic for acoustic instruments, and it's SUPPOSED to catch everything from 20Hz-20KHz.

2. Did you "EQ" these tracks or are they just as you recorded them--flat?
EQ'd like a madman

3. Are you recording to a computer?
you got this one

4. What rate was this compressed for with your MP3 software? 128, 160 or other?
It's @ 128, but I JUST got some editing software, and I don't have a clue what encoder it's using.


5. What preamp are you using? Mixer? Outboard gear?
Unless a mic cord counts as "outboard gear," I'd have to answer "NONE." No preamp either...that needs to change, but I've gotten away with using my old Lexicon (bypassed) as a sort of a gate/volume control.

6. What are you using for monitors?
Headphones...(it's really late), and I just have some shelf JBL's that I'm used to...

7. something is not right.
Yeah, that'd be me. I have about 50% hearing left in my right ear the last time I was checked, and I'm losing the highs in my other one...Fuckin' Snares and Crashes for 15 years...and people wonder why I hate drums.

8. I hate my avatar
Hey buddy, nobody said you HAD to use it

A somewhat flatter version is up, btw. no "sonic maximizers"...hehehe

Thanks again,
-The Deaf Guy

 

[chrisharris]

Yeah, sure...you can post like, 20 times when CRAWDAD'S listening, but you don't even acknowledge that I went through the hell of listening to your crap

hehehehe - sorry Toki. Thanks for checking it out. Now go to bed.


-The Misquoter

 

[chrisharris]

I GOT A STAR!!!!!!!!!

ALL RIGHT!!!!


-The guy who doesn't pay attention to such things

 

[Track Rat]

What I'm hearing at first I thought was an artifact of MP3 encoding. It sounds like a phase shifter running over the lead guitar. I'm not sure what it is but it does sound like something's wrong.
You got the omni Neumann? I have the 184's (cardiod). I dig your tune. Kind of a Souther, Hillman & Furay groove.
.

 

[badgas]

All I can hear is good music, Chris.

Nothing seems to over-shawdow anything else.

Like your vocals.

 

[B.SABBATH]

since this is more of a mic test, I'll keep my comments brief.. Crawdad and the others seem to have things under control..

the song is very nice, and the vocals are good, but probably not as good as other tunes I have heard from you.. It seems to get better as it goes.. I dont like the effects on the guitar or the panning.. Nice folky sounding tune.. James Taylorish maybe?? I think I'm hearing a lot of mp3 artifacts.. You should try LAME if you haven't already..

 

[SLuiCe]

Wow, these are beautiful harmonies man. Very warm vocals. Interesting guitars, especially their panning. I'm probably not much help, but I think this sounds very nice. There is something slightly unnatural about the vox sound. Almost too warm. But it's still nice. Nice job!

 

[chrisharris]

Chrisharris made me my new avatar. Is there anything this guy can't do?

Yeah, no matter how few instruments he uses, he can't make a mix that doesn't sound like s**t!

Al, thanks for trying...I'll PM you.

I'm not sure what it is but it does sound like something's wrong.

Yeah, that's my "technique"...and it WAS a phase shifter...ON AN ACOUSTIC!! (Am I high??) Anyway, I took it out at the beginning. Thanks for enduring it.


BADGAS - Very good to see you around here again. Thanks for listening.

You should really try not to be so LAME, if you haven't already

- Okay, you didn't say that exactly. I put an even worse version up, but I did use my old LAME encoder this time. Thanks for the tip.

There is something slightly unnatural about the vox sound...

Yeah, that's my vocal without EQ!! Seriously, thanks for the kind words, Tom. Someday, I will record something 1/10th as good as what you crank out on a typical Sunday.

everyone - I'm think I know how WATYF felt when he got a bunch of new gear, and then recorded an acoustic with a 'leslie' effect on it. I'll get it figured out eventually.


-The Little Engine That Couldn't Quite Make It Work Yet

 

[participant]

I think I'm hearing a lot of mp3 artifacts.. You should try LAME if you haven't already..

This encoder is very, very good. It uses LAME, but all you have to do is RIGHT CLICK the wav file, choose "MP3" and away you go... Easiest damn MP3 program ever... and it uses the LAME MP3 encoder engine.

I'll listen to yer toon in a few, chris...

 

[participant]

the "chris" sound

Everyone says how Sam's got his own sound; well, after thinking about it.... yep... I believe you do too...

And before you quote that and say something droll like "Yeah... the sound of failure ", no... this is good. Half my family really likes country; (no not my half ) they'd like this... they'd like a CD of this, I'm sure...

Production notes:

--2:17 crossed the BAR (flat)

Running without a preamp? You broke the 12th commandment Now, I realize you're just an impoverished, Italian-suit-wearing lawyer-type... so this may be impossible for you: visit your nearest gear supplier, and purchase an M-Audio DMP3 preamp ($250)... that's if you can't afford something really high-end, or even a decent mixer preamp... the Mackie VLZ-series mixers are supposed to have decent preamps built into them.

IMO with a better signal path, you'd "hit them out of the park" more often. A good mic would help, too.

Nice song, and performance as usual.

 

[David]

Wow nice song Chriss! Ya got a real great voice man, and the harmonies were outstanding. Knida had a J. Talyor'ish vibe going on to me.

Listening on these headphones I couldn't tell much about the mix, but i'm sure you'll get it figured out. Nice one man...

p.s. can you make me an avatar too ? love ya

 

[TheRealWaldo]

Hey Chris, re your PM, don't worry about it! Paying customers can get away with it.

(Your mailbox is full)

W.

 

[Stratomaster]

real nice tune-theres some surprises in the chord progression-i like that-man im glad you took that phase effect off the acoustics
(till the solo anyway)-that gave me nightmares last night. Real nice harmonies-acoustics sound nice-Something about the voice doesnt sound right to me-it's obvious you have a great voice but it sounds scooped out or something-exact frequencies I couldnt guess but maybe some more bottom in the voice--are you shelf eqing the vocals? It still didnt take away from my enjoying the tune though-very nice-have fun with your new toys.