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Setherial
New member
heard something about direct in recording...something like that. a remedy for lousy acoustics.
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Recording direct in when you go straight from the source into the board or soundcard or whatever you are recording to, as opposed to using a microphone.....while it solves the lousy acoustics problem, some things just cant be mic'ed direct....drums, vocals.....bass guitar is about the only thing that sounds better direct....it would be more advisable to find some easy and inexpensive ways of sound treatment...such as but not limited to mic'ing a guitar amp and then throwing a heavy comforter over it....
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Setherial
New member
thanx. so for bass, does this mean bass into preamp then into soundcard or just skip the preamp (i thought this kinda thing was for midi)?
hey, u mentioned something that i've been wondering about. when u said "comforter" u meant those big blankets right? i've been pondering on what i could do here as even in this room with lousy acoustics i can- after really processing the phuck out of the wav- come up with a rather trippy unique sound...."ultra atmospheric" as they say. meaning, maybe something good can come out of this. was going to experiment with large cardboard boxes etc....but for now i just keep the amp volume fairly low, the mic close in and the preamp settings fairly low as well.
do u know how common it is concerning doubling up on tracks? that is, mixing down 2 of the same tracks to get or fuller sound....i've done this and i found u can move 1 track a little out of sync to not only create a delay but it changes the pitch...or something that's similar....a kind of whacked out pitch/phaser. but it's only useful sometimes.
oh, has there ever been any threads on mic fright!?
i can't believe how rediculous i get! all by myself and i still screw things up when the red light's on!
hey, u mentioned something that i've been wondering about. when u said "comforter" u meant those big blankets right? i've been pondering on what i could do here as even in this room with lousy acoustics i can- after really processing the phuck out of the wav- come up with a rather trippy unique sound...."ultra atmospheric" as they say. meaning, maybe something good can come out of this. was going to experiment with large cardboard boxes etc....but for now i just keep the amp volume fairly low, the mic close in and the preamp settings fairly low as well.
do u know how common it is concerning doubling up on tracks? that is, mixing down 2 of the same tracks to get or fuller sound....i've done this and i found u can move 1 track a little out of sync to not only create a delay but it changes the pitch...or something that's similar....a kind of whacked out pitch/phaser. but it's only useful sometimes.
oh, has there ever been any threads on mic fright!?
i can't believe how rediculous i get! all by myself and i still screw things up when the red light's on!
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Thats exactly what I mean by comforter (I picked up that trick here....for bass definitely use the preamp to get it up to line level....that doubling is commonly used....vocals,guitars bass, well almost anything can benefit from this, of course it varies depending on the track.....
For mic fright, just start singing more...in the car...in the shower...walking around at work (unless you are a librarian)...I guess Im saying that the key to getting over it is getting comfortable with hearing your voice and having other people hear it...I cant believe it when people post mp3's in the Mixing Clinic and apologize for their bad voice, then I listen and its like WHOA!...amazing....
For mic fright, just start singing more...in the car...in the shower...walking around at work (unless you are a librarian)...I guess Im saying that the key to getting over it is getting comfortable with hearing your voice and having other people hear it...I cant believe it when people post mp3's in the Mixing Clinic and apologize for their bad voice, then I listen and its like WHOA!...amazing....
VOXVENDOR
New member
I can record drums line level.......It's called a drum machine......*voxvendor snickers*
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gervis
New member
i can record @ line level too!
it's called a roland digital drum set and it is AWESOME!!!
it's called a roland digital drum set and it is AWESOME!!!
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Wallycleaver
New member
I've got you both beat!I have a tube drum machine!
B
^broken^
New member
I got a big ol' tube in my monitor, it makes this webpage look much warmer and smoother. I've always prefered that 'analog' look. 
-travis
-travis
dragonworks
Banned
Remember, when it comes to your voice and playing you are your own worst critic unless you are in love with yourself. When I record a band, since I only have one space, I insist on direct in except for the drums and vocals. You can always come back and redo the other instruments and vocal. Try and keep the vocals as Isolated from the drums as possible, you will 99 times out of a hundred replace it. Alot of the time a band cant function with any efficiency unless they are all playing together and it is almost impossible to get a good mix with a room full of blasting musicans
and a zillion mics. I try and convince the band to go direct, you wind up with the initial drum tracks and sometimes a good bass track that doesn't need to be replaced, all the cues are there and the other insruments and vocals can be recorded as desired on another run through.
and a zillion mics. I try and convince the band to go direct, you wind up with the initial drum tracks and sometimes a good bass track that doesn't need to be replaced, all the cues are there and the other insruments and vocals can be recorded as desired on another run through.
Chris Shaeffer
Peavey ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
^broken^ said:I got a big ol' tube in my monitor, it makes this webpage look much warmer and smoother. I've always prefered that 'analog' look.
-travis
Oh yeah? Well I've got tubes in my monitors too! And they make my mixes sound GREAT!!!
They just sound a little dull on eveything else...
(Snicker)
But, back on topic:
The comforter works really well- along with the pillows and the mattress, if needed. The only thing I worry about is the equitpment heating up.
There are also other things that you can do to alter the accoustics of the room. My bedroom studio sounded *horrible* until I packed it with furniture and stuff that breaks up the sound a bit. I just tried to reduce the number of parallel surfaces and it seemed to help a bit.
Other ideas would be to put the guitar amp in a closet with hanging clothes. That might let you get your levels up a little higher, too. How about recording your vocals in the bathroom or kitchen? I just recorded accoustic guitars and vox for a friend in a small kitchen and they sound good even with no effects.
If you have that closet with hanging clothes, trying putting the mike right in the doorway and singing towards those nice clothes. If that doesn't work turn around and sing from the closet out, again with the mike around the doorway.
This is the fun part of home recording to me: squeezing the best you can out of what you have.
Are you using a directional mike, by the way? A cardioid or hypercardioid mike really helps to keep out unwanted room sound.
And for mic fright: I do the same thing until I remember this one thing: When you are performing, perform. When you are done, listen.
It seems like my thoughts get in the way if I listen judgementally while I am recording, and then I over compensate or just plain make stupid mistakes. Let that all go while you are recording. If that take didn't do the trick, who cares? Its your stuff and your time, and hopefully the process is fairly enjoyable. Listen to see what you want to change and rerecord it. And don't forget to take breaks if you are getting frustrated.
It gets easier over time, too, so rest assured that it won't always be that way.
Good luck!
Chris
(Hmmmph! Apparently typing in html code doesn't work...oh... you use "[" these things...)
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Setherial
New member
gee, it's nice to know there are options. guess i'll start Really trying these things out. when i say mic fright i mean while playing guitar...i can practice something and get it down pat but when the red light is on or even if i try the same thing the next day, forget it. i don't think i could be in a band as my nervous system seems trashed.
any response will probably be over my head but concerning all these little remedies for poor acoustics, ie., closet/blankets etc.
technically, just what is going on hear....is this whole thing a matter of feedback? chris mentioned "parallel surfaces" also... oh, i have a shure bg.2.1 mic.
any response will probably be over my head but concerning all these little remedies for poor acoustics, ie., closet/blankets etc.
technically, just what is going on hear....is this whole thing a matter of feedback? chris mentioned "parallel surfaces" also... oh, i have a shure bg.2.1 mic.
Chris Shaeffer
Peavey ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Room sound
I'm no expert on accoustics and there are probably folks on the BBS that can give you far more accurate answers, but here's what I have been working with.
The walls, ceiling and floor are all parallel surfaces that reflect sound. When sounds reflect back and forth through the room it creates real reverb. Its the definition of reverb, I think.
A few have great sounding reverberations (a well built theater or concert hall) but most sound horrible. I think it is because certain frequencies that match the measurements of the room tend to bounce around longer and add up. It gets really annoying when the same frequencies get boosted on EVERY track that you record in the room.
The cheapest remedy for this is to use a directional mic. If the mic is only accepting sounds that are coming directly into the front of it, you have more control of how much room sounds are getting recorded. If you like the room sound, just back the mic off a bit from your amp and some of it will bounce in. If you don't like it, try getting the mike as close to the amp as possible and isolate both the amp and the mic from the rest of the room- that's where the heavy blanket comes it.
The idea of singing in the closet uses the same principle. The hanging clothes are going to absorb more reflected sound than the walls of your room so the mike won't pick them up as much. You generally have to liven up the sound later with some nice reverd effects, but it is better than having ugly room sound on tape.
I put my recording studio in the small bedroom because it seems easier to tame the bouncing sounds in a smaller room. I have a corner desk with my equiptment piled high, a futon, two dressers, etc. that break up the space a bit. No real plan to it, I just wanted to break up the room. It is possible to tune rooms, but that is way beyond me.
Take care,
Chris
I'm no expert on accoustics and there are probably folks on the BBS that can give you far more accurate answers, but here's what I have been working with.
The walls, ceiling and floor are all parallel surfaces that reflect sound. When sounds reflect back and forth through the room it creates real reverb. Its the definition of reverb, I think.
A few have great sounding reverberations (a well built theater or concert hall) but most sound horrible. I think it is because certain frequencies that match the measurements of the room tend to bounce around longer and add up. It gets really annoying when the same frequencies get boosted on EVERY track that you record in the room.
The cheapest remedy for this is to use a directional mic. If the mic is only accepting sounds that are coming directly into the front of it, you have more control of how much room sounds are getting recorded. If you like the room sound, just back the mic off a bit from your amp and some of it will bounce in. If you don't like it, try getting the mike as close to the amp as possible and isolate both the amp and the mic from the rest of the room- that's where the heavy blanket comes it.
The idea of singing in the closet uses the same principle. The hanging clothes are going to absorb more reflected sound than the walls of your room so the mike won't pick them up as much. You generally have to liven up the sound later with some nice reverd effects, but it is better than having ugly room sound on tape.
I put my recording studio in the small bedroom because it seems easier to tame the bouncing sounds in a smaller room. I have a corner desk with my equiptment piled high, a futon, two dressers, etc. that break up the space a bit. No real plan to it, I just wanted to break up the room. It is possible to tune rooms, but that is way beyond me.
Take care,
Chris
S
Setherial
New member
cool man. danke. apparently, there's all kinds of little things one can do...there's some industrial type artists..."brighter death now" etc. that make good use of Any potential feedback. to bad industrial is going if not out as it's pretty easy to come up with stuff like that.
V
vulcanofga
New member
There is an item out for recording amps It looks kind of like a foot locker with accustic dampning material in it.I don't know who makes it but i'm sure some of the music stores would have info on it.
Also if you have a drum set try putting a dynamic mic inside the bass and put your amp in front of it.It is kind of a cool resonator type sound.
Monty,
Also if you have a drum set try putting a dynamic mic inside the bass and put your amp in front of it.It is kind of a cool resonator type sound.
Monty,
getuhgrip
Bring Back Transfat!
Mic Fright
Hey Seth,
I hear ya on the mic fright! I can practice a riff a few times and get it nailed down, but as soon as I hit the record button, I'm like....oh, uh..what song is this?!
Just try to sneak up on it!
Hey Seth,
I hear ya on the mic fright! I can practice a riff a few times and get it nailed down, but as soon as I hit the record button, I'm like....oh, uh..what song is this?!
Just try to sneak up on it!