dull sounding tracks

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stuckatwork

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Hey,
I'm recording through an alesis studio 32 board into a delta 1010 onto cubase. Every track I've done through this setup comes out sounding dull and muddy. The guitars especially. The guitars sound very good in the room. We are using 57's, and have tried all sorts of different micing positions, rooms, and accoustic treatment. They never come out close to that bright crispness that commercial CD seem to have. We're recording our CD for my band and we're trying to use the least amount of eq possible, I'm stumped on why I can't get a bright true sound without jacking the high end on the board. Could the problem be the preamps on the board?
 
57's aren't really known for having a lot of high end sparkle. You would have a better chance of capturing more sparkle with a condensor mic.
 
Hey TexRoadkill,
I've tried condensors. Sorry I wasn't clear on that. We've have 2 c1000's and a SP C1. It still sounds dull. I've tried a 58 and beta 58, and we have 3 57's I've tried jsut to make sure it's not the mic. All are comming out dull and lifeless. Not at all how it sounds in the room! That's why I believe it's the board. Is it possible that the Alesis preamps are shit or is this just the sound I'm going to get and I'll have to resort to EQ?
 
I haven't used that board but I guess it could be the culprit. Can you get another preamp or mixer to use and see if that helps? You can buy something at Guitar Center and return it within 30days.

Are you using direct outs or inserts to avoid running the signal through the entire board? That may help a bit.
 
Do you honestly think that the "bright crispness that commercial CD's seem to have" comes without using any EQ...???? (and a host of other "additives") :p

WATYF
 
TexRoadkill: I bought a bellari preamp a few weeks ago, when I first turned it on and A/Bed it, it sounded decent and a lot clearer then my Alesis, but after about 20 minutes I A/Bed again and couldn't tell a difference. I couldn't believe it, I didn't touch any knobs and I had our drummer listen to it to verify that it wasn't my ears. That bellari was a piece of crap, it felt like it was going to fall apart! I just bought it to have SOMETHING to compare my board against. I'm pretty broke right now, I don't think I'm going to be able to afford any new gear for a few months... even to try out! I've got an Aardvark card Direct pro card at my house, I was considering swapping sound cards so I could use the preamps on the Aardvark but I wanted to get some opinions before I go through that kind of trouble.
I'll try the inserts into the delta. That's a good idea!

WATYF: The answer is NO! But I shouldn't have to be running a full low end cut up to 200hz anda 9 db bost on the high end and still be shooting low! It's more of a muddy cloudy sound that I'm trying to get rid of.
 
YAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!

I'm so glad i stumbled upon this thread, my brothers and sisters, i am here to spread the good word of Sonic Maximization. I am a long-time believer in the healing powers of the all mighty BBE Sonic Maximizer. May it bring light to your dark passageways and truth to your life of grey oblivion! You will be healed by midrange boost and anointed by the LIFE that the Truth brings.
Get a BBE Sonic Maximizer. They instantly liven up any track. I have a BBE plug-in for Cubase that does me wonders, i also have a rackmount BBE unit. A little reverb would also probably help out your rotten-fish recordings. Seriously, check it out. Go to your music store and ask about BBE.
 
Also think about the Art Tube MP preamps, those things are like an industry standard.
 
Science, you sure love that BBE. All they really do is scoop the mids. I know they say they do all that time alligment stuff but that is marketing BS.

Stuck- a heavy bass cut like you are doing is pretty normal. My guess is that a better preamp (Bellari isn't really better) would help you a bit. That is the most important part. Then adding a good EQ would help. Until then just keep trying better mic placement.
 
Re: YAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!

ScienceOne said:
I'm so glad i stumbled upon this thread, my brothers and sisters, i am here to spread the good word of Sonic Maximization. I am a long-time believer in the healing powers of the all mighty BBE Sonic Maximizer. May it bring light to your dark passageways and truth to your life of grey oblivion! You will be healed by midrange boost and anointed by the LIFE that the Truth brings.
Get a BBE Sonic Maximizer. They instantly liven up any track. I have a BBE plug-in for Cubase that does me wonders, i also have a rackmount BBE unit. A little reverb would also probably help out your rotten-fish recordings. Seriously, check it out. Go to your music store and ask about BBE.
Click to expand...
As I said in another one of your pro-Maximizer threads... if you are using this unit ALL the time, then there is something seriously wrong with either your recording technique or signal chain, or both.........!

You absolutely DO NOT NEED these devices to get a clean, bright recording........
 
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be sure you record the right speaker on the cab. usually the bottom right as you look at it. . . there are drastic differences in the sound quality of each speaker. the best way to choose a speaker is to follow the wires and find the first one in the chain. I also like to boost the pertinant octive 6db with a Q of 1.5 as that will boost an entire octive. . . and yes I said Q so I must be a geek. then I usually just cut the crap out of the bass and boost the hell out of the highs (as I have a hard time at captureing them) but these are demos so I don't nit pick on them

peace
sam
zekthedeadcow@hotmail.com
http://www.Track100.com
 
If it sounds really good in the room and you want to get it like it sounds right then try an ECM8000. They have a very flat frequiency and would get it to sound basically like it is.
 
i once thought bbe was awesome, then i drove me insane. it just drills my ears with ouchies now...ha
 
Re: Re: YAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!

Blue Bear Sound said:
As I said in another one of your pro-Maximizer threads... if you are using this unit ALL the time, then there is something seriously wrong with either your recording technique or signal chain, or both.........!

You absolutely DO NOT NEED these devices to get a clean, bright recording........
Click to expand...

it's pretty obvious this guy is just spewing sarcasm and intentionally wrong things.......
saying use the BBE to fix anything, saying reverb will make a sound crisper, and that the tube mp is an industry standard.
 
Good news! It turned out the board was the problem. We were recording this weekend and some of the tracks had a little crackle in it. Even though the board is only three years old and extreamly babied, tapping on the board made the same crackle noise, so I think the amp was vibrating it and causing some electrical failure. Anyways our drummer went out and bought a new Makie and problem solved! My guitar has never sounded so good, nice, bright, big, and crisp with no EQ used. I'm still going to end up eqing the guitars but at least I don't feel so bad about it!
I would higly recommend no one ever buying an alesis board, unless you'd like to buy our board. :) Thanks all for the great suggestions(Except for the one about the BBE... :D)!
P.S. What the story with Allen and Heath? We actually bought one of thier boards first but the design was so crappy their was no way on earth the it would ever fit in our rack. Damn British! :) The board felt all cheap but I never got a chance to check out how it sounded. They're supposed to be better then Makie? Based on the design, it sure didn't seem like it would be!
 
Glad to hear you got it sorted out. Newbies always think we are being snobs when we tell them to get a decent mixer but it always makes a huge improvement. Next to a good mic and soundcard it is probably the most dramatic improvement you can make.
 
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