EQ-ing before starting the recording...

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zagrad

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This is probably a very-newbie question.... Actually I am not a newbie though... Just haven't invented how to do the following:

My major problem when doing home recordings is that I am all alone.... Now the problem is that I don't have anyone to EQ the sound while I am playing... Because I do the recordings and the playing, I haven't had big time to learn the recording...

Now I would like to have some tips on doing the EQ-ing before even starting the recording. The problem is that often something sounds good... but then after playing back the recorded, it sounds different.... How does this happen? Is it the lose of quality due to recording on tape? And how do I get rid of this? Are there any specific ways of setting up the EQ before recording?

I've seen lots of usable tips in other threads so I'm sure you guys can help me out :)

greetings
 
It is not good practice to EQ unnecessaryily while tracking... it is much better to be getting the sound right at the source using proper mic selection and placement, and then capturing that.

Where this fails is when you are already behind the 8-ball by using budget recording gear (analog portastudios come to mind) where what goes to tape is not necessarily what comes out even on the best signal sources.

But even in this situation, I would still try to get as close as possible at the source... adding EQ (expecially boosts) will introduce phase anomalies to the signal that can have a more negative effect (due to comb filtering as a result of the phase problems) than the benefit the EQ was going to give you in the first place!
This is especially true of cheap mixer circuitry of budget portastudios of the analog variety.....

Bruce
 
Thanks.... I indeed do absolutely not have expensive gear... Happily I can now do the mastering process on the computer which makes me able to take away much of the negative effects...

About the mic selection: I use a budget mic (I don't have much money to spend).... So I mostly record directly from guitar-amp to the recorder... But maybe I should use a second track recording via Mic which could fill up gabs right? (This is what I read somewhere)
The voice recording aren't very hard (I like them the way they are anyway)
 
Actually, given your particular situation, you are probably far better off going direct with your guitar -- just pay attention to the tone you're sending into the unit. Budget gear really limits your options because you really need decent mics and a decent pre to get anything usable from mic'ing! Without those basics, DI or an amp modeller is the way to go....

Bruce
 
But even in this situation, I would still try to get as close as possible at the source... adding EQ (expecially boosts) will introduce phase anomalies to the signal that can have a more negative effect (due to comb filtering as a result of the phase problems) than the benefit the EQ was going to give you in the first place!
Click to expand...


This is especially true of cheap mixer circuitry of budget portastudios of the analog variety.....
Click to expand...


BRUCE;

OUTSTANDING ADVICE !!!!

THANKS !!!

Sean
 
Hey your probably tired of this statement: Let your ears be your guide. It's true!!! Just ask Quincy Jones if he gives a crap about what is technically right or wrong. It's all about the music man!! If not then your just holding an A.E.S. meeting. If your getting pleasing results from turning an eq knob then turn the damn thing. Listen listen listen.
 
Well.. yes... BUT... there is a fundamental reason not to reach for EQ first before trying to get the sound you want using mic/placement - EQing, especially boosting, introduces phase anomalies to the signal that can be more detrimental to the sound than it was without EQ.
So yes, while it is true there are no "rules", there are good reasons not to follow one particular approach or another....

Until a novice gets some experience under their belt in terms of basic techniques, they will get better results following good practices. Once they get more experience, they will be in a better position to leearn when they can "break" the rules.

Bruce
 
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I am trying to learn some basics about frequencies and the behaviour of sound... For example what does the taperecorder do to a signal (talking about the Bias-signal and so on) .... Looking at those hard-to-understand behaviours of sound I'll follow your advice Blue Bear.... Ofcourse Thornapple is right but maybe I asked my question in the wrong way then: what I meant was what is the easiest way to start... If I have this easiest way under control then I can get started trying to turn a knob and look what happens... This is in fact what I started with before and I think that's NOT the right way to start...

Thanks for your help guys...
 
If you have a computer for mastering why aren't you using that to record with also?
 
:)) I wish I could !!

The big problem is.... It isn't my computer, it is my parent's .. so it isn't on my room (where my guitar and all my stuff is) .....

So I have to record to tape. Then get that to my computer where I can master it......

greetz
 
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