First Song, Don't Laugh! :-)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nutdotnet
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Nutdotnet

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Hey all. So I took a whole 20 minutes or so to record this song.

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/1/1264/singles.shtml (You may want to do a "Save Target As" when you get to the single on the website.)

I am relatively new to the recording scene and am looking for advice on what I can do to make this song sound better.

Guitar was done in one take, vocals as well. Both are dry except for some comp.

I am using Nuendo to recording.

I used a Rode NT-1 for the Guitar and the Vocals.

The Rode plugs into a Blue Tube Mic Pre with a better tube in the box.

The Blue Tube plugs into a Blue Max Compressor.

The Blue Max Compressor goes into my Delta 44.

I am using Behringer Truth B2031 Monitors.

Well let me know what you think, I am open to any and all suggestions!

Thanks!
 
Just so y'all know. This isn't like a final product or anything. I KNOW it needs a lot of work. I am having some monitoring and playback issues with my recording setup so if my voice is off-pitch at times or what have you I am still trying to get the issues worked out.

Maybe I should hold of on making it public until I get my recording woes fixed......
 
The vocal is completely buried in the guitars --- it needs to come out A LOT more, and with some air around it.

The guitar isn't bad but it sounds muffled...

From an arrangement point of view, you should try and build the guitar up more, rather than keeping the same arps over and over again (pretty steady and consistent playing though!)

As you said, it needs work, but you're on the right track........

Keep at it!

Bruce
 
I would record the guitar without the compressor in the chain. It sounds a little overcompressed. And like BB I also think it needs some sort of change or build or something. I was a little surprised by that little falsetto line at the end of the song, very nice. Maybe you start out singing too low, and don't do enough high work. Also, you noticeably speed up throughout the course fo the song, if you listen to it on a loop you will hear this.
 
Alright, so no compressor? I will give that a try.

If anyone knows anything about Nuendo and using a Delta 44 I have a question over at the Newbie area. I think once I can get that worked out I can actually start getting to business.

Thanks again!
 
Hey Nutdotnet
The song sounded pretty good to me.
The only thing I know is that the vocals need to be a little louder.
Good song.
 
Thanks badgas. Even thought the song is extremely simple it does mean a lot to me, if you cannot tell by the title.

One goes through life not knowing what they really want and when they find it they don't know what to do with it, hence, the situation that inspired this song. The lyrics? Not the best. The fingerpicking, not the best. The vocals? Not the best. But regardless, I managed to get something out of my system that I needed too. That is probably why I love music so much. For me it is definetley a form of therapy. I just hope one day that I will be satisfied with something that I come up with.
 
;) Getting those songs out is what it's all about, Nut.
Keep working on it and you'll find the right kind of mix to clear up those weak parts.
Ana must be very special.
Keep on recording.
 
Accoustic is muddy muddy.
Whoever is singing doesn't sound relaxed...like maybe they were watching the VU meters while they sang or something.
Song shows some nice potential and for a 1st rough track...not shabby.
Remember when doing EQ and adding effects or whatever...less is best:)

good luck with it!
 
sounds a little bit liek Hayden///i enjoyed it..i won't offer any advice, because i don't have any idea what you want to improve on...i have a million songs of this quality somewhere in my files and they have their place..truth is, i'll never go back to them...i guess i can say this,,,record the song over and over and over until you hate it, then it is done.
 
Thanks again guys!

Yeah I wasn't relaxed at all. I had to listen through the monitors to the guitar track and plus living in a house full of roommates and not having the most confidence in the world caused me to be a little nervous and "uptight" when singing.

How would one "de-muddify" a guitar? I am using my Rode NT-1 to record, should I try using the SM-57 is some respect as well?
 
Use the shure

sm57 are now and have always been awesome instrument mics. I'm not familiar with the other mic you mentioned...but I do know shure, IMHO is still the best mic for the $$$ anywhere.
 
Alrighty. I knew they were great for electrics, wasn't really sure about using it on an acoustic.....

The Rode NT-1 is a large diaphragm condensor mic. I bought it used for $100 and it does pretty well.
 
Hey all, took the song offline for right now. Gonna try to do some work on it and will get it back up in the near future.

Thanks for all the great advice!!
 
I wouldn't advise using the SM57. I would think you can get a better sound with the NT1 than the SM57.
 
Maybe using a combo of the two? My preamp is a stereo preamp.
 
You should be able to get better results with the NT1 on the acoustic guitar than you did --- it definitely shouldn't be muddy like that...

Probably more of a placement problem... what kind of pre are you using?

Bruce
 
I am using a Presonus Blue Tube, and I installed a higher quality tube in it a few months back.

Yeah, my guess is just placement. Anyone recommend a good place to start from for placement?

Thanks!
 
It will completely depends on the instrument and the room - not to mention the playing style!

Best bet - get a partner (wife, GF, sig. other, friend, etc...) to listen closely around the proximity of the instrument and see where it sounds best - then put the mic there!

Bruce
 
You have a Larrivee right? I remember your name from Acousticguitar.com and guitar.com acoustic message boards. That was a nice guitar. I remember that store did some damager to your white binding or something when filing down the frets. I would say maybe with the NT1 try around 12 fret, with the mic pointing at the sound hole or around that area. Just listen through some headphones.
 
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