god like bigger than life vocal sound?

[cominginsecond]

You're implying that there's no difference between saying "I've had luck with x. I'd suggest you try that first, but if it doesn't work for you don't hesitate to try something different." and saying "Do whatever sounds best." Most people can see there's a big difference in those two approaches.

 

[chessrock]

Alright, then, Chuck McChucklehead . . .

How's this? : Try starting out with a slow attack. I've had luck with that.

If that doesn't work for some reason, then try a fast one. I've also had luck with that, too, come to think of it. If that still doesn't do it for you, then try something in between until you like what you hear.

Now on to the release time: See above.

Now on to the ratio: Start out with the highest ratio possible. Or the lowest one. I'll let you flip a coin as to which.

If that sounds too extreme, then keep moving the dial down untill it doesn't.

Unless of course you want it to sound extreme.

And if you just want it to sound like the band Extreme , then just get the funk out, man -- and tell Gary Sharone he's no Sammy or Diamond Dave.

Now try something in between. I've actually had a lot of luck with that. If neither of those work, then try something else, and keep trying untill you get something that sounds right and fits that particular voice in that particular context of music.

Is that better, fucko McFuckupalot?

 

[cominginsecond]

You're an intelligent dude. You know that just because someone makes specific suggestions does not make them a "fucko McFuckupalot." If that were the case, everyone who has ever written a book or a website with any suggestions whatsoever would be a "fucko McFuckupalot." I guess if that makes me a "fucko McFuckupalot" I'm in good company.

Everyone knows that there are recording methods that work well a significant amount of the time. If this weren't the case, we'd all start an acoustic guitar tracking session by pointing the mic at the headstock (or for that matter, pointed away from the guitar at the computer) and experiment from there. I mean, that's as good a place as any to start right?

When newbies, or anyone for that matter, ask for suggestions, they're asking for these these types of rules of thumb. If you deny that professionals use rules of thumb, you're an idiot. There is a body of recording knowledge that has accumulated over the years and the purpose of forums like these is to make this knowledge accessible. For you to get on here, like a broken record, and repeat ad nauseum that the only way to get good sounds is to figure everything out by yourself from scratch is just plain wrong, at best.

Now, if you have a legitimate counterargument to make, go ahead, but name-calling, especially when it's directed at people that make specific suggestions (some of which, BTW, make you look like a 10 year old kid with a walkman and a radio shack mic), makes you look desperate and stupid.

 

[noisedude]

i like a well-written and eloquent argument. i'm coming down more on the side of CIS in this one, simply because i don't think it's at all self-defeating to give suggestions to people less experienced. i do appreciate chess's point that it should not be in the form of spoon-feeding though.

and Chuck McChucklehead was funny

 

[chessrock]

Everyone knows that there are recording methods that work well a significant amount of the time. If this weren't the case, we'd all start an acoustic guitar tracking session by pointing the mic at the headstock (or for that matter, pointed away from the guitar at the computer) and experiment from there. I mean, that's as good a place as any to start right?

No, that might be something Mayor McChucklehead might do because he read about it in a book.

Serisously, dude. I don't understand why this is so hard for you to grasp. And I don't know why I'm arguing with Jack Ortman Junior over why compression isn't one of those things that can have a reasonable starting point.

The only instances where I can imagine there being actual "starting points" per se would be percussion -- i.e. quicker attacks are usually necessary because of how quick the transients are. Another might be bass guitar -- as it will generally require much longer release times than normal or else you might get distortion.

But vocals? Jeezus, dude. Have a listen to the radio sometime -- you've got shit all over the place from Averyl Levine "Nuke Mode" to Britany Spears squash mode to Joe Hippity-hopper hard-knee / dry punch mode to Anthony Keed hard limiting mode to Motown light & easy.

Look Headstock boy, there's a big freakin' difference between mic'ing technique and dynamics processing. The major difference being there are places you can point a mic that just plain sound bad. On the other hand, there really is no "bad" compression per se, as half of it is an artistic decision.

It's like asking for a reverb starting point. Well, guess what Captain Obvious, I don't freakin' know. What the hell is your song like? If your name is Whitney Houston or Chris freakin' Isaac, I might give you a radically different starting point than if you were Puffy freakin' Combs.

As far as mic'ing technique goes, why don't you just stand in front of the goddamn mic and start singing? That I can pretty easily give you a starting point for, because it's not generally something that's open for artistic interperatation, now is it?

name-calling, especially when it's directed at people that make specific suggestions (some of which, BTW, make you look like a 10 year old kid with a walkman and a radio shack mic), makes you look desperate and stupid.

Look, dicknose. You're acting like a chucklehead. And the truly annoying part about all of this is that I've read a lot of your other posts, so I know you're not a chucklehead. So stop acting like one, already, will ya? Alright ? ? Repeat after me: I am not a chucklehead. I am not a chucklehead . . . I am not a . . .

 

[noisedude]

what's a chucklehead?

 

[Big Kenny]

chess, what if he is a chucklehead and doesn't know it? tread lightly, this could open up a whole new line of questioning or ( or therapy) none of us has the time or expertise to deal with.
Here's a good starting point...... power button-on. there now, work your magic
IN His Name
Big Kenny

 

[noisedude]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Definition: \Chuc"kle*head`\, n.
A person with a large head; a numskull; a dunce. [Low]

CIS - you've got a big head. surely that sounds more like chessrock to me ....?

 

[larrye]

If we all knew as much as Chess, then we wouldn't ask ignoranrt questions. We would not need this board, could just sit and mix in a million dollar studio pulling down big bucks, JUST LIKE CHESS.
Larrye

 

[chessrock]

If we all knew as much as Chess, then we wouldn't ask ignoranrt questions.

Dean Wormer: "Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son." -- From National Lampoon's Animal House.

 

[bsanfordnyc]

I just don't understand how 99% of followers of any religion, who probably grew up in that religion, have never questioned it, and have never been exposed to any other culture or religion, know that their way is the "right" way, and non-believers are going to go to some hell post mortum. So you have all these groups in the world who know they are right, and are willing to kill those who disagree.

Where in the world did you get your 99% figure of people who have "never questioned (their religion), have never been exposed to any other culture or religion"??

How can you presume to know how a mass public arrived at their beliefs, and what exactly it is that they believe?

I must have missed that report from the census bureau

 

[Jotosuds]

generally people that were raised "Christian" stay "Christian".

generally people raised, for all practical purposes, atheist stay atheist.

"Christians" annoy me.

 

[chessrock]

Unless you're trying to dodge a war. Then you change your name and convert to Islam.

And I doubt it's the Christians that annoy you. It's probably just the evangelical ones that go around calling themselves disciples and sharing their faith with people on the bus.

 

[bsanfordnyc]

generally people that were raised "Christian" stay "Christian".

generally people raised, for all practical purposes, atheist stay atheist.

"Christians" annoy me.

Your massive generalizations and ignorance annoy me.

 

[crazydoc]

Where in the world did you get your 99% figure of people who have "never questioned (their religion), have never been exposed to any other culture or religion"??

Well, I reckon I could be a little high on that figure. Where would you put it? Show me some figures on people raised as christians who are not, people raised as muslims who are not, people raised as jews who are not, ....people raised as zoroastrians who are not.

How can you presume to know how a mass public arrived at their beliefs, and what exactly it is that they believe?


Well, because it's shoved down our throats in the mass media, rants from jw's on our doorsteps, people at work and elsewhere who want you to "come to my church," when you tell them you don't go to church, people who say "but you seem like such a nice person" when you tell them you're a non-believer. Thank god I don't live in a small town.

In fact, being a non-believer is almost as bad as being left-handed.

 

[bsanfordnyc]

I have known a lot of people thus far in my lifetime; people who claim to be Christians and people who claim to be otherwise.

I can say for sure that one common thread between both is that they question their beliefs on an ongoing basis.

Who is sure enough of their beliefs in the fundamental nature of the universe to bet their life upon them, and to never question them? I suspect VERY few, and those who claim to be 100% certain, to the point of trying to "shove it down your throat" and pass judgments - are in the small minority, and never get invited back to parties.

The vast majority of people you come in contact with on a day to day basis, are, statistically, believers in some sort of God. And most of them don't really care what you believe in, and probably don't worry themselves about whether you are going to "hell."

And for those who think that Christians "annoy" them, should really examine whether it's their own perception of Christianity that "annoys" them. A Christian who is true to his/her principles is really only concerned with loving one another and living in harmony with everyone else. These are the people who would never mug you, sleep with your wife, embezzle from your company, or file frivoulous lawsuits against you to enrich themselves. Their predominant philosophy is to treat others how they would want to be treated.

How can this lifestyle possibly be a threat to you?

 

[noisedude]

generally people that were raised "Christian" stay "Christian".

generally people raised, for all practical purposes, atheist stay atheist.

Maybe where you are. But not most places. Try to see beyond the end of your nose.

"Christians" annoy me.

Me too. But no more than most people. You're clearly ignorant and want to shoot your opinion to anyone who'll listen.

Where's the difference between that and the Christians on the bus??

 

[crazydoc]

I have known a lot of people thus far in my lifetime; people who claim to be Christians and people who claim to be otherwise.

I can say for sure that one common thread between both is that they question their beliefs on an ongoing basis.

Who is sure enough of their beliefs in the fundamental nature of the universe to bet their life upon them, and to never question them? ......snip

How can this lifestyle possibly be a threat to you?

You must live in a different world than I do.

And the lifestyle is certainly no "threat "to me (except fer them crazy muslims), but rather a pain in the ass, like being left-handed in a right-handed world. You learn to compensate and make allowances

 

[chessrock]

In a way, I think it's rather cute when a devout Christian tries to convert me or whatever.

You gotta' be able to look at it from their angle: In their little world, anyone who isn't Christian like them is going to burn in hell, right. So from that angle, they're just trying to "save me" from such a such a bitter and ugly doom.

And as bizarre and creepy as some of them are, you have to admit it is rather sweet -- even chivalric -- that someone would want to "save" me. Hell, half the guys on this mic forum would be perfectly happy to see me burn . . . and would probably be delighted to watch.

At least I figure I can draw some ounce of comfort that some wacko wants my poor soul spared. Ugly and tainted as it is.

 

[crazydoc]

In a way, I think it's rather cute when a devout Christian tries to convert me or whatever.

It's even better when a cute one tries to convert you to heterosexuality when you tell her you're gay.