Harshness...

[Kingofpain678]

Okay, I've watched videos of other studios, read articles, read little tips and tricks from engineers and I know that it's fair to say that audio engineers like old tube equipment (duh!) Well, some engineers like to run LOTS of their tracks through certain compressors, eq's, limiters, distressors. Reason being is that old (and I'm sure new equipment too) equipment rolls off transients in a pleasing way (again, DUH! ... compression) BUT some of the equipment that engineers use also smooths out any harshness in a given sound... say distorted guitar.

Ok, so let's assume I'm using a crappy mic and not the best speakers in the world (cause I am), and let's assume I have no access to better equipment (cause I don't). Assuming I'm my signal chain goes as such guitar -> head -> cab -> mic -> Pre -> interface
And assume that no such other equipment exists. Fair enough... Now, the sound that comes out of that signal chain with only this equipment is fairly harsh seemingly no matter what I do.

So knowing all that, what is some advice (assuming any exists) could you give to attempt taming that harshness?

 

[Sonixx]

Since I can't imagine what you're hearing, I can't imagine any advice to give.

How about a clip?

 

[Kingofpain678]

Pretty much anything here.

I'm really struggling with the guitar tone and it just sounds so harsh to me...

 

[miroslav]

Ok, so let's assume I'm using a crappy mic and not the best speakers in the world (cause I am), and let's assume I have no access to better equipment (cause I don't). Assuming I'm my signal chain goes as such guitar -> head -> cab -> mic -> Pre -> interface
And assume that no such other equipment exists. Fair enough... Now, the sound that comes out of that signal chain with only this equipment is fairly harsh seemingly no matter what I do.

Well...you're kinda' answering your own question if you say it's fairly harsh going in.
I wouldn't want to try and fix a harsh sound after the fact during mixing. You need to fix it at the source, before it's recorded.

If you can get the sound you want BEFORE you ever put up a mic & pre...and it's the way you like it....but then AFTER you put up the mic & pre it sounds harsh...
...I would look at the mic & pre as the cause of your problem.
What mic & pre are you using?
(Put your ear down where you would place the mic or put the mic where you ear likes the sound. )

(Oh...it's nicer/easier if you put up files on a website that just plays/streams the music....rather than making people download the files just to hear them.
I'm always leery of downloads from strange websites...and then there's always the SPAM ads/pop-ups that also get downloaded along with the music file.)

 

[Kingofpain678]

Well...you're kinda' answering your own question if you say it's fairly harsh going in.
I wouldn't want to try and fix a harsh sound after the fact during mixing. You need to fix it at the source, before it's recorded.

If you can get the sound you want BEFORE you ever put up a mic...and it's the way you like it....but then AFTER you put up the mic & pre it sounds harsh...
...I would look at the mic & pre as the cause of your problem.
What mic & pre are you using?

(Oh...it's nicer/easier if you put up files on a website that just plays/streams the music....rather than making people download the files just to hear them.
I'm always leery of downloads from strange websites...and then there's always the SPAM ads/pop-ups that also get downloaded along with the music file.)

I know I'm answering my own question... I know that you should get the source right in the first place but fact is, if I could do that, I would have done it by now.

I'm using a cheap mic and an M-audio audio buddy pre, which obviously aren't good pieces of gear and they probably aren't helping. But as mentioned, for now I gotta work with what I have.

And Ez willis had mentioned that, so far I have it hosted on soundclick, mediafire, dropbox, and EZ_Willis actually hosted it on A&A for me too. Basically it comes down to browser settings (at least in firefox anyways) when a browser encounters a certain file type it will have a certain setting for how to handle that file and in this case it's .mp3, the browser can either just download the file or stream it, most of the time the browser is set to just download it.

Lastly, given my crappy situation I wondered if maybe there were any tips in handling harshness

 

[Kingofpain678]

Smiley faces make things so much better...

 

[miroslav]

Is it harsh sounding if you put your ear where the mic is picking it up?


Otherwise...if you want to try and fix it in the mix...EQ cut anywhere from 2kHZ up to 10kHz (roughly) and it will take some of it out...you just have to find the worst area in that range, and then decide how much to cut and what level and steepness.
It will depend on what sounds good to you...without it becoming dull sounding.

The harshness resides in the same range as your guitar's "edge/bite"....so it can be a tradeoff.

 

[Greg_L]

Okay, I've watched videos of other studios, read articles, read little tips and tricks from engineers and I know that it's fair to say that audio engineers like old tube equipment (duh!) Well, some engineers like to run LOTS of their tracks through certain compressors, eq's, limiters, distressors. Reason being is that old (and I'm sure new equipment too) equipment rolls off transients in a pleasing way (again, DUH! ... compression) BUT some of the equipment that engineers use also smooths out any harshness in a given sound... say distorted guitar.

Ok, so let's assume I'm using a crappy mic and not the best speakers in the world (cause I am), and let's assume I have no access to better equipment (cause I don't). Assuming I'm my signal chain goes as such guitar -> head -> cab -> mic -> Pre -> interface
And assume that no such other equipment exists. Fair enough... Now, the sound that comes out of that signal chain with only this equipment is fairly harsh seemingly no matter what I do.

So knowing all that, what is some advice (assuming any exists) could you give to attempt taming that harshness?

Find a new hobby.

 

[Kingofpain678]

Find a new hobby.

okay .

 

[Kingofpain678]

Find a new hobby.

You know greg, Your a good musician and you can make a good mix, but you can't help or give advice for shit. What good does that comment do? How does that help anyone out?

When can you ever help anyone out without being a fag about it?

 

[Greg_L]

You know greg, Your a good musician and you can make a good mix, but you can't help or give advice for shit. What good does that comment do? How does that help anyone out?

When can you ever help anyone out without being a fag about it?

Lol. Really?

Start a poll in the clinic or the drum section and see if I've ever helped anyone.


Look stupid, read your own post. You answered all of your own questions. If your guitar sounds like shit going in, which it apprently does, it's gonna sound like shit on tape. It's not rocket science, dummy.

 

[Kingofpain678]

Lol. Really?


Look stupid, read your own post. You answered all of your own questions. If your guitar sounds like shit going in, which it apprently does, it's gonna sound like shit on tape. It's not rocket science, dummy.

*face palm*

I get that. But until I pick up some better mics and maybe a new pre, I'm stuck with what I got. SO, I wondered if there were any tips on getting rid of harshness. You know, kinda like how some people run their tracks through certain compressors and what not? Some advice they might give is, "well, I use so and so for this and it seems to help out..."

Comprende?

 

[Sonixx]

I listened to a couple of your clips and I don't hear the harshness you describe.

I do hear a distant and weak sounding mix.

You say the guitar tones are harsh. Possibly post an as tracked gtr only clip.

Consider your listening environment needs work.

 

[Greg_L]

Fuck all that fix it in the mix retardedness. Re-track with better sound, dummy.

 

[Kingofpain678]

Start a poll in the clinic or the drum section and see if I've ever helped anyone.

When can you ever help anyone out without being a fag about it?

Is it that hard to not be an ass?

I don't think I've ever seen you be sincere or kind to anyone. Obviously this isn't the most important time that calls for it, but my point is still valid. I mean ffs dude, even when yer dog died you didn't seem to give a shit.

 

[Greg_L]

Are you on a deadline? Do you have millions of fans knocking down your door?


No, you don't. Just re-track.

 

[Kingofpain678]

Fuck all that fix it in the mix retardedness. Re-track with better sound, dummy.

*face palm*

... I'm working on that...

 

[Greg_L]

Is it that hard to not be an ass?

I don't think I've ever seen you be sincere or kind to anyone. Obviously this isn't the most important time that calls for it, but my point is still valid. I mean ffs dude, even when yer dog died you didn't seem to give a shit.

 

[Greg_L]

*face palm*

... I'm working on that...

Then STFU and do it and quit your whining.

 

[Kingofpain678]

Are you on a deadline? Do you have millions of fans knocking down your door?


No, you don't. Just re-track.

I have re-tracked, and re-tracked, and used different mic positions. What I need to do is pick up some mics and call it good cause this shit I'm working with now sucks. I mean I guess it's ... A sound, but it could be better.