Help: How to get that " bitchin' " sound ?

[chessrock]

Hello,

I'm not normally one to ask questions like this . . .

But I was wondering if anyone could help me out. My mixes have been sounding good to me, lately. At least to me, and I've been getting some compliments and bla bla bla bla.

Anyway, there just seems to be something missing in them, to me. I want to make them sound more . . . how do you say this (?) . . . bitchin.'

Is there some sort of plugin for that?

Thanks!

 

[Recording Engineer]

Is this a setup disguised as a question? Honestly, I ask simply due to your history in the Mic Forum.

I also ask this as you very well know that end-product results are indirectly in proportion to instruments, acoustics of both the studio and control room, monitoring systems, microphone positions, microphones, preamps, and recorders.

Besides that... In my experience, with the above in combo with a bitchin analog console to monitor with and hopefully mix on, you'll get that "bitchin sound" BEFORE you even start mixing!

Of course, I've heard mixes done in Pro Tools that have that "bitchin sound", so all bets are off when it comes to mixing on a bitchin analog console.

And besides that again, some bitichin mastering helps... Of course, your mix should already sound bitchin though!

 

[Massive Master]

Have you seen my Digital Sonic DeCrapulator?

Thank you - But seriously, folks. "Bitchin" is such a subjective term, I wouldn't know where to start. And, if there were the perfect all-around a$$-kickin' plug, we'd all have it and all our stuff would sound the same.

I attempt to make every track I work on bitchin' in one way or another, but getting it there never seems to take the same road...

John Scrip

 

[chessrock]

Thanks so much for the most excellent suggestions, guys.


RE, I'm going to have to look in to your suggestion for an analog board. Do you know of any that have tubes in them? I was told by a potential customer who called a few weeks ago that if I wasn't properly outfitted with ample tubes in my arsenal that my services would most certainly not meet his needs.

This I found quite distressing. So I went about pulling apart my gear and wherever I thought something didn't look vintage enough, I'd yank it out and try to stick a tube in it's place. Now all my gear sounds like crap.

How are my mixes ever gonna' sound bitchin, now?

John, this decrapifier of yours looks like it may show some promise. I am particularly intrigued by this " crankin' " function. What kind of tubes does that thing have in it? Crankin' and bitchin' sound like they'd be pretty close to one another. If I had to take either crankin' or bitchin' to the dance, I'd probably take bitchin', but crankin' wouldn't be too bad of a consolation prize if ya know what I'm sayin'.

 

[grinder]

My Ex was cranky and bitchin', would that be close enough? You could use her as an insert.

 

[Track Rat]

My ex was both cranky and bitchin' too (not to mention her EXTREMELY high noise floor) but I couldn't insert shit in her.

 

[Thirst]

^ lmfao

 

[bgavin]

Track Rat,

Nice to know you bro'... it seems we were married to the same woman.

Our waterbed was on the world map as the Dead Sea.

 

[Massive Master]

I was told by a potential customer who called a few weeks ago that if I wasn't properly outfitted with ample tubes in my arsenal that my services would most certainly not meet his needs.

Some clients will NEVER be satisfied. It certainly SUCKS to watch any potential client walk away, but no studio can be all things to all people.

I remember back at (JEM - A.k.a. The "good 'ol days") when this guy said "I dunno about this place - where are your NS-10's?"

I looked him square in the eye and said "Why the hell would I want NS-10's in here?" Eventually, off he went.

A month or so later, he came in looking to get his project mastered (not too many studios offered decent mastering at the time) and he brought in his poorly recorded DAT tapes. I got them sounding "okay" I guess, but his recording would never sound "pro."

But, he found a place with NS-10's. Rah!

Now, I don't want people to think I have anything against NS-10's (oh Gawd, I hate them...), and I certainly support anyone's right to choose a studio based on gear selection alone. However, having "The Gear" doesn't give anyone "The Ear" or "Talent" or "Common Sense" either.

So, suck up your pride and try to ignore the "Boutique Studio" shoppers. If you CAN convince them to record with you, you'll probably regret the bending-over-backwards you did for them every moment of every session. Just let them go to where they're going to and save yourself the frustration.

John Scrip - www.massivemastering.com

 

[chessrock]

John,

You bring up some good points, my friend. But I was pretty much jokin' about the whole tube thing. Whenever anyone calls saying something about how they need tubes or whatever, I just try and have some fun with them and see where the conversation goes. If it's obvious they don't have a freakin' clue, then I'll just mess with 'em a little and make them my entertainment for the moment.

If they sound sincere and have half a brain, then I'll just ask them questions to see what kind of sound they're shooting for. Usually it's just guys who are trying to get a more vintage kind of sound, or the indie guys -- in which case I'll run ideas by them on how we can use tracking/mic'ing technique strategically to get the sound they want. Which may or may not involve using whatever tube gear I have. A lot of times I think what they really want is just more dynamic mics and less condensers.

 

[Massive Master]

I just wish we could educate the client a little more in these types of things...

Although, an educated (but non-experienced) client can be a whole other can of worms...

JS

 

[CyanJaguar]

the sound you want eludes you because you have not discovered the WILDCARD!

Find that and there will never, ever be anymore complaint about the level of your mixes.

ps. I never got your critique, so I'll go ahead and post it and see what happens.

 

[mrface2112]

i got that bitchin sound a couple weekends ago

a friend came over to lay down some acoustic tracks. the airhandler for the lower 2/3 of the house is right next to my space, and it's not exactly quiet. so before he got here i cranked up the heat, let it stay on while we set up, and then turned it off for the ~30 minutes we did the tracking.

i've never heard my wife bitch at me like she did that day. of course, she'd been sick too, so it WAS a bit boneheaded on my part, but man, i never thought it would get that cold that quickly with the heat off.


so yeah, i got that bitchin sound once. once. i never hope to get it again. later i slipped her some toob warmth and it was all good.


wade

 

[Chibi Nappa]

I'm going to have to look in to your suggestion for an analog board. Do you know of any that have tubes in them? I was told by a potential customer who called a few weeks ago that if I wasn't properly outfitted with ample tubes in my arsenal that my services would most certainly not meet his needs.

Just make sure you aren't mixing "metal" music with "hip hop" grade tubes in your console. You'll end up with way too much "phat" in the low end.