C
Chibi Nappa
New member
Well, that's all I got. Either believe me that this is all a matter of skill and get better at it or don't.
N
NYMorningstar
Recording Modus Operandi
When I'm in a good sounding room I like to use 2 NT5's for stereo recording in a spaced pair configuration with an LDC for vocals. If the room isn't that good then I use just the one small condensor for the guitar and a SM58 for vocals.
I don't play the same way in a room that sucks. I compensate and adjust to make my rig sound good. If a room is bad then don't play so hard and move the mics closer. Chibi says 65% depends on the quality of the guy playing and he's right but achieving that quality is about 90% of the work. Practice, practice, practice and eventually you will learn how to sound good even on a cheap ass guitar in a lousy sounding room. Let the engineers worry about the rest.
I don't play the same way in a room that sucks. I compensate and adjust to make my rig sound good. If a room is bad then don't play so hard and move the mics closer. Chibi says 65% depends on the quality of the guy playing and he's right but achieving that quality is about 90% of the work. Practice, practice, practice and eventually you will learn how to sound good even on a cheap ass guitar in a lousy sounding room. Let the engineers worry about the rest.
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
Well............ the walls can be defeated with some movable go betweens-(gobos).
And believe me you may not need a rug on the floor - maybe spot ones here and there during certain projects.
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dastrick
huh???
I'd pick up a LDC and a SDC. If you think your room is too much of a problem, move the mics closer, hang some thick blankets over mic stands around the mics, build a couple of gobos, etc. etc.
Todzilla
New member
I have wooden floors and stucco'ed cinder block walls. It sounds great once you properly treat it with broadband absorption and bass traps. There are few construction materials that don't sound horrific without treatment.
R
Richard Monroe
Well-known member
Yo Barry! I identify 2 questions:
1. How do I make my concrete box sound better?
2. What's the weakest part of my signal chain, and how would you recommend I improve it?
My answer to number 1 is- check Ethan Winer, and build some bass traps. Install them in the corners, and then make the room *softer*. We started at a bargain basement joint and bought cheap rectangular sleeping bags and hung them on the walls. We've upgraded since, but they worked rather well. Just build a padded room. To the people who think foam doesn't work, a cut up wrestling mat does. Sometimes you can get some worn out sections of ensolite from a high school wrestling team. Do a search on "rock wool". Hell, even hanging a velvet Elvis on a concrete wall is better than nothing.
My answer to number 2 is- you need some mics. There are thousands, ranging from $20 to over $10,000. As far as cheap mics, my favorites include Marshall Electronics (MXL) V67G, AKG C2000B (my personal dark horse favorite), B.L.U.E. Bluebird, and CAD M179. Any good condenser will showcase how much your concrete box sucks. The good news is- concrete has a lot of mass, and once you soften the surface, that mass will give you good isolation.-Richie
1. How do I make my concrete box sound better?
2. What's the weakest part of my signal chain, and how would you recommend I improve it?
My answer to number 1 is- check Ethan Winer, and build some bass traps. Install them in the corners, and then make the room *softer*. We started at a bargain basement joint and bought cheap rectangular sleeping bags and hung them on the walls. We've upgraded since, but they worked rather well. Just build a padded room. To the people who think foam doesn't work, a cut up wrestling mat does. Sometimes you can get some worn out sections of ensolite from a high school wrestling team. Do a search on "rock wool". Hell, even hanging a velvet Elvis on a concrete wall is better than nothing.
My answer to number 2 is- you need some mics. There are thousands, ranging from $20 to over $10,000. As far as cheap mics, my favorites include Marshall Electronics (MXL) V67G, AKG C2000B (my personal dark horse favorite), B.L.U.E. Bluebird, and CAD M179. Any good condenser will showcase how much your concrete box sucks. The good news is- concrete has a lot of mass, and once you soften the surface, that mass will give you good isolation.-Richie