Help! Need better sound!

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Valentino

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I'm getting this really dead sound from my recordings. All my sounds seem center and really small. I can't seem to achieve a big, spacious sound, yknow? Everything is jumbled up! Any ideas on how to use what I got to spice up my songs? Also, I've asked a couple people how to place different sounds in different places. Um...you know like when you listen to a good CD and you can hear sounds coming from different places. How is that done? Here's my equip list:
Logic Audio
Mackie 1202 Mixer
Alesis Nanoverb
Alesis Nonocompressor
Thanks everyone!
By the way, this site is awesome!
 
Well I would start by buying a good book on home recording to help you understand
How to get a better sound.
There are quite a few to choose from.

As to your question, I can give you a basic startup but to really know how to use them in a decent way you need experience and experimenting.

1. Panning - use you mixer to place the sounds from left to right with the pan knob.

2. Use your reverb to place them closer ( no to little reverb ) and futher ( more reverb ).

3. Use your EQ knobs on the mixer to boost or cut Freq. This will lhelp your sounds to have a place of their own with
out jumping on each others space

4. use your faders to lower or empehsis
a track ( like lead vocals loud, Back up vocals soft ).

5. Compression - Not a easy tool to use.
If your compressor has presets on it, try to start with that. If not search the internet for suggested settings as a start untill you feel able to handle it yourself.

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks! You know I've seen so many books about that home recording. Any good ones you've read? I have the NanoCompressor - no presets. Can you suggest a good one with presets? maybe I'll pick it up.
Thanks again
 
i would look into getting a Presonus BlueMax if i were you. it sounds like you are on a tight budget like me and don't have too much cash for one of those big-time multi-billion dollar studio compressors. did i say billion? excuse me, trillion.

anyway, it has about 15 presets on it and most of them sound fairly good. you can get one for a little under $200 if you shop around, i was thinking of getting one myself. a far better product than that nano thing i have sitting on my shelf right now. it seems like my music sounds better without it. i big waste of a benjamin, knowwhatimean?

smoov
 
Try different mics if possible. But more important different mic techniques, and multiple mics, careful of phase please.

The key to well spaced tracks is equal space recorded in the mic. you can mess with a little reverb and delay as a fix latter on but shoot for perfection and spaciousness during recording. Give each instrument and track it's respect and frequency range. It seems like a Barbara Walters question but ask yourself if I were "blank" what would I want to sound like, and how would I mic myself to achieve that. Try different things and listen back. When you get something that sounds pure then do minimal final EQ. Now is the fun part. Find a reverb that compliments the rest of the mix with out sounding like "hey I have reverb on me". Then back that off a bit and you should be in the ball park. I like plate's and small halls. Plates are awesome for vocals. But let your ears be your guide. And always work on training your ears. Because they are the ultimate tool that decides your mix.

Short delays are great for adding depth with out washing out a mix. But remember, aside from special effects, if you can hear an effect it's too much.
 
A few months ago, there was an excellent post called Creating Space in my Mix or something like that. Search the site for that post, it 'll give you lots of little tricks and stuf.
 
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