Help with my recordings :(

[IcarusLives]

Hello people of homerecording! I'm brand new to this forum, and I assume I will be adopting this place as my new home. I cannot stand dealing with my own ignorance any longer and have finally decided to reach out.


I'm a bedroom musician that likes to experiment with different genres and instruments for my own entertainment, and I also equally enjoy recording said tunes for my own satisfaction. I'm entirely self-taught on all of the instruments I play with absolutely zero knowledge of theory. I only know the strings of my guitar and I can locate C on a Piano.. Woo.

My recordings are my issue, though, as I absolutely cannot find a method of producing satisfactory sounding recordings. I'd love, I dream of, having simple 'demo' quality recordings, but no matter what I do it doesn't happen.

Gear rundown: Ibanez S8QM 8-string in standard tuning (drop E sometimes, also try Drop D which is getting so low it gets too muddy)
Simple line-in thing to my PC (not a nice one, gonna upgrade)
Mixcraft 5
Guitar Rig 5
iZotope Ozone 5
iZotope Nectar 2
Guitar Pro 5 (Do midi drums, and use Mixcrafts virtual instruments to do very poor simulations of drums)

As you can see, the only thing worth writing home about is my guitar, but the rest works. Mixcraft supports any number of midi/VSTS so I'm in luck there, and Guitar Rig has tons of things to tweak as well. iZotope is a good mixer with like 200 presets, and Nectar is for voice.

My question is this: How the hell do I go about getting my recordings to sound a bit better? I know I need a better drum program, so recommendations for that?
I am attaching links to a few different styles of music I wrote so that you guys can maybe suggest some tips on how to clean up each sound, be it tightening up a low end or getting rid of the muddy distortion, etc. (My terminology and knowledge in mixing/editing is terrible by the way)

https://soundcloud.com/simonderoux/doppler-effect

This is probably my most chaotic writing style, and it possesses some effects which make already muddy/unclear guitar harder to discern. the drums weren't finished so don't expect any amazing fills or fleshed out beats, didn't bother as I want a better program.

https://soundcloud.com/simonderoux/fall-of-gilead-drop-e-test

A more straight up metal-esque riff. Drums also not finished because of above reason.

https://soundcloud.com/simonderoux/clean-tone-test

Super clean tone math rock stuff. Didn't even add other instruments yet.

https://soundcloud.com/simonderoux/for-the-one-i-love

Solo 8-string guitar piece. Only song I consider even remotely 'finished' and not 'pre-demo' but still... could do a lot better.

https://soundcloud.com/simonderoux/post-rock-effects-test-1

Post rock effects stuff. no clarity

https://soundcloud.com/simonderoux/hera

I don't even know what this but it could use some cleaning up too...

https://soundcloud.com/simonderoux/the-lamia-genesis-cover

Piano because I actually do a lot of it so maybe tips there too?

Any tips for what to do to improve ANY or ALL of these? Or maybe links to a good place to get tips? Anything would be appreciated. These are all just tests and riffs so please do not expect full songs. :S actual 'mastering' will come when I can learn!

 

[mjbphotos]

Can't listen to your stuff (at work), but it looks like you have already figured out the problem - your (lack of an) audio interface. The OEM soundcard in your computer (that's what is doing the A-to-D conversion when you plug into the line-in jacks) has about $0.69 worth of components in it - it's made for doing system noises and internet audio playback.
Get yourself a decent audio interface with mic-XLR, line-in, instrument-in and MIDI inputs and you'll notice a world of difference.

 

[ecc83]

+1 to Mike's suggestion of an interface.

You do not say (as many noobs do!) "I'm broke!" so I shall hit you with my best reccy...Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6. That also gets you Cubase which I am certain you will love.

You do not mention how you harken unto your creations? Headphones? Ok to start with but do look at some decent monitor speakers. Which ones depends to fair extent on the size of your room and the levels and sound qualities you like, e.g. loud and trouser flapping bass will cost you.

Lastly for now. A point about levels. It might be the "posting process" but there is NO NEED to crowd the red line. I have a good 30dB of spare gain in my monitoring setup and it hisses me off to have to turn down to listen to clips!

Dave.

 

[IcarusLives]

+1 to Mike's suggestion of an interface.

You do not say (as many noobs do!) "I'm broke!" so I shall hit you with my best reccy...Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6. That also gets you Cubase which I am certain you will love.

You do not mention how you harken unto your creations? Headphones? Ok to start with but do look at some decent monitor speakers. Which ones depends to fair extent on the size of your room and the levels and sound qualities you like, e.g. loud and trouser flapping bass will cost you.

Lastly for now. A point about levels. It might be the "posting process" but there is NO NEED to crowd the red line. I have a good 30dB of spare gain in my monitoring setup and it hisses me off to have to turn down to listen to clips!

Dave.

Thank you both for responding. My 'interface' is simply a guitar cord that goes into 3.55mm jack for 'mic in' and then hijacks the soundcard. I'm impressed with the audio in the 'For the one i love' link to be honest, it's pretty clear, but anything beyond that and it shows its inability.

I am absolutely broke at this time and will have quite a lot of expenses coming up soon, so would there be any good audio interfaces for $50-150? This would be my first so I can always upgrade later. I found the 'focusrite itrack solo' which appears to be pretty excellent for the price, but I'm not sure it works well on Windows.

I definitely didn't take any care with the red lining on songs until very recently when I heard that it's a no no, so I've been attempting to avoid that with the track 'Doppler Effect'.

To listen to my stuff I just have pretty basic PC speakers with subwoofer and ear buds. Really nothing worth writing home about. My money situation is embarrassing or I'd be a lot more upgraded to be honest.

 

[ecc83]

Ok, well $150 gets you the excellent Steinberg UR22 with Cubase and MIDI.

You could look for second hand. M-Audio Fast track pro, Tascam US144. I an sure others here have experience of several more but I do know that those two work well on Win 7.

Dave.