How can I make my music sound less professional?

  • Thread starter Thread starter to_see_me
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You need to define "lo-fie", because my idea of it will tell you to sell the D12, get a 4 track, and have at it. Built to Spill isn't lo -fi, and none of the new wave of slumming high phie bands like the Strokes are either. So far as the recordings go (or the music), don't sell them short. They're not just throwing up a couple 58s in a basement.
 
The only reason why I answered to this thread again without knowing the sound is that 'sell your digital crap and go all analog like me' attitude. I simply assume that you can come as close to the sound that you wanna have with your digital thing... You just have to play with it.

Whether you like digital recording or not is more a matter of working habits than of sounds, as I assume (and why should you have bought a used D12 otherwise?) that you still have to learn a lot about audio engineering.

Though the tips with analog gear may be right for you, you should think of learning to use your machine BEFORE you decide going analog or digital...

Just my 2c

aXel


@eeldip: don't wanna disrespect you, but I don't see your analog way as the only one... IMO you CAN do a lot with the digital little thingies. But the recording of everything together may surely help a lot and for that you might indeed need an external mixer, that's right (don't know too much 'bout the D12, just considered buying a D16/D1600 for a while...)
 
analog v digital

i am not making an "analog is better than digital" argument. i record both to computer through an m-audio box and to 1/2" 8 track, depending on the project. i think they are both great.

if someone came up to me and asked me make their band sound like mid 90's indie rock, i would record them to tape. it just sounds right for that style of music.

sound quality aside, recording to tape creates a totally different work process. again- it compliments the indie rock style. in this case LESS editing is probably better. the lack of tracks will compliment the indie rock style of arraignment. and so on.

i have tried to replicate the sounds on a computer with lots of the magneto plug-in everywhere and so on. but it doesnt sound the same. not that it sounds bad- it just doesnt sound like tape. hip-hop, electro, new new wave (or, umm... hate to say it- electroclash), and so on-- all great for computer recording. but indie rock?

anyway, i stand by my advice for to_see_me.

however, given that he is going to stick with the d12 (at least for the time being- really- borrow a tape machine at some point: they are very fun and i think you will be very happy with the results) i would recomend...

*getting a sansamp for the drums.
*reamping the vocals.
*getting a spring reverb unit of some sort- furman, tapco, orban, akg, demeter. for vocals, drums, etc.
*get some beyer ribbon mics, a couple 57s, some EV mics.
*some outboard compression for color (dont get an RNC, sounds too much like computer based compression. maybe an ashly)
*here is some indie rock mic advice
http://www.discmakers.com/music/pse/mic3.html
 
As a side note, here's an interview from Tape Op magazine, which you should subscribe to, with Chris Walla from Death Cab for Cutie, who does all of their recording:

http://www.prosoundweb.com/recording/tapeop/death/death.shtml

I second the Analog Deck solution, you're after a really specific sound, and the sound on all of these records is creative recording on 80's analog decks in sub-pro studios, houses, basements, etc. Really, though, my advice is not to chase after sounds on other records but start getting more experimental and finding your own sounds.
 
man, i have the opposite problem..make mine sound MORE proffessional! ha.

wanna swtich mic sets?
 
I'm pretty stoked at the moment. I did some recording today and got some pretty rustic sounds. Put two sm57's about 12 feet from the drumset and about 5 feet apart, and then stuck one on the bass. That gave me a good roomy sound. What I need is patience and determination!
 
ya no shit!!!!

Tell me how to get it to sound proffesional and I'll tell you how to
get it to sound less proffesional haha!!!!
 
tonyA said:
Try a couple of beers before recording! :p
Click to expand...

Hey it's worked wonders for Bob Pollard of Guided By Voices. Before...during.. after.. He even uses this technique live to stay true to the records.

I've had much less success w/ the method. Mostly noise and bad jokes get recorded, with the ocassional bathroom "reverb" ambience.

If you want really lo-fi out of a d12, have your drummer run a guitar cable from the speaker out a bass amp into the d12. It never worked right again.. TRUE STORY

Rock on to_see_me and good luck getting your sound!
Pat
 
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