Ford Van
Banned
And in honor of Sonixx killer advice on preamps........
mixmkr
we don't need rest!!
I kindly ask you to fuck off!
Ed, I agree with you in so many ways, such as the topic of this thread, love your recordings... all that mushy stuff.
You've just made a wrong turn on this path though, just need to realize it, and turn around and get headed in the right direction.
Blame the directions on the co-pilot and move on!!
B
BIGTYME
New member
i got a tascam us-122
thats what i plug my mic into
and the cable affects the sound quality? i never new that
what are the best cables out there?
thats what i plug my mic into
and the cable affects the sound quality? i never new that
what are the best cables out there?
M
Micter
No Title
Truthfully: completely irrelevent. Nearly any modern preamp will preserve the quality, frequency response, noise floor, dynamic range, etc.....with far more precision than you can hear, and certainly with higher quality than the acoustics of the room and noise of the mic will introduce.
No one likes to hear the truth. It is discussed in numerous other threads.
Spend your money and have fun.
Hogwash! The mic pre has a part in the signal chain that is very audible especially to the trained ear. Different preamps have different characteristics and affect the track recorded very much. If you are using an ART tube MP vs. an A Designs Pacifica there will be a very distinct difference in the way the track comes across. I really have to disagree here.
Sonixx
New member
this is really interesting... I asked you kindly to remove a very offensive picture, and you are just intent on rubbing it in my face.
C
chessrock
Banned
This is a valid question, and this is my openly opinionated thought on the subject ...
In the bigger scheme of things, I think a certain amount of "reality check" needs to be in order.
As disheartening of a reality as this may seem ... you need to realize and embrace the simple fact that, in all likelihood, whatever it is that you are tracking ... will never be heard by anyone of any significance in the music industry. In all likelihood, it will not put even the mildest dent in the collective musical or artistic consciousness of our popular culture - or anyone else's popular culture for that matter.
Again, I'm speaking in generalities here, for the sake of reality. If you happen to be that 0.01% of the population that might actually be involved in anything significant, musically, then please disregard this post.
For the remaining 99.9% of us, the most significant thing your musical production can achieve will be one of the following:
1) Bar owner listens to said production and says: "Yea, these guys are pretty good. Let's book 'em here for Thursday night and see how they do."
2) Attractive female local music fan gets a hold of a copy of one of the demos you hand out at a show ... listens to it, and likes it. You meet her at a club a week or two down the road, and your music becomes a topic of conversation. As long as you don't act like a complete moron, there is a chance you might find her in your bed with her clothes sprawled on the floor at some point in the near future.
The chances of 2 are probably very bleak -- I mean, let's be honest here. Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately?
Again, assuming the chances of outcome 2 happening, while mildly realistic, are still very slim ... the most you can probably hope for are number 1.
And I will assure you, just in case you have any questions about this ... The approval / admiration of the bar owner and the cute local music chick will have absolutely no bearing on what kind of mic pre you used to track with. I will promise you this. And I will repeat it because it bears repeating: The opinion of the local bar owner and the imaginary, mildly cute chick who digs your tunes ... will not be swayed, one way or the other, by your choice of mic pre ... during the initial tracking of your artistic masterpiece.
Alright ... just so we're clear on this.
.
B
Big Daddy
Guest
I listened to the stuff and the players were very good.
But it was not a good recording so using that to prove your point did the exact opposite.
In fact it proved to me that you can never have enough mics and pres.
You can never have enough compressors and limiters which are different, also gates.
That using the same pre gives the same tone and it makes certain frequencies heavy in the recording, I guess that's were the term "fix it in the mix" came from.
What can be done, what's good enough and attitudes like that seem to promote mediocrity.
Like cooking with only salt and pepper.......you need other flavors or everything will taste the same.
You can't compare the sonic quality of a Neve console recorded years ago with some pre in a $2000 home studio setup.
The bottom line is the better the quality of what is being recorded will provide you with a superior starting point not a superior product. It's only the beginning of the chain.
Sorry guys but some of you are rank amateurs.....or is that manures, same difference.
Sounds like laziness rules around here. Yeah, do it cheaper that will be good enough. Yeah we just threw the shit together and it sounded pretty good, yeah good enough.
But it was not a good recording so using that to prove your point did the exact opposite.
In fact it proved to me that you can never have enough mics and pres.
You can never have enough compressors and limiters which are different, also gates.
That using the same pre gives the same tone and it makes certain frequencies heavy in the recording, I guess that's were the term "fix it in the mix" came from.
What can be done, what's good enough and attitudes like that seem to promote mediocrity.
Like cooking with only salt and pepper.......you need other flavors or everything will taste the same.
You can't compare the sonic quality of a Neve console recorded years ago with some pre in a $2000 home studio setup.
The bottom line is the better the quality of what is being recorded will provide you with a superior starting point not a superior product. It's only the beginning of the chain.
Sorry guys but some of you are rank amateurs.....or is that manures, same difference.
Sounds like laziness rules around here. Yeah, do it cheaper that will be good enough. Yeah we just threw the shit together and it sounded pretty good, yeah good enough.
J
jonasjamison
New member
sorry mispost
Ford Van
Banned
Got a link to the stuff you have engineered?
Here is some stuff I did. ART Dual MP on about 28 of the 32 tracks. http://www.phoenixlightandsound.com/Audio/HeavyBrothers/
Tell me which 4 tracks have the focusrite Red 8 and TL Audio Classic pre's on them.
T
The Axis
Member
I think it is quite the opposite.
There is a realization that recording is an art that does not depend upon expensive equipment.
If I may make an example: Does anyone think that they will become a better guitar player if they buy more expensive tuning keys.
They might work slightly smoother for you; maybe you think they are "worth it".
But Hendrix is still Hendrix, and you are still you. I'll bet every guitar player here owns a guitar that is "better" than the 60-70's stratocasters that Jimi used (I owned one). They were some of the crappiest guitars ever produced. Somehow, he worked with hem, and played them.
But obsession with buying new stuff is completely a distraction from what it really takes to produce good sounding recordings.
That is why I always try to avoid getting too opinionated one way or the other. I just advocate A/B testing and see if you can really hear a difference. Time and time again, though, in truly blind A/B tests of preamps, even people who consider themselves "audiophiles" can't really distinguish preamps. Maybe you can. Only you can find out.
J
jaybriggs84
New member
Not nearly as important as, musician, instrument, mic, and room.
TerraMortim
New member
get over it and quit whining...the world doesn't have to cater to every single person who gets offended by ...EVERYTHING!
giraffe
i love negative rep
preamp= less then other things.
AMcB
Why you gotta be so mean?
I would say a mic and pre is about like a guitar and and amp. if you have a sweet guitar and a crappy amp, it wont sound as good as it would through a good amp.
Ford Van
Banned
No, it really isn't that kind of disparity at all.
P
PhiloBeddoe
New member
I'd describe the need for a new preamp subjectively as follows. If when listening to your recordings you think "this sounds bad" or "this is not what I want at all", then a different preamp will not help. If you think "this sounds great in every way and is totally usable, but I'd like to try another flavor or take it to the next level", then a new preamp might help.
M-Audio DMP3 is a popular choice in your price range for around $160.
Sonixx
New member
B
Big Daddy
Guest
In response to ford van.
You fall into that typical look what I have done what have you done thing.
I listened and I'm not impressed. Can't tell much about anything it that everything seems to have a dull overly compressed sound, no shimmer, no presence and NO production. It as though you just turned everything on set it and let them play.
I also hear a little funny buzzy sound some times like you some times let the something overdrive something else...it comes and goes and I've heard it before in amateur recordings, very subtle and it could be coming from the data transfer. I don't know enough to say why, just that I hear it.
The players are all very good and the vocalists are very good too. You did not bring out the best in her voice, again dull and lifeless.
The music is actually very boring because of the lack of emotional peaks and valley's. Is that because of your recording techniques? That's why I ask, is it your fault or the players? Nothing jumps out at you like an old Tower of power recording or Isley Brothers. The horns are really dull.
Squeaky trumpets......nice bass sound though....you need to get more crispness from the snare.
A lot of mids.....
The vocals sound too dry and not fat in the frequencies he needs help with, he's weak on his something...can't put my finger on it right now. It sounds like you took all his sibilance away...too much.
Same for the cymbals......dull dull dull.....fat but dull.....the crash had a really nice doosshhh sound but lacked that clean high end a cymbal needs.
Were you trying to get a B-3 sound? It sounded too flutey. The separation between male and female vocalist wasn't there they sounded like the same person only different gender, you catch what I mean? Was that supposed to be a clavinet?
Maybe a lot of the things I hear in negative way is because of the data transfer over the internet......I just hear that funny buzziness on her voice as I'm typing this, it was right before the trumpet???? solo when she says "got ta want it"....again a little later that sounds more definitive like preamp over drive.
Good performance....OK engineering, although a tad amateurish.......weak, very weak and poor production. Whomever produced it really is a non entity overall because there is no production value whatsoever and that's what makes those recordings, just plain boring and generic 1970's Funk.
I guess I can't tell you what preamp you used....would it matter judging by your recording.
I'm new to recording though. Not to music and live performance.
I have been recorded and have been on cable TV as a performer and was well know in my area at one time.
Have you?
I worked for Blue Sky records....big deal......Teddy Slatus and Steve Paul...lowlives. Who are they you ask.....
I have friends who were recorded on major labels and played with top names...big deal.....my friend Jim's ex guitar player is David Bowie's guitarist. Some local guys were Billy Idol's rhythm section....big deal....my friend Tom is Bob Dylan's guitar tech and they are all friends with Larry DiMarzio....big deal.
My late friend was the A&R man who signed the Spin Doctors. BIG DEAL...
I worked on a band who was produced by Adrian Barber, if you don't know who that is, well you need to do some homework.
I hated the music business and got out before I hit my early 20's.
Got back into it later for sheets and giggles. Yet I came close to being signed as an artist with Alligator records.......it's a hard business.
One thing I have learned is that we all never heard some of the best musicians or artist or recording engineers because they moved on and away from this business.
It's filled with the dregs of society and as you climb the ladder you will find the pinnacle of the scum of the earth who sit at the top of the industry.
So what I'm saying Mr. Ford van...who the F are you and who cares.....??????
I don't take myself that seriously, I'm just a person. And by the way that Avatar is offensive but if you enjoy being offensive so be it.
You fall into that typical look what I have done what have you done thing.
I listened and I'm not impressed. Can't tell much about anything it that everything seems to have a dull overly compressed sound, no shimmer, no presence and NO production. It as though you just turned everything on set it and let them play.
I also hear a little funny buzzy sound some times like you some times let the something overdrive something else...it comes and goes and I've heard it before in amateur recordings, very subtle and it could be coming from the data transfer. I don't know enough to say why, just that I hear it.
The players are all very good and the vocalists are very good too. You did not bring out the best in her voice, again dull and lifeless.
The music is actually very boring because of the lack of emotional peaks and valley's. Is that because of your recording techniques? That's why I ask, is it your fault or the players? Nothing jumps out at you like an old Tower of power recording or Isley Brothers. The horns are really dull.
Squeaky trumpets......nice bass sound though....you need to get more crispness from the snare.
A lot of mids.....
The vocals sound too dry and not fat in the frequencies he needs help with, he's weak on his something...can't put my finger on it right now. It sounds like you took all his sibilance away...too much.
Same for the cymbals......dull dull dull.....fat but dull.....the crash had a really nice doosshhh sound but lacked that clean high end a cymbal needs.
Were you trying to get a B-3 sound? It sounded too flutey. The separation between male and female vocalist wasn't there they sounded like the same person only different gender, you catch what I mean? Was that supposed to be a clavinet?
Maybe a lot of the things I hear in negative way is because of the data transfer over the internet......I just hear that funny buzziness on her voice as I'm typing this, it was right before the trumpet???? solo when she says "got ta want it"....again a little later that sounds more definitive like preamp over drive.
Good performance....OK engineering, although a tad amateurish.......weak, very weak and poor production. Whomever produced it really is a non entity overall because there is no production value whatsoever and that's what makes those recordings, just plain boring and generic 1970's Funk.
I guess I can't tell you what preamp you used....would it matter judging by your recording.
I'm new to recording though. Not to music and live performance.
I have been recorded and have been on cable TV as a performer and was well know in my area at one time.
Have you?
I worked for Blue Sky records....big deal......Teddy Slatus and Steve Paul...lowlives. Who are they you ask.....
I have friends who were recorded on major labels and played with top names...big deal.....my friend Jim's ex guitar player is David Bowie's guitarist. Some local guys were Billy Idol's rhythm section....big deal....my friend Tom is Bob Dylan's guitar tech and they are all friends with Larry DiMarzio....big deal.
My late friend was the A&R man who signed the Spin Doctors. BIG DEAL...
I worked on a band who was produced by Adrian Barber, if you don't know who that is, well you need to do some homework.
I hated the music business and got out before I hit my early 20's.
Got back into it later for sheets and giggles. Yet I came close to being signed as an artist with Alligator records.......it's a hard business.
One thing I have learned is that we all never heard some of the best musicians or artist or recording engineers because they moved on and away from this business.
It's filled with the dregs of society and as you climb the ladder you will find the pinnacle of the scum of the earth who sit at the top of the industry.
So what I'm saying Mr. Ford van...who the F are you and who cares.....??????
I don't take myself that seriously, I'm just a person. And by the way that Avatar is offensive but if you enjoy being offensive so be it.
Ford Van
Banned
I see, so what you are REALLY saying is that you either:
1 -Don't record bands.
2 - Your recordings suck so bad that you won't share them here, but you like to continue to spout off your opinion about stuff.
What a tool.......