
Zaphod B
Raccoons-Be-Gone, Inc.
Here's the deal.
My mixes need some help and I don't know where to start.
I am using a TASCAM 2488 as my complete studio-in-a-box. My recordings are basic drums / electric bass / electric guitar / acoustic guitar / vocals.
The drums are electronic, recorded direct from a Boss DR-670. The bass is also recorded direct. The electric guitars are also recorded direct, using a Pod XT Live as a modeler and effects processor. Vocals are recorded in a less than optimal room, using a MXL V67G. I use MXL 603S mics for the acoustic guitar.
For now, this is the setup I have to use because I have no bass amplifier / cab, and my guitar amp and cab are elsewhere.
I believe I am tracking everything OK. I'm keeping the levels as close to unity as I can without clipping. I track everything dry, and only use compression on the vocals when the vocal dynamics are difficult for me to control with mic technique.
The problem in the mix is that there is no ambience - it ends up sounding like you are listening to a band playing in a completely damped and non-reverberant, small, environment. So it sounds nice and clean but too.....close? I guess that's to be expected when almost everything is recorded direct, with no ambience whatsoever.
The 2488 has an adequate library of on-board effects, inluding delay and reverbs. What I'm asking of you mixing gurus is some advice on how to open up the sound a little, and how much of what should be applied to the various bits and pieces, as a starting point.
Any help would be appreciated!
My mixes need some help and I don't know where to start.
I am using a TASCAM 2488 as my complete studio-in-a-box. My recordings are basic drums / electric bass / electric guitar / acoustic guitar / vocals.
The drums are electronic, recorded direct from a Boss DR-670. The bass is also recorded direct. The electric guitars are also recorded direct, using a Pod XT Live as a modeler and effects processor. Vocals are recorded in a less than optimal room, using a MXL V67G. I use MXL 603S mics for the acoustic guitar.
For now, this is the setup I have to use because I have no bass amplifier / cab, and my guitar amp and cab are elsewhere.
I believe I am tracking everything OK. I'm keeping the levels as close to unity as I can without clipping. I track everything dry, and only use compression on the vocals when the vocal dynamics are difficult for me to control with mic technique.
The problem in the mix is that there is no ambience - it ends up sounding like you are listening to a band playing in a completely damped and non-reverberant, small, environment. So it sounds nice and clean but too.....close? I guess that's to be expected when almost everything is recorded direct, with no ambience whatsoever.
The 2488 has an adequate library of on-board effects, inluding delay and reverbs. What I'm asking of you mixing gurus is some advice on how to open up the sound a little, and how much of what should be applied to the various bits and pieces, as a starting point.
Any help would be appreciated!
