my recordings don't have depth!

[cokesodanotdrug]

Alright so recently I've been trying to record music, I've used my computer (WinXP, soundcard: creative Sound Blaster audigy 2 ZS) and I've used a 4 track (Tascam portastudio 03 MKII) and I've noticed that with both of them, they don't have that deep music feel, it sounds like they're merely surface noises or something. Is there anyway to change this? Using the four track I've tried setting up two mic imputs to give it more of a stereo sound, but it doesn't really work too well, I moved from a large room to a small room. The large room is 4 times as big as the small it's shaped rectangularly with two alcoves, one is meant to be a closet, the other is just an alcove. The small is about 9'X10' rectangular, no funny shapes.

Is there any way to give the recordings more depth? Make them sound more like music rather than surface noises? for examples go to http://www.redrevolution.net there's a flash player on top, wait for that to load and those are the recordings with the computer. I have no idea how to get the recordings from the 4 track recorder onto the computer without going through the computer which would inevitably make the 4 track sound even less desirable than it already is.

Also, the mics Used are, with the computer recordings usually a computer mic *I have tried using the next mentioned mics with a 1/4 to 1/6 *I think* converter* a Speco MHL-1, and an ElectroVoice N/D 757B.

 

[Farview]

You are recording in mono.....Stop that.

You need to record each instrument with it's own mic(s) and pan them across the stereo field.

 

[cokesodanotdrug]

haha I know but even when I try with the stereo stuff (I think?) with the four track it doesn't have that depth that most recordings *even local bands* seem to have.

How should I go about recording to get the stereo effect then? I'll guess I need some sort of mixer and a couple decent instrument mics rather than the ones I mentioned?

 

[OhSh1rt]

You are recording in mono.....Stop that

signed.


-jeffrey

 

[Massive Master]

I've noticed a tendency (besides recording at levels that are WAY too hot, which can also easily make a mix sound "small") of close mic'ing every damn thing.

You want "space" and openness" in your recordings? Put some between the source and the mic first.

Not implying that's the problem here, but it could be part of it.

 

[Farview]

If you have to record the entire band at the same time, you will need more mics.
one on the bass, one on the guitar, 3 on the drums, one for each vocal.


At the very least, if you can find two of the same mics, you could put one in front of the bass amp, pointing towards the drums, and the other in front of the guitar amp facing the drums. (about 3 feet away from the amps, with the bass amp on one side of the drums and the guitar amp on the other)

You also need to watch your levels, that recording is really distorted, that doesn't help.

You might want to tune the instruments as well.

 

[cokesodanotdrug]

I'd have to say space between us and the mic is not a big issue, we've got the mic on the other end of the room from us when we record. I just figured I'd try a smaller space to see if maybe that would help contain the noise and get a better sound, but it didn't work.

 

[Farview]

You will never get a sense of space or depth with just one mic.

 

[cokesodanotdrug]

When I was in the smaller room I was using the 4 track which has two inputs per track, meaning two mics at the same time.

 

[Farview]

Did you record them to two different tracks and pan them?

 

[cokesodanotdrug]

I don't think so, should I have one input go to track1 and the other input go to track two then play both of them and have one play to the left and the other to the right headphone?

 

[Farview]

I don't think so, should I have one input go to track1 and the other input go to track two then play both of them and have one play to the left and the other to the right headphone?

Yes. If you have 100 mics and they are all panned to the same place, you still have mono.

 

[cokesodanotdrug]

alright, I tried that out, and it worked, but now I have no idea how to get it to the computer, should I have it direct line from the 4 track player to the computer and play all the tracks at the same time with the left right knobs back and forth? I tried doing each track individually but it didn't work very well.

Also, I think I'm going to pick up some mics, what kind should I get? I don't know too much about mics either.