Need help with improving production of songs on VF80

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pinballwizard

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During this spring break me and my band want to record now that we have good mics, and mics for the drums specifically. The main problem I've had with recording, however, is that I cannot get my recordings to sound anywhere near professional, or anything more than, amatuer/punk sounding.

Anyways, I just need some hints or tips or whatnot regarding where I should mike the instruments (placement), mix tracks, where to pan them out (especially multiple guitars and solos, and vocals), how to equalize them properly, and how much reverb and compression to master the final product with. Anything to make it sound like something people would pay money for heh.

The best sounding song I'd say I've recorded is here, www.myspace.com/ericandthegenerics - Only bother listening to "Brother's War" and "Power Supply". I'd appreciate any constructive criticism for these songs, and don't bother telling me about any bad, yelling/screaming type vocals - that's already taken care of, and on Power Supply I messed around with some vocal distortion effect on the Fostex so yea its kinda funky. Any advice or examples of how you record is appreciated and thanks in advance to anyone who replies.
 
I recommend two books for recording newbies:
(1) Home Recording For Musicians For Dummies, 2nd Edition by Jeff Strong.
(2) The Everything Home Recording Book by Marc Schonburn.

Of the two, I think Strong's book is, for lack of a better term, stronger [I couldn't resist the pun and I'm not apologizing]. Schonburn's seems to be aimed more at computer-based recording and is short on explanations as to the why certain things are done a certain way.

Both books have extensive suggestions for mic placement. Strong also addresses such issues/questions as baffles, isolation techniques and has more to offer one who uses other means than computer-based recording.

Check your local library and if the library doesn't have it, request it through inter-library loan. And if you prefer to purchase a copy, you should be able to find it at the nearest Barnes & Noble or Borders.

Hope this helps
 
Take it from me, the best way to help yourself is PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE... The above mentioned books can give you some direction, but the only way to get better at it is to do it.

Use a professional CD by your favorite group as a reference and try to emulate it. You can't match the volume because of the quality of home recording equipment (unless you can afford to pay $10,000 for a pre amp), but you can at least get the mixing part of it.

Getting it tracked correctly in the beginning is more important IMHO than being able to mix it. If it's tracked (recorded) properly from the start, it will practically mix itself.

Good luck, and don't give up if you can't get it right away. Some of us have been plugging away at it for some time and still don't feel we are good enough.
 
Rokket,
You da man!
You're right, all the books in the world are not going to substitute for actual trial and error.
Also, keep logs of what you're doing, so if something doesn't work--you'll at least have a notation for what not to do and avoid repeating it on future attempts.
Another word of encouragement: remember that there are no written in stone immutable laws except for one: the song is the priority. So just because some particular micing technique or placement doesn't work on one particular song or one track doesn't mean it won't work on a different song or instrument.
Whatever enhances the song and invites the listener in to experience what you are trying to communicate is the goal--even if it violates some expert's concept of what should or shouldn't be done in the studio.
 
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