Newbie: My first home made album

[Automata]

Hi,

I'm new here and I just finished my band's first home made album. I don't have a lot of recording gear, so I used GarageBand, PreSonus Inspire, two microphones (Condenser and Ribbon) and a bunch of free plug-ins. The drums were recorded using mid-side technique only. The Dobro with the ribbon, the electro-acoustic bass DI and the piano is a virtual instrument.

Any critique is appreciated. You can listen to all tracks at www.automataworld.ca

 

[DavidK]

Nice work. Nice song, I like it. My only suggestions would be:

1. The whole thing sounds a bit "wet". Not the vocals. The background sounds like its in a different style than the dry vocals.

2. The intro is a bit long. Its a good 30 seconds before the vox comes in.

Welcome to the forum. Nice song.

 

[Xeries]

Love the Dobro and you are getting a good capture on the drums.

There is a huge hole in the bottom of the song. The acoustic bass is effectively lost.

The piano seems a little thin almost like it doesn't want to admit to being an EP. I feel that you're going for a charming music box kind of tone, but I'm not quite getting it.

Vocals sound well recorded and the performance is very good.

Overall, an enjoyable listen, but I'm not hearing anything below 2Khz.

 

[santiu]

I'm not hearing anything below 2Khz.

? is that a typo, or do i not understand what you're trying to say?

 

[DavidK]

? is that a typo, or do i not understand what you're trying to say?

I assume its a typo. Maybe he means 200 hz. I am hearing the bass, I just need more of it.

 

[Xeries]

I assume its a typo. Maybe he means 200 hz. I am hearing the bass, I just need more of it.

Yupper, that's what I meant. Pardon my typo and misleding comment. Obviously there is sound below 200 hz, but I'm a big bass fan and thought the bottom was empty.

 

[Automata]

Thanks.

DavidK. Good point (1), in fact there is no added reverb in any instrument at all (well except for the electric piano that is a virtual instrument), only the real room sound. But the vocals I recorded with an home made iso-booth, there is not room sound. I should have left some natural sound, or add some plug-in that creates enough of a room. Point (2) you might be right but that is difficult if not impossible to fix this time.

Xeries. I think I know what you mean and I did do a low cut in the master. But I don't see why I need anything below 200Hz. I had some problems with the acoustic bass, since it sounds really boomy and I was trying to keep that under control. BUt I'll see what Happens if I change the EQ a little bit. I don't have a sub-woofer to control those low freq though.

 

[DavidK]

But I don't see why I need anything below 200Hz. I had some problems with the acoustic bass, since it sounds really boomy and I was trying to keep that under control. BUt I'll see what Happens if I change the EQ a little bit. I don't have a sub-woofer to control those low freq though.

The bass is below 200 hz. A low violin note is about 200hz, so you can imagine that the bass part is considerably lower. Anyhoo, all you have to do is turn the bass track up a bit. Its not the eq, its a balance issue and if you turn the bass up 2-3 db it should be fine.

 

[Automata]

The bass is below 200 hz. A low violin note is about 200hz, so you can imagine that the bass part is considerably lower. Anyhoo, all you have to do is turn the bass track up a bit. Its not the eq, its a balance issue and if you turn the bass up 2-3 db it should be fine.

Yes, I know, what I meant is that looking at the spectrum plot the Freq There seem to be fine compared to commercial CDs. I should have said, that why you need things to be hotter there?. To my ears it sounds fine, heavy without being boomy.

 

[mrhotapples]

I think I'll agree, the bass guitar should come up a little bit, it's quiet. Just a titch.