not sure how to title this!

[jjhipv]

Hi,

I hope i've put this in the right forum. I've had a bit of a search to find the right/best answer but didn't really turn much up.

Anyway, The band I play in are getting ready to record an e.p. We're a two-piece band and we're both as broke as possible so we're trying to do it as cheaply as possible (as is everyone i guess). We've always recorded, mixed and done everything ourselves before and been reasonably happy with the results, but would like to step up the quality for this next cd. With our limited funds i'm trying to decide where our money would be best spent.

Our first thought has been to maybe record the drum tracks in a studio as these are the hardest for us to do ourselves. Then record everything else at home, mix it ourselves and then perhaps get the cd professionally mastered.
I'm wondering if what people here thought of this or if anyone has any different suggestions (perhaps recording everything ourselves and getting it professionally mixed and mastered, or everything professionally tracked and doing the rest ourselves).

I've put some mp3's below of the stuff we've already recorded ourselves so you can see the level of quality we have achieved before, and to give you an idea of my "mixing" and "mastering" skills, or lack there of. These were done over a year ago and i would expect to do a slightly better job now but obviously it's far from being professional. Lastly, we only play with guitar and drums, so you may notice a lack of bass throughout.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/7/19/1278377/05 Justine's Housemate Lives In London.mp3

thanks.

 

[pipelineaudio]

minus the distortion this sounds pretty good!

Keep the levels down, get it mastered by a pro and you probably have the skills to pull this off

 

[masteringhouse]

Our first thought has been to maybe record the drum tracks in a studio as these are the hardest for us to do ourselves. Then record everything else at home, mix it ourselves and then perhaps get the cd professionally mastered.
I'm wondering if what people here thought of this or if anyone has any different suggestions (perhaps recording everything ourselves and getting it professionally mixed and mastered, or everything professionally tracked and doing the rest ourselves).

I think that this is an excellent idea and is often what I recommend for folks on a budget, or indie artists in general. There are of course varying levels on what is optimal based on your budget, but if it were me I would:

1. Perform pre-production in the home studio and make certain that all parts of the song and arrangements were known before going to the studio, as well as practicing until everyone could play their parts in one or two takes.

2. Record all of the basic tracks in a pro studio with a scratch vocal.

3. Record vocals and overdubs in a home studio and perform any editing/comps. Also if overdubbing guitars or bass, mult the track so that the direct signal might be re-amped later in a pro studio.

4. Go back to a pro studio, re-recording the re-amped signals if needed, and then all mixing.

5. Choose a pro mastering facility different from the studio where the tracks were mixed.

 

[VomitHatSteve]

Your old tracks sound pretty good. I'd say go DYI with as much as you feel comfortable/happy with.

If you're not happy with how drums turn out when you record them at home, then sure, go to a studio for them.

 

[jjhipv]

Thanks for the replies.

I've been talking with the other band member and we've decided we are probably going to try recording the drums ourselves and see how well they turn out. If they turn out well then we'll go on to record the rest ourselves. If not, then we may have to rethink recording in a studio. Either way we will be getting the cd professionally mastered as i'm guessing so long as we do a reasonable job with the rest, this will have the biggest effect on the quality of the finished cd.

 

[RAMI]

Either way we will be getting the cd professionally mastered as i'm guessing so long as we do a reasonable job with the rest, this will have the biggest effect on the quality of the finished cd.

Not to nit-pic, but...NO, it won't. Mastering won't help a "reasonable" mixing job sound any more than "reasonable". In a sense, don't expect mastering to do ANYTHING for you. I know that sounds like I'm exaggerating a bit, and maybe I am, but not by much.
I know it's a cliche we hear a lot, but it's so true that you have to get it right at the source. And I mean way back at the beginning starting with the talent, then what that talent's going into next, which would be the mic (or guitar or whatever), then the pre-amps, console, etc....In that order. The mastering will have the least effect and should be the last thing you depend on.

 

[andyhix]

Not to nit-pic, but...NO, it won't. Mastering won't help a "reasonable" mixing job sound any more than "reasonable". In a sense, don't expect mastering to do ANYTHING for you. I know that sounds like I'm exaggerating a bit, and maybe I am, but not by much.
I know it's a cliche we hear a lot, but it's so true that you have to get it right at the source. And I mean way back at the beginning starting with the talent, then what that talent's going into next, which would be the mic (or guitar or whatever), then the pre-amps, console, etc....In that order. The mastering will have the least effect and should be the last thing you depend on.

That's all true, but it may still be the one thing that makes the most sense to not DIY. Fresh ears, new and better listening environment, better gear, and all that.

 

[RAMI]

That's all true, but it may still be the one thing that makes the most sense to not DIY. Fresh ears, new and better listening environment, better gear, and all that.

True. Problem is, unless they have all the seeds, they can't change anything IN the mix, during mastering. Otherwise, they're just MIXING again.

 

[Farview]

The acoustic guitar sounds good, the electric isn't bad. The vocals are horribly distorted (you might be doing that on purpose. If so, bravo) and the drums are pretty boxy and lifeless.

I would do the drums at a studio, then do the rest at home. Watch the levels on the vocals.

I would almost suggest that you get it mixed professionally too. You seem to have a decent ear for it, but it sounds like you are having gain staging problems. Of course, if you are not on a tight schedule, you could take the time to learn a little bit more of the technical side of mixing. It's not that big of a deal since you seem to have the artistic side of mixing down.

 

[jjhipv]

Thanks for all the advice!

Hi Rami, you make some very valid points with regards to mastering, but surely it must have SOME positive effect or it wouldn't be needed. I realise that if you put crap in, you get crap out, and mastering won't save a bad quality tracking and mixing job, but I also accept that i'm not going to be able to get a top quality job done on the budget that i have and so i'm looking for a happy medium. Would you suggest that mastering is not the best place to spend my limited budget, if so what area of the process would you say is? thanks.

With regards to the distorted vocals Farview, is this problem throughout each song? We definitely push our vocals into a shouting/screaming type thing quite often (due to the style of music) but i'm worried you are noticing problems that i have missed. I know we didn't record the vocals too loud. Also, are the gain staging problems you mention in relation to the vocals, or are they evident elsewhere? Thanks to you too.

josh

 

[Farview]

With regards to the distorted vocals Farview, is this problem throughout each song? We definitely push our vocals into a shouting/screaming type thing quite often (due to the style of music) but i'm worried you are noticing problems that i have missed. I know we didn't record the vocals too loud. Also, are the gain staging problems you mention in relation to the vocals, or are they evident elsewhere? Thanks to you too.

josh

The vocals are distorted mainly when there are a bunch of voices at the same time. The main vocal is distorted only on yelling parts.

Listening to the mp3, I can't tell if the vocals are distorting by themselves or if the song is getting loud (because of the vocals) and distorting the mix buss. What are you recording/mixing on?

 

[Rokket]

The vocals are distorted mainly when there are a bunch of voices at the same time. The main vocal is distorted only on yelling parts.

Listening to the mp3, I can't tell if the vocals are distorting by themselves or if the song is getting loud (because of the vocals) and distorting the mix buss. What are you recording/mixing on?

It actually sounds like they had recorded the vocals waaaay too hot....