Proof that an expensive studio isn't always necessary

  • Thread starter Thread starter thebigcheese
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thebigcheese

thebigcheese

"Hi, I'm in Delaware."
http://gizmodo.com/5231112/best-video-ive-seen-today-will-make-you-smile

I'm sure at least some of you have seen this video by now, but the cool thing for me is that, at least if we are to believe the video footage, all of it was recorded out in the streets, not in a big, expensive studio. As home recordists, I'm sure most of us are aware that we can get pretty good recordings working with the crappy spaces we have, but here's just some more affirmation that with a little work, you can get awesome results no matter where you record.

I've always wanted to record outside, actually, just never thought of how to do it and not worry about all the nature sounds and traffic ruining the track.
 
This is proof that a good performance, engineering, mixing, and appropriate gear do have a large impact on the sound of a song.

There is no way it would sound this good if it would have been recorded in a 10x10 bedroom.

It reminds me of a good live recording. But better because of the Isolation of the tracks.
The outdoors had a whole range of awesome acoustic spaces. It would be great if we all could do this.
But there are some challenges. There are problems with background noise, wind, legal issues, repeatability, isolation, etc.
 
that was so cool. i don't think it means anyone can do that. it just means a talented producer had a cool idea and found some talented street musicians. i wonder how he isolated the sounds so well? especially on that crowded boardwalk. Also i don't think whatever mics and preamps he was using were cheapos. but that was cool i'm glad i saw it.
 
Let me be clear that I'm not saying anyone could do it. I'm just saying that it does show that it's possible to get a sweet sound out of what I would normally imagine to be a crappy space to work in.

You are probably right that a small room would be worse because of the small size, but then again, I can't imagine that recording in an alley would be much better, and it looks like he did that. Maybe the lack of ceiling and long walls help mitigate?

Anyway, maybe I'll start experimenting with outdoor recordings now.
 
Big spaces are always better. Outdoor recordings are always really cool because there is less reflection. Damn Yankee's did a lot of the vocals outside.
 
Really cool. Thanks for sharing. I also wonder how he got such good isolation.

I also wonder how everything was so in tune! Guess he carried around a tuner.

I'm gonna start recording in my backyard! My neighbors will love it.:)
 
Where's my post from 5 min. ago, go to???

I've seen that vid before- I am on their email list- I must have gotten way too cynical, as I usually just send them to trash... went back and retrevied the last one!

I have met Granpa Elliot, and played a bit of music with Washboard Chaz, on the streets of New Orleans, when I lived there (1986 till 2001.) I am providing a little bit of percussion for my too-big guitar group, I think I will go looking for a washboard...

Thanks for the reality check! I guess I forgot what was really important to me.

But problems with recording outdoors? I think they are fairly easily overcome with the right equipment:

Background noise, isolation- shotgun/highly directional mics, careful about positioning in reference to reflective surfaces (buildings, etc.) Jackson Square in New Orleans is pretty big and has few walls, the side he was on is quite a ways from Decatur street, where the traffic is. I imagine the producer chose similar spaces, elsewhere. Oh, and for what it's worth, I think Washboard Chaz was recorded somewhere in the 9th Ward, or Bywater, but Robert Luti is in Jackson Square...
Wind- that fuzzy wind screen
Legal issues- are you joking? Public spaces, public faces- only legality would be permission from the actual performers
Repeatability- using same tuner, same metronome everywhere.

Wouldn't it have been a HOOT to be part of that project??

Have you been to the playingforchange.com site, and viewed the other projects? I am headed to StarSucks (oops, I mean Starbucks) to grab the DVD...
 
Boy, I must have grown up on a different planet (I think we all suspected that anyway ;) :D ). I find recording outdoors to absolutely suck. Not that it can't be done, and done well, but other than the obvious problems of dealing with the elements (let's not forget that it doesn't take that much of a breeze to register on your typical microphone; that's why God created wind screens), you have the fact that if you remove all surface reflections, you have the equivalent of playing in an anechoic chamber.

There's a reason why indoor studios are not made anechoic (it would be easy to do); it usually sounds awful. This is largely because of the artificiality of the sound, but also because the performers are not getting the aural feedback they don't realize they need. You have the same issue outdoors.

When you do get some reflection out doors, from another building or rock face or whatever, it's often going to be in the form of a slap back or delay. if you have multiple walls, you'll get multiple slap backs.

Then there's the fact that the outdoors wants to suck the bass out at close range, not letting it develop fully until a couple of full wavelengths away from the source. Have you ever played out doors and barely been able to hear the bass on stage, but when you get to the parking lot the bass is thumping away like distant thunder?

Give me a decent-sized room *indoors* any day, thank you very much. :o

G.
 
I like that nice fresh A string on homeboy's acoustic git at the beginning!!!
 
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