Question about monitoring/mixingdown

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Godsguitarist

New member
Hello again!! From what I have read, it is a no no to do final mixes, etc. with headphones because it will over all make you make the sound muddy. I have yet to buy any monitors, being themselves or headphones for the purpose, and I was wondering why this is, if it is, (and if there are any other problems please let me know) how could I, if possible, get around this with only $50 to spend on monitors? Would good computer speakers be ok? Or would they be too "colored"? Please help me!! Thanks in advance!!

Just in case, I have a new Tascam 424 MkIII if it matters, I don't think it will, but someone may have a hint of somesort that my question and my gear may have specifically in common. ????

Brandon
 
Also, I was wondering if anybody knew of any freeware that I could easily change files from .wav format to .mp3 format. Thanks again!!

Brandon
 
Yo guitarist from God. Because of headphones not being accurate when it comes to frequency response, not to mention that they give you an unrealistic stereo image, it is very hard to get a good mix using cans. It is not impossible but very hard to do. You would need to know the strengths and weaknesses of the cans and be able to account for them during your mix down. I would almost recommend using a set of stereo speakers over headphones. But there again, you are dealing with pretty much the same situation.

I can tell you that 50 bucks isn't going to get you anywhere with reference to monitors unless you get realy lucky and find a used pair that someone is practically giving away.

As far as your name goes, can I assume that you are using your God given gift to play for His glory.

Keep on strummin'

Joe
 
You're right Joe, I am!! Also, JC does live!! In me and all of those who have received Him as our Saviour. :) I am using my 4-track to record sermons of my youth pastor as well as my bands music and the youth praise and worship band in which I play, as well (only done it once, it sounds like crap, but it will get better, hopefully :)). I will probably just have to pray (literally) that I may be able to find a decent set of monitors used off of the lovely ebay. The reason my money is so limited is because I turned 16 (today) and my mom is going to take me out and buy me some stuff for recording for my birthday. Unfortunately, like most people in America, especially those that are teenagers looking to get their first car soon (the only reason I choose a car over recording :) is because God revealed to me in a vision that I could better serve Him if I had a car, or at least more than with my music, but not saying that He's not using our music. You know what I mean, right? :)) I don't have all of the finances I "need" to get a decent setup, but for now I guess I will live. I appreciate your input, though. I am presuming there's nothing I can do until I get a car and a job, of which will hopefully be soon. Anyways, thanks again for your input and have an awesome life!!!

Brandon
 
JC Lives said:
...Because of headphones not being accurate when it comes to frequency response...
Click to expand...

Er, no.... proper reference headphones will have better frequency response than monitors because there are no room anomalies for them to deal with - not to mention the fact that it is easier to design for accuracy with drivers that are less than 2 inches in size compared to monitors!

The problem with mixing on them is simple - they don't sound like speakers! Most of the world hears music thru speakers, and that's the sound we are mostly used to - if everyone listened on headphones most of the time, we could mix on 'em! Even so, mixes made on monitors translate very well to headphones, the converse is simply not true.

Stereo imaging is not so much unrealistic (as someone said) as simply exaggerated. Reverb tends to be more obvious, so in mixing, you would tend to put in less effect than is actually needed. And if you're not used to the extended/even frequency response, you will not be able to compensate properly, resulting in mixes that are bass-shy and dull (except when listening on headphones!).

The problem is compounded further if you use non-reference headphones, whose frequency response is hyped in much the same way consumer speakers are. There ARE 2 types of headphones - reference and tracking. Reference phones are designed for great accuracy in frequency response and are fairly costly, however they allow proper judgement in sonic details. Tracking cans are designed for casual listening and tracking purposes - they may allow for hot input signals and their response is usually hyped in one fashion or another (Audio-Technica markets a pair geared to drum tracking where the low-freq response is hyped significantly to allow the drummer to better hear the bass line!) - making them suitable only when NOT making sonic decisions.

For $50 you can pretty much forget about it either way (monitors OR headphones) - if you're willing to part with around $200, you can get yourself a pair of Yorkville YSM-1 monitors.

Good luck,

Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound


PS - notice the non-secular language and lack of religious references??? C'mon guys, please keep the religion to yourselves! The people here that want to know about it ALREADY KNOW, and the rest of us DON'T WANT IT!
 
Hey guys!! I would like to start off by aplogizing if I have offended anyone with my "religious references." This was not my intention and, as to your request, Bruce, I will not talk about it, as much (sorry, but I've got to a little bit everyonce in a while, at least!! :)). I may have overdone it a little bit, but Bruce, and all others out there feeling the same way, I know you may not want to hear this, and I do not mean to offend you, but my religion to me is like the ultimate studio to you. It makes me happier than anything and everyone else that I know that is truly in it has the most joy. I did not say happiness there because it's not always happy, because nothing on earth is perfect, obviously, but there is always light and nothing is ever dark forever, with the exception of hell. Religion is what my life is mostly based on like some of yours may be recording. Therefore, if given the opportunity to talk about it, I can't help but do so. I really do appreciate your knoweledge and help and the sharing of them, Bruce. In this respect, I will share with you what I have somewhat of a knoweledge in, but you have requested that I do not do so and therefore I won't. Thanks to everyone who has and/or is helping me. Have a groovy day!!

Brandon

PS - Are those Yorkville's powered, Bruce?
 
Hey....

The Yorkvilles are not powered (not at the $200 price point!), but they may have a powered version available...

You can check out their site at http://www.yorkville.com

Cheers,
Bruce
:)
 
godsguitarist, well said.

Bruce, this is the way it is. I am like our young friend here very much into Jesus. It likewise brings me great joy. I am sure that there is something that you get very excited about and love to talk to someone else that has the same passion. As an example if you had a 64 mustang and were just so passionate about it and you found someone else that had one and shared that same passion, I am sure that you would love to talk to them about it.

As far as this thread goes, I felt I passed on some useful information to our new friend here as well as you did. I do not see the harm in sharing our common passion along with it. If you read a lot of other threads in this bbs, you will find the same thing about all kinds of topics.

I am not out to bash you here Bruce. I value the information that you share with everyone here. As a matter of fact, I rank you one of the top members on this board. I just wanted to share my thoughts with you.

I hope you can understand this and appreciate my feelings as I do yours. I typically do not usually sharre my faith when I post here. I know I have on occasion only when I felt like sharing or when I felt it was appropriate.

Peace Brother

Joe
 
Agreed... BUT... threads like that tend to start "religious wars" (not by me!!!) resulting in posts that have nothing to do with recording at all - which is the REAL reason we're all here in the first place.

If you want to talk about Mustangs, you take it to a forum designated for that.... if I want religion, I'll go to church or watch Ned Flanders on The Simpsons. When I'm here (in the forums outside of the Dragon Cave), I want to talk RECORDING!

But hey, my opinions are my own, and I don't want to imply that I speak for others here........

Cheers :)

Bruce
 
G.G.

Go ahead and make a mix using headphones. Then play it back in your car. You'll see why everyone cautions against it. Thats how I started out too, cause that's all I had. So I would make notes on what was wrong with the mix (both hands on the wheel, son!), and remix accordingly, and play it in the car again. Back and forth, back and forth, till I got what I wanted. In the process, I also learned pretty well how to compensate for the sound of my phones, and the rest of the house could sleep while I played. And you'll still be able to afford to buy that car.

Twist
 
Hey guys!!! I completely understand what you mean by "religious wars" Bruce. I also understand what you mean by postings in their appropriate places. Anyways, I listened to the difference between a basic 2 track song, vocals and guitar, that I had recorded first through my headphones, then through my home stereo. WOW!! There's quite a bit of difference, especially in the mid range (hehe, I think). Everything has a tendency to sound muddier through the stereo. I am not completely sure what I'm going to do just yet, but for now my only option will be mixing down according to my stereo. This isn't the best method, but it works I suppose. What I do is I have an RCA stereo to 1/8" stereo adapter. I put a CD/TAPE adapter in the second deck of my stereo and push play. I use this to mix everything together (all two of them!!! :D) and to record it to a tape. I should be getting Sound Forge 4.5 soon (not buying, shhhh!!!!) so I will, if possible, mix down to my comp after I get that. I will go check those yorkville's out, Bruce. And twist, I will, kind of am, heeding your words, except I'll be using my homestereo, however, I will also need to go to different stereos so I'll use my parents stereo as well. Thanks to all who have replied and I aplogize for any offendings!!!

Have a groovy day!!

Brandon
 
If I hear God speaking to me (literally) I think I'd sh*t my pants!
 
If I hear God speaking to me (literally) I think I'd sh*t my pants!

But IMO I think God would rather you buy recording equipment than a car. At least with recording you're not destroying the atmosphere and making the world unbearable for all of the "lesser" animals, not mention yourself. But I'll try not to be hypocritical as I drive a car and just LOVE platic products. Wheee!!
 
What's up G.G.

I won't touch the religious issues (G.G. is just a name :)).

bvaleria is sharing very good technical information with you, as well as twist.

Just keep listening to your mix-downs on various types of sound systems until you can afford to purchase the Yorkville monitors (or even the Event 20/20's :D).

Even when you do purchase the reference monitors, you still will/should want to listen to the music on various types of sound systems.

I am fortunate enough to be a DJ, so I can listen to the my music on the club's sound system (as well as being able to view the crowds response).

Peace
SPIN
 
Wow, many replies today. Yeah, spinster, that's all I will be able to do for a while!! Another advantage to having a car, A JOB!!! Less recording and practice time with the band, but more mula to buy Makie VLZ-PRO's, JBL's, maybe a few Carvin poweramps, and, of course Yorkville monitors with!!!! :) Thanks to all who have replied!! All info is GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! Anyone else have an opinion to add in???

Brandon

P.S. A small bit of advice, never leave your only mic at church!!! Especially when the only other one you have is a "Realistic" that's older than you are!!!! :D
 
Gidge said:
Jesus loves u Bruce.......
Click to expand...

I love Jesus too - Jesus Rodriguez - my brother in-law - very cool guy!!!!

Bwa-ha-ha
(I kill me!) :)

Bruce
 
Hey Godsguitarists

Take a look at my comment about the necessity of monitors. You can find it in the "other equipment" forum in the "Yes, You need monitors" thread. I do many different types of music--Blues, Rock, R & B, and Christian Music. Monitors make ALL of them sound better when you start mixing. By the way, I used a bus to get to work before I became a youth minister, and Jesus walked everywhere he went. But the Beatles mixed everything with monitors.


Pax Christi -- or as usually say in the secular language of this board so as not to offend anybody, PEACE,

Jim
 
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