Recommendations on the direction I need to go with my setup.

  • Thread starter Thread starter JerryD
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JerryD

JerryD

New member
I'm trying to get a better sound:

CURRENT SETUP:
PC
NT1 Mic (OK for my voice.)
Mackie 1202VLSPRO (I like the mixer. Not sure about the PREs.)
Lynx one sound card. (I want to keep this.)
Audio Technica headphones.
CASIO CTK 495 (Using this for drums and background sounds. Hey It was free. What can I say. It's almost useless.

FUTURE PURCHASE PLANS:
YSM-1 Speakers
Rode NTK mic (Maybe NT1000)
A better mic pre (not sure about these, but I would like more control.)

Could someone tell me what's wrong with my setup and tell me if I'm moving in the correct direction for purchases?

Thanks in advance, Jerry
 
Some questions for you:

What kind of amp and speakers are you using to mix/monitor?

What instruments do you normally record? If amped electric, how loud?

What is the room like that you are recording in?

What are you dissatisfied with the most? (Drums sounds? Noise? Funky mixes? Guitar tone, etc...) What would make you happiest to have sounding better?

-Chris
 
Monitors first.....ysm-1's are a great choice

You have a damn good mixer and souncard....Im not too sure about the Casio for drums(as I dont think Ive ever heard them), youd probably get better results from a software based drum machine like Fruity Loops....

A better mic and pree will add to your sound, but the stuff you have now is capable of some fine demos....

You didnt mention your computer and software specs, so depending on what you have, there may be some issues there more important than the new mic and preamp...on Ram u should have 128mb at least....a dedicated hard drive (7200 rpm) MAY be needed if you will be working with alot of audio tracks....if you will be using DX or VST effects, your processor speed may be an issue...software wise, something that will let you use 24bit and DX/VST effects would be nice....
 
You guys are great. Thanks for the response.

Thanks guys for the help.

This place is really a good resource.

On instruments I have the casio and a acoustic guitar. That's it for now. I'm mostly a song writer type trying to record good quality demos.

Here's the way I have been mixing my demos. I start off playing the acoustic along with the desired drum track on the Casio, once I get the correct temp I record the drum track only and then add reverb, Then I go back and play the acoustic and voice together, Then I add the background sounds from the Casio, Then I play the bass part on the six string acoustic and use the pitch plugin to make it sound more like a bass, then I add the background vocals. Once I get all of this crazy mess I usually double the main vocal and acoustic to get more sound on the vocal, and lastly I add the acoustic again with sort of a lead thing and use plugins to try to make it sound more electric. I mix all of this with headphones.

Is this the best way to go about making demos or is this about the craziest thing you've ever heard of?

Chris,

I don't have any speakers or amp as of yet. Mixing with
headphones. I guess on sound quality I mean lower noise and more clarity in the vocals. I looked at some Pres and they have a lot of controls. I thought maybe I could get better clarity and sound with more knobs. :)

Gidge,

First of all I did the PA form on the copywright. Thanks.
I think I'm fine on the PC part. I have a 700mhz with 128 meg.
I'm using Cool edit pro, but I have some cheesy plugins. I don't use 90% of them because they are so bad. I'm not even sure where to purchase plugins. I like the drums from the Casio. I added some reverb to them and was blown away by how real they sounded. Go figure. I will give Fruity loops a try also. I'm Only using DX effects, no VST ,since I don't know what the heck that is yet.

C7SUS,

On the PREs I would like clarity/color/EQ control.
Never used a PRE before. You think it would help to get one?
On better sound topic I meant better clarity.

Sorry for this crazy sounding thread but I do appreciate
all of your input. Actually without this BBS I wouldn't be this far.

Thanks.
 
On the recording place question. Sorry

Chris,

Also you asked where I was recording. Right now in a spare bedroom. Currently the garage is being turned into a recording room.

My mother in law's boyfriend is carpenter with free materials. :)

I'm hoping this will increase the quality.

I'm not sure what I will do about the sound of the computer being in the same room though.

Maybe I can talk him into a control room. :)
 
If you are doing the songwriter demo thing, I think you are fine where you are right now....maybe some decent monitors if anything...

PC wise, yep you sure are set up....

As far as the process, it isnt that far off from what everyone else does...if its getting the results you desire, then its fine...the only thing I see that could be improved (maybe) is that it seems you are recording the vocal and acoustic on the same track?...if not, my bad....if so id recommend doing them on separate tracks to give you better control...

Post something in the mp3 clinic so we can hear your work....
 
Thanks Gidge

Gidge,

I think your right about mixing the vocals and acoustic separate.
I just can't seem to play the music without singing the song.
It seems to flow better while playing the acoustic. I tried once to play the music withouth the vocals and got mumbling through the track where I was trying to keep track of where I was in the song. I can't keep my mouth shut while doing the dang music. If I could it would be a big plus as far as mixing.

I just finished a demo that I wrote for a girl named Temple Turner to record. I will put that on the mixing forum as soon as IUMA adds my link on their site.

The song has only two tracks though since it was a demo for her.
It has of course guitar and vocals on one track and Casio on the other track.

Hey thanks for the help. You guys are great.
 
Thanks

C7SUS

MPX 1..hmmm..I'll check that out. Is that like a rack unit that you can plug into the mixer?

I'm using Cool edit pro software. I tried Vegas, n-tracks, samplitude. I just seemed to click with the Cool edit pro s/w.

Thanks for the tip on Harvey. I'll see what he has to say.

THanks again.
 
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