Recording Demo CDs

[mjdx88]

Hey guys,

Been a while since I have posted. Im looking to get some practice and experience recording. I figure a good way is to do some single track recording doing demos for music students. I will be working for free of course. But charging 5 bucks for burning and copying cds. Mostly to cover the media cost, unless provide by the student.

What I got,
MacBook Pro 1st gen 17in (2.16 Intel CoreDuo) With 2 gigs of ram. I think the last model released of the M-Audio Firewire 410. Pair of decent shure earbuds. And hold for a gasping pause....a used PL 11 mic.

Software. I got Reaper..Soundtrack Pro 2(whatever came with the previous version of FCS) I believe, and Logic Express 9?. I have messed with all of these DAWs, I like reaper's recording interface, but I find STP to run smoother for mixing(If I will be doing any.)

My goal/objective/idea to this project is just straight recording so that over time I have a library of tracks to mess around with. I believe I can find some students who would like a recording to show off skills, thus I wont be adding anything to the mix.

My questions is, any suggestions on what EQ to add to the record track to better represent w/e instrument I am recording. So far I have looked over the PL/RE 11 frequency response chart and it seems to be pretty good. Is there anything I can fix with EQ to get a better sounding recording, if that makes sense. In short, I just want to make sure the final product sounds as close to the live performance as possible (make the mic's response as flat as I can), nothing else.

I figured, I would just add a parametric or Grap EQ and bring up or down the freq. that arent quite there, ignoring the extreme low and high end which seems to have a steep roll off. Would this be correct?

There is no budget. Period. I may have enough money to make a PVC stand to hold a moving blanket or two to help reduce any reflections that I may have in the room.

Thanks for your help,

Mike D

 

[gecko zzed]

Frequency charts give a general indication of what range each instrument covers in the audio spectrum. However, they are not diagnostic tools, and they have little value in determining what EQ you may or may not apply to a particular recorded track.

The single most useful tool at your disposal is your ear. With experience you should be able to hear the difference between a live sound and a recorded sound, then apply the desired EQ corrections.

There is no easy 'ready-reckoner' for this kind of stuff. But your basic idea is sound: "I figured, I would just add a parametric or Grap EQ and bring up or down the freq. that arent quite there".

Most DAWs come with a range of EQ plug-ins that are reasonably workable, so you don't need to outlay anything here. Time and practice is your greatest investment (and decent mikes).

What sort of room are you working in? I'd be disinclined to worry about the PVC stand with hanging blankets.

 

[mjbphotos]

Record with little to know EQ. Add it later when mixing down. If you filter out frequencies when recording, they won't be there if you want them back later, or you'll boost the noise trying to boost them back.

 

[Chibi Nappa]

First of all you need monitor speakers and an amp. You can't make EQ adjustemts if you can't hear what you're adjusting. And you can't hear what you're adjusting on headphones/buds.

Second, you should definately EQ the instrument as you record, but not by using an EQ processor. Have an assistant move the mic while the instrument plays and you listen in the other room over the monitor speakers. As the mic moves around, the "EQ" of the sound changes. When the mic is in the correct spot, have the assistant lock it down and you hit record.