Recording Techniques...how has YOURS improved?

  • Thread starter Thread starter LemonTree
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LemonTree

LemonTree

Suck 'em and see!
This is the recording techniques forum so here's what I want.....

I wanna hear your earliest and your most recent recordings. I wanna know what techniques you used when you started out, whether it be 4 track casette or whatever and what you've now progressed to, equipment wise. How you recorded and mixed then and how you now approach a session.

I don't care if you've been recording for 6 months or 60 years, spit it out and let's hear it.

The reason behind it? If you're on this forum and absorbing information you can't help but learn. And if you're an old seasoned pro like Bruce....well, maybe you learned some too, or just got things into perspective a bit more. Hands down this forum has helped me more than I can explain without letting you hear the change in my recording and mixing style and tecnique. So please, do share.

This could turn out to be a very long and very interesting, if not very entertaining thread if we all chuck it out here. Who's in?

I need to upload some stuff then I'll edit and post back here.

EVERYONE is welcome, please join in!

Alec
 
ok, Here we go

First song Recorded.....NEEDED

Don't have any 4 track stuff any more. I moved it all over to hard drive years ago and lost it all :(

This is from 1996.

Equipment: P100 computer with 128Meg of ram, Cool Edit, a zoom guitar processor hooked up to a Soundblaster AWE64, Shure 58 copy plugged into the zoom for vocals, guitar and bass all through the zoom box. Drums done with free downloaded samples and fruity loops (don't remember the version number). All mixed down ITB through a hifi at 16bit/44.1KHz....I had no idea what compression was at the time, little idea of how to use reverb and the panning skills were right off the cuff at that present time



Last song recorded...... COME TO HARM

Equipment:

D.A.W.

PIV 3.0Ghz
Asus P4P 800-E Deluxe
1 Gig Kingmax DDR400
Maxtor 160Gig 7200rpm 8Meg cache system disk
Maxtor 60Gig 7200rpm 8Meg cache sample storage disk
Maxtor 80Gig SATA recording disk
Matrox Dual head 32Meg AGP video card
Dual 17" TFT displays
Samsung 52x CD/DVDR
NEC 16x CD/DVDRW
19" 4U Rackmount Antec case with Zalman silent cooling

SOUND CARDS/CONVERTORS

Delta 1010 24Bit/96KHz AD/DA
2xDelta 410 24Bit/96KHz AD/DA
giving 12in/24out

SOFTWARE

Cubase SX 2.0
Adobe Audition 1.0
Wavelab 4.0
Soundforge 6.0
iZotope Ozone 2
T-Racks
Waves gold bundle
Digital phishphones
Antres Tube
Antres mic modler
(more that I never use and can't remember off hand)

CONSOLE

Soundtracs TOPAZ Project 8. 24 track inline recording console with full meter bridge.


HARDWEAR

M-Audio TAMPA Mic Pre
Behringer V-Amp Pro
Lexicon MPX100 Dual channel processor
Alesis Microverb III
Behringer Composer Dual comp/limiter/gate/expander
Valley Gatex 4 channel gate/expander
Countreyman Type 85 FET Direct Box


MICROPHONES

ElectroVoice RE 20 (1)
Studio Projects B1 (2)
Shure SM58 (1)
Shure SM57 (2)
Octava MC 012 (2)


MONITORING SYSTEM

Wharfdale Diamond Pro 8.2a active nearfield monitors
Audio Technica ATH M40fs Headphones (2)
Behringer PowerPlay Pro HA4700 headphone distribution system

Yes...as you can see over the past 9 years I really got into it. No sampled drums here but the kit was recorded in my garage with 4 mics. I'd like to think I've learned and improved. I know in my mind I've come a long way but maybe I'm just delusional, tied up with my own beliefs.

I recorded the drums and bass into Adobe Audition 1.5 at 24/48 through the pre's on my soundtracs Topaz Project 8 and through the M-Audio Delta1010. Guitars and vocals were all overdubbed also into AA. I imported all the tracks into Cubase SX2 for the mixdown which came back out of the computer via the 1010 and two delta 410s....19 tracks in all. I monitored with The Wharfedale 8.2As I heard about on this board (as I did the Topaz). Mixed down in my acousticaly treated room, thanks to the studio building forum advice and mastered(as in 2 track mix down) to DAT then S/PDIF back into the 1010 before ruining it with the mp3 conversion :D

What do your ears hear? Tell me and I'll try and share what mine hear in your two submissions.

This isn't a contest or a back patting thread, it's just me saying....hey, I fopund this great website and studied it for a few years and I think it made a difference. Thanks to Dragon, all the regulars for the valuable input and the newbies for keeping it interesting (most of the time) ;)

Alec

P.S. If you have trouble streaming my links you can hit the downloads here. One thing, both files are encoded at 128Kbps and I KNOW makes listening difficult but I was totally out of space (WALDO :D ) on my host site.

Let's be hearing them!

NEEDED

COME TO HARM

I'm sure I've missed info on the recording and equipment used in my excitement so please do ask any questions you have. Looking forward to a busy thread here
 
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You're shittin' me!

I actually have certain songs that I recorded well over 20 years ago, and then recorded again years later. The difference in sound quality and musicianship is startling. There's a huge difference between the old and the new, and my recording techniques have changed dramatically since the old days,... the fact of which owes nothing to this board! As far as my own productions go, which is far from mainstream, I think I had all my more successful studio techniques worked out well before even discovering this bbs. It's called T & E,... or "the School of Hard Knocks".

Interesting concept, and I'm tempted to post a Then & Now comparative display of audio productions, but I'm not sure the world is ready for my oldest recordings. I have one song in mind, and two different takes, (1982 & 2003), that would knock yer socks off at the staggering difference! You'd probably shit yerself if you heard 'em, back to back!

I started multitracking on a 4-track cassette, and graduated to...
4-track cassette!! ;)
 
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Dave, amazing reply...I'm actualy thinking of recording the first tune over again. I done a big edit there. I think, well I'm not sure what I think or why I'm doing this.....maybe newer comers to the board will see it and be inspired, who knows. I'm just interested on how people have progressed, not only by reading these boards (although that has been part of it for me probably more in gear selection than actual technique) but by practical experience, trial and error.

Peace, and hey.....do the now n then thing ;)
 
I've always been fascinated by the idea...

of Then & Now comparative recordings. I'm sure I have several such recordings. I've always wanted to put some of these tunes back to back for comparative purposes,... so now might be my chance!

However, I'm not sure I have the oldest recordings mixed down to the 'puter, so that's a project to consider, TBA/TBD.
 
Good idea. I *might* be able to harvest an old recording off cassette. I did digitize some of my 2nd and 3rd generation 4-track stuff, but the real first stuff is LONG gone.

I'll see what I can come up with. It'll be a few days, though.

-C
 
Hey there, I don't have time to listen tonight but thought I'd post one of mine. This one to me is perfect showing of progression both mixing/playing since it's the same song recorded 4 years apart. When I first started recorded. One thing I notice around here is when people come on the board saying "this is my first tune" or so on they always sound a ton better than my first recordings, which either means I'm slow or technology is getting better

Here's "Battle at Dark Woods of the Manda" 2001
Using nothing but a cheap guitar plugged direct into a very cheap soundcard:
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3192834&q=hi

Here's "Revenge on a Windy Autumn Day" 2005
This uses cheap gear and shows where I'm at now.
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=2914725&q=hi

They are the same song... the intros are different.

The verses and riffs match at 1:01 in the old one and 0:54 in the new one are a good point to compare, they also continue on in a similar fashion through the verses/chorues
Partically listen to 2:30-3:21 in the old one vs. the whole 3:10-4:53 in the new one. This is a part I really ended up getting a lot of emotion out of. A lot of my songs are based on stories that I'm really into, it's so cool to me for the recordings to starting to be able to match the feelings of the story. Like in the original I kind of had a vision of what I wanted there but that's all I could do with it. In the new one it's starting to take life, reflect more of what I originally wanted out of that part. It's just amazing to me how much things have changed for me as far recording goes. I'm not saying it's the greatest thing you'll hear... but if I can get emotion out of a song like that, those little goosebumps that bring me into my story I get when I hear parts like that, it means a lot to me and keeps me doing what I do.

Cheers ;) I'll listen to everyone else's stuff tomorrow cause it's late and I need sleep

Ironicaly 4 years ago I thought that first one "rocked" now I think the new one rocks... who knows, maybe I'll be laughing at the new one a few years from now :)
 
Snake, first listen but it's very late, I'm on the cans but I can honestly say what a quality soundwise jump from first to second.

I'll do apropper listen tomorrow when the "guests" leave.

Anyone new joining this by no means has to be the same song, just an old and new.



Just hit the drum break in the new one Snake.....

more tomorrow


EDIT....

that sounds fantastic after the breakdown. Bass is really defined in the cans. Can't wait to hear this for real.
 
Lemon....In listening to yours, the difference is not super drastic. Your first recording is actually well done. The second is better sounding, and a better tune in my opinion, but your first one is better a lot. Your first production actually was a very full sounding song. It is a bit thinner sounding, but it is not a bad thing in that type of music. Still well done. The second tune has a lot more depth, but it also appeals to me more. I like the sounds you have. I'm sure in reality it is much better, but I am impressed with what you did earlier. Very good tune.
The second one is a very cool song, all around. And at 128K, you have a very good sound. I really like this tune. Is it all you? Talented dude....very much. I'll dredge some stuff up. I might have a song I can get from cassette, that was done in about '85. It will scare everyone.....
 
Snake, yours aren't that dramatic either. The second was definitely better, but the first was a pretty decent tune also. Not to say you haven't learned, but your first was very impressive on it's own. I can dig the wailing Snake no matter what. Very cool. I will try and dredge something up later.
Ed
 
Dogman said:
I might have a song I can get from cassette, that was done in about '85. It will scare everyone.....
Click to expand...
No, dude, that's me! :eek:
 
Ok, here is my scary entries. Both are pretty extreme.

First.... I Wanna Be A Junkie
This was done on a 4 track cassette, many years ago. I have 2 slightly older songs, but they were done live, with just the one mic. So here is my first real attempt to record a "song".

Second we have my latest. It's a collab with SnakeDog, and still in the works, but here it is....Shades Of Grey
It was recorded on my pc, an old Athlon 1200, 512Mb of Ram, using a Delta 44 breakout box, and some decent mics. I still have the free Sony used from the first song..... :D

One word...Sweet.
 
Ok even as far as six months ago things were pretty rough on the recording front, but here's one from about 3 years back. i put LOADS of work into this at the time:

No Way Out

equipment used - Zoom MRS1266 (for recording, mixing, drums + effects), Rode NT1 Mic, Epiphone Les Paul, Fender Bass


and here's one i knocked up from a testing session yesterday:

Bittersweet

equipment used - Logic Pro 6, Mac Powerbook G4, Novation SpeedIO soundcard, Rode NT1 Mic (still!), Washburn D42S Acoustic, Ibanez RG Electric, Zoom MRS1266 for drums and guitar effects.

whilst the equipment list is mounting up and it bit better, there's still a LONG way to go for me!

Enjoy

Cheers. Mark
 
I've been busy all weekend and on my way to work now so I'll get a listen to these tonight. Looking forward to it.
 
Haha ... the world is seriously not ready for either my then or now!!!! :eek: :eek:
 
noisedude said:
Haha ... the world is seriously not ready for either my then or now!!!! :eek: :eek:
Click to expand...


You telling me there's been no improvement? :D

Work's been cancled today due to the weather so I'm gonna grab something to eat and come back to this.

Later
 
There's been plenty of improvement, but not nearly enough!!! A lack of decent material is the main problem, I'm trying to convince my housemates to sing their songs for me but they can't be arsed with the time commitment of actually having to get it right! :D
 
Hehe, I'm slow guys...anyway,

Lemon tree, hey they both sound good. Most of all I hear a difference in clarity between the two. The first one sounds good, but almost a bit muddy compared to the second one. The second one is much more defiintion on the instruments. The vocals too, they fit much better to me on the second track. Overall the second one just has more "punch" and sounds more professional. And by the way, that's a killer song! Love the chorus ;)

Dogman, now that's quite a difference... classic though, love it.
Are you singing there? Has a serious raw basement demo kind of feel to it. That's neat.
Your new setup kills! :D

My first song was written on the Commadore64. It was only different beeps. When i finished it I was so impressed I called it "wow" I only ended up typing over the default "noname" though... so the file ended up being "wowame" :cool: I need to dig that up someday
 
http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=298932&t=7684

This is one of the first 'songs' I recorded. It was more of just an idea that I decided to take a lead over. I started getting freaky with delays, and ended up with a slapback echo that sounds cool at some parts, but pretty bleak at others. I added the drums (programmed in PCdrummer) last, after the rest of the song was done, because I thought it would make it sound better. It's in time for the first bit... but... yeah. Let's not talk about that. I'm pretty sure I was using my old BC Rich Bronze Warlock through a Marshall MG15 practice amp, picked up by a pretty bad mic (mic'd the amp badly, of course) and sent into a bad computer. It's not that bad (I have worse...), but it's certainly not good.

http://media.putfile.com/FCremix

This is my most recent recording. It's much more of a song. I used my BC Rich NJ Warlock into a Randall RG75 amp, with a Shure SM57 mic, a Behringer UB1002 mixer, going into a not-much-better computer. At this point I have a lot more knowledge about everything about AE (I had none, whatsoever, when I recorded the first song), and I am a much (much) better musician.

When I have the time, I'm going to go through and listen to you guys' old mixes. I'm interested in hearing how others approached mixing when they had limited knowledge.
 
i'm not going to bother to drag out the old stuff
(if i could find it, but trust me..... it's bad)

but the year i've been hanging around here i've probably learned more then the 4 years prior!
 
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