recording tips/MD8

[Shane Wroblewsk]

Hey people, Just moved up from a Porta 07 to an MD8...just a bit of difference eh!("I AM CANADIAN")!Anyway any little tips would be appriciated.I am mostly require'n info about "songs" and the cut and paste procedures ect.
thanx
HEnry

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Shane up in Hockey Land:]

I don't think the MD8 is a great box for cut/paste, etc. I have never used that aspect of the box because fixing errors on the MD8 is touch and go, mostly GO AWAY.

I can tell you that the box does nice recordings if you have the right mic and mic pre and cables and are willing to spend time when you mix.

If I can help in any other facet of the box, ask me.

Green Hornet

 

[tony moore]

hey green hornet,

so what are your favorite mics and pre's for the md8? i also just picked one up used to make rehearsal and remote recordings. my only mic pre's are two art tube pac's. i have an ok assortment of mics (rode nt2, pair of oktava s-d condensors, 57's, senn). most of which seem to sound ok, at least as good as i could expect it to sound. any other suggestions?

thanks!

tony

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Tony of Antonio:]

Well, man, you ask a big question which would generate many opinions. But, I'll tell you what I've used so far with the MD8.

I have an ART mic pre/two channel box; not the tube. I've discovered that if I use the 20 db boost, I get some readings on the display meter; if I just use the Art box without pushing the boost, it works but the response and pick-up depends on how much I push it in the mix.

I've used the AKG3000 mic/ and I am now using a Yorkville mic, the less expensive of the two mics Yorkville sells; however, the Yorkville YSM-1 speakers are about the best for the $$$. I had a real pro bass player at my studio last week, a good friend, and he could not believe how clear the "tape" I was playing sounded on the Yorkvilles.

For the money, I think the MD8 gives you a very creative edge; you can do things beyond your expectations if you work at it. The mixing part is the real issue. Yea, verily, there are better boxes and better systems; however for we of the struggling engineers, work, work work, and edit, edit, edit, and hope for a cool mix.


Hey, hope I've encouraged you man.


Green Hornet

 

[Kelly Holdridge]

Lately I've been running the Mackie CFX-16 inserts half-normalled via 8 1/4" snake to the MD-8 for our practices/jams. If I set the gain at 9 o'clock on the CFX pre-amps, I can completely turn down the gain on the MD-8 and get good vocal levels.

For the other stuff, I set the gain somewhere around "10:30" to 11 o'clock and adjust levels with the MD-8 (as adjusting the preamps on the Mackie during a "performance" would change the overall sound we hear). Mostly 'cuz we're pretty dynamic, and stuff like tambourines alternate with congas/bongos.

Oh, those levels are based on a mic-eating singer with an SM-58. The other stuff is '57-based.

Use as much gain in an outboard preamp as you can, then maybe tweak with the MD-8's preamps. Start with the MD-8's preamps on zero and adjust the outboard preamp level to unity line level.

If you tape from a board, buy a snake. I LOVE it (ROY G. BIV from left to right is what I have as default, if your snake is colored. don't have indigo or violet, so it goes Red Orange Yellow Green Blue White Grey Black).

Just a tip, I guess.

OH. Buy a white paint pen, especially if you burn a lot of discs and don't re-record. I HATE those fucking labels.