some useful tips?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ollie99
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ollie99

ollie99

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okay, this question may be a bit broad, very broad in fact, but at the moment, Im in a very "I want to learn more" mood, if anyone knows what I mean. I cant record anything till saturday at the earliest, so Im just a bit bored and I am etching to find out more about recording in general. So does anyone have some useful tips/advice/knowledge they would like to share with me?
 
Is there anything in particular you're not sure about, or anywhere you really feel you're lacking, Ollie?
 
actually yes, midi. I thought I had basic knowledge until I noticed my old yamaha keyboard had midi in/out and I'd never even thought about the cable being different and stuff and proved how little knowledge I had of it still. So now I have the opportunity, where should I start with experimenting, what should I do first - explain as if you were talking to a complete newb - because you are.
 
If you want to start recording MIDI now - (first, MIDI is a control signal, not audio), you will need a VSTi (virtual instrument, usually a DAW plug-in) - what do you have for an interface and DAW?
 
Ok, well midi is fairly simple so that's a good one to go for.

Midi is a data protocol. It used to be common over a five pin connector (what you're talking about).
Now midi keyboards often use USB.
That doesn't make them an audio interface though; You can usually use a USB midi keyboard along side your interface.


If you have a keyboard with midi out and an interface with midi in, you're sweet. You connect the five pin cable between the two.

It's data you're recording, so you'll need to arm a midi track, or instrument track depending on your software.
You'll be able to record notation, but there'll be no sound yet because it's basically just instructions.
Those instructions need to find their way to an instrument/synth plugin in your DAW.
Like digidesign xpand/addictive drums/NI massive etc. They can all receive midi info and use it to create an audio output.

Is that any way useful?
 
Get a good sound BEFORE you start recording. Don't be one of those "well I'll just fix it when I mix" people. If you record a bad sound, you can polish it, but its still a bad sound.
 
xbxrxixtx said:
Get a good sound BEFORE you start recording. Don't be one of those "well I'll just fix it when I mix" people. If you record a bad sound, you can polish it, but its still a bad sound.
Click to expand...

Great tip.
 
okay cheers for the replies.
I use a xenyx x1222usb and ableton live lite 7 line 6 studio version 16-track.
I also have the line 6's pod studio ux1 and ux2 if they would make it any easier (how I got the software)
I dont remember any of these having a midi in though?
and thanks, I understand it better now :)
 
I'll throw in a general tip pertaining to guitars.
Since I see you have line 6 gear and listen to Avenged Sevenfold, I can assume you'll want to record high gain guitars at some point.
Don't have your gain set too high. While playing alone it sounds fine. But, once you get to recording and double tracking, adding in other elements, etc. the gain will actually sound pretty weak and thin.

Here's something kcearl once told me that's been really useful:
kcearl said:
the distorted guitar needs it gain turned down around a third..thats the rule, if it sounds good to you before recording..turn it down another third ;)
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Oh, a tip... erm... erm... erm... listen, consider, decide, act. Many go listen then straight to act and twiddle knobs more or less at random trying to solve a problem they've not yet identified.

By all means experiment to learn, but ask yourself what it is that you're trying to fix first.

And listen to what Steen tells you. Although he's not Pete Gardiner, he knows his stuff, for a pom..
 
ollie99 said:
So does anyone have some useful tips/advice/knowledge they would like to share with me?
Click to expand...
Be open to lots of different ways, means and techniques and don't worry if something you are satisfied with is contradicted or hated by another. Unless it's the Queen or something.

xbxrxixtx said:
Get a good sound BEFORE you start recording. Don't be one of those "well I'll just fix it when I mix" people. If you record a bad sound, you can polish it, but its still a bad sound.
Click to expand...
I agree wholeheartedly with this.......except that I would amend the opening sentence to "get a sound you're happy with before you start recording". I say that only because a great sound to A may be a bland sound to B and a freakin' mesmeric sound to X may be total pants to Y and Z.
I also think that turds can be polished to the point that regardless of whether or not it's still a turd, others will regard it as gold. The amount of trickery that takes place in studios is mind bogglingly disappointing to the purist and starry eyed.
ollie99 said:
useful advice?
Click to expand...
Advice from those that have trodden the path before you is priceless. Even more priceless is filing it to the back of your mind for a season and treading the path yourself.
 
kidkage said:
I'll throw in a general tip pertaining to guitars.
Since I see you have line 6 gear and listen to Avenged Sevenfold, I can assume you'll want to record high gain guitars at some point.
Don't have your gain set too high. While playing alone it sounds fine. But, once you get to recording and double tracking, adding in other elements, etc. the gain will actually sound pretty weak and thin.
Click to expand...
I do that a lot actually. And when I used pod farm with line 6, I never liked any of the distorted sounds anyway, some of the clean stuff was okay though
Armistice said:
And listen to what Steen tells you. Although he's not Pete Gardiner, he knows his stuff, for a pom..
Click to expand...
dont worry I will :)

grimtraveller said:
Advice from those that have trodden the path before you is priceless. Even more priceless is filing it to the back of your mind for a season and treading the path yourself.
Click to expand...
I'm just filing that one right now...
 
Last edited:
If your parents like it and everyone else hates it=It sucks.
If your parents hate it and everyone else hates it=It really sucks.
If your parents hate it and everyone else likes it=It rocks.


:D
 
RAMI said:
If your parents like it and everyone else hates it=It sucks.
If your parents hate it and everyone else hates it=It really sucks.
If your parents hate it and everyone else likes it=It rocks.


:D
Click to expand...

yes :) the parents thing tended to be what I used to get hahaa :)
 
RAMI said:
If your parents like it and everyone else hates it=It sucks.
If your parents hate it and everyone else hates it=It really sucks.
If your parents hate it and everyone else likes it=It rocks
Click to expand...
What if everyone likes it, especially your parents ? :D
 
Here's an interesting tip in general. Depending on your schedule, I listen to "Audio Recording" podcasts". There are great guys making these podcasts, have great guests, equipment reviews, and techniques. I won't endorse any one podcast in particular, find the one you like. All offer some great information. I walk my dog for an hour every night. Have an hour to kill on the commute. Why not listen to podcasts.
 
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