Something I've Recently Worked-On

[Recording Engineer]

OK, I originally posted this in the Microphone Forum to advert eyes off a particular thread (of course that didn't work), but I thought I'd post it here too after it was suggested.

It's by NO means a final mix; just a quick 1 hour rough mix to get an idea.

It was tracked to a Tascam TSR-8 and Alesis ADAT-XT synced together for a total of 14-tracks; all of which were used. It was mixed on a Mackie 1604 VLZPRO to a PC through a Lynx One sound card @ 48k, 24-bits, running WaveLab 3.0 where it was VERY quickly edited, mastered, and put into MP3 format.

Again, this is a VERY rough mix. The lead vocals are too low in my opinion (wasn't my decision) and the back-up vocals were too loud at the end. The "telephone effect" went over-board in my opinion, ESPECIALLY at the end. In fact, I think the FX input for it overloarded. Again, doesn't matter, just a rough mix.

So, go to:

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/recordingengineerus

Click on "My Documents"
Read the description under "Do You Want Me"
Click on "Do You Want Me" OR
Right-Click on "Do You want Me" and 'Save Target As'

Tell me what you think of the mic and pre combo...

P.S. I've been "peaking" at some of your guys' MP3s... I'm rather impressed! And you're all damn fine musicians, I must say! I'm "wowed"!!!

 

[Gidge]

i always welcome the chance to put "peavey" and "awesome sounding" in the same sentence...

i wanted that vocal just a tad louder.....i agree with you there...the song is very vocal oriented and should stand out front yet not dominate the mix.....

outside of that this is just an awesome song, arrangement, recording,mix (just a rough mix?...man i hate you ).......

 

[mixmkr]

I still don't like the [roland?] midi gtr at the intro..and thruout the song (even though you thoughtfully posted this now in the mp3 clinic ) The rest is top notch. Nothing to critique, because it is all very good.

We'd take your[exceptional] ears and opinions in writing, when you're peeking around here

g'day

ps...I can't stand that style of singing, however....but it's performed very well.

 

[mixmkr]

Now....tornado drum take (scrolling on down) was extremely tasteful. Not as well recorded, but I love the bass and gtr sounds. who are the players/writers on this one? just great music. reminds me of the old Berklee ensemble days...and a little metheny/jaco too!

 

[mixmkr]

shit!! that "tornado take" is just killer...who gives a crap how it was recorded. the musicianship shines thru just fine....allright!!(he typed as listening again)

....and actually...the recording sounds pretty friggin good now too. (adding a little room ambience verb.....) great basic tracks....

 

[Recording Engineer]

Ahhh Geee

Glad you two liked the recording of "Do You Want Me". Yeah, it really is just a rough 1 hour mix; but those seem to be my best mixes (at 4AM after 12 hours of a tracking session on 3 hours of sleep)! So, final mixes are pretty much just "correcting" the things I didn't like about the rough mix and doing some human automation.

Rap and R&B Pop stuff I usually don't have much control over the actual music. It's usually comes "pre-mixed" on a CD-R or in Pro Tools where the "producer" is already happy with the mix.

Yeah, I know I ought to write and comment on what I listen to around here, it just means more time. But I promise the next I have something to suggest that'll REALLY help, it'll say something!

And glad you like the "Tornado Drum Take". That, is actually the band I'm in. The Hand Merchants; I'm the drummer.

That is just the drum take for the song "Tornado" that'll be on our 2nd album we're in the middle of recording. All the other tracks are just direct scratch tracks that were recorded live with me in the studio for my reference; as no click was used. The mix was just the cue mix, so the drums are just raw from tape. I MP3ed it and posted it there so a friend in South Carolina could hear it; though the vocals are not even in this recording!

Not even sure this is the final drum take. It is VERY tempting as it has SO much genuine energy! If we do end-up keeping it, some "studio tricks" will be needed as it's a bit fast with the vocals.

If anyone is interested, here's the recording set-up for the drums...

-Left Overhead: Neumann TLM-103 Cardioid Transformerless Condenser Microphone to Shure A15AS Pad (Set to 15dB) to DaviSound TB-1 Preamp to FMR Audio (RNC) Really Nice Compressor

-Right Overhead: Neumann TLM-103 Cardioid Transformerless Condenser Microphone to Shure A15AS Pad (Set to 15dB) to DaviSound TB-1 Preamp to FMR (RNC) Audio Really Nice Compressor

-Kick: Audo-Technica ATM-25 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone to DaviSound TB-3 Preamp/Compressor with Tube OUT, Compression between 9 & 10 O 'clock

-Snare: Beyerdynamic M201 Hyper-Cardioid Dynamic Microphone to DaviSound TB-3 Preamp with Tube OUT, Compression between 9 & 10 O 'clock

-Hi Rack Tom: Shure SM-57 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone to Mackie 1202VLZPRO Mixer (for Preamp) Mixer to Presonus ACP-8 Compressor

-Mid Rack Tom: Shure SM-57 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone to Mackie 1202VLZPRO Mixer (for Preamp) to Presonus ACP-8 Compressor

-Floor Tom: Shure SM-57 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone to Mackie 1202VLZPRO Mixer (for Preamp) to Presonus ACP-8 Compressor

-Room Microphone (3 ft. high, 4 ft. away): RTT VM100 Cardioid Tube Condenser Microphone to Mackie 1202VLZPRO Mixer (for Preamp) to Presonus ACP-8 Compressor

-HiHat: TOA KY YMM Interchangable Capsule Condenser Microphone using a Cardioid Capsule to Mackie 1604VLZPRO Mixer (for Preamp)

It should be noted that the amount compression used while tracking was very minimal; basically to tame the levels a little for better handling by the Alesis HD24 recorder it was tracked to.

 

[Track Rat]

Listened to all your stuff. What can I say. I hate you.
Very slick sounding.

 

[CrankyOne]

What the hell do you mean? This is a rough mix!? You're joking. Then again, I'm an amateur, so I don't hear any flaws at all. Damn, that was good. I can see, I've got a long way to go, if I can ever call myself some sort of mixer.

I didn't notice too much of that 'telephone effect'. At least it didn't annoy me at all. I don't really dig this kind of music, but the mixing was great. Maybe replace the acoustic guitar with real acoustic guitar. It sounded too... looped.

 

[mixmkr]

Re: Ahhh Geee

And glad you like the "Tornado Drum Take". That, is actually the band I'm in. The Hand Merchants; I'm the drummer.

If anyone is interested, here's the recording set-up for the drums...

well damn...you're lucky to be part of such killer band.

and yeah...I'm interested in your "behind-the-scenes" mic techniques...but actually, I'd a rather stood there and listened to you guys play, and not really give a sh*t about what mics you were using..etc.