Time to Improve

[SnoboarderX27]

You guys helped me get started a few months ago, and since then I've been making some demos with my band just to give to friends and such. I'm only 15 and I'm having trouble doing all this by myself. I know virtually nothing about how to make my recordings sound better. My setup is real basic--I usually have access to my friend's 8-track mixer. We only have 6 mics (four of which are horrible vocal mics). Anyway I just run the drums, the bass, and two guitars into the mixer and plug that right into the PC, where I use N-Track. (I add the vocals later, of course.) Here are some problems I'd like to sort out:

1. I have the crappiest room for recording ever. It's basically just two rooms combined into one big open space. This the only option I have, though. The guitars and bass could definitely sound better, but the drums are the worst--it sounds like they were recorded on a handheld tape recorder in somebody's basement. What can I do (with mics, settings, etc) to compensate for the crappiness of my room?

2. Our guitar amps hiss like crazy. It's just the way they are... the louder you turn them up, the louder they hiss. How can I mask this sound? My mixer's manual said something about using low-cut. Is that a good idea? what else can I do?

3. Now, the last and biggest problem--I am totally incompetent. I am eager to learn everything I can about recording, and I've been looking for sound engineering/production classes in my area. I know nothing about what I can do to make my recordings sound better. Right now I just get the music into N-Track, mess a little with volume/effects, and call it good. I just don't know how to use all the other features. If you guys could refer me to a book or website that could thoroughly explain what I can/should do to my recordings, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Track Rat]

Pick up a copy of "Behind The Glass" by Howard Massey. Also "The Recording Engineer's Handbook" by Bobby Owsinski.

 

[4-Man Takedown]

Go to the microphone forum, and read the sticky at the top, I think there's somewhere you can go to print it out. Learn what you can about microphones from that. Read the N-track manual through a couple times to learn about some of the simpler features you may not know about, automation, and stuff like that.

There is a pretty good post on here somewhere about "phase and polarity"... read that at least 5 times and try hard to understand it.

I don't know what you have, but I would save up for a nice soundcard. Your drum sound will improve when you add more inputs, so I would try to get at least 6 on your soundcard, the more the better. I bet this is the case 90% of the time, although people claim differently... Then you will need things like decent mics, and pre's (the mixer will work well enough for a while). Contrary to what some people say, you can get nice things for very cheap. The more expensive the better usually, but the point is to get to recording. I have extremely cheap gear, basically all the low budget stuff, and I've made recordings of some bands better than some studio's around here did of the same band (the studio's around here mostly specialize in stuff besides metal, which is mostly what I do) because I pay more attention to how the band's sound and I know how to work with them. If you know you want a killer studio in the future, then start saving up now for killer gear... but you can't record very much with just a $1000 pre-amp. I know I'm gonna end up selling or trashing my budget pre's in the future, but the experience I've gained from them is worth more than any $5000 pre I could have saved up for.

You just gotta keep learning and applying the stuff you learn to your next recordings... the process is slow, but very worthwhile. It's kinda like playing an instrument, you can't rush it, you'll get better slowly and you'll eventually be really good. I'm 22 and I started around 14 or 15, and I'm still not that good, but within the last few years I've been trying my ass off and have gotten a lot better.

 

[SubA]

Definitely concentrate on mic placement and different techniques before thowing more money into gear. Move the amps around, mic them unconventionally, mic the drums close if the room sounds crappy... do what you think you shouldn't and see what happens.

 

[hasbeen]

Don't worry too much about the guitar amp hiss. The hiss uaually dissapears as soon as you start playing, right? Crop it during the quiet spots. There is no such thing as a dead quiet electric guitar. As a matter of fact, I kinda like hearing the guitar amp buzz on some of my favorite recordings. Just concentrate on making good music!

 

[chessrock]

1. What can I do (with mics, settings, etc) to compensate for the crappiness of my room?

Either treat the room, or record in a better-sounding one.

2. Our guitar amps hiss like crazy ... How can I mask this sound?

Record with an amp that hisses less.

If you guys could refer me to a book or website that could thoroughly explain what I can/should do to my recordings, I'd appreciate it.

You could start here: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/articles1.htm