What should i use while recording?

[jerzeysk8board]

I have a question about using compression and other devices. Should I use it after i recorded, or while recording? I have a cakewalk 4 program, firepod and sm57, and a groove tubes condensor mic. How do i create the sound like of one in a profesional studio? Do i jus need to mix and master after all the recordings? Can u tell me wat to do in order to get that surround sound and clear quality in mixing? Any suggestions or comments that can help me create that proffesional studio sound.

 

[punkin]

Dude...you're all over the map here with the questions.

Since you're a noob, keep it simple and experiment. I recommend that you don't use any effects, EQ, compression etc... Record then listen...make adjustments to placement and get the very best recording you can get. When you get something going clean, then apply the effects.

 

[jmorris]

I have a question about using compression and other devices. Should I use it after i recorded, or while recording? I have a cakewalk 4 program, firepod and sm87, and a groove tubes condensor mic. How do i create the sound like of one in a profesional studio? Do i jus need to mix and master after all the recordings? Can u tell me wat to do in order to get that surround sound and clear quality in mixing? Any suggestions or comments that can help me create that proffesional studio sound.

wow, thats a lot to bite. first, compression. I only use it going in if I have to control something. I think it would be better for a begginer to ride the levels in or record at a safe level than use compression going in and have the issue of over compression. Surround? Forget it till you have more experience. As for a professional sound? Only very well recorded and mixed songs will benifit from mastering.If you have a crappy mix or crappy recorded songs, you'll only get when back from mastering louder crappy songs/mixes. I would not send out your first few tries at recording to be mastered. I dont mean to sound harsh,please dont take it that way. What type of music are you interested in recording? Give a little more detail of your interests.
Jim

 

[jerzeysk8board]

i record with my band mostly rock stuff. I have all that rigid fiberglass in my studio. I jus wanna know how to get that quality sound of a profesional studio. My recordings sound less clean and sound more distant for some reason, and thats without mixing or watever. Is it suppose to sound like that before mixing, even tho i bought some very nice mics and the firepod. Wat can i do to improve quality?

 

[jmorris]

Distant? Tell me how you are micing some of the instruments.

 

[jerzeysk8board]

im micing a guitar cab, like 4 inches away with 2 mics, sm57 and a shure condensor, same with drums, except use 4 mics, and for vocals like 4 inches away from mic

 

[Cyrokk]

Don't know about the other instruments, but you are most definately miking the guitar cab too far away. Try positioning the mike about an inch away from the edge of the amp, and point the mike inward to about an edge from the speaker.

 

[jerzeysk8board]

I have a half stack mesa boogie dual rectifier.

 

[Farview]

4 inches isn't that far away from a guitar cabinet. I'll bet your are getting phase cancelation from the two mics. Does the guitar sound stronger when you turn one of the mic off?

 

[scorpio01169]

i agree that what you are asking is all over the field. but one thing you should do is experment with printing compression to tape( i e once you record it, its there) or after. and lots of times you can do both, like if you wanna bring some vocal up in the mix during mixdown, but to say do one and dont do the other would be wrong for anyone to say cause what works for me may or may not work for you. try different things to see what sounds right to you cause if you ask someone and go with their methods you may miss out on something you may find better.

 

[KiFF BluEs]

I don't know much about recording, but I'm sure professional studios use really really expensive equipment to get a really expensive quality lol.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

My recordings sound less clean and sound more distant for some reason, and thats without mixing or watever. Is it suppose to sound like that before mixing.

The short answer is pretty much, yes.

The "less clean" aspect of it is probably a combination of lack of experienced technique on your part (no fault of yours, you're a rookie, after all! ) combined wth the fact that though you may have bought two or three grand worth of gear, you're trying to compare it against studios that have single compressors that cost as much as your entire setup . Add to that the fact that you are doing the recording in an untreated or poorly treated sound room - as compared to a half-million dollar acousticlly designed room - and youre style is somewhat cramped in comparison.

All this doesn't mean that you are out of luck and that you *can't* get your sounds as "clean", it just means that acheiving that sound takes just as much practice, study, and work as learning to play an instrument to get "that sound" does. Keep at it; read everything you can on the subjest of recording and mixing (there's lots of good stuff in the music section of your bookstore), expiriment and practice with your mic and recordingtechnique a lot, make some basic upgrades to the sound of your room itself, and you'll get better sounds.

As far as sounding "distant", mu bet is that you're referring to the actual volume levels not being up to commercial CD standards. This is normal at the raw recording stages at which you described. Final volume is not determined and acheived until the last stages of the mastering phase of the production; before then the tracking levels will typically be signifigantly lower in volume on your computer. A peak reading of 0dB (VU) in your analog signal chain does NOT correspond to a 0dB (FS) peak reading on your computer software. Typically (when things are st up correctly), 0dB in your analog signal chain should typically wind up coming in somewhere between -14 and -18dBFS on your digital meter when playing back on your computer (this is a rough average, and can be turned up by the engineer if desired.). This is normal.

The extra "headroom" will be needed as part of the mixing process, and even after mixing, there should still be some headroom left over when ready to master the mixdown.

I agree completly with Punkin. Take it one step at a time. Don;t load up on a crapload of compressors, EQs and other toys yet, especially during the recording process. Learn how to get the "clean" part down first, then you can start learning how to make things un-clean again .

G.

 

[brendandwyer]

i agree with punkin and glen 100%.

I would add that at this stage of your engineering experience, it might be worth not really comparing your mix sounds to anything other than the mix you did yesterday. So as long as each time you mix or record a track from your band, it gets a little better, relax and realize that you are making great progress. It's way to easy to fall into the "how do i get a professional sound" bullshit. There is plenty of time to learn the details of recording and the more often you record, the better you'll get.

Also try recording without your band. What i mean is, try to mike the guitar cab and play some chords, experiment with mic positions. Take your condensor and put it down the hallway 20' away and see what it sounds like. Try placing the sm57 1/4" away from the cone, see what happens. Not all of it will be good, but you'll get a feel for how distances, and acoustics of a room effect the sound on the track.

keep up the work!