YOUR Biggest improvement yet !!!!

[cusebassman]

The most important thing I learned is that, for the most part, what is going into the microphone is what you should expect to work with. I know that seems blatanty obvious, but I originally started out recording one of the bassiest, boomiest acoustic guitars you could ever be cursed to work with, and no amount of mic placement/EQ/compression/etc seemed to help.

Finally I decided to try a different guitar once I got the money up, and it has made a world of difference. So, in my case, it is: get the source right, and THEN deal with recording it.

Beyond that, for recording tips, getting even mediocre monitors helped a conseiderable lot over the PC speakers I was using to mix.

 

[Massive Master]

Every monitoring and/or room treatment upgrade almost made me furious (as to why I waited to do it).

 

[mikeh]

1. Room treatment - any acoustic sound needs to be be in a decent sounding room

2. Decent monitors that can be trusted

3. Learning to get the right sound recorded so trying to "fix" it with EQ is no longer a concern

4. Learning to use compression correctly

5. Learning to arrange parts and play parts sparingly and accurately (as someone already indicated - recording is much different than live playing.

 

[RAMI]

1. Room treatment.

2. Just like I had learned 20 years earlier about drumming.....that less is MORE. Once I stopped trying to over-process every track and stopped using "Sonic Crapulizers" and too much EQ'ing and every cool sounding plug-in....and whatever else I thought I needed, my songs started to sound like music.

 

[HangDawg]

I start every mix in mono. And check in mono often. If it sounds good in mono, it will probably sound good in stereo.

 

[The Axis]

Lots of things I experimented with made little differences in the sound, but the only really clear jump in recording "quality" was when I bought a matched pair of Earthworks QTC1 mikes.

 

[noisewreck]

When I learned that not everything needs to be distorted, even when you're doing Powernoise.

 

[bkkornaker]

my biggest improvement was getting decent reference monitors........

....but my REAL biggest improvement was i actually started to "use my ears", ..........and not my eyes while mixing.

.....and that is the best cost effective solution to improve your mixes!

 

[jfrog]

The most important thing I learned is that, for the most part, what is going into the microphone is what you should expect to work with. I know that seems blatanty obvious, but I originally started out recording one of the bassiest, boomiest acoustic guitars you could ever be cursed to work with, and no amount of mic placement/EQ/compression/etc seemed to help.

Finally I decided to try a different guitar once I got the money up, and it has made a world of difference. So, in my case, it is: get the source right, and THEN deal with recording it.

Beyond that, for recording tips, getting even mediocre monitors helped a conseiderable lot over the PC speakers I was using to mix.

Or to put it more succinctly.....

You can't polish a turd


Good advice, cube.

 

[vadoom]

I start every mix in mono. And check in mono often. If it sounds good in mono, it will probably sound good in stereo.

That's what I said!!!!!

Oh, well, I'm sure you said it better...

 

[leddy]

A few key moments:

-Understanding the different stereo mic techniques and when they are appropriate.

-Figuring out that the less I mess with it, the better it sounds (lay off the plug ins).

-There is no magic gear - no matter what the latest BBS fad may lead you to believe.

-Putting the mic in the right spot trumps everything.

 

[Micter]

I have to say when I actually treated my room. I have a very great sounding room that has translated to better track going in and better mixes coming out.

Another thing is when I figured out that "fix it in the mix" isn't acceptable. Get it right going in is a better attitude. I get the track right going in and I don't have to EQ which yields a better product.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Finding an inspiring sounding room.

 

[vadoom]

I have to say when I actually treated my room. I have a very great sounding room that has translated to better track going in and better mixes coming out.

Another thing is when I figured out that "fix it in the mix" isn't acceptable. Get it right going in is a better attitude. I get the track right going in and I don't have to EQ which yields a better product.

Actually, I don't think anyone can stress this enough. Gotta to it right the first time (at least as much as possible).

Of course you can't spend forever trying to get it perfect. Eventually you want to put that track down. So I guess there may be a bit of a trade off...

 

[TerraMortim]

Hi everyone,

I start this thread just to learn from everyone what was his/hers biggest improvement in their "audio-carreer".. I mean by that, since you started recording/mixing/producing music...

This way I would like to know what is good stuff for newbies to buy/try/use and how to get a major step up in the world of homerecording..

So please, pro engineers and oldtimers out there, come visit this post and give us your 2 cents on that one technique, that one item, that so much stimulated and helped you in homerecording..

It doesn't have to be gear !!! I pointed out technique as well, most of time much more valuable more cost effective..

Okay, One example :

When I started recording, my mixes allways were bass heavy because I did'n t use dedicated monitors.. So I put my Sony 100 W speakers on a stand, away from the refelctions of my desk, and I turned up my trebble (to 80%) and my bass (100%) on my amp to compensate for the lack of monitors..
Afterwards I never encountered problems again !! With this simple technique I made far better mixes than ever before.. And it didn' t cost me a cent...

I showed you mine, now let's see yours..

I'm expecting a lot of opinions here, so let's make this a real big one.. a classic if possible !
Thanks...

Frank Zappa

=D

 

[vadoom]

So post some of your mixes when you're done.

 

[Agent47]

For me, the biggest improvement in my music production was being unemployed for 6 months. Instead of sitting around feeling depressed in front of the TV, I decided to do something else...

I spent every day in my home studio, and I used that time to really get to know Cubase SX3 - all the little nitty-gritty MIDI functions and effects, experimented with techniques etc. Plus I really got into editing the sounds on my Roland XV5050 and Korg. I learnt a lot in that period.

I wouldn't recommend quitting your dayjob, but that time really came in handy.

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

For me, it was when I started reading forums/articles online, and trying out said techniques for myself! There's such a wealth of information out there, it's insane to try and figure all of the easy stuff out yourself first, vs. having somebody explain the differences between microphone types, THEN going out and trying it out yourself.

The next biggest jump was when I started mixing, then listening with my eyes-closed, making mental notes on the mix, then mixed, then listened, etc. Without a control surface, you can't mix with your eyes closed, so this was the next best thing.

I just upgraded to a Digi 002 with the control surface, so I can only assume my mixes will get even better now that I can mix "In the Box", outside of the box

 

[Aly]

Wow

thanks everyone !

I see the monitor and room threatment in almost every post.. So I ordered some Alesis M1 Active Mk II's, not the greatest monitors man has made, but many people seem to appreciate their caracteristics.. And more importantly, I can afford them !

So my next step up would be the room thing.. I will do a search here and read your posts about that, so as I can understand what I have to do..

Anyone else ? Recording methods ? The ultimate gear ? (which I understand doesn't exists, but hey, what's close enough for you ?) Please tell us, so we can all go out there and try it !

Aly

 

[dave.....]

recording improvement

my biggest improvement was when i bought a headphone amp and 4 set's of headphones ..... i was trying to record our band and it just was not sounding great ..... i bought the headphone amp .. mic'd everything .. seperated everything ... put the guitar amp in another room,put the bass amp in another room, put the singer at the end of the hall where we could still see her ....mic'd the drums...... ran everything through the mixer then into the recorder ....... instant great results ........ the sound quality of our cd is as good as anything out there