Hey all,

Well, I just started a little home recording project here. I've recorded some stuff but I'm not too satisfied with the production quality. Searching around the place I've found a number of different opinions on different things that might be able to fix the problem, but I'm not sure exactly how to fit it into my exact situation. I've included a short piece of one of my recordings on this post, just follow the link below. If someone can listen to it and give me some advice as to what I should do to spruce the quality up a bit; id be vert thankful! The link is:

http://whs1.us4.outblaze.com/cgi-bin/redirect?session=48c62063db6f3bd403067ae0b52c82c8

||| If that doesn't work try the following |||

http://home.graffiti.net/sunatrise:graffiti.net/speedofsoundsnippet.mp3

-Many Thanks In Advance-

-Chad

try some reverb on the vocals-- not too heavy, just give them some air.

are the drums played live? I know it was an mp3, but the cymbals sound really dark.

I don't think I heard any bass instrument. i think the song could hold fine without it between the piano and the steady kick drum, but just wondering.

Could you tells us how this was recorded? more specifically, what methods you use? do you record the keys and synth as midi or audio? drums live or machine, or looped? (if live please describe mic placement, etc). any bass instrument used?

Ok, fist off, thanks for the reply!

The drums were played using my keyboard synth, and you are right, there is no bass instrument since I don't have one, although I could synth it. Recording method is straight forward. Shure PG-58 to the center of the cone on my keyboard speaker for drums and piano. I know it's the not the ideal mic, but I've heard some tracks that my friends recorded with only PG58's that sounds like they've got way more life. My tracks always end up sounding dead and flat.
The slight chorus in the background was also done synth from my keyboard.

Thanks uncle_jerr

-Chad

ok, have you tried recording the direct output of the keyboard?

Keyboard--> Direct box --> sound card

(the direct box is used for impedence matching)

or even better, do you have midi sequencing software, and have midi inputs on your computer?

Well, I would have used direct output, but it got busted some how, think my little nephew did something to it. And no; my sound card doesnt have a midi input.

-Chad

mic placement is key then. You may not always want to have it face the center of the speaker cone. The center gives the brighest sound, but can sometimes sound harsh. And if every track is recorded that way, it can make the overall project sound thin. For warmer sounds, aim the mic toward the outside of the cone. Also, distance is a factor-- closer can give better bass response (aka proximity effect), while further away has kind of a more even sound.

I know, re-recording everything can be frustrating, but here are some suggestions, maybe to use in the future:

Record each piece of the drum kit on separate tracks-- one time for kick drum, one for snare and one for cymbals/hi-hat. Point the mic close to the outer part of the speaker cone for the kick, slightly off-center for snare, and center for hats/cymbals. Also, this way you can alter each track without affecting the whole drumset sound.

The synth, try off-center and a little further away.

The piano, try double-tracking this. just record the same thing twice, or try different chord voicings on the second take. Then pan each a little. This fattens up the lead instrument quite a bit.

The vocals are probably recorded fine, but I'd suggest tweaking the compression and adding some reverb.

You won't get commercial quality, but it's a good opportunity to learn about mic placement.

Lots of guys 'll probably give you crap, saying "invest in better equipment," and that's always a good idea, but sometimes, ya just gotta work with what you got and upgrade when you want to, not when someone else says so.. I started out a few years ago with just the computer mic and an acoustic guitar and no multitracking ability, and just continue to upgrade as I need to in order to acomplish new sonic goals.

Hope this helps, don't be shy with more questions

Wow, thanks for the detailed help! I'm gonna try and re-record as you mentioned and see how it goes. I know I won't be able to get commercial quality but I just wanted to make my tracks sound more like songs and not pieces of instruments flung together with some vocals on top.

I'll let you know how it goes as soon as I'm done. And what app would you reccomend for putting the compression and reverb on my vocals? Cuz the one's I'm using "Audacity" and "Cakewalk" both seem so harsh on reverb even when I tweak the settings a bit.

Do you have any samples of tracks you've recorded, just curious .

Anyway thanks again so much!!

-Chad

I've got a few samples of a christmas project I did here:
http://www.geocities.com/toeball74

this is the most professional sounding recording I've engineered so far.

I've done other stuff, just haven't found anywhere to post it yet.

I also use Audacity and Cakewalk (Home Studio), also N-Track and Sound Forge. I can post some links to free/trial plugins, but I'll do it on another thread.

Your stuff sounds pro. What kinda mics are yah using there?

-Chad

Thanks, I did it as a project for the recording school I went to.

I used a combination of mics I own and some my church owns. The highest quality mic was an AT835b (belongs to the church) and the lowest was an old 6' car speaker (mine, used on kick drum). An SM58, some other instrument/vocal mics, cheap condensers and even some radio-shack mics on the toms.
Keys were recorded via MIDI, bass was DI.

Hey uncle_jerr,

Thank's so much for your help!!! I was able to produce a recording today that was VERY pleasing to my ears. I mean; it's not studio quality or anything, but its WAAAY better than anything I've ever recorded before. Taking into consideration that I'm using some pretty cheap stuff. But I couldn't have done it without your help, especially those tips on mic positioning. Also, i used a program called guitarfx box, took a lot of tweaking but it's output is VERY nice....thanks again!!!!

-Chad

-PS, check out my website and blog......post something...and sign up! I'd be honored. And pass the word around to others please (about my site that is).
That's all for now, THANKS AGAIN!!!

My Site: http://www.sunatrise.com
My Blog: http://www.blog.sunatrise.com