OK so here's the thing. I'm mixing ITB and all the original source material is Hard disk (No tape).
I find on nearly EVERYTHING (Except Overheads), I keep adding TONS of high end to nearly every track(or group) to get the clarity I am looking for. Is this normal?
Before you ask, no my ears aren't shot. They're been recently tested and I use professional hearing protection when appropriate.
Main recording chain(I'm a little "low-end" here which I will touch in a moment):
-Typically I'm running a Whirlwind medusa 100' Snake to the "control room" (We'll call it that for now)
-Using decent quality wire from the whirlwind box to the mics (57's, 421's, a TLM 103 etc.. Not high end, but not bargain bin)
Typical mic setup
Drums: sm57 snare, Audix D6 kick, senn e604's or 421mkII's on toms, TLM 103 on OV (414's when I have them on loan)
Gtr: 57/421
Bass: DI
Vox: TLM 103 (SM58's if live)
Keys: DI
-Comes back to an A&H mixwizard, and my Phenix DRS-2 (Only slutty pre I have)
-Most of this gets gentle EQ on the way in, and some Compression (Mostly RNC's) on a few tracks.
-There used to be patch bays (Mostly Pro Co 48's) involved, but they had cheap wiring and I found that added to the clarity issue. So I ditched the patch bays until I can afford good cabling (Belden Mogami, etc.)
-After that we get to the converters which are M-Audio Delta1010LT's.
-I am monitoring primarily on HR824's.
-Working in Nuendo, with UAD-1's and all the standard native stuff.
-I'm doing mostly Pop/Rock Stuff.
(Yup, I'm a project studio poster child)
So how much is my recording chain killing my high end? Is it that the high end is there and it's not getting pulled in by the pres/converters? Or does source material typically need some boost in the EQ? I don't think it's the mic choices, I'm using all "standard stuff", the cabling back to the pres (Albeit long) are good (belden).
The DRS-2 is almost always used for Drum OV's, and for most Dubs later (If we're doing dubs). With exception of the Drum OV's, I STILL find myself adding high EQ! Even with the TLM103!
I'm not afraid to use EQ, but I feel like I'm using it to compensate and I hate that. I'm sure it makes the sound more "artificial" and there's TONS of phase issues being created by it. Am I just going to have to suck that up until I can afford "The good stuff?"
Anywhere I can here NAKED tracks of stuff recorded using the "good stuff?"
Input greatly appreciated. Thanks
