Spot the weakest link... in my recording chain?? Great example in here..

Mitch Lowen · 1st February 2006

I use a PC

Pentium III 667Mhz
2 x 20Gb Harddisks

I record into

Logic Audio Gold 4.1 (retail)

Vocals

Joemeek JM-47 mic
Joemeek VC3 v2 pre-amp

Through an analog cable from the pre-amp into the L input of my soundcard

Audiowerk 8 card

Midi:

E-mu Proteus2000 incl. Phatt Board (Turbo Phatt synth)
Roland JV2080
Akai S950

Everything goes back to my old trusted Yamaha MC1602 mixer.

The audio -> 2 tracks
All synths -> 2 tracks each
S950 -> 5 tracks

A song recorded and mixed like this:

Davey G - Break It Down

Besides fixing the acoustics problems in my room I want to start tracking all my sounds into Logic and mixing everything in the box <term I just learned haha>

One thing: a friend uses Creamware and is going crazy over how thin certain properly sounds end up sounding in Logic. He says 'Eventhough ur mixer is old etc. it gives a lot of bottom to your music..' He suggests I track from the mixer's XLR outs straight into the soundcard.

I wonder: what's the weakest link (besides me! think lack of proper acoustics and really good engineering skills).

Thanx

Oh.. and I have this TL-Audio C-5021 I never touch.. because plug-ins might probably be better (I got Waves + TC Electronic plug-ins).

So much advice to give now huh... be brutal

John The Cut · 1st February 2006

Where to begin... just kidding

Seriously, your mix sounds really good considering your gear is quite 'retro'.

I would say there are 2 weak points - 1) Your computer. A serious upgrade will allow you to run more 'in the box', giving you more options. 2) Your mic. The vocal lacks a bit of sparkle to my ears, its way to smooth and needs to bite more. Maybe just an EQ thing, but a better mic will provide more detail for you to mess with.

Nice vocals though

hourglass · 2nd February 2006

Don't knock that JM-47 "Meek"rophone.

It's got the dumbest name in the business, but it stood up to some serious contenders when we did a shootout. Blue Bottle, U-47, and a bunch of Chinese knock-offs.

I'll take the Meekrophone over a Blue Bottle any day.

ryan

John The Cut · 2nd February 2006

Could be the pre-amp then, but dont you think the lead vocal is a little 'dull' on this track?

CustomDigi · 3rd February 2006

I don't know if I would call the vocal "dull", but it is definitely less present than what I'm used to hearing on these types of tracks.

Actually though, I think it sounds pretty damn good, overall...maybe experiment with some different eqs on the vocal and maybe hit the compressor a little harder? Then you can boost the volume a bit. I dunno, I like it, but some of the vocal gets a little lost. Keep doin what you do, man. Even though this is gearslutz, sounds like you are makin do with what ya got just fine.

-Matt

1st February 2006	#1
Mitch Lowen Gear nut Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 138 Thread Starter	Spot the weakest link... in my recording chain?? Great example in here.. I use a PC Pentium III 667Mhz 2 x 20Gb Harddisks I record into Logic Audio Gold 4.1 (retail) Vocals Joemeek JM-47 mic Joemeek VC3 v2 pre-amp Through an analog cable from the pre-amp into the L input of my soundcard Audiowerk 8 card Midi: E-mu Proteus2000 incl. Phatt Board (Turbo Phatt synth) Roland JV2080 Akai S950 Everything goes back to my old trusted Yamaha MC1602 mixer. The audio -> 2 tracks All synths -> 2 tracks each S950 -> 5 tracks A song recorded and mixed like this: Davey G - Break It Down Besides fixing the acoustics problems in my room I want to start tracking all my sounds into Logic and mixing everything in the box <term I just learned haha> One thing: a friend uses Creamware and is going crazy over how thin certain properly sounds end up sounding in Logic. He says 'Eventhough ur mixer is old etc. it gives a lot of bottom to your music..' He suggests I track from the mixer's XLR outs straight into the soundcard. I wonder: what's the weakest link (besides me! think lack of proper acoustics and really good engineering skills). Thanx Oh.. and I have this TL-Audio C-5021 I never touch.. because plug-ins might probably be better (I got Waves + TC Electronic plug-ins). So much advice to give now huh... be brutal __________________ Mitch Lowen DAVEYG.NL

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1st February 2006	#2
John The Cut Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 841	Where to begin... just kidding Seriously, your mix sounds really good considering your gear is quite 'retro'. I would say there are 2 weak points - 1) Your computer. A serious upgrade will allow you to run more 'in the box', giving you more options. 2) Your mic. The vocal lacks a bit of sparkle to my ears, its way to smooth and needs to bite more. Maybe just an EQ thing, but a better mic will provide more detail for you to mess with. Nice vocals though

2nd February 2006	#3
hourglass Gear addict Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Bawl'mer Posts: 355	Don't knock that JM-47 "Meek"rophone. It's got the dumbest name in the business, but it stood up to some serious contenders when we did a shootout. Blue Bottle, U-47, and a bunch of Chinese knock-offs. I'll take the Meekrophone over a Blue Bottle any day. ryan

3rd February 2006	#5
CustomDigi Gear nut Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 89	I don't know if I would call the vocal "dull", but it is definitely less present than what I'm used to hearing on these types of tracks. Actually though, I think it sounds pretty damn good, overall...maybe experiment with some different eqs on the vocal and maybe hit the compressor a little harder? Then you can boost the volume a bit. I dunno, I like it, but some of the vocal gets a little lost. Keep doin what you do, man. Even though this is gearslutz, sounds like you are makin do with what ya got just fine. -Matt