Total newbie looking for advice

[H2theHam]

Hey there everybody.

Names Chris. I'm 22 years old and I've been recording for just over 2 years and I have been doing radio production for 5. I'm in love with recording, but I have one small issue, I have no flipping clue if what I'm doing is good or bad!

I work full time as a security guard, but want to make it as a radio host/producer or a recording engineer. Like I said, I'm a total newbie and I want to hear any tips and advice from all of you.

OK, over the course of the past 2 years, I have come into ownership of:

Adobe Audition 3.0 (I tried Protools, Audition just feels more comfy for me)
Antares Auto-Tuner
Tascam US 1641 usb 2.0 14 channel digital interface
1EV PL33 kick drum mic
4 EV PL35 drum mics
3 Shure SM57s
1 Shure SM58
An AKG Condenser. Not sure what exact model it is because the logo and model number has been scratched off from years of use. I bought it for 100$ from my friend and it produces great vocal sounds.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO noise canceling headphones

So that's everything I have. Everything includding cables and stands cost me almost 3,000$. All mics went into the Tascam and it went into my Dell Latitude D810 laptop. I constantly update the hard drive and processors so it is fast enough. I want to get a new computer, but not sure what to get. Most of you might just say a powerful Mac.

I interned at a studio for 6 months and learned some basic tips there, but I was mainly doing basic studio clean up duties. The engineer was a total ass and didn't really teach me anything, so I just asked the guys at the recording section at my local Guitar Center.

As far as mastering goes, I have no idea what to do with proper mastering, so my "mastering" consists of me getting each track in my mix to sound exactly the way I wanted it to with reverbs, compressors (only using the basic plug in multiband compressor in Audition), etc.., got a well balanced mix, went over it at least 5 times over the course of a week to make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me, even having my friends listen to it to make sure it sounds ok, then mixed down to -6db so it wouldn't distort. While mixing, I got a general rough mix by mixing very loud in the headphones, then quiet in headphones. If it sounded good there, I tried all available sound outlets I could find to see if it sounded good there. Once that was done, ran it through a limiter to get it loud enough before it starts distorting. When it was all said and done, I burnt it to any blank cd I could find using the burner that came with Audition. When I played it in my car, I got it to level 35 out of 50 max which is normal for any other cd I put in and it sounded the same volume.

When I recorded, I *gasp* recorded in a basement using heavy blankets and rugs to sheild noise. I don't have enough money to open my own place and I save up enough money for one big purchase (around 4-500$) every 2 months after bills are paid, so the basement is the only place I can record

My questions to all of you again is, what should I save up and get? Any tips with the gear I use now? Am I doing this whole thing wrong?

My myspace is myspace.com/chammyproductions the "New Mix" tracks are brand new. I just mixed guitars and drums only last night, bass is recording tomorrow. I suggest you all listen to the "She's A Killer" song. As far as effects go, I think this is the best song I've done. Everything besides the "New Mix" stuff is finished and done. I still have the sessions saved for "She's a killer" and the song that is titled "Finished Mixdown" so I can still edit those songs if I want to. The new stuff will sound better, but that's what I have now. Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to get EVERYTHING out there so you all can make a clear suggestion. If my stuff sucks, feel free to call me out on that. I can take any critisism you give. Thanks again everybody.

[Yoozer]

You might want to remove that e-mail address; it's far more useful for everyone to read the replies here instead of you and the sender in their respective in- and outbox .

Help Me With My Career Choice Please might be of use to you.

[H2theHam]

I already know what I want to do in life. I'm only working security because that's where the money is coming from and the bills have to get paid. I would love to be in afternoon radio. I have a degree in media/broadcasting and an internship under my belt. I discovered recording and immediately fell in love with it. I would not mind recording be a side income and a passionate hobby or have that be my main income and open my own studio. For now, all I'm looking for is advice from the people on this site on how to improve my skills and if so, what stuff do you guys here recommend I should get? As long as I'm continuing to improve my skills and making good sounding music, that's all I care about. Maybe I should have made that point clearer in the original post.

[Alv]

Hey Chris, I made the transition from radio production to music recording too. It's funny how throwing together promos and imaging just isn't as exciting as getting into music. The first piece of advise that I ever got is still true today which is 'you can't throw money at art' and 'master what you have first'. Don't expect anyone else to jump in and save the day and don't expect that saving up for that one more piece of equipment is going to fix what you're stuck on or solve all of life's problems. Instead try getting creative and make it work with what's in your basement and surround yourself with good and talented people who just have fun making good stuff. My buddy's and I used to make some pretty cool (and hilarious) songs on one of those blue Tascam 4 tracks that record to cassettes with the mics you have and probably in a basement just like yours. Work on making cool material and the studio will come in do time. Sounds like an artsy-fartsy approach but it's the way to go when you're faced with crossroads.

[larry b]

Read, study, record, listen, record, listen, listen listen, record, listen, read, study, record, listen and onward into oblivion. A good book like Modern Recording Techniques would do you well.

Modern Recording Techniques - Audio resources, knowledge, & community for sound engineers

The more you work on your skills the better you will become. During the process (which will be many years) you will find out if you have what it takes to do it for a living. It doesn't come easy. To me it is a direct fusion of scientific understanding, artistic talent/creativity, and psychology. Those are the critical elements to working with people in a studio environment and recording music.

There are many people in the game for 30 or 40 years who still feel they have a lot to learn, and in fact, they do. It can be a never-ending process of gaining knowledge and practicing techniques for those that want it to be.

The road is long, my friend. Don't make any decisions right now other than to learn to do the most with the gear you have. Take it to the max.

The one thing you seem to be missing is a set of good quality monitor speakers. Headphones are not a great music mixing tool, to say the least. You don't need to break the bank here. Get a set of $3-400 nearfields to get started. That is more than good for learning on.

At the point of outgrowing your current gear, you will come into an understanding of what gear you need to take it to the next level.

Don't get caught up in thinking that x piece of gear will solve all of your problems or automatically take your recordings to that next level i just mentioned. It is skill and only skill that will do that for you.

You can do a lot with a just book like Modern Recording Techniques, your brain and creativity, and the gear you currently own.

And from now on do not take the advice of any Guitar Center employee. Please, for humanity's sake.

[manning1]

larry b
so true..there are no instant coffee maker make me a hit gear solutions.
songs are just tons of work.

[Teddy Ray]

read these.

all of them.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/4094587-post3.html