Record clean and colour 'In The Box' or colour on the way in?

boidos · 26th November 2009

Hi all, I ma just about to start on a new series of recordings...
I am only recording analog and digital synths. Am I working on a budget, but have a little amount to inverst in gear if needed...up to $1000. Should I record my synths clean and pristine into my konnekt d/a and then colour and fatten up the sound in my DAW with plugins, or is it essential to use preamps/di boxes to colour/fatten etc.. on the way in?
thanks!

Chucho · 26th November 2009

Try everything.
No one here can tell you which you will prefer.
I know I sound a bit glib and patronizing but it really is the best thing you can do.

Do very simple A/B comparisons of clean in / dirty out - dirty in / clean out.

There is no substitute for long hours trying out this kind of thing. There is no magic box. Use what you have.

(I am a very happy owner of great river pre amps)

Soundmanluke · 26th November 2009

I just got done recording some analog synths plugged into an Avalon U5 and OH MAN.
I did one track with tone setting two and then another with tone setting 4... panned them slightly and got a huge wall of sound.
Not sure exactly how much the U5 costs but I think it's around $800?

boidos · 27th November 2009

yeah the pheonix audio nice DI and the avalon U5 look like intersting options..stereo would be handy, but the eq options on the u5 also look good.

Soundmanluke · 27th November 2009

Yeah all we did was record left and right tracks separately with the U5. A little time consuming but worth it!
Even running through a Fender Twin and micing that sounded awesome too. Another good option.

joeq · 27th November 2009

I like to do it on the way in

a nice tube preamp or mic is way better than the best tube sim plug-in, IMO

It's true you can't 'uncolor' a track, but I have been doing this for a while, so I know what I want, and I am not afraid to commit.

PeteJames · 27th November 2009

I'm no expert but you have to commit sometime. I guess as one becomes more experienced it's easier to have the confidence to think 'i've nailed this lets move on'.

RusRant · 27th November 2009

I get my sound going in, even if that means printing efx, etc. I try to make a decision and go with it. Trying to get the sound ITB or after it's recorded can leave things to open ended IMO. YMMV, so try both and see what works for you.

Gretschman · 27th November 2009

Try out anything and everything .

The only rules that exist , are the ones that we impose upon ourselves !

Enya made a ton of money on her ITB recording .

Lonnie5 · 27th November 2009

I like to get my tracks sounding as close to the final sound as possible while tracking. I also believe its better (if you know your going to be the one mixing the project as well) to compress before hitting the convertors instead of using a plugin ITB or a harware insert later. It adds more excitment for the musicians while tracking as well

boidos · 2nd December 2009

I ended up buying my friends chameleon labs 7802 and 2 x 7602, lets see how that goes towards getting the sound right before I tweak in the box.

fossaree · 14th December 2009

great !

would you mind to PM me telling what are you thinking about those ?

Or just leave a message here , so others might be benefited .

26th November 2009	#1
boidos Gear interested Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 26 Thread Starter	Record clean and colour 'In The Box' or colour on the way in? Hi all, I ma just about to start on a new series of recordings... I am only recording analog and digital synths. Am I working on a budget, but have a little amount to inverst in gear if needed...up to $1000. Should I record my synths clean and pristine into my konnekt d/a and then colour and fatten up the sound in my DAW with plugins, or is it essential to use preamps/di boxes to colour/fatten etc.. on the way in? thanks!

27th November 2009	#4
boidos Gear interested Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 26 Thread Starter	di yeah the pheonix audio nice DI and the avalon U5 look like intersting options..stereo would be handy, but the eq options on the u5 also look good.

27th November 2009	#6
joeq Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: New York Posts: 9,927	I like to do it on the way in a nice tube preamp or mic is way better than the best tube sim plug-in, IMO It's true you can't 'uncolor' a track, but I have been doing this for a while, so I know what I want, and I am not afraid to commit. __________________ . “What you ask about is music. What you like is sound. Now music and sound are akin, but they are not the same.” — Confucius

27th November 2009	#7
PeteJames Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Lancashire, England Posts: 1,859	I'm no expert but you have to commit sometime. I guess as one becomes more experienced it's easier to have the confidence to think 'i've nailed this lets move on'. __________________ http://soundcloud.com/madeinmachines/made-in-machines-melancholia "I love a bit of Kazakhstan Hi-NRG fused with Swahili bongo techno, topped with a bit of industrial revolution glitch bomb and East Bavarian slut brothel and finished off with Peruvian pan pipe spunk as much as the next man but that's really not the point."

27th November 2009	#9
Gretschman Gear nut Joined: May 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 139	try it Try out anything and everything . The only rules that exist , are the ones that we impose upon ourselves ! Enya made a ton of money on her ITB recording .

26th November 2009	#2
Chucho Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 598	Try everything. No one here can tell you which you will prefer. I know I sound a bit glib and patronizing but it really is the best thing you can do. Do very simple A/B comparisons of clean in / dirty out - dirty in / clean out. There is no substitute for long hours trying out this kind of thing. There is no magic box. Use what you have. (I am a very happy owner of great river pre amps)

26th November 2009	#3
Soundmanluke Gear nut Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Posts: 136	I just got done recording some analog synths plugged into an Avalon U5 and OH MAN. I did one track with tone setting two and then another with tone setting 4... panned them slightly and got a huge wall of sound. Not sure exactly how much the U5 costs but I think it's around $800?

27th November 2009	#8
RusRant Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2006 Location: B'ham, AL Posts: 998	I get my sound going in, even if that means printing efx, etc. I try to make a decision and go with it. Trying to get the sound ITB or after it's recorded can leave things to open ended IMO. YMMV, so try both and see what works for you.

27th November 2009	#10
Lonnie5 Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 212	I like to get my tracks sounding as close to the final sound as possible while tracking. I also believe its better (if you know your going to be the one mixing the project as well) to compress before hitting the convertors instead of using a plugin ITB or a harware insert later. It adds more excitment for the musicians while tracking as well

2nd December 2009	#11
boidos Gear interested Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 26 Thread Starter	gear I ended up buying my friends chameleon labs 7802 and 2 x 7602, lets see how that goes towards getting the sound right before I tweak in the box.

14th December 2009	#12
fossaree Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2009 Location: SP , Brazil Posts: 1,666	great ! would you mind to PM me telling what are you thinking about those ? Or just leave a message here , so others might be benefited . __________________ www.fossaristudio.com.br

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