Reality Check

chris777 · 30th December 2005, 03:19 PM

Ok,

It has been 16 months since I started recording bands. However i've played with 4 & 8-track and cheap digital recorders for some time. I started doing this out of pure love for music as a hobby but as it turns out (much like the rest of us here) I have gotten a bit slutty with it. :)

I have already dropped close to $20,000 on equipment and software over this time and trying to decide if I should continue on this venture.

I am posting a few song samples to get some feedback. Keep in mind that I have learned this stuff by reading books and reading tips on this site.

You guys rock!

Digi 002R, Command 8, Rosetta 800, ISA 428, UA 610, C-414, AT4040, Rode NT4, Octavia sm.Condensers, blah, blah, blah

chris777 · 30th December 2005, 03:39 PM

Bump

chris777 · 30th December 2005, 07:28 PM

BUUUMMMMP

IzzyRock · 30th December 2005, 08:42 PM

Sounds very good man,

Let me tell you that the ONLY way to become good at this is RECORDING!! there is not another way...... even if u spend years studying in the university, u wont be ready to mix like a guru. that's just experience

Mixing is an art, not a profession. So if you keep working, learning, recording, ****ing it up, etc you will become as good as you want, its just time
Obviously you cant expect more if you only been recording for 16 months, you do great for that time.

Just keep working man

PD: Im curioous about the drums of your clips.. are they midi?
I think your recordings needs more "air". More separation between the instruments

IzzyRock · 30th December 2005, 08:46 PM

I also forgot to mention something very important!

try to DEVELOP your OWN style of mixing!

For instance, Randy Staub sounds like him every time, and even his mixes sounds VERY similar to each other.
MIkko Karmila (Finland) sounds like him everytime too (nightwish, stratovarious, children of bodom, thunderstone, etc)

Every good mixing engineer has his own "signature" to recordings. thats what makes producers and companies hire them to do the job.
Make yourself something unique

Peace

chris777 · 31st December 2005, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IzzyRock

Sounds very good man,

Let me tell you that the ONLY way to become good at this is RECORDING!! there is not another way...... even if u spend years studying in the university, u wont be ready to mix like a guru. that's just experience

Mixing is an art, not a profession. So if you keep working, learning, recording, ****ing it up, etc you will become as good as you want, its just time
Obviously you cant expect more if you only been recording for 16 months, you do great for that time.

Just keep working man

PD: Im curioous about the drums of your clips.. are they midi?
I think your recordings needs more "air". More separation between the instruments

IzzyRock
Thanks for the reply. The drums are real and I would love to achieve more of an air and seperation of instruments but i guess I dont understand that part so well. I mean, in protools it seems I can only do so much before I run out of ideas. Maybe my sense of eq id off. Obviously Im still learning sso if anyone has any tips on these issues it would be appreciated. By the way, all these songs were mastered.

Again thanks

NeoVXR · 31st December 2005, 05:13 PM

I think you are doing well!

I like the "toyota" best
jealous love - vocals sounding a bit demo-ish ( not IN the sound )

good mastering (esp limiting) can do a bit more, tracks are not quite loud. another 3 dB should be possible without serious damage. depends on purpose..
for commercial productions, you can concentrate on mixing and have things mastered external, until you have developed the skill for some longer time. but NOT BAD at all.

perhaps you can concentrate on vocal rides and volume automation as a next step..
don't over-eq in a way that the tracks sounds too "narrow". this is my mistake also, when I eq in the "plus" range. the tracks can punch through, but it would harm the depth and glue of the mix. often, subtractive eq is better, but requires more sensitivity and skills..

keep on, and good success in 2006 !

(I'm not pro, but eager listener and experimentator with electronic engineering background and decades of live stage and club FOH experience)

Ruphus · 31st December 2005, 05:37 PM

I think this to be sounding very nice already. Sure would the money be well spend when you expand.

Track on, man!

Ruphus

chris777 · 31st December 2005, 09:04 PM

Thanks Guys,

I do agree that the vocals on jealous love sound demo-ish. She wanted it dry and loud.
I tried to smooth them out but that was what she wanted. I guess I will take that as experience.

Have you guys used an external summing box and would that help with a setup like mine?

Again, thanks! These replies are encouraging!

Rock on

chris777 · 2nd January 2006, 05:02 AM

Bump on the external summing thing

chris777 · 6th January 2006, 09:55 PM

Anyone else?

wallace · 6th January 2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris777

Thanks Guys,

I do agree that the vocals on jealous love sound demo-ish. She wanted it dry and loud.
I tried to smooth them out but that was what she wanted. I guess I will take that as experience.

Have you guys used an external summing box and would that help with a setup like mine?

Again, thanks! These replies are encouraging!

Rock on

I've been liking the external summing thing with the right preamp. I need to switch to the 002 sometime this year though.

TyRip · 6th January 2006, 10:42 PM

I just have to say good job as well.

I agree with others too. Toyota commercial sounds awesome, not crazy about the vox in jealous love.

I like the feel of the The Sum track. Nice work on that one.

I have been at this for a few months less than you, and a little less seriously, but now I am trying to step it up and record as much as I can. I posted the similar (I'm scared I suck...) thread in the mp3 section, with a track that does not have anywhere near the depth and polished feel of some of yours. I am still working on it too.

Again, good job.

Tyler

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31st December 2005, 05:13 PM	#7
NeoVXR Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,167	I think you are doing well! I like the "toyota" best jealous love - vocals sounding a bit demo-ish ( not IN the sound ) good mastering (esp limiting) can do a bit more, tracks are not quite loud. another 3 dB should be possible without serious damage. depends on purpose.. for commercial productions, you can concentrate on mixing and have things mastered external, until you have developed the skill for some longer time. but NOT BAD at all. perhaps you can concentrate on vocal rides and volume automation as a next step.. don't over-eq in a way that the tracks sounds too "narrow". this is my mistake also, when I eq in the "plus" range. the tracks can punch through, but it would harm the depth and glue of the mix. often, subtractive eq is better, but requires more sensitivity and skills.. keep on, and good success in 2006 ! (I'm not pro, but eager listener and experimentator with electronic engineering background and decades of live stage and club FOH experience) __________________ sorry 4 poor english

31st December 2005, 05:37 PM	#8
Ruphus Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Berlin / Germany Posts: 5,064	I think this to be sounding very nice already. Sure would the money be well spend when you expand. Track on, man! Ruphus __________________ "Am I the only one that tires of this "everything is subjective" watered-down-pop-culture-pseudo-philosophy bullshit?" Bravin Neff Wolgang Burr, former office leader of the German Chancellor before committee of inquiry: "You would not believe what unusual happens daily." "Patience, young Skywalker - let the object of your desires come to you." JTR "All thinking men are atheists." Ernest Hemingway

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30th December 2005, 03:39 PM	#2
chris777 Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 145	Bump

30th December 2005, 07:28 PM	#3
chris777 Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 145	BUUUMMMMP

30th December 2005, 08:42 PM	#4
IzzyRock Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Santiago, Chile Posts: 317	Sounds very good man, Let me tell you that the ONLY way to become good at this is RECORDING!! there is not another way...... even if u spend years studying in the university, u wont be ready to mix like a guru. that's just experience Mixing is an art, not a profession. So if you keep working, learning, recording, ****ing it up, etc you will become as good as you want, its just time Obviously you cant expect more if you only been recording for 16 months, you do great for that time. Just keep working man PD: Im curioous about the drums of your clips.. are they midi? I think your recordings needs more "air". More separation between the instruments

30th December 2005, 08:46 PM	#5
IzzyRock Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Santiago, Chile Posts: 317	I also forgot to mention something very important! try to DEVELOP your OWN style of mixing! For instance, Randy Staub sounds like him every time, and even his mixes sounds VERY similar to each other. MIkko Karmila (Finland) sounds like him everytime too (nightwish, stratovarious, children of bodom, thunderstone, etc) Every good mixing engineer has his own "signature" to recordings. thats what makes producers and companies hire them to do the job. Make yourself something unique Peace

31st December 2005, 09:04 PM	#9
chris777 Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 145	Thanks Guys, I do agree that the vocals on jealous love sound demo-ish. She wanted it dry and loud. I tried to smooth them out but that was what she wanted. I guess I will take that as experience. Have you guys used an external summing box and would that help with a setup like mine? Again, thanks! These replies are encouraging! Rock on

2nd January 2006, 05:02 AM	#10
chris777 Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 145	Bump on the external summing thing

6th January 2006, 09:55 PM	#11
chris777 Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 145	Anyone else?

6th January 2006, 10:42 PM	#13
TyRip Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Canton, OH Posts: 313	I just have to say good job as well. I agree with others too. Toyota commercial sounds awesome, not crazy about the vox in jealous love. I like the feel of the The Sum track. Nice work on that one. I have been at this for a few months less than you, and a little less seriously, but now I am trying to step it up and record as much as I can. I posted the similar (I'm scared I suck...) thread in the mp3 section, with a track that does not have anywhere near the depth and polished feel of some of yours. I am still working on it too. Again, good job. Tyler