recording tips-

juineaux · Unread post by **juineaux** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:38 pm

I got this idea from another forum-
Post recording tips if you have any, or ask each other for advice about recording stuff(compression levels, mixing, EQ). I dont know much, but I figured we could all just share ideas or tricks to make all of our stuff sound a little better.

NPR · Unread post by **NPR** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 12:25 am

This would be great cause I don't know shizz about this recording stuff. I just spent an hour hitting all of these different buttons and stuff on my mixing board until I got it to sound good going into my computer. I need to learn more about this stuff.

MWR · Unread post by **MWR** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 2:08 am

First things first: If you have a shitty microphone than buy a new one (sm57 is cheap and very versitile). If you like to record spend a good chunk of money on a mic as they are THE most important part of getting good recordings.

That being said here are some really basic guidelines I've read along with my own thoughts:

1. Record everything "dry" meaning don't add any effects, eq, or anything like that. The exception would be some light compression. Once you have it recorded you can add all the stuff with software.

2. Place your mic about 3ft from your git pointed at the 14th fret. You can angle it towards or away from the soundhole depending on how much bass/treble you want this also will determine how much right or left hand nuances are picked up. Get someone to listen and find a "sweetspot" if you can. A lot of this comes down to experimentation. You really want to avoid pointing your mic directly at the soundhole though.

3. For the love of God, if your recording vocals get a pop filter! This will get rid of the pops that rear their head when you say 'p' words. If you have the scratch they can be bought for like $25 bucks but I made one with some panty hose and a coat hanger.

4. The room your recording in will have a big affect on the sound you get. Use your ears and find a place that sounds good or creates the affect your going for i.e. hardwood floors will sound different than carpet.

5. Vocals and guitar should be recorded seperately. You can do both to build live chops but sound quality will suffter.

6. Be conservative with reverb/delay but don't avoid it completely.

7. Be conservative with E.Q. but dont avoid it completely.

8. If you can, have your equipment set up and ready to go at all times. More importantly, when inspiration strikes don't waste any time! Get to your mic and PLAY. I can't tell you how many times I've thought of something and put recording it off then 24 hrs. later it's gone.

9. If YOU think your recording is bad than don't post it or play it for people. Take the time to do it right and then share it. If it could have been 100 times better with a bit more work than why have us critique it? Save the rough drafts for your own study. Btw-This is my main frustration with this forum.

10. If your singing you can vary your distance from the mic to even out the sound i.e. when you yell get farther away and vice versa.

Thats about all I want to write at the moment but theres obviously a lot more to it.
I didn't give any specific settings for compression/e.q./delay etc. because it varys too much. If you want some guideling go here

juineaux · Unread post by **juineaux** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 11:54 am

cool, all that stuff will help!
another spot for info is http://www.sweetwater.com/support/home.php
the summit section and the forums have the best info, but your link seemed to have more ideas, so i guess use your's.
by the way I like your avatar-

NPR · Unread post by **NPR** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:07 pm

MWR, thanks for all of the great info man. I am gonna start getting more serious about my recording. I think I might check out that mic tonight. I just have a crappy one right now and my recordings suck so hopefully a new mic will get them better.

juineaux · Unread post by **juineaux** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:18 pm

A large diapraphm Condensor mic can sound really nice as well. Some of the cheaper ones are actually better than I thought they would sound, like some of the marshalls,about $80. But if you have about $200 you can get a nicer one from rode or AT. But a sm57 is a classic that can be used for everything-

NPR · Unread post by **NPR** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:19 pm

I was wanting to spend like 100. And I want some thing that will do vocals and my acoustic. Got any good suggestions for that range?

jrm · Unread post by **jrm** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 4:07 pm

Sure sm-57.

MWR · Unread post by **MWR** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:42 pm

NPR wrote:MWR, thanks for all of the great info man. I am gonna start getting more serious about my recording. I think I might check out that mic tonight. I just have a crappy one right now and my recordings suck so hopefully a new mic will get them better.

No problem, I'm glad it was helpful.

The sm-57 is a do everything kinda mic. It's also a dynamic mic so it can handle a lot of DB's.
If your recording just vocals and acoustic guitar I would actually opt for a large diaphragm condenser. The sm-57 is great because you can record vocals, acoustic, amped electric, drums, etc. But if don't need that kind of versatilty than a condenser will work better.
Ive heard great things about the Studio Projects B1 and at $80 it's rediculously low priced. Check it out and read some reviews here

One cavieat with buying large diaphragm condenser mics is that they require phantom power. This is a low voltage current that powers the mic. Dynamic mics don't need it and a lot of small diaphragm condensers can run on batteries but the large diaphragm mics need it externally. If you have a seperate hard disk recorder with XLR (mic) inputs it will almost certainly have phantom power. If you don't than you will want to invest in a mic pre-amp. I would actually get one regardless as they boost the signal and make it a lot cleaner. I've read good things about ART tube pre-amps. They are really cheap and add warmth to your recordings due to the tube componants.

Ultimately if your serious about recording you will want to get more than one mic.

Please feel free to ask any other questions as I love talking about this stuff. I think there's a bit of producer/engineer deep down inside of me.
Recording is fun but more importantly it makes you a MILLION times better.

Props to juineaux for starting this thread.

NPR · Unread post by **NPR** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:56 pm

Hey guys thanks for all the info.

I am gonna check out some of those mic's this weekend. I definitely want something that will record my acoustic really well and then for vocals as well. But I am more interested in recording the acoustic. Right now I have a Behringer 802A mixer. Which has Phantom Power, so would that be all I need to power the mic's?

Also does anyone know anything about the Marshall MXL2003 large capsule Condenser Microphone?

juineaux · Unread post by **juineaux** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 11:12 pm

Well I just checked it out and it sounds pretty good, but If you are gonna spend $150, you might as well get a better micfor $200 and get a studio projects C1(amazing for vocals, and good for acoustic) or a Rode NT1a(good for just about everything).
Heres a good place to buy the studio projects mic:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/C1Mic/
and you can find the rode just about anywhere-

juineaux · Unread post by **juineaux** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 11:13 pm

and yea, you only need that mixer to power the mic-

NPR · Unread post by **NPR** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:32 am

Hmm so many things to consider. I think I might go with the B1 just to get started. Then go with a better one later on. Thanks for all the help guys. I will let you know what I end up getting and how everything comes out.

DustyDave · Unread post by **DustyDave** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 4:04 am

MWR that was a very informative post you made , good stuff brother good stuff

juineaux · Unread post by **juineaux** » Sat Feb 07, 2004 12:28 pm

yea thanks MWR, that link you gave helped. Ive seen alot of info on compressing vocals, drums,bass, ect, but never a good guide to acoustic guitar. So that will help-

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recording tips-

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