What do you want to learn about recording?

[soundslikebryan]

Thanks bossing. Will try this over the weekend. Would a dynamic mic work as an ambient mic? We only have 1 condenser. Its pretty expensive, but we do have a couple of great shure mics and the condenser we're using is a Rode NT1000. I'll check out the fishman too.

We do have 4 drum mics. Using them for the tom toms and snare. 1 overhead for the hi-hat and ride and 1 for the crash. The thing is we were also using a china and a splash, which we would love to have a separate track, but its just hard to do so.

We're only recording in my friends garage. The acoustics there is pretty decent. I suggested we record the vocals and the acoustic guitar in the bathroom.

Another question (nagsamantala na). A friend of mine suggested for me to get a vocal Pre-amp. Do you think its necessary? We use Adobe Audition to record, and Gearbox helps in adding echo, balance and reverb for vocals.

Thanks a lot!!!

[KitC]

The Fishman Aura can be a bit pricey, but it really is great especially in a live gig.

We do have 4 drum mics. Using them for the tom toms and snare. 1 overhead for the hi-hat and ride and 1 for the crash. The thing is we were also using a china and a splash, which we would love to have a separate track, but its just hard to do so.

Mic the drums as if you were treating it like a single instrument. Experiment with mic and cymbal placement so that the kit becomes a cohesive whole instead of trying to capture one instrument at a time.

Another question (nagsamantala na). A friend of mine suggested for me to get a vocal Pre-amp. Do you think its necessary? We use Adobe Audition to record, and Gearbox helps in adding echo, balance and reverb for vocals.

Depends on what you need. Personally, I feel getting a mic which complements the vocals is initially more important; getting a great preamp will only make it shine more. See if you can audition different mics for your singer. Sometimes it doesn't have to be top of the line, just use your ears. Butch Vig of Garbage once found a defective vintage RCA mic in a bargain bin that would have been crappy for anyone else, but with Shirley Manson, her voice just bloomed.

[carl20]

why is it sir that drum sound from western and european recordings are much fatter, warmer sounding than here.

I've been comparing audio's of foreign artists against some better sounding recordings here, they do really have big difference.

[KitC]

It's a combination of a lot of things... good mics, good preamps, judicious use of compression and a whole lot of experience.

We can't beat them at their own game since they're so far ahead of the curve. I think it's about time we made our path. Truth be told, foreign recordings are weaning away from that over compressed, 'big' sound and heading back into more rational levels.

[carl20]

thanks for the reply sir,

our band are gearing up for recording coming this november at tracks studios, under monty macalino.. any tips sir...

[mikep]

Practice ahead of time.  Rehearse your pieces well.  Make sure you know what you are suppose to do during recording.  Tell the engineer what sound you have in your head.  Make him listen to examples.  If other members of the band do not have anything to do with the recording or tracking being done, ask them to step out of the control booth.  The fewer people, the better, the faster things can happen.

BTW, foriegn drums fatter?  Songs sound better compared to local recordings?  As KitC said, a lot of things.  But let me just add, they - producer, artists and engineer know what and how the song is suppose to sound.  Emphasis on know.

Enjoy your recording.

[carl20]

thank you sir mikep for the tip sir, this will be very helpful for us in achieving what sound we really like..

[carl20]

one thing I always observed when watching the behind the scenes of some foreign artist recording, is that they always use huge room for drum tracking and lots of microphone for ambient why can't we do this here?

[KitC]

Simple... large rooms cost money.

[carl20]

oh,... hmmmm,... soundcreation by sir shinji and blue lights studios quite have a very good roomy space.  But is it really advisable that natural reverb of the room is the best way unlike using a plugin ambient rooms.

[KitC]

Well, the bottom line is that a particular space has to be set aside and designed that way if you want it to sound good. Shinji's main room in particular has a 30 ft high ceiling, which I believe was part of his specification and design when he had his house constructed. Most other studios who move into an existing space don't have that luxury and have to deal with the acoustic anomalies that arise from those spaces. Among the worst things you can do is put a studio inside a cube (eh, mikep?).

Other studios are lucky. Abbey Road is a good example of having a good sounding room which they moved into. But to purpose build a studio, specifically with high ceilings, like I said earlier, will cost money.

[carl20]

hehehe I was thinking kasi of putting it up in an old warehouse or somewhat like that space my gears din, just want to experiment..

[bellhaus]

pasali hehehe! someone once said to me that audio recording is like photography! go get a great lens (mics), camera (interface) lighting (cable) & a model (artist)

just want to share too!

nonie m.

[marvinq]

one thing I always observed when watching the behind the scenes of some foreign artist recording, is that they always use huge room for drum tracking and lots of microphone for ambient why can't we do this here?

Not every type of music can be helped by a large room and lots of mics. There are workarounds. You just need to know the sound you want, and how to get that sound. The equipment isn't quite as important as knowing how to use it. In fact, most of the time, the limitations force the artist to think outside the box. Sometimes it's better to concentrate your efforts on making the song better, making the performance better, instead of figuring out which mic or which of your hi-end preamps to use, or whether to track with compression or not, and if so, which compressor, blah, blah. I'd take a great performance on cheap equipment any day over a so-so performance on hi-end equipment. Remember how mikep adviced on rehearsing your material well. That's advice that can't be underestimated.

pasali hehehe! someone once said to me that audio recording is like photography! go get a great lens (mics), camera (interface) lighting (cable) & a model (artist)

just want to share too!

nonie m.

Good equipment helps, of course. Here's the thing about hi-end stuff. Whether it's music or photography, hi-end equipment elevates people's expectations of your output. Fumble on great equipment, and you appear a bigger idiot.

oh,... hmmmm,... soundcreation by sir shinji and blue lights studios quite have a very good roomy space.  But is it really advisable that natural reverb of the room is the best way unlike using a plugin ambient rooms.

Only if you can tell the difference (of course you can tell in an A/B situation, but when you listen to a radio, can you tell which songs used a live room, and which ones used a plug-in?), and if you can tell that the difference actually resulted in superior audio.

Let me advice everybody against using something only because it's there. Sometimes better sound can come from cheaper equipment. SSL's will always have better distortion and noise figures than Behringers, but who's to say that Behringer's distortion characteristics won't help your sound? My favorite cymbal in my studio was a 600 peso unbranded cymbal I got from Raon. And KitC knows how many cymbals I have. Honestly, I've lost count.

I guess what I'm trying to say is... use your ears. Your eyes will always tell you that the more expensive equipment will always be better. Your ears might hear differently.

[carl20]

well said sir marvinq,.. I'll take note of these,.. thank you!

[alvincflorentino]

Hi. Noobie here. Don't even know if this is the right place to ask this but here it goes anyway.

Just wanna know what's the difference between an electret condenser mic and the run-of-the-mill condenser mic we all know and love? Does it use 48v phantom power too? Does it need a preamp? Which applications would be best for the electret? Would it be better than a "normal" condenser for certain applications?

Thanks!

[marvinq]

KitC, the Ernie Baron of Philmusic, you're needed here!

I think he owns Wiki. Or Google. Oh, correction. He IS Google. Or would that be somebody else? Haha.

[alien_inside]

KitC, the Ernie Baron of Philmusic, you're needed here!

I think he owns Wiki. Or Google. Oh, correction. He IS Google. Or would that be somebody else. Haha.

true. labas ka naman minsan...

[KitC]

Just wanna know what's the difference between an electret condenser mic and the run-of-the-mill condenser mic we all know and love?

Electrets have permanently charged backplates, hence do not require power to charge the diaphragm elements in order to produce the necessary capacitance which induces voltage variations when sound affects the diaphragm (whew! citation needed).

Does it use 48v phantom power too?

Normally no. Often, electrets will have a battery compartment in order to drive the FET buffer and a small preamp in the mic body; and often, a maximum of 9 volts is all that is required. I believe there are a few electrets that use phantom power to drive the internal preamp, but these are uncommon.

Does it need a preamp?

All mics need a preamp.

Which applications would be best for the electret? Would it be better than a "normal" condenser for certain applications?

It depends. Most electrets are usually small diaphragm condensers, and often have omni patterns making them quite sensitive. These are usually found in measurement equipment such as RTAs, SPL meters, and other acoustic analyzers. Still, you could use omnis in a variety of applications from drum ambience miking to orchestral recordings (some SDC instrument mics use electrets). Their omni patterns mean that they will capture a lot of ambient noise too, so be forewarned.

[mikep]

Just wanna know what's the difference between an electret condenser mic and the run-of-the-mill condenser mic we all know and love? Does it use 48v phantom power too? Does it need a preamp? Which applications would be best for the electret? Would it be better than a "normal" condenser for certain applications?

Electret condenser are less expensive compared to the condensers.  KitC has explained the differences well, but let me just add that mics that costs thousands of dollars used in studios - those that have labels such as Neumann, AKG, Schoeps and others are all condensers that require 48V.  Applications for any type of mic will depend primarily on our creative imaginations.  But if we want crisp, clear and really pro sounding vocals (even for acoustic instruments), condenser mics are the way to go.  And as is true also in this business, you get what you pay for - cheapo mics will give you cheapo sound (although not always).

FWIW

[alvincflorentino]

Thanks guys! I knew I could count on KitC and mikep for some in-depth analysis.

[marvinq]

Satisfying explanations from your everyday genius, and the man that packs a wallop. Haha.

[jamming_papu]

hail to our Music Tech masters Sir KitC and mikep. 

[jed4sale]

mga sir may tanong po ako sa mixing/mastering.

ano po ba gagawin para yung vocals hindi parang hiwalay yung tunog niya sa banda? tapos ano po ba dapat volume level ng vocals relative to the band? kasi parang nagsstick-out yung vocals e.

second question po. yung rythm at lead na gitara, dapat po ba sa magkahiwalay sila na channel lumalabas? or dapat po ba mostly sa right kunyari yung rythm (pero may onti sa left) tapos sa lead mostly sa left (na may onti sa right)?

last, bago ba i export, ano pede gawin para magdikit lahat ng tunog? ok naman na sha, pero kasi may sinasabi yung iba na may gagawin ka pa para parang pag naging mp3 na sha wav or something dikit yung tunog maliban sa ginawa mo sa mastering.

salamat po, sana matulungan niyo kami.

if it helps, pop-punk po genre namin tas yung mga kanta namin na inedit ko (na kasalukuyan pading may mga problema mentioned above)
nakapost po sa myspace account namin. www.myspace.com/quickletsgo

thanks, help us! 

[new_guitarist]

how to mix and master!