Starting Out

general questions, comments and ideas about recording, audio, music, etc.
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zeropunk
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Starting Out

Post by zeropunk » Sat Aug 23, 2003 12:15 pm

Im recently starting out recording my own songs on acoustic guitar, but i want to start recording with a full band. I have a Tascam 4-Track Portastudio and some very cheap mics. I was just wondering if anyone has any advice for someone just starting out and with a very very limited budget. Anything anyone can say will definately help.

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loudmusic
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Re: Starting Out

Post by loudmusic » Sat Aug 23, 2003 12:30 pm

Just do it. Play around. Try EVERYTHING you think of.

Don't listen when anyone tells you it's the "wrong way" You'll need to find the wrong ways on your own.

Read as much as you can on the subject. EVEN the manuals of your equipment. Yep, gotta read em and slowly figure out what the fuck they are telling you.

Don't get discouraged, don't compare your worth by the size of your gear!

marty

BobG
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Re: Starting Out

Post by BobG » Sat Aug 23, 2003 12:56 pm

I agree with Marty!

Learn your machine (Tascam), how to ping pong, etc. and push it to the limit try different mic placements Distance/different rooms/etc. BUT whatever you do, make it fun!!!!

"If I could do it all over again" one thing I would do though has to do with microphones. I started with a cheap Audio Technica Dynamic with my first 4 track, then changed to a SM-57 and SM-48. Then added 2 AKG C-1000's, sold them and bought a RODE NT-2 and so on.

You have a much greater selection of condensor microphones at low to moderate prices available than what I and maybe many others here had to choose from.

You may need to buy a phantom power unit (Carvin sells a 2 channel for $30 or Behringer is now selling a tube pre-amp for $60? ) but consider putting better mic's at or near the top of your wish list........

Just my opinion.........

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trashy
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Re: Starting Out

Post by trashy » Sat Aug 23, 2003 4:26 pm

Yeah, you'll be surprised by how much mics will change you recording power.

But if you want to hold on to your cash, my advice is to record everything. Solo stuff, band stuff, ambient sounds, live recordings, your washing machine, the guy next door who plays Skynyrd covers. Record everything. I have boxes and boxes of tapes from my first cassette four track, and I credit that machine with teaching me how to record.

Also, keep your ears open. Listen critically to your stuff. Listen critically to other people's recordings, especially those you love. And listen to the advice of those people who you respect; their opinions can be gold.

Good luck, my friend. I envy you.

guitar4lyfe
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Re: Starting Out

Post by guitar4lyfe » Sat Aug 23, 2003 5:25 pm

circle recording gives a better than decent result. Have the band stand around one overhead mic with the amps pointing at it, so u have the amps and drums in a circle, then give the singer a mic to use. For a total of 2 mics, the quality can get pretty good depending on the type of room you're in. Thats how my band did it back when all we had was a 4 track. Make sure you muffle the cymbals a little with some duck tape on the underside.
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Re: Starting Out

Post by kaliyuga » Sun Aug 24, 2003 9:41 pm

Trashy said it best - record everything! And I say record as much as you can, as often as you can. Anything that will capture sound, from microcassette recorders (which can be great for achieving certain sounds) to the best audio setup money can buy will suffice. Seriously, those magic moments that strike unexpectedly at practice or on stage can be goldmines for new material if you've got an archive you can retrieve at will. My roommates and I are constantly playing music, utilizing everything we can think of, including the kitchen sink :wink:. About 98% of it is improv based material, and for those times we don't feel like setting up our "real" recording equipment we use cheap handheld tape recorders. A few days ago I set up one condenser mic, micing a large metal trashcan (and lid), running through a delay pedal into an amp, and used a handheld to record the amp. The can was the only instrument played but sang a bit also. Well, it wound up being about 20 minutes long and we were really happy with the way it turned out - the handheld was the perfect sound for that piece of music! We have made some really nice sounding recordings with our modest setup (mics, mixer, laptop, and 100 yr. old house with 13' ceilings and hardwood floors . . . yummm), but some things just need to sound dirty, damnit! But above all, have fun - that's the key.

Keep experimenting,

Jason
"Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so."

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Bear
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Re: Starting Out

Post by Bear » Sun Aug 24, 2003 10:59 pm

Yeah. Trashy pretty much summed it up. But I also reccomend listening to recordings that you don't like, so that you can better pinpoint some things you'd rather not have in your recordings.
I am wangtacular.

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penelec
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Re: Starting Out

Post by penelec » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:38 am

This might sound kinda touchy feely, but keep a journal, too. Write down settings that work -- you'll kick yourself when you listen to a recording that nails the perfect vocal tone and you can't remember what mic you used or what room you recorded in or what effect you used.

And look up the "oblique strategies" thread on this site and use it to keep things interesting.

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