Planning a session...

TelePaul

So as some of you probably know, I have a very very modest home studio. I'm nowhere near in the same league as most of ya! But a friend of mine has been asking to record four stripped-back acoustic tracks with his band to go with the four heavy electric tracks they cut at a more advanced project studio.

Now, before you tell me not to, I've tried to talk him out of it. I told him that I don't have the means, the hardware, software or know-how to do it well, and I hate the idea of doing a sub-standard job. But he's asked me so many times now, I think I'll just have to go with it.

It'll probably be happening in January, but I'll be frequenting this repository of knowledge quite often. I'm trying to plan the session now, as one track will require live drums and as you might now, I'll struggle greatly with this.

So yeah, just giving a heads up and looking for some moral support!

PaulBrewer

What gear do yo have TP?

trackmixstudio

Jump in there and do the session.
The best way to learn is to do!
I get city and guilds qualified kids out to the studio fairly often (usually band members) and they have no idea what's going on.

Maybe Paul should set up a poll along the lines of how many of the full time pros here have any formal qualifications. I bet it is very few. Most of the best engineers out there have learned their craft in the real world rather than in a €7k a year recording school.

And gear doesn't make good recordings people make good recordings.
Although good gear makes good recordings better.

PaulBrewer

trackmixstudio wrote: »

I bet it is very few.

So do I !

As far as I know anyone can add a poll to a post, it's a button down below the 'submit' button.

TelePaul

Paul Brewer wrote:

What gear do yo have TP?

Okay you asked for it! Here's my pititful list of gear!

Software:
Cubase SE3
Reaper
Bunch of freeware: Glaceverb, Kjaerhus' Classic Series etc
Native Instruments Guitar Combos

Hardware:
Alesis FW 26 I/O
Samson C-Com Compressor
An old HI-Fi Amp and speakers for monitoring

Mics:
Studio Projects C2
Studio Projects TB1
Naiant MSH2s x 2 (Matched Pair)
Sennheiser Vocal Dynamic
Audio Technica Vocal Dynamic

That's pretty much it to be honest. I have a Martin D15, 000 15, Breedlove Atlas 12, Couple of American Teles and a Strat...so I'm catered for in the guitar dept. But that's really all I have going for me!

PaulBrewer

Nothing to be ashamed of.

I started with a Tascam 144 Cassette machine and a 57 - no fx .... and now I have nothing!

You should have plenty to get going .

Don't do anything radical on the way in, no huge eqing or over compression and keep CDs of similarish songs as reference also try to get them in the same key as your song. This should help tell you what's going on in the low end, especially if you can't exactly hear it.

Best of Luck.

TelePaul

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Nothing to be ashamed of.

I started with a Tascam 144 Cassette machine and a 57 - no fx .... and now I have nothing!

You should have plenty to get going .

Don't do anything radical on the way in, no huge eqing or over compression and keep CDs of similarish songs as reference also try to get them in the same key as your song. This should help tell you what's going on in the low end, especially if you can't exactly hear it.

Best of Luck.

Thanks Paul. I'm primarily concerned with the tracking, especially the tracking of drums and bass. I think if I can capture a decent sound at the source, I should be able to do an okay job on the mix.

I'm pretty sure these guys are up to job in terms of musicianship, but I'm worried a combination of limited gear and limited know-how will go against me. I'm also unsure as to how mcuh direction to give.

PaulBrewer

TelePaul wrote: »

I'm pretty sure these guys are up to job in terms of musicianship, but I'm worried a combination of limited gear and limited know-how will go against me. I'm also unsure as to how mcuh direction to give.

If they can play you're practically home safe. Don't be afraid to mic the drums simply and the drummer is responsible for the sounds they make. If a snare/tom is ringing or whatever play him back the problem and ask him to address it.
With regard to ideas, make a few suggestions as you see fit. If they're taken on board, continue if not shut up!

TelePaul

Thanks Paul. Was gonna use the Recorderman method to mic the drums, I think I mentioned it here before. I just want a crisp snare and a decent amount of kick both lined up in the centre. From what they tell me, the songs are quite bare, so hopefully there wont be many ridiculous tom fills. But I'm trying to avoid lo-fi for the sake of lo-fi.

I've e-mailed them asking for information about the songs in terms of instrumentation and if they can provide any reference material to go with. So far, and from what they've told me about the songs, I'm basing everything on the acoustic side of the Seattle scene - who would have thought the grunge would rear it's head again so soon?

Also, is it ever worth micing a bass amp? Or should I D.I in all cases?

PaulBrewer

TelePaul wrote: »

Thanks Paul. Was gonna use the Recorderman method to mic the drums, I think I mentioned it here before. I just want a crisp snare and a decent amount of kick both lined up in the centre. From what they tell me, the songs are quite bare, so hopefully there wont be many ridiculous tom fills. But I'm trying to avoid lo-fi for the sake of lo-fi.

I've e-mailed them asking for information about the songs in terms of instrumentation and if they can provide any reference material to go with. So far, and from what they've told me about the songs, I'm basing everything on the acoustic side of the Seattle scene - who would have thought the grunge would rear it's head again so soon?

Also, is it ever worth micing a bass amp? Or should I D.I in all cases?

DI ing is, of course simpler. Micing an amp can sound 'realer' - depends on the music of course.

PaulBrewer

TelePaul wrote: »

Was gonna use the Recorderman method to mic the drums

Ah, you mean the Glynn Johns' method?

TelePaul

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Ah, you mean the Glynn Johns' method?

Yes indeed.