Recording , Tricks , Shortcuts and Clarity

You have to enhance it ...that's what makes a studio production - otherwise you just sound like nice dry and raw recording. Try to get that on the radio - Lol. There are processes that are completely necessary and others that are optional. As you say, if you can't process it, say ..with plugs or if someone actually chooses to run again outside of the digital realm, then you might as well just keep it for a good memory.

I don't think it has to be perfect for anything we do here or in our daily lives in general. There is always the "good enough" factor that depends on ones personal taste and the expectations for the final product.
I highly doubt I have a song going to any radio. Lmao
 
Cost isn’t really my concern. Kinda got a budget of 200 bucks or so for the interface, mic and cords. I actually have the cash in hand. Can pretty much do it thru Sweetwater or eBay and get everything I need. I just have to convince myself I’ll use it after I buy it. That’s what’s holding me back. I know me…..

DAW isn’t a problem. Already have a couple on my lap top. Been working on Reaper, which technically isn’t free but I can keep using it till I decide I like it or not.
Drum tracks can be cumbersome. The beat is on 1 and 4.
It is a pita.

On the mic , look up GLS Audio ES-57.
I think I got it on Amazon.
Drum tracks can be cumbersome. The thing is beats on 1 and 4.
It is a pita.
On the mic , look up GLS Audio ES-57.
 
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I like how each song and each song idea presents it's own challenges for tone, texture, effects...

I think you can never have anything truly mastered. There is always something new to learn and try different ways. Some pros have tried and true methods to capture and EQ certain types of music for sure. I'm certainly not that good at all. But I learn more every time I put a song together for sure.


This song took a bit to get the two guitar tracks to sound separate enough. I used 2 amps/cabs to do it. It was the first time I can remember nailing a recorded guitar tone, and not even adding anything post.
Great songs and recording . Just heard a little on the my phone. I need listen on my monitors.
 
Here's the super cheap setup that I use:

Shure SM57 $70


Focusrite for $60
 
Through trial an error ...and watching a hundred YouTube videos from sound engineers across the globe, I have learned that real trick to recording is getting the "recorded sound" to sound like you want to hear it.... It's often quite a bit different than the best sound you make from your amp in the room.

There is a magical thing that happens when a mic is set in front of a speaker, the little minute movements, placements, and angles and EQ settings have to be captured and then turned into what you think is right.

I have learned a couple little tricks to make my Post Processing so much easier and eliminate most of the tedious clicking and clicking and tweaking to get the tones I want to hear.
 
Through trial an error ...and watching a hundred YouTube videos from sound engineers across the globe, I have learned that real trick to recording is getting the "recorded sound" to sound like you want to hear it.... It's often quite a bit different than the best sound you make from your amp in the room.

There is a magical thing that happens when a mic is set in front of a speaker, the little minute movements, placements, and angles and EQ settings have to be captured and then turned into what you think is right.

I have learned a couple little tricks to make my Post Processing so much easier and eliminate most of the tedious clicking and clicking and tweaking to get the tones I want to hear.
That is a very good statement and not as vague as some are. Learning the steps and setting up to get that perceived recorded speaker sound has got to be a key fundamental .

I have come a long way but it is always a challenge.
I have so many gizmos now I never had before and those multiple choices do cloud the outcome.
 
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Here's the super cheap setup that I use:

Shure SM57 $70


Focusrite for $60
The GLS is a very good mic also. Great alternative on a budget.
 
Excellent thread y’all. So much good info. So much to process. Questions answered I haven’t even thought to ask.
 
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The GLS is a very good mic also. Great alternative on a budget.
I’ve been through my share of budget mic’s over the years, and still have a bunch of odds and ends kicking around here. I’m heading down to the studio for some cleanup chores in a bit. Gotta record something for the Riff-Masters thing…maybe I’ll post a pic of my junk later :facepalm: , for clarity.
Different mic’s (like your GLS) can impart their own flavors over recordings…sometimes good….sometimes…maybe not so good.
Traditional mic choices are usually pretty stable in their results. I’m certainly no 57 fanboy, but I have one kicking around the mic locker. For me, it mostly belongs under a snare drum. That’s most probably due to my personal taste, and lack of patience in finding a proper placement. Since I don’t communicate spacial coordinates well, I generally avoid trying to explain these matters in any detailed way. Generally, closer placement to the sound source enhances “proximity effect” of a common cardioid mic. Speakers project sound frequencies differently over their physical space. So…close vs far, and center vs rim, both interact with what the mic in use transfers to the preamp. The preamp may then impart some “personality”(see your mojo knob), if it has any, on the signal as it moves on to the next stage(eq, compression)…and so on. So…lots of factors may, or may not, have an impact on exactly “what” gets “put to tape”(or “captured”).
Your latest posted recordings seem to show that you are making progress in this process.
Having tried a bit of both schools over the years, I feel that a lot of the “traditionally” used mic’s do stand out from the crowd of imitators. I’ve put off using some of the more popular mic’s in favor of other choices, and upon acquisition of some of these more traditional mic choices…I usually find that they’re quite good tools…even the 57:rolleyes2:….sometimes.
@Headache ‘s prodigious riff presentations pushed me to finally try out a Sennheiser e609, and I’m still thankful for doing so.
@BFT Gibson ‘s use of the MXL DX2 convinced me to give it a try…turns out it’s not just affordable, but pretty darned versatile too…covers a lot of ground pretty well, for the relatively low price.
There are lots of tools out there to explore, and exploit. Some are cheap, and some are not. Some are versatile, and some may seem to be “one trick ponies”.
I’m not going to tell anyone “exactly what magical pixie stick” to use to make the recordings they want to make…I don’t think anyone here is…learn to use your chosen supply of stuff…or learn from the available resources here….and there.
 
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I’ve been through my share of budget mic’s over the years, and still have a bunch of odds and ends kicking around here. I’m heading down to the studio for some cleanup chores in a bit. Gotta record something for the Riff-Masters thing…maybe I’ll post a pic of my junk later :facepalm: , for clarity.
Different mic’s (like your GLS) can impart their own flavors over recordings…sometimes good….sometimes…maybe not so good.
Traditional mic choices are usually pretty stable in their results. I’m certainly no 57 fanboy, but I have one kicking around the mic locker. For me, it mostly belongs under a snare drum. That’s most probably due to my personal taste, and lack of patience in finding a proper placement. Since I don’t communicate spacial coordinates well, I generally avoid trying to explain these matters in any detailed way. Generally, closer placement to the sound source enhances “proximity effect” of a common cardioid mic. Speakers project sound frequencies differently over their physical space. So…close vs far, and center vs rim, both interact with what the mic in use transfers to the preamp. The preamp may then impart some “personality”(see your mojo knob), if it has any, on the signal as it moves on to the next stage(eq, compression)…and so on. So…lots of factors may, or may not, have an impact on exactly “what” gets “put to tape”(or “captured”).
Your latest posted recordings seem to show that you are making progress in this process.
Having tried a bit of both schools over the years, I feel that a lot of the “traditionally” used mic’s do stand out from the crowd of imitators. I’ve put off using some of the more popular mic’s in favor of other choices, and upon acquisition of some of these more traditional mic choices…I usually find that they’re quite good tools…even the 57:rolleyes2:….sometimes.
@Headache ‘s prodigious riff presentations pushed me to finally try out a Sennheiser e609, and I’m still thankful for doing so.
@BFT Gibson ‘s use of the MXL DX2 convinced me to give it a try…turns out it’s not just affordable, but pretty darned versatile too…covers a lot of ground pretty well, for the relatively low price.
There are lots of tools out there to explore, and exploit. Some are cheap, and some are not. Some are versatile, and some may seem to be “one trick ponies”.
I’m not going to tell anyone “exactly what magical pixie stick” to use to make the recordings they want to make…I don’t think anyone here is…learn to use your chosen supply of stuff…or learn from the available resources here….and there.
Thats cool man. I actually have adopted the DX2 & R144 as part of "my sound" with the GAP73 & JoeMeek 6q preamps.

When i first took the dive into recording & always being on 57's in the studio we recorded at. Wasn't hearing "my" tone, was hearing a 57 shelving things in a way but that is their unique thing & it does it well. But i wanted to have a 57 without the harshness & ribbon for depth,

Every single recording ever since(been a few---few hundred lol) its DX2 on edge of cone & ribbon on 45 out a hair from cone. very predictable from cab to cab & goes into preamp without much post capture EQ necessary. Mics & preamp selection is HUGE in the tonal equation !!
 
Alright then…I’m sure I’m missing a few things here, but this is what’s easily found kicking around the mic trunk…
1711314078650.jpeg
Packed in tightly…let’s rifle through this, and rummage around the room…see what junk hides in the rust and dust…
1711314201820.jpeg
1711314266026.jpeg
Wow….there’s no easy way for me to capture everything in a good light…mostly because it’s a mess…like me.
Off the top of my head, there’s a bunch of shizz displayed here. Some pretty cool, and some “junk”.
I know that there’s more hidden about…but hey…My SM7b is mounted on a boom by the recording desk. I’m happy with it there, so it stayed out of the pic.
This is most of the mic stuff I’ve used to record, and/or gig out with, over the years.
Laying on the upper right corner of the trunk lid is a pile of old Peavey hi-Z mic’s, and a couple of Realistic hi-Z boundary mic’s(there’s a third boundary, with an “altered” plate, inside my Cajon right now…not gonna dig it out for the photo op). Also, low and left of center, its gooseneck mounted to a piece of plywood, is an old Shure Hi-Z mic.
There’s more packed away in a wooden barrel, but it’s not easily accessible right now…that stuff goes back to 80s through 90s…mostly Radio Shack stuff, and beat up no-name stuff.
Now I’ve got to pack it away again…most of it.
Hope you’ve enjoyed…feel free to ask about anything pictured.
 
Alright then…I’m sure I’m missing a few things here, but this is what’s easily found kicking around the mic trunk…
View attachment 98625
Packed in tightly…let’s rifle through this, and rummage around the room…see what junk hides in the rust and dust…
View attachment 98626
View attachment 98627
Wow….there’s no easy way for me to capture everything in a good light…mostly because it’s a mess…like me.
Off the top of my head, there’s a bunch of shizz displayed here. Some pretty cool, and some “junk”.
I know that there’s more hidden about…but hey…My SM7b is mounted on a boom by the recording desk. I’m happy with it there, so it stayed out of the pic.
This is most of the mic stuff I’ve used to record, and/or gig out with, over the years.
Laying on the upper right corner of the trunk lid is a pile of old Peavey hi-Z mic’s, and a couple of Realistic hi-Z boundary mic’s(there’s a third boundary, with an “altered” plate, inside my Cajon right now…not gonna dig it out for the photo op). Also, low and left of center, its gooseneck mounted to a piece of plywood, is an old Shure Hi-Z mic.
There’s more packed away in a wooden barrel, but it’s not easily accessible right now…that stuff goes back to 80s through 90s…mostly Radio Shack stuff, and beat up no-name stuff.
Now I’ve got to pack it away again…most of it.
Hope you’ve enjoyed…feel free to ask about anything pictured.
Holy cow
 
For guitar and vocals I use condenser mic's AKG and Blue 300's recording
I would have never gone with the AKG's condenser's but was a gift from a rich girl friend
did use a AKG D3700 tri power for live vocals Keith our sound man had me get a pair of Sennheiser 906 for my live guitar amps
set of Audix for drums and have Sure SM58 and SM57 for others to use AKG mic stands

Drum Microphone's 001.JPG
Mic 001.JPG
akg 414.jpg
 
I’ve been through my share of budget mic’s over the years, and still have a bunch of odds and ends kicking around here. I’m heading down to the studio for some cleanup chores in a bit. Gotta record something for the Riff-Masters thing…maybe I’ll post a pic of my junk later :facepalm: , for clarity.
Different mic’s (like your GLS) can impart their own flavors over recordings…sometimes good….sometimes…maybe not so good.
Traditional mic choices are usually pretty stable in their results. I’m certainly no 57 fanboy, but I have one kicking around the mic locker. For me, it mostly belongs under a snare drum. That’s most probably due to my personal taste, and lack of patience in finding a proper placement. Since I don’t communicate spacial coordinates well, I generally avoid trying to explain these matters in any detailed way. Generally, closer placement to the sound source enhances “proximity effect” of a common cardioid mic. Speakers project sound frequencies differently over their physical space. So…close vs far, and center vs rim, both interact with what the mic in use transfers to the preamp. The preamp may then impart some “personality”(see your mojo knob), if it has any, on the signal as it moves on to the next stage(eq, compression)…and so on. So…lots of factors may, or may not, have an impact on exactly “what” gets “put to tape”(or “captured”).
Your latest posted recordings seem to show that you are making progress in this process.
Having tried a bit of both schools over the years, I feel that a lot of the “traditionally” used mic’s do stand out from the crowd of imitators. I’ve put off using some of the more popular mic’s in favor of other choices, and upon acquisition of some of these more traditional mic choices…I usually find that they’re quite good tools…even the 57:rolleyes2:….sometimes.
@Headache ‘s prodigious riff presentations pushed me to finally try out a Sennheiser e609, and I’m still thankful for doing so.
@BFT Gibson ‘s use of the MXL DX2 convinced me to give it a try…turns out it’s not just affordable, but pretty darned versatile too…covers a lot of ground pretty well, for the relatively low price.
There are lots of tools out there to explore, and exploit. Some are cheap, and some are not. Some are versatile, and some may seem to be “one trick ponies”.
I’m not going to tell anyone “exactly what magical pixie stick” to use to make the recordings they want to make…I don’t think anyone here is…learn to use your chosen supply of stuff…or learn from the available resources here….and there.
Thanks DonthatBastard. Lol
I am not very fond of the 57 either but is commonly use. I never use it on a cab sim.
I had been using different mics .
I tried using the preamp with guitar today.
It seems to work well but you have to use it sparingly or gets wild.
 
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