Help on recording my bands new demo
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Posted on Mar 16, 2007 04:41 pm
Ned
Member Since: Aug 07, 2005
Hey guys, havn't been on the forums in quite a while, good to be back! My heavier, metal type, band is recording our new demo in my basement and i want it to sound really solid since its our second release. I have a decent set up...I run Pro Tool LE 7 through a digi002 rack with a rack full of compressors and EQ's and things. I guess the best way to go through this would be instrument by instrument.
Drums: We are using triggers on the kick, 2 toms, and snare so no micing needed there. We will probably mic every individual cymbol. Is it a good idea to have 2 overheads on top of that or no because all of our drums are triggered?
Bass: We basically have 3 ways to do the bass. We have a Bass V-amp rack module, a direct in from our peavey bass amp, or we can mic the bass amp. What do you guys recommend for a real bassy thick sound?
Guitar: On our last CD we plugged direct in through the POD XT pro but werent really satisfied with the results so we want to try micing our amps this time. We use a Line 6 Spider 2 half stack and a Peavey 5150 half stack and for mics i have 2 SMs, a sennheiser e609, and a couple condensers. previously when trying to mic our amps it sounded really thin, any suggestions on how to use those mics to get a really thick heavy sound? what volume should the amps be set at? should we be layering a lot of different tracks? also, i have a small closet size room covered in foam. is it better to record heavy distorted guitars in a small sound proof closet like there or in a more normal sized room thats open with no sound proof foam?
Any suggestions you guys have to getting a really thick heavy sound i would love to hear. thanks a lot guys!
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Mar 16, 2007 05:09 pm With the bas, I would try having a track of each of the three, then just mix to w2hatever you think sounds best.
Guitar I think is best on open air room, to smothered and it can get boomy and deadened. an open room gives some ambiance. Try putting an SM right up on the speaker and have a condensor back a few feet to catch a bit of delay and some of the room reverb/sound. Aim your amp into a corner, a few feet out from the corner, and have the condensor like half way between the amp and said corner. Record each mic on their own track so you can later mix to suit.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Mar 16, 2007 05:35 pm ... and just to add to what db has said, make sure you work on positioning the 57's. Try moving it off axis to give it a bit more boom. Make sure that you listen to each speaker in the cab as each one typically has its own characteristics. As for volume... crank your amp to where it sounds good in the room. If it sounds good in the room then you should be able to capture it. The 57's take pretty high SPL's so you shouldn't have any problems there. The thin sound you captured last time may have been a phase issue. How did you mic them last time?
For the drums I would print as many tracks as you can and throw away what you don't need afterwards. Same for the bass. If you can record it 3 different ways, why not record all three and blend to taste?
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Mar 16, 2007 06:14 pm Curious on the guitars done through the line6. Did you use cab and mic emulation? I did not on my first few recordings, it was thin and dry.
NedMember
Since: Aug 07, 2005
Mar 16, 2007 07:08 pm so i should use 2 mics? the sm and the condenser? i think the problem with the line6 was i just didnt fiddle around with it enough, im sure if i spend a couple hours tweaking id be able to get a good sound. do you have any tracks online that you recorded with the pod? id love to hear what they sound like.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Mar 19, 2007 03:37 pm Hmmm, nothing along the lines of metal, but the song SIMC under my profile was done all with line6 using 4x12 Vintage 30 model and off-axis sm57 emulation.
Also, I heard some great local metal where the bass track was plugged straight into the mixing board. It had nice active pickups but I was still amazed by the end result.
Mar 19, 2007 11:45 pm I'm new at this but I've got good resutls recoring
my band like this.I'm not into metal but I play in a 3 piece and the thicker richer the better .
DRUMS: I take the minimalistic approach.It sounds really live.2 nt5's for overheads.57 on snare and 421 on kick....sometimes I'll throw an ambiant room mic in there also.
BASS: lately my bass player has been digging going direct and also placing a large condenser tube mic about 5' away from speaker.Sounds rich and huge.
GUITAR:First of all you must really like your tone(I'm a tube amp nut)before you record.Don't compromise.From there a 57 close to the speaker of choice on a slight axis toward cone(or away).Remeber the closer to the cone the brighter.I tend to lean(almost always) to the darker end of the spectrum.The outermost of cone with slight axis toward cone.
