Recording problems, including samples (mp3 and wav)

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Hi,
This is an extension of my post about recording problems yesterday.
I've put up some samples at the following URL:

http://host81-137-252-144.in-addr. [...] m/samples/

These are completely raw tracks, no EQ, no compression. They are from
exactly the same point in the same song so they can be mixed to hear how
they sound together.

I know the recording is not good. For a start, I seem to need to scoop
the mids a great deal on the acoustic guitar otherwise its "too much",
especially when trying to mix it with the vocal. The guitar is a
Tanglewood, not sure what model, it is nothing fancy. I miced it with
two Josephon C42's going into an FMR RNP, then into a Delta 1010LT, then
into Cubase SX 2.0.

I had both mics about 2ft back, about 3 to 4ft apart, one pointing in at
the bridge of the guitar, one pointing in towards the 12th fret. Since
it was just a quick experiment, I didn't spend a huge amount of time
with mic position, I probably could of found nicer spots, but it wasn't
really too far from how it sounded in the room. I think what I should
of done for a start is have the mics closer together, and angle them
out, rather than in so that less of the recorded sound is coming from
the sound hole region, or maybe just have the mics pointing straight at
the area, rather than angled at all. I will also spend longer with
headphones on moving the mics around.

That being said, does it appear to be just a case of mic positioning or
is there any other fundamental problems people can hear ? I think it
basically sounds a bit metalic, too full, and not very warm, and I'd
like to avoid the drastic amounts of EQ I'm applying at the moment..

Perhaps the room is not helping. Infact thats probably a major
contributing factor (?) It is approximately 12.5ft by 10.5ft by 8.3ft
high, brick on two walls with plaster and wallpaper, "fake" plaster
dividing walls on the other two, carpetted floor, no real acoustic
treatment to speak of except a couple of blankets to get rid of top end
fluttering when I clapped, totally inadequate "treatment" !).

Then onto the vocals, yet more problems. It is mainly this particular
singer that I get these problems on, but you can clearly hear lots of
sibilance, and it also seems a bit "1k" heavy. Again, it could be the
room, but I'm not sure. I have the mic (a Soundelux U195) about 4" or
5" from her, 6" at most. The mic goes through an RNP and into a Delta
1010LT, then into Cubase SX 2.0, no compression or EQ on the way in. I
have noticed lots of peaks and some troffs on the analyser, there is a
big one at 250hz.. comb filtering ? She is a fairly quiet singer so I
figured the room sound would not be much of an issue. It is also why I
had her so close to the mic, but I think its produced a sound that is
too thick and "present".

Fortunately the singer/guitarist is my housemate so we can experiment
with recording pretty much any time, we are both learning !

I will glady listen to constructive critism, I know there are big
problems with these tracks, I'd just like to know what people think to
aid me in my experimentation for next time.

PS, I usually use the C42's as drum overheads when recording live bands,
they always work very well in that case, hardly ever need any EQ. Then
again these recordings are done in a much larger space, and everything
seems to sound better than usual, though never tried doing acoustic
guitar in this space.. yet.

Cheers, thanks for any advice anybody can offer.

Mark.
--

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Sorry to confuse people, but I cancelled this message and reposted under
a slightly different topic name because I thought this one was
slightly mis-leading.. it perhaps implies that I meant "I'm having
trouble including samples in my recording"...

The new post is "Recording problem (with example samples)".

Cheers !!

Mark.
--

Michael Putrino wrote:
> "Mark" <marks@nospamhere.net> wrote in message
> news13uat$263$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
>
>>Hi,
>>This is an extension of my post about recording problems yesterday.
>>I've put up some samples at the following URL:
>>
>>http://host81-137-252-144.in-addr.btopenworld.com/samples/
>>
>>These are completely raw tracks, no EQ, no compression. They are from
>>exactly the same point in the same song so they can be mixed to hear how
>>they sound together.
>>
>>I know the recording is not good. For a start, I seem to need to scoop
>>the mids a great deal on the acoustic guitar otherwise its "too much",
>>especially when trying to mix it with the vocal. The guitar is a
>>Tanglewood, not sure what model, it is nothing fancy. I miced it with
>>two Josephon C42's going into an FMR RNP, then into a Delta 1010LT, then
>>into Cubase SX 2.0.
>>
>>I had both mics about 2ft back, about 3 to 4ft apart, one pointing in at
>>the bridge of the guitar, one pointing in towards the 12th fret. Since
>>it was just a quick experiment, I didn't spend a huge amount of time
>>with mic position, I probably could of found nicer spots, but it wasn't
>>really too far from how it sounded in the room. I think what I should
>>of done for a start is have the mics closer together, and angle them
>>out, rather than in so that less of the recorded sound is coming from
>>the sound hole region, or maybe just have the mics pointing straight at
>>the area, rather than angled at all. I will also spend longer with
>>headphones on moving the mics around.
>>
>>That being said, does it appear to be just a case of mic positioning or
>>is there any other fundamental problems people can hear ? I think it
>>basically sounds a bit metalic, too full, and not very warm, and I'd
>>like to avoid the drastic amounts of EQ I'm applying at the moment..
>>
>>Perhaps the room is not helping. Infact thats probably a major
>>contributing factor (?) It is approximately 12.5ft by 10.5ft by 8.3ft
>>high, brick on two walls with plaster and wallpaper, "fake" plaster
>>dividing walls on the other two, carpetted floor, no real acoustic
>>treatment to speak of except a couple of blankets to get rid of top end
>>fluttering when I clapped, totally inadequate "treatment" !).
>>
>>Then onto the vocals, yet more problems. It is mainly this particular
>>singer that I get these problems on, but you can clearly hear lots of
>>sibilance, and it also seems a bit "1k" heavy. Again, it could be the
>>room, but I'm not sure. I have the mic (a Soundelux U195) about 4" or
>>5" from her, 6" at most. The mic goes through an RNP and into a Delta
>>1010LT, then into Cubase SX 2.0, no compression or EQ on the way in. I
>>have noticed lots of peaks and some troffs on the analyser, there is a
>>big one at 250hz.. comb filtering ? She is a fairly quiet singer so I
>>figured the room sound would not be much of an issue. It is also why I
>>had her so close to the mic, but I think its produced a sound that is
>>too thick and "present".
>>
>>Fortunately the singer/guitarist is my housemate so we can experiment
>>with recording pretty much any time, we are both learning !
>>
>>I will glady listen to constructive critism, I know there are big
>>problems with these tracks, I'd just like to know what people think to
>>aid me in my experimentation for next time.
>>
>>PS, I usually use the C42's as drum overheads when recording live bands,
>>they always work very well in that case, hardly ever need any EQ. Then
>>again these recordings are done in a much larger space, and everything
>>seems to sound better than usual, though never tried doing acoustic
>>guitar in this space.. yet.
>>
>>Cheers, thanks for any advice anybody can offer.
>>
>>Mark.
>>--
>
>
> Hi Mark,
>
> If the guitar sounds like it does in the room, you may want to change
> guitars (or mics), or find a spot in the room where you like the sound and
> mic it from there.
>
> For vocals, you may want to back the mic off about a foot to reduce
> proximity affect.
>
> E-mail me. I may be able to help further.
>
> Mike Putrino
> www.MichaelPutrino.com
>
>