My Dry Recording - Feedback please :)

[Brothermark]

I've just finished recording the backing track for a song I'm working on.
Before I put the vocals down I was hoping I could get some feedback.

Here's a direct link to the mp3 excerpt (about 1mb)
www.bedroomtalent.com/tunes/snb-instr-only-dry.mp3

All I've done is panned the guitars. Everything else is raw/dry.
My gear is quite good (RME soundcard, IBM Laptop, RODE NT mic, Mackie
Preamps/Mixer) but I have little experience at mixing/mastering.

Please comment on my stereo field, what amount of reverb/compression I
should use, my general levels/balance.
The bass you can hear is an acoustic bass guitar soundfont from Sonic
Implants.

Bascially if you have some constructive cirticism, I'm all ears.
Thanks
Mark

[David Lemire]

"Brothermark" > wrote in news:bjvue3$o34pe$1@ID-
132564.news.uni-berlin.de:

> Please comment on my stereo field, what amount of reverb/compression I
> should use, my general levels/balance.
> The bass you can hear is an acoustic bass guitar soundfont from Sonic
> Implants.
>
> Bascially if you have some constructive cirticism, I'm all ears.

What I hear (on a decent set of computer speakers) sounds good to me.
Assuming this song is intended to stay straightforward and mostly acoustic,
a very minimal amount of reverb and little to no compression seems like
where you'd want to go.

Dave L

[Brothermark]

> Assuming this song is intended to stay straightforward and mostly
acoustic,
> a very minimal amount of reverb and little to no compression seems like
> where you'd want to go.

Thanks David.
Yeah it stays acoustic. It all kicks in a bit later but its still acoustic.
thanks for the pointers

mark

[mattjennjesse]

Mark,

What you have so far sounds good to me. I have always had a hard time
getting a nice acoustic guitar sound recorded, but yours sounds good to me.
The mixing and mastering doesn't really come into play so much until you get
everything done. I don't think it is too tough to get just a guitar and bass
to sound good, but when you start adding multiple tracks of vocals and other
instruments, that is when your mixing and mastering skills really come into
play.

Just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.

Matt
"Brothermark" > wrote in message
...
> I've just finished recording the backing track for a song I'm working on.
> Before I put the vocals down I was hoping I could get some feedback.
>
> Here's a direct link to the mp3 excerpt (about 1mb)
> www.bedroomtalent.com/tunes/snb-instr-only-dry.mp3
>
> All I've done is panned the guitars. Everything else is raw/dry.
> My gear is quite good (RME soundcard, IBM Laptop, RODE NT mic, Mackie
> Preamps/Mixer) but I have little experience at mixing/mastering.
>
> Please comment on my stereo field, what amount of reverb/compression I
> should use, my general levels/balance.
> The bass you can hear is an acoustic bass guitar soundfont from Sonic
> Implants.
>
> Bascially if you have some constructive cirticism, I'm all ears.
> Thanks
> Mark
>
>

[Brothermark]

> Just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.
>
> Matt

Yeah thanks for the that.
I guess I'll get cracking on the vox then.

ta
mark

[Tom Paul]

"Brothermark" > wrote in message >...
> I've just finished recording the backing track for a song I'm working on.
> Before I put the vocals down I was hoping I could get some feedback.
>
> Here's a direct link to the mp3 excerpt (about 1mb)
> www.bedroomtalent.com/tunes/snb-instr-only-dry.mp3
>
> All I've done is panned the guitars. Everything else is raw/dry.
> My gear is quite good (RME soundcard, IBM Laptop, RODE NT mic, Mackie
> Preamps/Mixer) but I have little experience at mixing/mastering.
>
> Please comment on my stereo field, what amount of reverb/compression I
> should use, my general levels/balance.
> The bass you can hear is an acoustic bass guitar soundfont from Sonic
> Implants.
>
> Bascially if you have some constructive cirticism, I'm all ears.
> Thanks
> Mark

It sounds very nice. I'd love to hear the track when it's done. I'd
keep it dry. It's got a nice present feel.

Tom

[Brothermark]

> It sounds very nice. I'd love to hear the track when it's done. I'd
> keep it dry. It's got a nice present feel.

Thanks for the encouragement.
Mark

[Daniel]

"Brothermark" > wrote in message
...
> I've just finished recording the backing track for a song I'm working on.
> Before I put the vocals down I was hoping I could get some feedback.
>
> Here's a direct link to the mp3 excerpt (about 1mb)
> www.bedroomtalent.com/tunes/snb-instr-only-dry.mp3
>
> All I've done is panned the guitars. Everything else is raw/dry.
> My gear is quite good (RME soundcard, IBM Laptop, RODE NT mic, Mackie
> Preamps/Mixer) but I have little experience at mixing/mastering.
>
> Please comment on my stereo field, what amount of reverb/compression I
> should use, my general levels/balance.
> The bass you can hear is an acoustic bass guitar soundfont from Sonic
> Implants.
>
> Bascially if you have some constructive cirticism, I'm all ears.
> Thanks
> Mark
>


Brother Mark .. The guitar recording sounds VERY natural and I would
definitely NOT add any "effects" to this. It sounds good as is. Don't touch
it. Also, if you used compression, then I can't tell (a good sign) - I hate
over-compressed sounds. Don't add reverb. Don't add more compression.Your
recording is PRO.

Daniel

[Brothermark]

> Brother Mark .. The guitar recording sounds VERY natural and I would
> definitely NOT add any "effects" to this. It sounds good as is. Don't
touch
> it. Also, if you used compression, then I can't tell (a good sign) - I
hate
> over-compressed sounds. Don't add reverb. Don't add more compression.Your
> recording is PRO.
>
> Daniel

Woah thanks Daniel.
I didn't think it was anything special :)
It is completely unmanipulated. No compressions or reverb added at all.
How do you like the EQ? I killed most of the mid & high frequencies. I'm not
sure what I think of the EQ yet.... it never stopped James Taylor :)

Anyway, thanks
Mark

[Daniel]

"Brothermark" > wrote in message
...
>
> > Brother Mark .. The guitar recording sounds VERY natural and I would
> > definitely NOT add any "effects" to this. It sounds good as is. Don't
> touch
> > it. Also, if you used compression, then I can't tell (a good sign) - I
> hate
> > over-compressed sounds. Don't add reverb. Don't add more
compression.Your
> > recording is PRO.
> >
> > Daniel
>
> Woah thanks Daniel.
> I didn't think it was anything special :)
> It is completely unmanipulated. No compressions or reverb added at all.
> How do you like the EQ? I killed most of the mid & high frequencies. I'm
not
> sure what I think of the EQ yet.... it never stopped James Taylor :)
>
> Anyway, thanks
> Mark
>

You're welcome Mark. My take on the whole EQ thing is ... minimize its use
and if you have to, cut, but don't boost. I tend to record without EQ and
only "cut" frequencies when I absolutely have to, and only a little. I'm no
expert but, I believe, the best way to record, in my opinion, is to use good
mic placement and mic technique and minimize the use of external
"processors". I like my recordings to sound natural, with more natural
dynamics. I like the "old school" of recording. I do, however, believe that
mic placement is critical to good sound.

I listened to your song once again with my KOSS PRO 4AA headphones and found
that the sound has a really nice warm and smooth texture to it. By reducing
the mids and highs, as you said you did, you gave it some nice warmness,
which I like. Again, a really nice, and natural, sounding recording. I think
the EQ is fine the way it is. It works. It sounds good so it is good. Don't
touch it. What gear did you use by the way ?

Daniel