<br><div class="gmail_quote">2009/5/8 Mark Knecht <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:markknecht@gmail.com">markknecht@gmail.com</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div><div></div><div class="h5">On Fri, May 8, 2009 at 9:06 AM, James Stone <<a href="mailto:jamesmstone@gmail.com">jamesmstone@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
> Hi everyone,<br>
><br>
> Although this is not strictly linux-audio related, I thought I<br>
> would ask here, as I am using linux tools, and I know there are<br>
> some really knowledgeable people here. So my question is, do you<br>
> have any recommendations about where I can look to learn how to<br>
> record, mix and master a standard 4 piece rock band?<br>
><br>
> So far, I have recorded some tracks using ardour (on my eeepc -<br>
> so only a max of 2 simultaneous line in), and fiddled around with<br>
> plugins on each of the instruments. This is what I have at the<br>
> moment (transferred to my desktop so processing power is not a<br>
> problem):<br>
><br>
> Drums (only 1 channel comprised of a mix of the snare mic and<br>
> bass drum mic): Multiband EQ (bass emphasis), C* Compressor,<br>
> Barry's Satan Maximizer, c* plate (very subtle reverb)<br>
><br>
> Bass: Dyson compressor, C*plate (very subtle reverb)<br>
><br>
> Guitar: Multiband EQ (treble emphasis), Barry's Satan Maximiser, Plate reverb<br>
><br>
> Vocals: Multiband EQ (treble emphasis), C* Compressor, Barry's<br>
> Satan Maximizer, c* plate<br>
><br>
> Then on master I have only a multiband EQ with the 50Hz gain set<br>
> to -70dB<br>
><br>
> This is probably a highly unusual setup, but I really have no<br>
> clue what I am doing, so I would appreciate some help - for<br>
> example does it make sense to use the C* compressor followed by<br>
> BSM? What effects are usually used on what instruments? What is a<br>
> good reverb (not plate verb) for linux? Is there somewhere I can<br>
> go to read more about this?<br>
><br>
> The second question is about mastering - I have fiddled with<br>
> Jamin, and can make everything louder and more compressed, but<br>
> what am I really aiming for here? Again is there somewhere I can<br>
> go to read more?<br>
><br>
> I would appreciate any thoughts people have about this.<br>
><br>
> All the best,<br>
><br>
> James<br>
<br>
</div></div>James,<br>
Welcome and best of luck with what you're doing. IMO his is<br>
completely the right place to ask questions like this.<br>
<br>
The two things I would suggest, along with one overriding rule as<br>
what I might offer:<br>
<br>
1) Try to refrain from recording and thinking you'll 'fix it in the<br>
mix'. Often you have to, especially when you are starting out, but<br>
getting the right sound on disk will take you further and generally<br>
make you happier as your ears fatigue working on the project. Take the<br>
time to learn how to mic your instruments so that you get the sound<br>
you are looking for. Experiement with everything. Read. Try things. It<br>
will come over time, but it's all different based on your instruments,<br>
your mics, your A/D's and D/A, your monitors, etc. It's different for<br>
everyone.<br>
<br>
2) Learn to use busses and in general limit yourself to a single<br>
reverb. Try to leave a LOT of headroom in your indivdual track<br>
recordings as it will reduce the number of limiter and compressors you<br>
find yourself using overall. Using multiple reverbs will eventually<br>
lead to a muddy sound as every instrument starts acting like it's in a<br>
different room. Busses are easy in Ardour, albiet FAR more capable<br>
than they really should be. That said, you need them and once you<br>
learn to use them for things like reverb you'll probably be better<br>
off.<br>
<br>
and the overriding rule:<br>
<br>
LET YOUR EARS BE YOUR GUIDE! Don't worry about what **anyone** like me<br>
says about *how* to do this stuff. Work to get your mix to sound the<br>
way you want your mix to sound. You don't say much about music style,<br>
which is cool, but I suggest that one answer doesn't fit Animal<br>
Collective, Particle, McCoy Tyner and John Mayall, all being bands<br>
I've listened to in depth this week. Maybe you're doing something<br>
non-pop/rock and some sort of strange reverb setup makes it work. If<br>
that's the case then by all means do WHATEVER works!<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
<font color="#888888">Mark<br>
</font><br>
P.S. - Anyone listening to Mike Bloomfield these days? I'm on a retro<br>
kick lately... :-)<br>
<div><div></div><div class="h5">_______________________________________________<br></div></div></blockquote><div><br>++1 <br>(totally agreement, isn't it?)<br><br>just for repetitiveness: "the more you experience (and do mistakes) the more you learn"<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>-r <br></font><br>PS: <em>Psychedelic rock</em> here, "13th Floor Elevators" ... :-) <br></div></div><br>