[LAU] some live tracks - need some advice

[Garry Ogle]

Dave Phillips wrote:
> Greetings,
> 
> I've posted some recordings from a performance of my band last Saturday 
> night. The tracks are simple unprocessed and unmastered board 
> recordings, made by the soundman for the gig. As such they're intended 
> primarily as a record of the performance, but I'd like to use some of 
> them for tracks on a CD to sell at gigs. Here's where I need the advice.
> 
> As you can tell, the bass is too well-recorded (it had a direct line 
> out). I'd like to be able to diminish its presence, but I think I need 
> some advice on using EQ. Also, the originals had no processing, so I 
> added a bit of CAPS Stereo Versatile Plate in ReZound. I'm curious to 
> know what others here might do. Alas, there are no 
> multichannel/multitrack versions, I have to work with the present stereo 
> mix.
> 
> You can hear the tracks here:
> 
>     http://linux-sound.org/audio/Woke_Up_This_Morning.ogg
> 
>     http://linux-sound.org/audio/Outside_Woman_Blues.ogg
> 
>     http://linux-sound.org/audio/I_Dont_Know_Your_Name.ogg
> 
> MP3 versions are also available (s/ogg/mp3).
> 
> I'll send them through JAMin later today, so any advice re: using JAMin 
> would be especially helpful, but I'm interested in any & all responses.
> 
> Btw, ReZound and the encoders were the only Linux audio software used 
> for these tracks.
> 
> Enjoy, critique, keep breathing.
> 
> Best,
> 
> dp

Great tracks, Dave, love your vocals.
I don't agree with Robert WRT cutting lows though: that's where all the 
oomph lives. Its the bright edge on the bass that's the "problem".
I tried running the tracks through a parametric eq, ( I used LinuxDsp's 
para eq2 ) trying to nail that edge, but didn't have much success. YMMV.
You might try cutting a narrow band somewhere between 1 and 2 khz.

Anything you cut off the bass comes off everything else though. A good 
mastering engineer might manage something, but those guys cost money.
The fact of the matter is that you are only going to achieve very 
limited results tweaking a stereo mix to fix individual instruments.
I wouldn't be surprised if you decided that you could live with it as 
is. Judging by the other comments that wouldn't be a bad thing.

It might be worth investing in a modest multi-track recorder if you're 
doing a lot of CDs ?

If I may presume - for this style of music I would have the tone control 
on the bass turned nearly all the way down. The sound guy can't turn up 
what isn't there?

all the best, G.