[LAU] some live tracks - need some advice

[Bengt Gördén]

On tisdag 29 september 2009 22:55:29 Garry Ogle wrote:
> 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?

As a rule of thumb for a live tech don't turn up. Cut off. So I disagree with 
you here. I'm not a live-tech these days but I've been one. And frankly. You 
have to use your 31-band stereo EQ on the master out otherwise it's going to 
sound like sh... How much you are trying to adjust your knobs on individual 
instruments you'll be left with adjusting your EQ on master out anyway.

For Daves ogg-files I suggest a very simple (takes about 30 sec) EQ setting. 
(I used jamin)

0 - 120Hz cut off the low base.
900Hz - 2000Hz with centre freq cut about 30dB
4500Hz - 20kHz enhance about 10dB

Experiment with the settings and find your own settings. But I find these 
settings less muffled and more crisp. YMMV.


/bengan