Home Recording!

Renegadesoulx · Post by **Renegadesoulx** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:27 pm

Hey i recorded this
just looking for constructive criticism
Im not really sure how this will be recieved
but
go for it!
thanks

www.myspace.com/forgloryandempire

echosauce1 · Post by **echosauce1** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:12 pm

My opinion, and take it for what it is,

The vocals were a little too high in the mix. The band sounded way too low or maybe over compressed. Having the guitars cut through more is what my ear wanted to hear. The kick drum sounded clean though.

I'm not trying to be too critical since I could not probably do better but you asked for my two cents.

jschall84 · Post by **jschall84** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:41 am

yeah tone the vocals down a tad and decompress the guitars, maybe use a sonic maximizer on them. it always helps bring em out when i need them

Garr · Post by **Garr** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:44 am

Yeah. Good composition. Nice transitions. Great theme. Vocals need to be mixed better. . .and sung in key. The singer, while having a great Amy Lee, Lacuna Coil sounding voice, is flat. A lot. I would like to hear more of what you work on.

Silencio · Post by **Silencio** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:31 am

I think echosauce is pretty right. Here's what I hear:

1. Band way too compressed. The problem most home recordists run into recording "heavy" guitars is plugging into their POD or high-gain master volume amp or whatever (this sounds like a V-AMP to me) and dialing in a sound that really rocks them while they're playing: "Dude, this guitar is on STUN!" But all that gain is too much in the mix, and gain = compression. If you listen to your fave "heavy" records, you'll find that the guitars are not nearly as distorted as you thought they were.

2. Vocals are too hot. She's on top of the band, not in it.

3. Where Garr hears a pitch problem, I'm just hearing a lack of energy. I suspect that you had her mixed like this in her headphones when she recorded... mix her down in the phones so she has to push her voice to hear herself and you might not only get her up to pitch, but get some passion out of her.

You describe this recording as an experiment, so I won't bust your chops on the creative choice of having that wispy voice sing this material.

Garr · Post by **Garr** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:39 am

You know what, I think you're right.

I think there is still a pitch issue there, but it's due to a lack of passion in the performance. It's not off by an entire half-step, but it's microtonal which would be corrected by a little more ooomph.

Renegadesoulx · Post by **Renegadesoulx** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:13 pm

hey wow thanks, didnt expect this much support haha

It is my band, I know its kinda odd to have a girl singer with music this heavy, but im kinda shootin for something different.

OK heres what i did:

Stealth plug with Amplitube 2 (Heavy Stack 1 setting)
EZ Drummer drum kit from hell (programmed using a M-Audio Trigger Finger)
Rode Podcaster USB podcaster

so ok compression I understand what it is, but how do i fix this?
thankss!!!!!!!!

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:34 pm

I hope you recorded it clean and added the compression later. If you compressed any of the tracks during recording, they're compressed. Same goes for any sort of sonic maximizer/aural exciter/etc... best to record it dry and add it later as a plug-in when it can be removed.

Renegadesoulx · Post by **Renegadesoulx** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:50 pm

yea i didnt really utilize compression as a seperate plugin
haha

Aero · Post by **Aero** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:48 pm

Hey, I like how you're trying something new with the melodic vocals instead of screams like most bands who have the hardcore metal thing going on.

Renegadesoulx · Post by **Renegadesoulx** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:47 pm

thanks dude!

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:53 pm

Garr wrote:You know what, I think you're right.

I think there is still a pitch issue there, but it's due to a lack of passion in the performance. It's not off by an entire half-step, but it's microtonal which would be corrected by a little more ooomph.

Yeahhhh I'm understanding what you guys are saying. (That's me singing btw) Like recording while wearing headphones without being able to hear the drums makes it hard to be really into the music. I really don't like it. We all talked about it and we're going to rerecord it so I can put more power behind it and project better

Thanks for the insight.

Silencio · Post by **Silencio** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:14 am

Maverick....

I have to ask... why are you trying to sing without being able to hear the drums?

You should hear a mix in your headphones that drives your performance. A vocal session at my place begins with 10 minutes or more of getting the singer's headphone mix right where he or she wants it, and I can for sure hear when the mix is interfering with their singing.

(not trying to bust your chops, renegade... what's the deal here?)

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:33 pm

Ooh iono. I literally know zip about recording.. so yeah. Lol.

Al Quandt · Post by **Al Quandt** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:57 pm

I listened to your acoustic stuff too. I like it, you have a great voice. My only criticism is there are areas where your words go kinda muddled. Enunciate a bit more and I think you are golden.