Going to the studio in 1 month... Looking for some help/

kaputsport · #1 05-13-2008, 05:44 AM

Ok. Here is the deal. My band has already recorded a studio EP with this producer, and for lack of a better term, it was fun, but we are better now...

So I was wondering if the talk bass community wouldn't mind taking a listen to some of the tracks now, which will be re-recorded, and give me whatever ideas you have on polishing them up.

For the bass players in the room, I'll give my stats...

Basses:

Warwick Corvette Rockbass (Active) 5 String
Benavente 219 Reverse Prototype 4 String (Passive)

Pedals:

EHX Little Big Muff > ZVEX Woolly Mammoth > Boss HM-2 > Boss ODB-3 > Boss OC-2 > Boss Bass Compressor/Limiter > Boss Flanger > Peterson Strobostomp > Akai Deep Impact > Akai Unibass > Akai Intelliphase > EHX Russian Baseballs...

I will be "renting" a warwick 4 string fretless for the recording. I have one track I want to be fretless.

Our bands myspace has a bunch of tracks on it, please take a listen, and let me know what you think. We are trying to produce our music before hitting the studio. Basically, we are charting everything out, and will basically just go perform the music...

www.myspace.com/frictionbroadcast

www.frictionbroadcast.com

Oh yea... This is being done because Atlantic wants us to record an album to possibly sign our band. I know, alot of mix emotions go into the signed artist/indie thing, but this is getting bigger by the day....

We go in Just 12 through the 20th, and we are recording 12 tracks...

Have at it.

kaputsport · #2 05-15-2008, 01:07 PM

Or not...

namraj · #3 05-15-2008, 01:17 PM

congrats on the development deal, imo i cnt hear anything were your going 2 stuggle if you've got a good producer so ur made.

SnakeAnthony · #4 05-15-2008, 04:57 PM

First, try putting your Bassballs somewhere in front of the ODB-3 and the Boss Comp. Filters are all about dynamics, and if you take those away, you take away the control of the pedal. Obviously, the compressor/limiter is made to cut down on those, and IME, the ODB-3 has a bypass that will do similar things in the 'off' position.

I can't hear any of the songs right now, so I can't be of much help there right now, but I figured I might mention that.

Will you be recording live or track by track?

kaputsport · #5 05-19-2008, 08:57 AM

Well, the ODB-3 isn't really on the board at this moment. And honestly, it sounds real doo where it is. For tracking, not pedal will have a compressor anywhere near it.

As for the producer, we don't really have one... The engineer we are working with, Jason Rubel (Foo Fighters/NIN/Among others) is going to give us some help, but he already likes our music as is, and thinks this is going somewhere.

I want to know what you guys think.

Don't critique the effects chain. My board is going to be ripped apart and put back together more time than I think I'll be able to count. Listen to the music, and let me know what you think, and if there is any real advice out there.

reitedasc · #6 05-19-2008, 09:43 AM

I had a quick listen to all the tunes, I liked them. I feel this could improve:

The drum sound. Might be the room, the mics or just the kit, i don't know.
The vocals are off pitch some places.
Generally the EQ could improve. Too much mids all over the place.

Other than that I love it, great song writing. Have fun recording!

John Wentzien · #7 05-19-2008, 09:59 AM

I think you guys sound very good.
Nice and natural on the mix..I like it!

SnakeAnthony · #8 05-19-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reitedasc

The drum sound. Might be the room, the mics or just the kit, i don't know.

Generally the EQ could improve. Too much mids all over the place.

Other than that I love it, great song writing. Have fun recording!

Finally got a listen, and I'll give a +1 to this.

Honestly, as cool as the music is, from a recording standpoint, things sometimes get muddied up on what I'm hearing. Try and sit down with the band before entering the studio and try and critique around each other's EQ. For this, everyone will be required to compromise a little, but go around one another. If you want low mids at around 400hz (just a random example), make sure no guitars are in that range. Try and have you guitarist scoop some of those low mids in that instance. If your guitarist really likes upper mids, be willing to stay out of his frequency range in that regard. Its a worthwhile process. Once this comes into completion, and you enter the studio, post production EQ will be made simpler, and will ultimately sound less artificial.

As far as the drums go, things weren't tight enough for me. It could be the room those songs were tracked, or how they were mic'd, but do a few scratch takes it you have any time at all, adjusting mic placement around the drums, and how much direct sound/room sound mix you want.

Good luck and have fun!

kaputsport · #9 05-20-2008, 11:38 AM

I really appriciate all the input guys, however, I think you are missing the point. I was not asking to critique the SOUND of the recording, as this was done with a $10,000 studio, and no mastering.

I am looking for crtique on the material/performance. We are going into a pro studio, spending way too much money and time. I think the lowest price piece of gear in the studio is the $4000 drum kit.

The sound will be mastered by a professional... I have no questions or concerns with the recording. It is more about performance.

The vocals comment will be brought up, and we will watch our overlapping eq...

Anything else?

I know there are more people out there that want to take a listen, and gimme your two cents....

SnakeAnthony · #10 05-21-2008, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

I really appriciate all the input guys, however, I think you are missing the point. I was not asking to critique the SOUND of the recording, as this was done with a $10,000 studio, and no mastering.

I am looking for crtique on the material/performance. We are going into a pro studio, spending way too much money and time. I think the lowest price piece of gear in the studio is the $4000 drum kit.

The sound will be mastered by a professional... I have no questions or concerns with the recording. It is more about performance.

The vocals comment will be brought up, and we will watch our overlapping eq...

Anything else?

I know there are more people out there that want to take a listen, and gimme your two cents....

Not a critique, but on that note, I'd add that the material rocks, and I likely would have little hesitation to purchase the disc. Really, good tunes.

kaputsport · #11 05-22-2008, 05:53 AM

Up and Up... Thanks guys... Hopefully, there will be the ability to pick this up at your local store soon...

If you really want it, gimme a ring, and I'll make it happen.

kaputsport · #12 05-23-2008, 05:27 AM

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