First project in the "new" studio

[tothemax]

Today was the first time in a few months that I was able to actually work on a project with the new setup. Once the new workstation and rack was completed, getting everything wired correctly and functional again took almost as much time as it did to build the desk unit.

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I did set up a snake so that connections to the mixer were accessible from center of the room. I had hoped to use the mixer inserts to my USB interface, but the Behringer Pre's were just too noisy. For my project today all mic's and DI connections went directly to the US16x08 interface, much cleaner and the Pre's seem to be higher quality. I was really surprised how good the built in DI from Ampeg works (BA115). I was using a Hosa Sidekick DI in line to a VOX AC15 and while it wasn't near the quality of the Ampeg, it wasn't bad and actually sounded pretty good with a virtual amp plugin. I also mic'd both the bass and guitar amps which gave me nice tracks to work with.

This project today was just an exercise in getting good quality recordings, maintaining headroom in the initial tracks, and proper gain staging in the mix. Probably the only place that could use improvement are the Presonus E5 monitors. While they sound OK, I can see why folks are leaning toward the 7" and 8" monitors. While they are far better than what I had they are limited in volume (and that was where my budget was). As a workaround I have a pair of Yamaha 12" PA monitors set up on the same plane (wall) and when I need volume I can add them in, and that does rock the room pretty well. All in all, it's nice to have a decent setup to work in.

Lastly, the shoulder has healed to where I'm logging some hours back on my bass. It's all good...

 

[Aloe]

congrats on a new setup!

if you want to really hear the low end, however, a subwoofer would be a very nice addition. I mixed some songs on Eris 4.5 (and lots of cans) and only when I got an Eris Sub, I really heard, what's going on in the low end. only then I would hear if there's low rumble, I should get rid of.

yeah, I know, the 4.5 is specced down to 70Hz, and the 5 is 53, I think, but nevertheless.

 

[tothemax]

Aloe,
Great suggestion on the sub, the low end does takes a hit with volume. That would be a reasonable addition.

A question to the group: Playback from the DAW is crystal clear while playback from the computer generates some irritating squeals. I originally thought it was due to a weak wi-fi signal with YouTube. Yesterday I exported an MP3 version of the test project and noticed the same sound quality issues playing the MP3 from the PC - high pitched squeal. I'm using the Tascam US16-08 as the sound source. Typing here - thought bubble , just wondering if it could be feedback from the mic's in the room. I'll mute all the USB sources and do another test, hoping that is it.

 

[Aloe]

playback from the computer generates some irritating squeals.

uhm, on a specific note or just intermittently? like it squeaks on some moment of a song, if you repeat that exact moment, it will squeak again?

 

[tothemax]

I think it has something to do with the interface setup, it seems to be intermittent. Sound from the DAW through the interface is crystal clear, sound from the computer (Browser/YouTube, MS Media Player, Itunes) sometimes has that high pitched distortion - doesn't matter if the source is local or streamed. Still not sure of the cause.

I was fooling around a bit today changing the default bus settings. Even with the mixer in bypass mode I was hearing sounds from the mics in the room with the channels muted (in the Tascam mixer section). I think that some of it has to do with the line outs 1 & 2 set to the Stereo Bus. when I changed them to Computer 1 & 2 that seemed to resolve the issue (I think that is the default). With the mixer in bypass mode the EQ and Compressor modules are disabled, but the gain and pan controls remain active.

Anyway it's a learning curve and I feel that I'm making pretty good progress. For the last few years while not stellar it's been working, and I've taken the "if it's not broken why fix it" attitude. Now that the new studio is in place it's time to work these things out and get a good understanding of the interface and DAW integration. Anyone familiar with the US-16x08 please feel free to share...

I was able to get seven raw tracks knocked out today, the rough mix doesn't sound too bad. Through COVID most of my regular bandmates are involved in other musical projects so when any opportunities come up I'm never quite sure who will be available. I taking this this pre-post COVID time to learn all the parts of our set (bass, guitar, vocals, and some keys) so that there will always be a chance to make something work in whatever faction we can muster. It's great practice with the DAW.

Cheers, always appreciate the feedback here...

Main Page (this is in bypass mode with all of the channels at default: 0).

Bus settings

Overview Page: I'm at firmware v2.0

 

[tothemax]

Seems like like the last tweak with the bus channels seemed to fix the squeal issue. I did find video on Windows settings for Cakewalk performance, which may have also helped resolve the problem. No issues all afternoon.

Here's the results from the weekend effort. Be gentle, I'm no singer (but it is amazing what that VX-64 vocal strip can do for a mediocre vocal). Guitars were recorded with a SM57 clone and a Hosa Sidekick DI (AC-15), bass was recorded with an SM57 clone and the built in DI (Ampeg BA 115v2), drums (Alesis SR18), and the vocals were with a Sennheiser e825s. Cakewalk DAW, US-16x08 Tascam interface. The goal was to get good base tracks, and get a better understanding of the DAW.

I apologize in advance for the 10 sec's of dead air at the start. I haven't learned how to trim the front end of the tracks yet... It is a bit up tempo...

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