NMD & NSWD & NAID

[Johnny Mac]

I r Jelous.

You got the best shtuff you can for sure!!!

Well i had to get something with the insurance money from the accident I had last year. I thought its all very well getting lovely guitars and amps but if your into home recording like me then get the best gear you can afford. If I hadn't bought this gear then I would blown it on holidays and whisky!

I've had a load of demos with these apps and they're very intuitive. I've got a task on my hands learning it all but that Kore 2 controller takes care of all your plugins so you don't loose loads of time auditioning sounds.  There is something like 7000 odd is these packages and with a few software tweaks that I've got to do, can play it all with the midi that is built into my Feline custom. These past 4 years have been planning putting this bedroom studio together for me. I can't wait to get stuck into it!
iMacs are fairly portable so i could see this going in the studio to record my bands demo. I'd love to try that!

[MDV]

Awesome

Except that its a mac ;)

I kid. That doesnt matter. Its awesome that you have a powerful recording setup that you KNOW can do the job: doesnt get in your way or cause problems, leaves you to learn more about what the hell youre doing and get better.

Oh, mics. You need mics. That interface has pretty good pres, it would be a waste to do everything with VSTs and/or modellers when you have such a mighty koch to show to the world!

[Johnny Mac]

Awesome

Except that its a mac ;)

I kid. That doesnt matter. Its awesome that you have a powerful recording setup that you KNOW can do the job: doesnt get in your way or cause problems, leaves you to learn more about what the hell youre doing and get better.

Oh, mics. You need mics. That interface has pretty good pres, it would be a waste to do everything with VSTs and/or modellers when you have such a mighty koch to show to the world!

Exactly Mark, less problems more creativity, well that's the plan! My pc set up got so bad I just stopped using it as i wasn't enjoying it.

I've got a SM57 and I will mic the cab when I get a chance to make a din with killing my neighbours! I want to get a good but affordable condenser mic too, so many choices!
What mics have you used and liked?

[MDV]

Less computer/hardware problems, different problems! I just found that with a similarly powerful PC and my fireface, which is similar enough for the purposes of home recording to the motu, I set the lot up once and then I got to take a 'hat' off - still wearing the guitarist, composer/arranger, audio engineer and producer hats, but could discard the IT guy and Hardware Geek hats for a while, or at least set them to actual work instead of fixing shite.

I've said it before, I'll say it again - if you cant get the job done with a 57 you cant get the job done. The job being distorted guitar, that is. That said I'm a big fan of the audix i5 (57 with more low mid growl and a slightly sharper top) and the MD421 (tighter, smoother, cleaner, delivers low end for detuned guitars better, but sometimes too smooth). I'm thinking about getting an e906 as well, which from clips seems to be a bit like a 57/421 hybrid.

Condenser wise I only have any real experience with the rode NT1A - after having to get a bit 'resourceful' using dynamic mics on acoustic guitar and vocals the other month I've started looking at expanding my options there too (the results of an MD421 and i5 with an NT1A playing cheerleader a little bit in my studio can be heard here - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3702469/Diamonds%20and%20Rust.mp3 lacks the shine, dynamic range and sparkle it should have had, but the NT1A was too harsh for either the vocal or guitar, so I did with what I had).

[Johnny Mac]

Yeah, taking a hat off, that's a good way of putting it! I've been wanting to loose that hat for so long. It's the ultimate creativity thwarter doing the IT thing, especially when you try every which way but lose. I did think about throwing the towel in completely once but if others manage it then I will too.
Do you kind of work to a template now that you've had some good results? Or do you try to keep pushing new production ideas?

After reading Andy Sneap's articles on recording distorted guitar I bought a SM57 about 5 years back. I can't really exploit the advantages of mic-ing up my Koch much as I'm in a flat but there are certain times when everyones out. I would quite like to get an AX- FX to take care of some of the guitar tones, but they are mega money.
Perhaps when I'm at rehearsals I could book an hour on my own after the others have gone and lay down some guitar tracks on pre-recorded drums, bass ect to get the full in your face roar of the Koch! I have it set pretty tame for most of the stuff I'm playing now, so to let rip with some filth would be good fun!  :twisted:


That's a nice acoustic recording there Mark. Its sound good to me.
I would like to get a condenser for vocals. Some of them cost more than I've spent all ready!

[AndyR]

I use a Rode NT1000 (I'm fairly certain that's what it is, I'll check when I'm at home) for vocals and mic'ing acoustics.

I sometimes use a rusty old SM58 (which was my gigging lead vocal mic for years, so it really is rusty and has lost some of its top-end) for rock vocals.

Go to my soundclick ("MUSIC" link in my sig below), everything on The Knife and Sleeping with the Ghost were recorded entirely with that NT1000 (apart from the "double-bass", that's a Variax bass) the other week.

[TheIronBeast]

For micing acoustic guitars and recording vocals I have been using an AKG C1000 condensor mic which I think is a great mic and picks up acoustic sounds really well.

Nice score on the home recording setup Johnny! I'll also be in the market for a good home studio setup soonish, I'll be moving house in the next few months hopefully so once the move is out of the way I can hopefully get it sorted.

[blue]

not gone for one of these then
http://www.orangeamps.com/features.asp?ID=163

 :?

is that for real?  or was it published on 1st April?  can't decide if it looks cool or stupid!

[JDC]

would make a nice stealth media pc for the TV

[MDV]

Yeah, taking a hat off, that's a good way of putting it! I've been wanting to loose that hat for so long. It's the ultimate creativity thwarter doing the IT thing, especially when you try every which way but lose. I did think about throwing the towel in completely once but if others manage it then I will too.
Do you kind of work to a template now that you've had some good results? Or do you try to keep pushing new production ideas?

After reading Andy Sneap's articles on recording distorted guitar I bought a SM57 about 5 years back. I can't really exploit the advantages of mic-ing up my Koch much as I'm in a flat but there are certain times when everyones out. I would quite like to get an AX- FX to take care of some of the guitar tones, but they are mega money.
Perhaps when I'm at rehearsals I could book an hour on my own after the others have gone and lay down some guitar tracks on pre-recorded drums, bass ect to get the full in your face roar of the Koch! I have it set pretty tame for most of the stuff I'm playing now, so to let rip with some filth would be good fun!  :twisted:


That's a nice acoustic recording there Mark. Its sound good to me.
I would like to get a condenser for vocals. Some of them cost more than I've spent all ready!

Thanks mate, but I know I can do better, and will.

I am sometimes tempted to use the same sort of systems repeatedly, and an important part of it is understanding what you've done and being able to repeat it when you need/want to, but every tracks a bit different and working with other musicians (thus discarding the guitarist and composer/arranger hats, which has its benefits but sometimes you wish you could take them off them and put them back on to play the $%&#ing thing properly) helps free up some grey matter to come up with new things as well, and you, I have found, are always using a mix of tried and tested and new things.

You try to repeat successes, but experimentation doesnt and never should leave the recording process, imo, basically.

[AndyR]

Extreme words of wisdom from master MDV here:

"...an important part of it is understanding what you've done and being able to repeat it when you need/want to..."

(Sounds like you've been through the "sh1t!! that's brilliant... (imho :lol:) ...now, how the f*** did I do it?!!" a fair few times as well...)

"You try to repeat successes, but experimentation doesnt and never should leave the recording process..."

I've just "unlearnt" how I've recorded vocals, the "performing part" anyway, for the past XX-years. I always used to stand, remove all jangly items, address the mic, get all psyched up to summon a performance, get wound up by noises from outside (or inside) the flat/whatever. I did this for all "non-guide vox", including backing vox.

The other week, for a huge wall of backing vox, I couldn't be @rsed with all the running around between mic and machine - and I thought I was just practising/experimenting anyway.... So I set up so's I could sit on the sofa and reach machine with hands, and mic with mouth, and see machine with eyes... all without moving my head (or my behind from the carefully crafted @rse-groove at my end of the sofa :lol:)

It turned out fantastic - and I used all the parts, most of them first takes... So on the next song I tried doing the lead vocal like that as well. That seemed to work too! Not sure I could do a "rock vocal" without standing up... but for general vocal work I shall be using the "Homer Simpson" position for vocal performances unless I can't reach a note or vibe I want :lol:


On the learning new things (ie when one actually understands what has just happened and knows how to repeat it): How much do you find yourself tempted to "go back and redo" based on what you've just learnt from a later project?

I get this most on the mixing and "producing" stage... the hacking around with the multi-tracks. But sometimes I'll find out a basic track could have been better if I'd done xyz that I've just discovered instead...

But I've reached the conclusion that life's too short - much as I'd like to redo it, it's not as if the item in question is about to go into any life-or-death money-making situation, and I'm still learning anyway... tomorrow I'll learn something that makes me want to redo it again for different reasons!! :lol:

[Johnny Mac]

Thanks for your input Chaps!  :D
I'm itching to get started, my heads spinning with ideas, most of them probably too ambitious though! I did my first recording five years ago, just after I joined this great forum and had my Charvel pimped by Feline. It's this superb forum though that gives so much knowledge and help. Thanks!
It's been 4 years since I had the idea to get a custom guitar with midi. I did it all with recording in mind. Just a hobby though don't take this little gush of gratitude the wrong way and think I'm writing a credit list for my first concept album!  :D 

[Ian Price]

Just a hobby though don't take this little gush of gratitude the wrong way and think I'm writing a credit list for my first concept album!  :D 

I'm a bedroom musician, just a hobby for me and much of the stuff I do will never get heard by anyone but me (or one of my cats). I don't think my ideas will be as grandiose as yours though!

[AndyR]

Johnny, go and have a prowl/lurk on http://songcrafters.org/community/.

It started out as a "Boss recorders users" forum, the Micro BR in particular, and a lot of folks are still using the MBR only... but it's opened out to "any recording gear".

It's a bunch of folks like us, fiddling around with creativity. You post stuff and get it critiqued, in return you critique other folks' stuff. There's people helping each other out and collaborating... but the big thing is the affirmation you get from other folks who are trying to do the same thing as you - making something to listen to...

It's a fabulous outlet for someone who's creating stuff but not trying to market it seriously.

There's all sorts of levels of stuff getting posted. Some of it doesn't grab me, some of it does, some of it is STUNNING... but I've found that even the posts that would seem utterly "bollox" posted anywhere else often have something going for them. Someone comments with a "love the [whatever bit can be praised], why don't you try... [panning a bit, less reverb, whatever...]", and before you know it, after just a few weeks, the same no-hoper is suddenly posting decent stuff...

My rejuvenation in home recording (and it is only a hobby for me) is down to two things - a) getting an MBR for christmas 2008, and b) finding and joining that forum...

Go and have a bit of lurk, see what you think :D

[Johnny Mac]

Nice one Andy I will check that out, thank you.

Just got in from a great rehearsal, I'm buzzing!!