Opinions wanted.. first attempt at recording

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
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So this is my first attempt at recording so it probably sucks but I'm curious for honest opinions on the sound. You're not going to hurt my feelings but at least be constructive with your slamming :p

I programmed the drums with software, also something I've never done.. I'm not a drummer so I kind of just went with 'what sounded good.' I realize it is missing some bass because I don't really have a good way to record bass. I'm going to double track the guitars or try to boost the bass in the EQ process. This is completely dry with no effects, direct mic on the cabinet... one take

This is a snippet from a song I wrote last week called the phoenix. It's about 1/3rd of it, I just kind of wanted to get some ideas on paper so to speak.. and I needed to teach myself how to do all this crap so here is the result.

http://platypus.memoryfire.com/thephoenix.mp3

 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
That's a great first attempt, man. Excellent job with the drum programming, in particular. It sounds very life-like.

With my "producer's" hat on, I'd recommend increasing the tempo. I've found in my own work that I have a tendency to want to record too slowly, because I'm focusing in on being perfect, or just enjoying wrapping my ears around each note slowly, sort of savoring it. But when it comes to what is right for a song, I have to come to grips with the fact that other people will enjoy it more with a higher tempo.

A link to some of my band's last recording project: "Neverender"
 

S7EXEN

Member
Jul 11, 2007
36
0
0
Yeah, good job man! Everything sounded pretty good, but I agree that it might be better if you upped the tempo.
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
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321
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thanks for the advice, I have the same problem thomsbrain.. I was so focused on everything sounding right but I could probably kick up the tempo a bit.. I need to work on mic placement too to get more punch out of the cab too :)
 

Nutdotnet

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2000
7,721
3
81
Gear?

Guitar actually sounds pretty decent...nice and hot. The drums...they sound OK...certainly a lot better than when I tried to track my first drum track from software. :)

What's really killin the drums are the fills...you can really tell that it's software from them...is there anyway to humanize the drum track??? Some drum programs have the option to do so...
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
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Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Gear?

Guitar actually sounds pretty decent...nice and hot. The drums...they sound OK...certainly a lot better than when I tried to track my first drum track from software. :)

What's really killin the drums are the fills...you can really tell that it's software from them...is there anyway to humanize the drum track??? Some drum programs have the option to do so...

Yeah, that is with the 'humanize' feature on.. I realize the drums are kind of fakey sounding but it's the best I can cook up. I really just need to find a good drummer lol.

Gear: Boogie Mark IV into 2x12 closed back cab mic'ed with an SM57 into my macbook running garageband.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
Sounds good, dude! I like it.

Was that the speed you wanted? I think it might sound better a little faster, like Thomsbrain suggested.
 

Nutdotnet

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2000
7,721
3
81
Originally posted by: Platypus
Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Gear?

Guitar actually sounds pretty decent...nice and hot. The drums...they sound OK...certainly a lot better than when I tried to track my first drum track from software. :)

What's really killin the drums are the fills...you can really tell that it's software from them...is there anyway to humanize the drum track??? Some drum programs have the option to do so...

Yeah, that is with the 'humanize' feature on.. I realize the drums are kind of fakey sounding but it's the best I can cook up. I really just need to find a good drummer lol.

Gear: Boogie Mark IV into 2x12 closed back cab mic'ed with an SM57 into my macbook running garageband.

No offense dude, but no you don't...you need to sit down and practice your software drumming skills. :)

You don't NEED a drummer dude...have you ever been to www.homerecording.com??? Check out the MP3 Mixing subforum...some of those guys...it'll prove that you don't need the real thing.

Nice gear though!

 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Updated with 'slightly better' drumming attempt and much better guitar recording.. also added a second guitar track with my ebow for some ambience for the verses.
 

effowe

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
6,012
18
81
I think it sounds really good, very clear and consistent. The drums are also really well done, except for two parts at 0:35 and 1:19 which sound like they are overloading themselves (crash symbol hitting with snare drum.) I would suggest you tone that part down by taking out a few of the crashes and adding a tom break or something.

BTW are you using garage band to compose the drums? Are those stock kit samples from the program?
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I heard about at MOST 10 db of range in there.

Just say no to dynamic compression. Give those drums some ummph.
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Originally posted by: effowe
I think it sounds really good, very clear and consistent. The drums are also really well done, except for two parts at 0:35 and 1:19 which sound like they are overloading themselves (crash symbol hitting with snare drum.) I would suggest you tone that part down by taking out a few of the crashes and adding a tom break or something.

BTW are you using garage band to compose the drums? Are those stock kit samples from the program?

I'm using 'drumkit from hell' to do the drums within GB. I'm using both samples and a keyboard to compose the drum sounds.
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Originally posted by: spidey07
I heard about at MOST 10 db of range in there.

Just say no to dynamic compression. Give those drums some ummph.

That's kind of how they come from the software.. not much I can do about it unfortunately :

I'm a guitar player so the fact that I have a reasonably decent sounding drum track is enough for me :)
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
126
Originally posted by: spidey07
I heard about at MOST 10 db of range in there.

Just say no to dynamic compression. Give those drums some ummph.

But that's what the major labels apparently want now. :(
 

TechBoyJK

Lifer
Oct 17, 2002
16,699
60
91
Originally posted by: Platypus
Originally posted by: spidey07
I heard about at MOST 10 db of range in there.

Just say no to dynamic compression. Give those drums some ummph.

That's kind of how they come from the software.. not much I can do about it unfortunately :

I'm a guitar player so the fact that I have a reasonably decent sounding drum track is enough for me :)

case in point, don't let what you perceive is a weak drum track stop you from making a masterpiece.. I used to let weak drum tracks that I did keep me from putting in the extra effort in other areas to make everything else top notch.. i would hear the drum track and say "why bother"... then one time after I had a good song done, my drummer buddy took the mix, played along with it, learned it, recorded his drums to it, then handed me a mix of his drums that I pasted right into my mix.. if something really turns out, all you need is a quick session with a drummer to finish your production and really have something..
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
Originally posted by: Platypus
Originally posted by: spidey07
I heard about at MOST 10 db of range in there.

Just say no to dynamic compression. Give those drums some ummph.

That's kind of how they come from the software.. not much I can do about it unfortunately :

I'm a guitar player so the fact that I have a reasonably decent sounding drum track is enough for me :)

case in point, don't let what you perceive is a weak drum track stop you from making a masterpiece.. I used to let weak drum tracks that I did keep me from putting in the extra effort in other areas to make everything else top notch.. i would hear the drum track and say "why bother"... then one time after I had a good song done, my drummer buddy took the mix, played along with it, learned it, recorded his drums to it, then handed me a mix of his drums that I pasted right into my mix.. if something really turns out, all you need is a quick session with a drummer to finish your production and really have something..

that's pretty much what I'm planning to do, I just need a stage to record my guitar (the real part of the song) until I can get a real person to do it.