Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: alan900000 on May 21, 2004, 03:33:43 PM

Title: Need advice on recording a demo CD!
Post by: alan900000 on May 21, 2004, 03:33:43 PM

To record drums, bass, guitar and vocals for a demo CD do you think this setup might work: 3 x AT853 > UA5 (or, possibly a Tascam US-122?) > PC. To avoid getting the vocals mushed in with the other instruments, I was considering getting the band to play their pieces as instrumentals first and then overdubbing the vocals using the same mic (AT853). Hopefully this can all be done without creating isolation booths for the bass, drums and guitar although I see this may be necessary. The idea is to create a demo CD that sounds as professional as we can afford it to and also capture some sense of the group's ability to perform live but at the same time try to avoid the murky, washy character of the instruments in a live recording that uses a single mic . . . that's the purpose of the three mics: to try to create some isolation between the drums, bass and guitar so that they don't sound washed together as in a field recording and so that they can still maintain some up-front-ness, punch and presence in the finished product. I haven't bought any of the equipment yet. Still in the information-gathering stage and would appreciate any feedback although I understand this post may be considered more in the realm of home recording than taping. If so, my apologies.

Title: Re:Need advice on recording a demo CD!
Post by: jpschust on May 21, 2004, 04:25:49 PM

alan, theres a lot to learn still.  there are a number of books out there, let me see if i can dig up the titles for you.  i think you'd be best served by doing quite a bit of reading before you dive right in.

ill get some names for you within an hour or so

Title: Re:Need advice on recording a demo CD!
Post by: jpschust on May 21, 2004, 04:27:47 PM

found it faster than i thought- this was my intro book and i think its a pretty good overview of whats goin on and should give you some techniques

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0240804562/qid=1083173365/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5227209-6786239?v=glance&s=books

Title: Re:Need advice on recording a demo CD!
Post by: alan900000 on May 21, 2004, 04:36:17 PM

Awesome. That book looks great. Thanks a lot, jp. I'll check it out.

Title: Re:Need advice on recording a demo CD!
Post by: jpschust on May 21, 2004, 06:03:32 PM

no problem, your local library may have a copy as well, its a great read.

Title: Re:Need advice on recording a demo CD!
Post by: zowie on May 24, 2004, 05:30:35 PM

try homerec.com

(read board before posting new questions)

Title: Re:Need advice on recording a demo CD!
Post by: alan900000 on May 25, 2004, 10:02:13 AM

Thanks, Zowie. You da bomb.

Their FAQ on microphone purchasing is amazing, especially the section "How can I audition a microphone before purchasing it?":

http://www.hr-faq.org/