Topic: FIXING A RECORDING...(before & after clips) OPINION NEEDED

[igene]

I taped Doobie Bros./Lynard Skynard last nite @ Bethel Woods.
I kept thinking of the 'What's Happening' episode when RERUN bootlegs the Doobie's and gets caught.
anyway...I only got 1/2 the Doobie set, deciding to go last min.

RIG : SP-CMC-08(C)>CA-9100>VR-10

I had a seat in 100 section (behind SBD), but decided to hang w/ some friends on the lawn instead.
Obviously at that point I'm taping off the delay stack. I was front/ center lawn off the center stack.
I don't do that anymore because of how bad it usually sounds. well, more of the same.
although, surprisingly low amount of screamers...
Well, the recording is decent for that spot, but the high mids and up are kind of shrilly.
It makes it un-listenable to me. Plus there are some other sonic issues.
But if you listen to it, it has a lot of potential.
I played it back to my friends in the car, and they say it sounds great (non-tapers).

So I have these recordings I'd like to fix, but I usually leave my recordings alone w/ very little doctoring.
I'm usually in the zone...this one is a bunt.
Could someone recommend some software that will help me shape the recording.
Something you've used with great results.

Here are 3 samples (will open as RAR / 16bit wave)>

doobie bros. 2011-08-19 Bethel Woods, NY (ENC) 'Listen to the Music'
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CTM3NJIB

lynard skynard 2011-08-19 Bethel Woods, NY  'Sweet Home Alabama'
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JO7UN100

lynard skynard 2011-08-19 Bethel Woods, NY  (ENC) 'FREEBIRD'
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HRJLJ0Z0

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
note : currently EQing it with some success.
I'd still like to hear some options. Sonic maximizer maybe?

[igene]

...So I've been working on EQ settings all day today.
This is what I came up with.
Do you think it sounds better ?
I used the EQ in Goldwave and took samples from the recording and ran different eq settings on them.
I think I made the recording clearer and fuller w/o the horrible treble.

FIXED > lynard skynard 2011-08-19 Bethel Woods, NY  (ENC) 'FREEBIRD / EQ'ed'
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RO0XI230
--------------------------------------------------------------
ORIGINAL > lynard skynard 2011-08-19 Bethel Woods, NY  (ENC) 'FREEBIRD'
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HRJLJ0Z0

this is what I was able to do w/o special software...is it possible to get this to sound better ?

[Fried Chicken Boy]

I kept thinking of the 'What's Happening' episode when RERUN bootlegs the Doobie's and gets caught.

  CLASSIC episode!!

In all seriousness, Bethel is a beautiful venue and I'm looking forward to giving these clips a listen.

[kirk97132]

I didn't listen, but keep in mind this simple rule....you can polish a turd as long as you want but in the end it's still a turd,  OR the crap in crap out rule.  You can't make thing appear that are not there.   If i get a recording that is lacking something I just make a note in the files section so that people know. 

[stevetoney]

I didn't listen, but keep in mind this simple rule....you can polish a turd as long as you want but in the end it's still a turd,  OR the crap in crap out rule.  You can't make thing appear that are not there.   If i get a recording that is lacking something I just make a note in the files section so that people know.

I agree with the basic concept, but I also think alot of people don't give their recordings enough credit.  They just base the quality of the recording on the conclusions they reach from first listen.

I've EQed a ton of recordings into being EX+ sounding recordings after my first listen was disappointment.  That said, my sources are obtained from some fairly HQ gear that's giving me some pretty good data to work with (I use Adobe Audition 1.0). 

I know lots of people don't like to mess with their source recordings, but I rarely record a show anymore where I don't improve the sound after spending some time addressing the shortcomings of the source.

[igene]

I spent alot of time EQ-ing this.
I pulled out Freq's, rather than adding.
I think it does sound clearer.
You really need to listen to it to know what I mean.
If you look at the curve, I basically dumped the middle of freq band, there was too much there.

Just listen to the before/after of FREEBIRD, forget the other stuff.

After a while you need fresh ears to listen to it, because you don't really hear it right.
I'd appreciate some fresh input.

Here's the final EQ settings I used :

(based on Goldwave 7 band EQ)
I don't know the band width they use

-1db @ 60Hz
-1db @ 150Hz
-4db @ 400Hz
-3db @ 1K Hz
-4db @ 2.4K Hz
-3db @ 6K Hz
-1db @ 15K Hz

[igene]

I didn't listen, but keep in mind this simple rule....you can polish a turd as long as you want but in the end it's still a turd,  OR the crap in crap out rule.  You can't make thing appear that are not there.   If i get a recording that is lacking something I just make a note in the files section so that people know.

I'm really hard on my recordings.
When I say turd, it's more like..it's not perfect.
I have made stellar recordings with this rig.
Stuff that just is like - WOW !!!
So if that is possible, using that same setup - I'm just trying to get the delay stack recording to be a bit clearer.
I'm probably getting quite a bit of stage PA as well.
This recording does have quite a bit going for it, I'm just trying to get rid of what's not. 
I was actually standing where the taper section was for FURTHUR, just not 10'+ in the air.

[kirk97132]

I'm not saying I have not done a bunch of work to a recording...but...sometimes you look back and realize it just wasn't worth all the extra effort. Put it this way...you did all this work now go back and listen to the original....was it worth the time you put into it?  Only you can answer that.  I also realize that EVERYONE has a different idea of what sounds good.  As time goes on I tend to put less work into trying to "adjust" anything unless it just absolutely drives me nuts.  Which brings us full circle to make a note and call it good mentality. 

[igene]

well...they are my 1st Doobie Brothers & 1st Lynard Skynard recordings.

and was it worth it...? listen and find out !

I think it sounds much better.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

OR the crap in crap out rule.  You can't make thing appear that are not there.

Are you still talking about Rerun?

[igene]

I think he's the poster child for taping-noobs 

[igene]

Are you kidding me...?
no one want to give their opinion.

thanks people.
very sad.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Are you kidding me...?
no one want to give their opinion.

Sure, I'll give my opinion.   I think Rerun was the greatest taper ever!  EVER!

You see, most people don't know the real story.  That tape deck was just a decoy.  He was running schoeps in that hat and an nbox!  Rerun knew how to pull the heat!  And he knew where to do it - right up front.  None of that section or lawn stuff.

This was a thread about Rerun, right?

Oh you mean your shows?  Fixing bad shows is not fun.  Some would say it is incredibly tedious.  Maybe it is an activity for the dead of winter, when you're bored.  Definitely not a summer activity.  I don't think there are any shortcuts.  You typically need to identify what can be improved, and then produce multiple versions.  Compare the multiple versions, etc.  You must learn the various techniques and then apply them.  It all takes hours and hours, at least it does for me.  How many times will you listen to those shows?   Bet you'll be sick of'em after you've spent a few hours working on them.

[junkyardt]

you can polish a turd as long as you want but in the end it's still a turd,  OR the crap in crap out rule.  You can't make thing appear that are not there.   If i get a recording that is lacking something I just make a note in the files section so that people know.

this is sort of true, but also misleading. no, you are not going to turn a Giant Squid source into a Schoeps source with some magical EQ work. the issue isn't about 'making something appear that isn't there', the issue often is emphasizing something about the mix while de-emphasizing something else, which can often have the effect of making the recording much more pleasant to listen to. I haven't listened to these clips specifically but it sounds like igene might have the right idea with playing with individual frequencies. I've gotten sources before where either due to the mix itself or the acoustics of the room, there is some aspect of the recording that is sort of dominating and grating on the ears in an annoying way. if you really play around carefully in 20 or 30 band EQ, you can often zero in on some specific frequency area where that annoying sound is occurring and bring it way down in the mix, and let the rest of the recording shine through.

[ziko]

FWIW i thought the RAW skynard samples were not bad at all.....the only thing that stuck out that the right side levels were near 4db lower than the left......I did not listen to the eq'd samples