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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: Gary Hull on July 20, 2003, 10:35:27 PM

Title: Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Gary Hull on July 20, 2003, 10:35:27 PM: I have been recording for a little while, and my tapes have what I would consider to be a dull sound. Not real bright sounding, like other recordings I have heard. It is almost like there is not enough treble. I am not sure if I am being overly critical because these are my tapes, but that is how I feel. I have tried DIN, XY, the Nutter Technique, and I try to only run my mics at about 7 - 7.5 feet. Can anyone help explain why this may be happening???

Thanks for any help

Gary
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: creekfreak on July 20, 2003, 10:38:59 PM: what is your rig?
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Gary Hull on July 20, 2003, 10:46:53 PM: Superlux SMK-H8K (stereo matched cardiod) > Advanced Research Technology Phantom II (48v) > Denecke AD-20 > Sharp MT-90 and Sharp MT-180 minidisc
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Lee on July 21, 2003, 03:20:15 AM: Quote from: ghull on July 20, 2003, 10:46:53 PM
Sharp MT-90 and Sharp MT-180 minidisc

Sounds like ATRAC rearing it's ugly head... maybe a DAT/JB3/lappy solution is in order? Never heard of those mics, but that oculd do it as well.
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: DaryanLenz on July 21, 2003, 08:44:24 AM: My guess is it is the mics sound, and that a change of mics may be in order. I have never heard those mics either, so giving reccomendations is kind of tough. Do you have an mp3 sample I could take a listen to? It would help in giving feedback, as I know the sound of the rest of your rig! Do you have a link to the frequency response of the mics? I am at work and don't have the time to look it up just yet!

Daryan
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: greenone on July 21, 2003, 10:37:30 AM: There's another guy on here running the Superlux mics - Alex Herd. He's got a couple of recordings up on archive.org - do a search for superlux and they should come up. He runs them through a Samson mixpad so it might be a good comparison to see if his sound brighter or not...

--Dave
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Swampy on July 21, 2003, 11:10:14 AM: Ya, some of my stuff is up on the archive, Little feat 6/10/03, Carbon Leaf, Maroon5 and Guster from the Big Shindig on 6/29/03. I'll be putting Derek Trucks band from last night up on the archive soon as well.
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: DaryanLenz on July 21, 2003, 11:23:52 AM: Alex...definately put up DTB...it wil make helping this guy easier on my ears!! Do you happen to have a link to the specs?

Daryan
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Nick in Edinboro on July 21, 2003, 12:24:58 PM: How does the room sound where your taping?
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Swampy on July 21, 2003, 01:17:11 PM: Daryan, ya Im not a huge fan of any of thoes bands that were at the Big Shindig, but I felt like taping somthing. DTB should be up within a day or so. Specs: http://www.superlux.us/images/SMK-H8K_datasheet.jpg
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Swampy on July 21, 2003, 01:20:03 PM: another: http://www.superlux.us/images/CM-H8K_310145.jpg
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: DaryanLenz on July 21, 2003, 01:35:18 PM: Looking at the graph, it doesn't look like it would be the mic. Maybe a slight drop on the utmost extreme part of the high end, but not enough to make your tapes sound dull. Whgat mic configurations are you trying? What angles? I need more info...

Daryan
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Swampy on July 21, 2003, 01:43:59 PM: Ya, I wouldn't think that its the mics, I mean, they are not the greatest mics in the world, but I wouldn't call my tapes dull.
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Chuck on July 21, 2003, 02:06:19 PM: Quote from: ghull on July 20, 2003, 10:35:27 PM
I have been recording for a little while, and my tapes have what I would consider to be a dull sound. Not real bright sounding, like other recordings I have heard. It is almost like there is not enough treble. I am not sure if I am being overly critical because these are my tapes, but that is how I feel. I have tried DIN, XY, the Nutter Technique, and I try to only run my mics at about 7 - 7.5 feet. Can anyone help explain why this may be happening???

Thanks for any help

Gary

Some other reasons might be using cheap windscreens, bad conversion to HD, poor FOH sound.
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: zhianosatch on July 22, 2003, 11:38:34 PM: How are you transferring those MDs?
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Swampy on July 24, 2003, 05:04:01 PM: Daryan (and everybody else) DTB is up now at http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=6313 . Keep in mind, I wouldn't call this one of my best recordings, the PA was set up pretty odd at the show (on the roof of the stage pavilion). But I think that it deffinatly gives you an idea of how the mics sound.
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: Gary Hull on July 26, 2003, 08:37:09 AM: To try and answer a few of the questions, I have tried using the Nutter Technique, DIN spaced about 22 inches apart, and XY. I have recorded in both small bars and outside venues. Normally I would say the sound at the venues have been very good. As for transferring, I use a Sony MZ-1 > DIO 2448 > Sound Forge 5.0.

The tapes I am making may sound good, I just might be over critical of my own tapes. I appreciate all the responses and any other hints you can give.

Gary
Title: Re:Dull sounding tapes
Post by: DaryanLenz on July 26, 2003, 08:58:15 AM: I will download a track or two and let you know what I think sometime this afternoon.
I for one would try ortf and true din to get a feel for things. I have never tried the nutter technique, and probably won't, as I am happy running ortf and din, and sometimes nos.

Daryan