Topic: How Do You...

[stevetoney]

I've been doing alot of listening lately to recordings on CDR that I've collected over the last couple of years to better learn how the more popular mics out there sound.  Naturally, I like to turn the volume on my stereo up quite loud so that I can hear detail.  What I notice is that the bass on some of the recordings stay nice and clean when pumping up the volume and others break up at the higher volumes. 

So how do you make a source recording that stays as clean as possible at the higher volumes on playback?  Is it a function of the quality/brand of mics, how hot you run the preamp during recording, how much gain you dial into the recorder, all of the above, none of the above? 

I'm just wondering if there's anything special I can or should do in post to maximize the chances of this not happening on my masters.

[rowjimmytour]

I think venue and outdoor/indoor have a lot to do w/ it in fatoring this out. When I owned C4's I had a few great recordings(for me) where all the factors came together and out shined other sources. I think the above factor is major but I think location, location, and location have major pull in a good recording. Problem is the location some times changes on us depending on the venue.
peace

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

The heavily distorted bass on one of my Stereolab tapes went away when I upgrade my playback speakers and bought a subwoofer.  Now it sounds like it should...

T

[nameloc01]

.... but I think location, location, and location have major pull in a good recording.

thats exactly right.
example... a top of the line rig running from the nosebleeds...=shitty pull.
a mediocre rig running from 30' from stage dead center floor....= a great pull.

[anodyne33]

What's in the recording isn't going to vary depending on what volume you play it at.

Period.

Either your playback equipment is breaking up on the tapes that have a substantial amount of lower bass, or you're just not noticing the distortion at lower levels.

[Dede2002]

What's in the recording isn't going to vary depending on what volume you play it at.

Period.

Either your playback equipment is breaking up on the tapes that have a substantial amount of lower bass, or you're just not noticing the distortion at lower levels.

What can I add to this?
Perfect.

[Roving Sign]

Naturally, I like to turn the volume on my stereo up quite loud so that I can hear detail.

For some reason - if I were trying to evaluate mics specifically for detail - I might try listening at lower volume levels - the differences might be more obvious.

As far as bass goes - Dont really low frequencies suck a lot more power out of your amp? - perhaps making it not as effective (efficient?) at higher volumes... Recordings that dont have as much bass don't bog the amp down and sound cleaner...

[stevetoney]

What's in the recording isn't going to vary depending on what volume you play it at.

Period.

Either your playback equipment is breaking up on the tapes that have a substantial amount of lower bass, or you're just not noticing the distortion at lower levels.

I understand what you're saying.  That's not what I was asking.

I was asking is techniques to get the cleanest recording in the first place that doesn't break up when you crank it.

[shaggy]

I was asking is techniques to get the cleanest recording in the first place that doesn't break up when you crank it.

Lose the MP2  in the chain...it is a very notoriously bass-bloaty pre.

[stevetoney]

I was asking is techniques to get the cleanest recording in the first place that doesn't break up when you crank it.

Lose the MP2  in the chain...it is a very notoriously bass-bloaty pre.

Right.  I already reached that conclusion.  Not only bloatly but just plain fuzzy and yuk.  Just two days ago I was commenting in another post how everyone in the world told me that the MP2 was the way to go after I got the MBHOs.  I just don't like it at all.  Thanks!

[Roving Sign]

I was asking is techniques to get the cleanest recording in the first place that doesn't break up when you crank it.

Lose the MP2  in the chain...it is a very notoriously bass-bloaty pre.

Right.  I already reached that conclusion.  Not only bloatly but just plain fuzzy and yuk.  Just two days ago I was commenting in another post how everyone in the world told me that the MP2 was the way to go after I got the MBHOs.  I just don't like it at all.  Thanks!

My friend runs that thing on his 480s - I hate it!!!

[Kevin Straker]

I was asking is techniques to get the cleanest recording in the first place that doesn't break up when you crank it.

Lose the MP2  in the chain...it is a very notoriously bass-bloaty pre.

Right.  I already reached that conclusion.  Not only bloatly but just plain fuzzy and yuk.  Just two days ago I was commenting in another post how everyone in the world told me that the MP2 was the way to go after I got the MBHOs.  I just don't like it at all.  Thanks!

With your mics you will get tighter bass with a psp2 or psp3. I used to run 603/200>mp2 then switched to the psp2 pre for a while. I wish still had it.

[uberfunkt303]

I was asking is techniques to get the cleanest recording in the first place that doesn't break up when you crank it.

Lose the MP2  in the chain...it is a very notoriously bass-bloaty pre.

Right.  I already reached that conclusion.  Not only bloatly but just plain fuzzy and yuk.  Just two days ago I was commenting in another post how everyone in the world told me that the MP2 was the way to go after I got the MBHOs.  I just don't like it at all.  Thanks!

I was under the impression that the MBHO's [603/200] didnt really have that great of a bass response to begin with..     

EDIT:  I realize now your looking for tighter bass, not necessarily more..   my mistake.