cheddatom

Yeh, time is deffinitely an important factor. I suppose that's the same in every studio not mater who or what is in it. Don't get me wrong, Magic Garden sounded great - much better than the most popular, and quite expensive studio in Stoke. The (probably not 10) layers of guitar were the producer's decision, but then I don't think he was that bothered about time - our manager was talking about booking more days to mix but never did. The rough mix was worse than rough though IMO for a studio and producer of that caliber. Maybe he just knew that our manager wasn't going to follow through so he coulodn't be arsed. You're spot on about monitors. To be fair, at magic garden he had a pair of NS10s, but they didn't sound like NS10s because he had some fiend modify them and they're running off some amazing custom amp. It just seems silly sometimes - the amount of money spent on stuff that might sound a bit better in the studio, but you can't tell the difference over the radio or on CD. Do you work at a studio then? Which/where? I think i'm going to do a few sample tracks to try and showcase what I can do, and then ask people's opinions (like you!). I want to be sure i'm as good as I think I am before I start charging people money. I'm busy with the girlfriend this weekend apparently so I probably wont get any samples uploaded.

Have you tried a thumb pick kev? Oh, yeh, it's so important for your playing technique to make you look cool!

Well, I think that's half my point. Some bands do like a low-fi sound, and that can still be a "top notch" sound. I'm not necessarily talking about "fidelity", i'm talking about the impression the finished product gives the listener. I went to record in "magic garden studios" which is a pretty high end studio - he has an amazing variety of very expensive gear and god knows how many custom built tube pre-amps, and to be honest, when you were in there it made all the difference. There were all these subtleties to the cymbals etc, his room sounded amazing with it's wooden stage for drums. As soon as he wacked 10 layers of guitar on there it just sounded like any old mix that I could have done in my bedroom - all of those details were lost in the quest for a "wall of sound". Also, his monitors made ANYTHING sound amazing. When I played the mix he gave me in the car on the way home, I was gutted about how crap it sounded compared to how it had sounded in the studio. Horses for courses, obviously, I just don't like this idea that "more expensive = better" is a fact, because I think you can do a lot with a lot less money. If you do fancy listening to some tracks, I would most appreciate feedback from a pro. I need to learn from my mistakes, but I don't have anyone around to point them out!

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='242871' date='Jul 18 2008, 04:34 PM']I refuse to engage in this debate as it is, by its very nature, sexist. A players gender is of no relevance to his or her playing. You'll be asking who is the best gay bass player next. The best Muslim player? The best Socialist player? The best player over 65? Nonsense.[/quote] Who knew hermaphrodites were so easily offended!

You could use your B2.1U for 0 latency recording via usb

I'm not saying my views wont change, or that I wont be able to improve, or that experience isn't a good thing. I am saying that the potential of a cheap set up is just as great as the potential for an expensive set up in terms of the "feel" or the music. Loads of people have released self record/mixed/produced stuff that's done well. What about The Streets? Another example of a record that sounds great but was put together in a bedroom. I think that in 10 years time I might be a bit embarassed about the PEs or the like. With (no logo) there are already things I would change, but then I think most bands get like that about their records, no matter how much they spend there's always something you didn't notice at the time. I still think that there is a good drum sound on the last (no logo) CD and I will upload this new song i've been working on at the weekend which I am convinced will prove I can get a good drum sound with crap equipment. You may think that "if you go on myspace it is ovious witch was done tracks are done in a pro studio and witch was not" but how many enquiries have you made about where these bands recorded their stuff? I have heard some awful mixes come out of pro studios, and obviously you have too seeing as you've had to fix them.

Yeh i'm perfectly stable with XP and SX3. I also refuse to update windows and hardly ever plug the network cable in. It has been crashing recently because of a scratched Reason disc though - weird! (I sorted it by copying the disc).

Get rid of Vista FS!

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='242374' date='Jul 18 2008, 09:01 AM']DBX MC 6 [attachment=10944:DBX_Mc6.jpg][/quote] What's this?!? Real controls!?!? Oh, no footswitch

[quote name='Rimskidog' post='242484' date='Jul 18 2008, 10:42 AM']I never said bands should steer clear of anywhere. I'm saying they should listen (I even explained how they could listen critically so they could judge for themselves) and decide for themselves whether the studio they are looking at will give them the quality they need for their particular prject. There's a time and place for a demo and there's a time and place for a full production. If bands don't understand the difference then they are not likely to get what they want. The OP said: but went on to make it clear that he didnt really understand the difference which was when I chimed in. (I think you said yourself at one point that a label wouldn't want an inexperienced producer.) All I'm saying is that there is a vast difference between hi-end and lo-end studios and band should know what they are getting themselves into or they may be disappointed later. That's it. I apologise unreservedly if you think this was in any way aimed at you. It was not. I'd be happy for you to come along and say hello and chat about recording when I'm quiet sometime if you wanted to. If not, that's fine too. I'm outta here.[/quote] No, no need to apologise, it's just the way I type. If you have thoughts on (no logo) mixes I would be very interested and listen with an open mind. I'm well aware that I am still learning every day, and have a lot to learn. It sounds like you're a pro in the industry, so your opinions would be valued. After the OP made it clear that he was not after a demo, I made it clear that I was not appropriate (as i'm not fully set up). My general point was that it is not true that you NEED an experienced producer OR an expensive studio set up to get a GREAT sound. I think that that's a fact. If you look up my "The Strokes" example, you will see that proves it. If an unproffesional inexperienced, cheap set up works for you, then you should go with it, no matter how many people tell you the opposite - you can still get a great sound.

[quote name='Rimskidog' post='242442' date='Jul 18 2008, 10:09 AM']Okay. Have been holding back but here we go. This is just more evidence that you need to invest in some decent monitors. Grab a commercial cd of a signed band that you think sounds like the Premature Ejaculators and a/b between them. If the difference doesn't blow you out of the water then... well let's just say that you seriously need a better listening environment. Which slightly misses the point. The problem for home recordists generally is in stacking tracks and mixing the outcome but I tell you what, wouldn't it be more interesting if after you've done that you bring the same Martin down and I record the same thing and then we can put the tracks up for people to a/b. Better still let's get a band to volunteer to be guinea pigs and we'll both record and mix the same track. My diary is bloody awful fro the next several weeks but it should be doable by, say, Christmas. Now I really gotta get moving![/quote] Heh, sorry mate, I wasn't talking about the premature ejaculators, I was talking about (no logo) www.no-logo.co.uk have a listen if you can be bothered. Either way, I have A/Bd the PEs next to nirvana and the like. Some tracks come out well, some of them don't - it's not a serious project. I don't even know what songs you can listen to for free? I'm not really the competetive type! I have a (no logo) song i'm working on at home. It has no vocals at the moment but the drum sound is pretty f*cking good. I'll upload it on this thread at some point. EDIT: Sorry, if it seems i'm taking it personally it's because i'm sick of people who have an arrogant self beleif based upon their age. That's not necessarily true of you, but the amount of times I have been told I won't or I can't get a good sound, it really winds me up! And then there are loads of old blokes running studios, making money of sh*tty demos for bands who end up ripped off. I am one of the people you are saying bands should steer clear of, and so in that respect I think that taking is a little personally is understandable.

I use my peavey combo (1 x 15") for lows, and a guitar combo (2 x 12") for highs. It's quite a practical bi-amp setup and sounds amazing.

Rimski, you seem to be saying that you NEED experience to get a good drum sound. Have a listen to my stuff, I get a good drum sound!

[quote name='Golchen' post='242380' date='Jul 18 2008, 09:05 AM']Which reminds me - I once saw a secondhand vibrator in a junk shop - Honestly, who's gonna buy that!!![/quote] Me! I hope they hadn't cleaned it?

Damn. These are really good, I used to play one at school.

[quote name='ironside1966' post='242043' date='Jul 17 2008, 07:04 PM']I know what can be achieved on a home pc or Mac with today’s software, a set half decent monitors and a bit of acoustic treatment. and the results a very good but not as good as a experienced professionals with quality gear and great acoustic spaces.[/quote] Well, it's subjective. I think that a lot of the "benifits" of an expensive purpose built studio with expensive equipment are lost by the time a piece has been mixed, mastered, and burnt onto CD. I'll take my guitarist's martin down to my room on saturday and do some samples with my cheap sh*t mics and cheap sh*t pre-amps etc. I'd be interested to hear an honest opinion of the "quality" of the sound.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='241919' date='Jul 17 2008, 05:02 PM']LRAP RIP.[/quote] Heh, yeh. The guy who organised it (Mervyn spence used to be in wishbone ash) is getting sued by the council I think for sh*t loads. He was our manager for far too long.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='241910' date='Jul 17 2008, 04:57 PM']In my experience MIA's tend to be better quality than MIM's. This is what I care about. To suggest that someone who agrees with that view is a snob is pretty f***ing stupid.[/quote] Some people agree with that view because of a snobbish attitude - it does happen else no-one would buy designer clothes. Some people agree with that view because they have played a lot of basses, and come to the same conclusion as you. Some people disagree with that view because they have played a lot of basses, and come to the opposite conclusion as you - I prefer mexican guitars to american (fender) but I don't like their basses at all. You wouldn't be overreacting would you?

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='241896' date='Jul 17 2008, 04:49 PM']Fuse? LRAP?[/quote] LRAP when the quo played.

I love small venues. I've played at quite a few venues without stages! The biggest stage was outdoor at a "festival" thingy in lichfield.

Good call ironside!

geek99 - what are your issues? My Zoom worked fine with cubase, but I already had it installed.