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Rimskidog

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Posts posted by Rimskidog

    Bass sound production

    in Recording

    Posted

    [quote name='LowdownRumble' timestamp='1333829285' post='1607178']
    I'll have a go at all the things mentioned when I get back
    [/quote]

    That's the nail on the head man. It's all trial and error. Once it starts to come together you'll be glad you put the time in to work it out rather than trying to follow some kind of cardboard cutout.

    Bass sound production

    in Recording

    Posted · Edited by Rimskidog

    I'm gonna go slightly off topic here because I think it's important. An admission first, my first instrument is bass. I love bass. It's my favourite instrument by a long way. BUT...

    ...what non-recording engineers miss all the time is that the bass will only drive if it is not being walked over by other instruments. Just because you like the sound it makes by itself it doesn't mean that's either the best sound for it in the mix or indeed, how that sound will sound in the mix (unless the bass is the most important sound in that mix - it rarely is for anyone but the bass player in that band... sorry, get over it). So, it follows that the best tone for a bass is the one that sits best in that particular mix, a tone that takes that song to a different level. (That's because a great record is one that is better than the sum of it's parts rather than just being equal to the sum of the parts.) You'd be amazed that if you solo'd the bass in a multitrack recording of your favourite record how different it sounds compared to how it sounds on the final record.

    So to answer your question, there are a dozen ways to get to the sound you hear on the record. (But if you could hear that track solo'd you probably wouldn't like it nearly so much because it will have been hacked at with an eq and compressed to within an inch of its life to make it fit in the mix.) There'll be significant cutting below about 80hz for the kick, somewhere around 300hz to get rid of some mud, and a bit of a boost in the low mids for weight and in the midrange somewhere for growl. The signal might have been split into two or even three tracks or not. My starting point on this would be to bring the bass up on two channels on my desk and use a pair of VOGs, one on the lower mids and one to bring out the mid-growl. If I couldnt get there with that I might put a nice analogue distortion such as an early RAT on the mid channel. (Ultimately, this actual sound is a combination of the players fingers, the instrument, the amp or DI used, any effects, compression, eq, etc.) Anyway,a bt meandering for which I apologise but I hope this helps somehow.

    Circle Studios refurb

    in Recording

    Posted

    Anyways, here's a Friday update for ya. You can see here that the back wall of studio 3 is up to about 9 or 10 feet(ish):

    [IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7206.jpg[/IMG]

    [IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7205.jpg[/IMG]

    Contractors tell me they will have the walls finished next week and will be shuttering the roofs the following week (yes, we are casting the concrete roofs in situ - am particularly looking forward to seeing them do this!)

    Protools GAS

    in Recording

    Posted

    [quote name='urb' timestamp='1332449306' post='1588656']

    So I'm interested what makes Pro Tools simply the best ever and put so many other things in the shade? I've read quite a few PT Vs Logic articles online - just be interested to hear your opinion - I have nothing whatsoever against PT - I'd like it myself - I just can't see why I should switch over now... maybe another year.

    M
    [/quote]

    Honestly? At this point it's for the most part about preference and workflow. Probably PTs only advantages at this stage (for music in any case) are ones that are unlikely to be required outside larger commercial studios (such as massive guaranteed i/o ability with no latency foldback). It probably still has many advantages for post-production work but since I moved back to the UK I've been doing little of that so that's just speculation.

    Circle Studios refurb

    in Recording

    Posted

    [quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1332286276' post='1586289']
    I was referring to the blockwork :D

    Clearly once thats done there are still a couple of bits and pieces to do, but nothing much really ;) Stop whinging :D, some of us are jealous....
    [/quote]

    Heheh :P

    Circle Studios refurb

    in Recording

    Posted

    [quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1332283712' post='1586248']
    So 2 out of 3 are nearly done?

    wowzer....
    [/quote]

    Well, the outer walls of 2 out of 3 I guess. Cast concrete roofs going on all of them yet which is a big job all by itself, then 2 of them will have first fix electrics and be boarded, the other first fix then needs it's stone interior applied, then final fixes, then doors, aircon, treatment and paint... Ok, I might not go as far as nearly done yet...

    Circle Studios refurb

    in Recording

    Posted

    Something for the weekend sir?

    The view you've become used to (don't ask me why they have cut a block around redundant conduit... I have no idea :facepalm:):

    [IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7184.jpg[/IMG]

    Here's one from the reception end of the building (you can see the loading area door at the back):

    [IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7186.jpg[/IMG]

    And here's one from the back door:

    [IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7180.jpg[/IMG]

    Circle Studios refurb

    in Recording

    Posted

    [quote name='GremlinAndy' timestamp='1331505175' post='1574003']
    I'm so envious watching this come together... I am completely green to my core.
    [/quote]

    Haha! Thanks man. Hope you are enjoying it. Once we get past this blockwork phase it all gets more interesting again!

    Circle Studios refurb

    in Recording

    Posted

    <p>&nbsp;I&#39;ve already got one on ice for you man! &nbsp;</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    <div>On the blockwork front, we slowly seem to be getting there... here&#39;s how it looked by close of play on Friday with studio 4 being almost seven feet high:</div>
    <div>&nbsp;</div>
    <div>[IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7161.jpg[/IMG]</div>

    Decent monitor speakers - any advice?

    in Recording

    Posted

    [quote name='jonthebass' timestamp='1330429845' post='1557235'] [snip]...My advice is go for the speakers you like... [snip][/quote]

    Sorry but I gotta correct this one so that misinformation is not sitting here to be picked up by others in the future. As a broad rule the human ear prefers an eq 'smile' curve (low and high frequencies louder than mid frequencies) so you are more likely to 'like' a monitor with such an eq curve than a flat monitor. It is much harder to mix on these than a flatter monitor because if the bass and highs you are hearing is boosted you are likely to back off on those bass and high frequencies in the mix. When you then play your mix elsewhere it will sound light on bass and highs. Make sense?

    As for the room treatment bit of jonthebass's post, I couldn't agree more. You would be stunned at how much difference a bit of rockwool carefully positioned in your room will make to your production capabilities,

    Circle Studios refurb

    in Recording

    Posted

    With this shot (taken today) you can see the separation between studio 3 and the stone room and the angles of the non-parallel walls:

    [IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7136.jpg[/IMG]

    Circle Studios refurb

    in Recording

    Posted

    [quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1330718726' post='1562245']
    Not hanging about are they!
    [/quote]

    Moving unbelievably quickly (I'm very happy to say). Got some complicated sequencing of events coming up soon so the sooner they get the easy stuff done the better though!

    Circle Studios refurb

    in Recording

    Posted

    And to end the week, studio 5 is now up to about 11 feet tall at the highest point which means about 3 more feet to go for that room:

    [IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7134.jpg[/IMG]

    Circle Studios refurb

    in Recording

    Posted

    Day 2 of the build saw the layout of all three of the rooms in the new building get finalised:

    [IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7107.jpg[/IMG]

    And bringing you right up to date this afternoon, day 3 of the build sees studio 5 start to look like a room rather than one of the ruins at Pompeii:

    [IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7114.jpg[/IMG]

    [IMG]http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/Rimskidog/DSCN7115.jpg[/IMG]

    Gotta say I've been well impressed with the contractors over the last fortnight. Great attention to detail and they just put their heads down and get on and do it. And a nice bunch of lads too. :thumbsup:

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