Useful Recording Resources

[RockfordStone]

i thought this may be a usefull topic.

over the years ive been recording ive accumulated various different books, podcasts etc that have really helped me, and im sure overs have also, so it could be an idea to share them.

one i am currently liking very much is the home recording show, a weekly podcast which goes into various different ideas and practices, and allows for open feedback from listeners.

it can be found at http://www.homerecordingshow.com/

[Skol303]

This is great, cheers! Just had a quick look and there's some very useful stuff on there.

Thanks for sharing

[RockfordStone]

i can also recommend

http://homerecording.com/bbs/forum.php
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/
http://forum.recordingreview.com/

lost of people on these forums that know their stuff, even if you are not a regular poster you can learn from them

[51m0n]

Agree with all the above, and add this which is a fabulous resource, its like Radio 4 for sound engineers (but American):-

[url="http://www.pensadosplace.tv/"]http://www.pensadosplace.tv/[/url]

Some real gems in there once you get past the inevitable love ins with the guests....

Also there is this:-

[url="http://www.cambridge-mt.com/MixingSecrets.htm"]Mixing Secrets For The Small Studio[/url]

Which reminds me, there is a monthly photo comp, a monthly compositional comp, what do you guys think about a monthly mix comp? WOuld anyone have the time or inclination? Winner chooses the track on that page to mix next....

Edited November 13, 2012 by 51m0n

[charic]

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1352799467' post='1867459']
Agree with all the above, and add this which is a fabulous resource, its like Radio 4 for sound engineers (but American):-

[url="http://www.pensadosplace.tv/"]http://www.pensadosplace.tv/[/url]

Some real gems in there once you get past the inevitable love ins with the guests....

Also there is this:-

[url="http://www.cambridge-mt.com/MixingSecrets.htm"]Mixing Secrets For The Small Studio[/url]

Which reminds me, there is a monthly photo comp, a monthly compositional comp, what do you guys think about a monthly mix comp? WOuld anyone have the time or inclination? Winner chooses the track on that page to mix next....
[/quote]

I'd be up for a mix comp I think. I can usually mix pretty quickly in comparison to my composing

Drop me a PM and we can discuss the potential rules etc.. and maybe we can set it up in the new year?

[RockfordStone]

i would be up for a monthly mix off, most definately would, drop me a pm and ill get involved with your scheming too!

im trying to get more involved with stuff on here rather than just be one of those who sits and don't contribute

Edited November 13, 2012 by RockfordStone

[51m0n]

Okeedokee, a mix off private love in then to get some ground rules. Starting in the New Year sounds good to me. Crimbo is as busy as a busy thing with a lot of busyness on top for me....

I must confess this was [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=4][url="http://basschat.co.uk/user/969-butlerk02/"]butlerk02[/url][/size][/font]'s idea in the first place (clever chap!)

[Skol303]

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1352799467' post='1867459']
...what do you guys think about a monthly mix comp? WOuld anyone have the time or inclination?[/quote]

Yup, count me in! I've done a few remixes and really enjoy it. Not sure if I'd have time to do this and the composition challenge, but I guess I could always alternate (currently really buzzing off the monthly compositions as it's taking me into new territory, musically-speaking).

Maybe use mix stems sourced from Basschat members and their bands? Who knows, it might even encourage some future hook-ups between bands and engineers on this forum. Just an idea.

[51m0n]

Yeah, if any BC'ers had stems that would be cool, and like you say more could come of that if they want the rest of their release or further releases done later.

[redstriper]

I've got loads of multi tracks that need mixing and I'd be very happy for anyone to have a go if they really want to.
Original reggae, funk, soul and jazz style - bass, drums, keys, guitar and vocals all on separate tracks.

[butlerk02]

I got the idea from this: http://www.shakingthrough.com/stems which has loads of episodes and stems to choose from. We can also contribute are own stuff also.

Looking forward to this.

[51m0n]

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1352814614' post='1867718']
I've got loads of multi tracks that need mixing and I'd be very happy for anyone to have a go if they really want to.
Original reggae, funk, soul and jazz style - bass, drums, keys, guitar and vocals all on separate tracks.
[/quote]

Ha ha, nice

Good call RS, I think that one rule should be that if anyone submits stems to be mixed then if they use any of the mixes the mixer should get a credit for mixing on any use of the track later? Does that seem fair?

And anyone can ask for detailed info on how any particular part of a mix was achieved. If that means posting exact procedures/project files/settings/thought processes then I dont see why it shouldnt be done for anyone to learn from.

If a mix is of non-BC material then maybe people can keep their hand a little closer to their chest(?), but if this is to be useful it should really be a learning tool for anyone just reading along, and that means full disclosure (I find keeping grannies tied up in the corners as bass traps is my main seceret - right now that is disclosed the rest is just playing with sliders)

Final point, it would be cool if we could try and match the output level of any submitted mixes so that people are judging on quality of sound, rather than level. If no one agrees I'll happily unstrap the mega-crusher limiter pack and fire up the frequency analyser - never like to play fair when I can play dirty after all

[51m0n]

[quote name='butlerk02' timestamp='1352814853' post='1867725']
I got the idea from this: [url="http://www.shakingthrough.com/stems"]http://www.shakingthrough.com/stems[/url] which has loads of episodes and stems to choose from. We can also contribute are own stuff also.

Looking forward to this.
[/quote]

Well it was your idea

[51m0n]

Personally I' more into the idea of mixing what is there rather than re-producing the files into a different song, a so called re-mix.

Since I think people will mainly get more from hearing what their stuff can be mixed to sound like.

If that makes any sense.

I'm hoping that this exercise will speed up my average mix time significantly - since I will use it to build a large number of track/group templates for different set ups that people throw at the competition.

Edited November 13, 2012 by 51m0n

[RockfordStone]

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1352821838' post='1867884']
Personally I' more into the idea of mixing what is there rather than re-producing the files into a different song, a so called re-mix.
[/quote]

agreed, i think it would be nicer to hear someones own interpretation of what is there, rather than changing it into a new song

[Skol303]

^ YES! I agree with all of the above. I'm definitely up for sharing techniques and tips - well, I'm actually just wanting to learn from the rest of you but I'll show willing!

Also happy to match output levels - nice idea. I'm often guilty of squishing the living daylights out of mixes to get every ounce of volume from them, so I'm well up for something that encourages greater dynamics.

I'd be more interested in mixing rather than remixing personally - although maybe we need a little freedom to add overdubs and new elements if you choose.

Anyway, it all sounds good. And I reckon it'll add another level of interest to the Recording forum - in the same way the monthly challenges have done - which I've been wanting to see happen since I joined Basschat

[redstriper]

I'm fine with the rules and I'll gladly credit anyone and even buy them a drink if the song charts

I've had my home mixed songs played on BBC radio Wales and radio 6 so far, but I hate mixing and put the least effort in as I can get away with.

Is there a particular site to upload stems to or shall I just use one of the many file sharing sites?

My stuff is lo-fi, recorded live in my front room so may not be of a good enough standard (no problem if so).
Check some of it out here:
[url="http://soundcloud.com/tacsiband/"]http://soundcloud.com/tacsiband/[/url]
And here:
[url="http://www.mixcloud.com/tacsiband/turkey-shore-road-complete-album/"]http://www.mixcloud.com/tacsiband/turkey-shore-road-complete-album/[/url]

Edited November 13, 2012 by redstriper

[51m0n]

That (listened to Turkey Shore Road, Politician, Scrap Heap) sounds fine to me RS, nice range of styles, some horns too, cool!

Not at all bad mixes either. People are going to have to put in some time and effort to get much better - but isnt that the point?

Edited November 13, 2012 by 51m0n

[bremen]

'Tacsi' - this is a Welsh nod to Sly&Robbie yes?

Nice!

[redstriper]

Yes it's Sly & Robbie meets the Celtic fringe!
And I forgot about the horns - a single cornet, sometimes overdubbed.

The album tracks were mixed by me and my nephew and mastered by a friend.
The sound cloud ones are un-mastered demos and we have a stack more to go at.

We record all our sessions live in Cubase and rarely get time to mix them properly, other than to bung on some pre set compression and reverb plug ins.

[51m0n]

To be useful fo rthis they would need to be full sets of stems.

I'm not sure of your tracking process, but the wav file of each instrument needs to be full length on every track (from 0:00:00 to end of song). That way everything lines up time wise with how it was tracked when imported into any other DAW. With no fx on at all (raw as a bald head in 1976).

Just about every DAW lets you export stems like this, I dont know the procedure for Cubase exactly. Worse case scenario you have to render each track seperately by hand with all fx off. Which is a huge PIA!

[redstriper]

That's no problem Si, we record everything live with no FX, so they're all clean full length wavs that will sync up in any DAW.
If there are any overdubs, they can be rendered separately to sync with the rest.

The track on sound cloud called 'No Second Chance' is quite a challenge to mix because it has quiet and loud sections, so getting it to sound well balanced and punchy is hard.
It's also one of the tracks we recorded to a click track, so easier for editing.

[51m0n]

Excellent!

That means there wont be too much work for you to do, which is ace!

Like the groove on that one a lot, should be a nice challenge

Sounds like drums, guitar, hammond or similar (real one or not?), vocal, backing vocal(s). Have I missed anything?

If that lot is recorded "Live from the front room" there is going to be monstrous amounts of spill I would think, that is definitely going to present people with some serious issues/choices - all good!

[51m0n]

Does anyone know where we can host files for this?

Normqally I use something like wetransfer to move files between myself and anyone I'm mixing for, but that is possibly a little tricky in this case?

[Skol303]

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1352885064' post='1868708']
Does anyone know where we can host files for this?[/quote]

I suggest [url="http://www.soundcloud.com"]SoundCloud[/url]. It gets used a lot for sharing stems in remix competitions. Avoids having to mess around logging in to dropboxes, as you can set anything you upload to be freely available for other people to download without them having to set up an account themselves.

And there's no limit in terms of file size - you get allocated a set amount of minute's worth of music on a free account, but it's fairly generous. Hence you can use it to share high bitrate wavs, etc, no problem.