This is prompted by me comparing the expertise demonstrated by some of the riffs submitted to the various "of the month" challenges, and the ineptitude of my efforts.
There are clearly some people here (quite a few) who know how to get a good sound from their recording. And there's me.
I'm guessing some of it will be down to kit used, but that probably more of it is down to knowing how to use whatever that kit is.
I've got a basic set-up. Guitar into iPad, and then various iPad apps to record/mix/etc.
Any decent "how to" guides out there? Books, YT channels, whatever ...
HELP!
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I would have to say that for me, being able to work to a click track and practice your takes lots before taking on a serious recording, too many people stick something down which is a bit rough but cant be arsed to do it again, I might do 10 or more attempts to get a guitar part right.
Tale a look at Warren Huarts Produce like a pro Youtube vids...or Johnny Geib...some stuff is pretty heavy but there are also loads of great ideas .
Or....just take a trip up here and well have a day recording !...simples.
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In broad strokes recording a guitar signal is all about balance.
Take a Fender/Fender or Gibson/Marshall combination and stick an SM57 in front of an amp.
Turn the gain down and the power amp up.
Keep the bass down too- you don't want to get in the way of the bassist.
Guitar modelling essentially tries to do away with the speaker and microphone element.
Results can be mixed and the more money you spend usually equals a better approximation that can be done cheaper using a real amp and a £100 microphone.
That said, all of the guitars for the last albums have been 100% Axe FX and no one has known otherwise.
If you are going to spend money somewhere then spend it on transducers- microphones and monitors.
Most people don't- they sink loads of money into plugins and modelling amps.
It is mostly a waste of time if the microphones and monitors are right.
Acoustic treatment matters too- more than most people think or budget for.
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I happen to like Warren Huart's YouTube channel (Produce Like a Pro) for production tips. Glenn Fricker's videos are great too; they're metal-focused, sure, but most of the ideas on there are pretty good general advice.
That's what I'd like to avoid.
Not because I'm a tight b'stard (though I may be), but more because I think that my (lack of) knowledge and understanding is more what I need to overcome rather than an absence of kit.
I have guitar interface - not the best, but adequate. I have iPads and MacBooks, so I have a loads of apps and GarageBand. Again, not the best, but should be adequate. I'm not aiming for pro-standard recording/production, just something that doesn't sound totally crap!
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Guitars like to see a nice high input impedance (which a proper guitar amp will have) so a decent audio interface (with a good 'high Z' input) between the guitar and iPad will probably help.
Monitoring what comes out (so you know what whatever you're recording really sounds like) is crucial. Without going down the rabbit hole of monitors, room treatment, etc, I think the best 'bang-for-buck' for a beginner is to invest in a set of decent 'reference' headphones (open back are better for sound). You should get something pretty decent for a couple of hundred quid or so. A cheap set of closed-back cans for recording in front of a mic (so they don't bleed sound into the mic) in addition if you intend to record like that.
In terms of knowledge and techniques - well, it's a HUGE subject with many contrasting opinions. Practice and experience is the only way really.
Finally, I recommend doing some kind of ear training to learn how to listen (yes, seriously). This course from Belfast Queen's University is free and very good ..
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/critical-listening-for-studio-production
It is run at regular intervals (sign up to be notified). To get the best out of it, get some decent headphones.
If I were in your position (and I was, a couple of years back), I'd spend something like this, second-hand:
Audio interface: £100 (probably a Komplete Audio 6 or similar interface with a couple of preamps)
Active studio monitors: £120 (you might get lucky and pick up a pair of KRKs, or perhaps some passive Tannoys and a 20W T-path amp)
Dynamic mic: £30-ish (the Superlux PRA-628 from Thomann is great new)
Condenser mic: £60-ish (SE Electronic SE2000 on eBay)
Reaper: £35
EZDrummer 2: £114
The mics are optional, but I found that an understanding of the differences between dynamic and condenser mics is pretty critical to getting a good sound even with modelling. It really is worth sticking mics in front of cabs, even if you're not at massive volumes (the Superlux is great for that, because it's super-cardioid and has excellent background noise rejection).
To begin with, you'll be making tracks that are measurably worse than anything you produced with Garageband. However, you'll be learning, and as long as you pay attention to what you're doing you'll start to realise where GB's limitations are and why this approach is better.
As a recording newbie with small children in the house I have to record silently and mix with headphones. I use my amp head into a Boss GT 100 into Reaper so I can use a real preamp then add cab IRs and EQ. I can also record a dry signal at the same time to experiment with virtual amps or even reamp with different amp settings at a later date. I think I'll experiment and try to get the best out of this approach for the time being. Micing up a cab is a no go for now.
I do upload private files to soundcloud so I can listen on my car stereo and send to my bandmates to listen and give their feedback about balance.
Bearing all that in mind, when listening to the "OTM" submissions I am drawn to the best riffs regardless of the technical limitations or proficiency.
And I'll keep it quiet that I recorded vocals for the comp challenge using a SM58 into a Jazz Chorus emulator in my GT100...
Step 2 define budget and what you want to record. Acoustic, electric, vocals? drums?
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I recorded, builds, and recorded all all of these songs using GarageBand on iPad. If you’re listening, One Pussy Chiller sounds best, in mixing terms, because I mixed it after I got a pair of monitors. The others are done on headphones.
https://soundcloud.com/mistercharlie/sets/blunt-knife-manifesto-ep
A couple of tips. 1. Don’t record the guitar too hot. If you’re using GarageBand’s amp sims, this is especially true. You’ll get a better sound if you don’t slam the levels,up as high as you can get them.
2. EQ your tracks so each one only occupies its own frequency space. Cut out the lowest bass on the guitar, for instance. This alone will make the mix sound open and clean. I’m a recording noob too, and these two tips made a big difference for me.
Also, in GarageBand, use the Drummer. It’s like having a real drummer, only better.
http://www.tdpri.com/threads/thinking-like-a-producer.807129/
I tend to record guitars around -14dB.
For the uninitiiated digital metering works like this- usually a signal will clip at 0dBFS.
Anything under that won't.
A -14dB single will be 14dB quieter than 0dBFS.
When a signal overloads digitally it will sound very unpleasant- it isn't like an analogue circuit at all in this regard.
I've done a bit of iPad recording- my issue with it isn't sound quality, but rather the lack of advance editing features compared to a full fat DAW.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
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As others have said, practice is the best way, youtube is good; reference tracks are also helpful to have on hand for sanity checks and plenty of reference speakers/headphones to test your mix versions out on. I use cheap earbuds, Audio Techinca M50x's, car stereos and monitor speakers to test out mixes.
I can't remember where I read it, but one thing that has stuck with me is to get it right at the source, so as I generally mic up a guitar amp/cab, I spend a bit of time getting the right sound for each guitar part from the mics before keeping a take. That way I only need to add a high pass on an EQ to guitar channels and maybe a bit of compression on the guitar bus to glue them all.
1. Why ditch the iPad?
2. I want to record electric. My budget is minimal, mainly because I don't want to go out and buy a load of stuff only to find that I don't have the fundamental knowledge or capability of using it. Hence I'd like to start with what I've got, and get the most out of that I can, understand the limitations of the kit, and then prioritise spending on new kit based on the constraints of what I've got.
digitalscream said:
If I were in your position (and I was, a couple of years back), I'd spend something like this, second-hand:
Audio interface: £100 (probably a Komplete Audio 6 or similar interface with a couple of preamps)
Active studio monitors: £120 (you might get lucky and pick up a pair of KRKs, or perhaps some passive Tannoys and a 20W T-path amp)
Dynamic mic: £30-ish (the Superlux PRA-628 from Thomann is great new)
Condenser mic: £60-ish (SE Electronic SE2000 on eBay)
Reaper: £35
EZDrummer 2: £114
The mics are optional, but I found that an understanding of the differences between dynamic and condenser mics is pretty critical to getting a good sound even with modelling. It really is worth sticking mics in front of cabs, even if you're not at massive volumes (the Superlux is great for that, because it's super-cardioid and has excellent background noise rejection).
To begin with, you'll be making tracks that are measurably worse than anything you produced with Garageband. However, you'll be learning, and as long as you pay attention to what you're doing you'll start to realise where GB's limitations are and why this approach is better. @Digitalscream - all built around my old MacBook? Doubt I'm going to be mic'ing cabs anytime soon though, else I'll need to get into room acoustics and sound insulation ...
Thanks to all for the various links to resources too. I can spend some time reading & listening.