The RPM Challenge

(Monday, 07 July 2008) Written by Babys First Ride

So, as this is my second year at this, I figure I know something about how to record effectively and get "that " sound. While my mixing has sharply improved, those is still so many little details that make a CD sound like it should. I have not been at all happy with my guitar sound. Granted, I'm using a cheap guitar, but my pedal effects are top notch. Well, I tried something different last week. My distorted guitar sound was not very full - low mid mostly. I have tried all kinds of doubling with the distortion and I didn't like that either. But I decided to double again, but this time clean on the bridge pickup. It added the high mids I was missing. I mixed it about 70/30 on distorted track / clean track. Damn, there it is.

The microphone I'm using has a serious proximity effect. It is one of the few mics that sound better with a hot vocal 8-12" away than close with a soft vocal. Its built to be really worked. So I opened up and got the sound I was after. And to think I've only owned the mic for 6 years...Sigh.

It was this years RPM is when I really "get" what compression does and how it use it. That made a HUGE difference in my mixing.

Its just details but what isn't in the recording game. Each detail gets me closer...I don't really want to have to go to a big studio to do part of work. Apparently, I have the right tools...just looking for the right me.

Comments (2)

1 Off Season
Written by Gary Fox, on 07-07-2008 22:36
Yeah, you've nailed what I think is the best use of time during "off season" (March-January); experimenting with stuff.

I usually don't have time to write, or even sometimes the inclination, but in the spare hour that I occasionally find I will just goof with things and see what happens. If something interesting happens, like a mic placement, or an amp setting, I will write it down or record it somehow so I remember how I got that tone or sound.

It makes recording a lot easier in February since I already have an idea of what I am going for.

2 You might also try...
Written by IronAngel Forge, on 07-08-2008 14:58
splitting your signal and running one side of the chain though a distorted channel, mic that, and run the other channel of your signal direct and push that back in the mix. I tried dual amping, but it was hard to get separation between the two sounds in my tiny space. I guess I could have put one amp (the clean one) in another room and ran the cables under the door or something of the like.

But hey! If you found a sound that work, go for it!

I think I will try your system and see if it works better than what I tried. Thanks for the tip!

I have learned a ton about recording and the process from RPM this year (my first year). Looking forward to the next one!

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