Recording Discussion Club
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm in the forum and in the live streams, I hope the tonebase academy recording course was as educational for you as it was inspirational for me!
I urge you to put all the techniques you have learned over the course of this five weeks into regular practice, your recordings will only get better, you will discover more details and nuances not only in the technical process but also in your performance. I kept highlighting how important recording is as a feedback tool for yourself, listening back to your performance with an objective distance gives you great insight into your musical personality!
I created this topic as hub for all of your recordings you want to share in the future, I will post recordings of myself and of other musicians in here for you to enjoy, discuss and learn from! If you have any questions to the videos, feel free to post them as a reply to the video, if you have general questions on one of the lesson topics, post them in the dedicated forum topic to create a shared knowledge base for each of the topics!
The recording doesn't need to be a video, you can only share an audio file with us as well!
When share your recording, let us know about your mic placement, your editing and your signal processing with this template:
[introduce your recording with some words about the piece, why you decided to record etc.]
Mics and Mic Placement:
Interface (if applicable):
DAW:
Editing:
Processing:
Plugins used:
NLE:
-
Hi Martin,
Here is a rough recording of Serenata Espanola by Malats. Please excuse the performance as it needs lots of work (Several mistakes). I wanted to submit something with some range and density for your evaluation of recording sound.
This is recorded with 2 Line Audio CM4 Mics in ORTF position. The Stereo bar is about arm's length from top of guitar (1964 Jose Ramirez with Cedar top and RC Recital medium tension strings)
Interface is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Gain on both channels up to about 70%.
No editing or dynamics processing were performed..Thanks!!!
Best,
Barney
-
This is one of my favorite Sor studies; I'm using it as a vehicle to experiment with the concepts presented in the Recording Class.
Mics and Mic Placement: Mid-side Nuemann KM184 and AEA R84 ribbon mic placed 24 inches away from guitar.
Interface: Apogee Quartet, Sebatron Axis200vu tube pre, Manley ELOP+ compressor
DAW: Sonar X2 Producer
Editing: single take with one punch
Processing: compressor set to -1db reduction, hi pass 56Hrtz, high shelf 6.7 K, limiter
Plugins used: Summit Audio Compressor, Phoenixverb by exponential audio, Fabfilter L2 limiter
NLE:
-
Mics and Mic Placement: two Nuemann Km184s 24 inches from guitar, and mid-side with AEA R84 ribbon mic
Interface (if applicable): Apogee Quartet, Sebatron Tube pre, Manley ELOP+ compressor
DAW: Sonar X2 Producer
Editing: one punch, two edits
Processing: gentle compression -1db reduction, Hi pass 56 hertz, high shelf 6.7K, 3db cut at 245,; reverb wooden church preset. No limiter or normalization.
Plugins used: Summit Audio compressor, Phoenixverb by Exponential Audio.
NLE:
-
Hi Martin,
I just got the Nimbus Reverb Plugin($29) that you recommended. There are lots of presets available, and many settings. I would like to add some subtle reverb that would enhance the sound with a natural ambiance suitable for Classical guitar.
Would you kindly look at the Nimbus screen and tell me what you think would be the best levels for each setting to start with. Also, is there a particular "Preset" available in Nimbus that provides a natural and realistic result for Classical guitar? Thanks much!!! Barney
-
Hi Martin,
Also please clarify what you mean by "If you put Nimbus onto a dedicated reverb channel, the "Wet" fader needs to be all the way up". Are you referring to the Fader in Reaper, or within the Nimbus GUI?
Sorry for all these follow-up questions. As you can see, I'm new to this process, and still learning how to apply the basics. I appreciate your patience!! Thanks!
-
Hi Martin,
Please give a listen to this for volume, stereo imaging, and reverb quality. I used your suggested "large wooden church" preset in Nimbus and reduced its level using the Reaper fader in Track #4 (Reverb). Sorry, know the performance has many mistakes, which I'm working on. I think the "stage fright" is contributing a bit, which I need to overcome.
I look forward to your comments and advice. about the recording quality. Thanks!
Best,
Barney
-
Thank you very much for your kind words and great suggestions.
The Nimbus guide gives the following definitions:
7.3.4.Reverb Time Reverb Time works in conjunction with the Reverb Size parameter. Reverb Time may be seen as the reflectivity of the space you’re modeling. More reflectivity (harder surfaces)—no matter the size of the room--will cause the reverberant energy to last longer. A small Reverb Size with a long reverb time will produce a long reverb with dense re=lections and perhaps some coloration. A large reverb size with a shorter reverb time may also create a longer length with lower density and a more natural sound. It’s best to test these parameters with impulses such as clicks or snare drum strikes.
7.3.25.Reverb Size Reverb Size works hand-in-hand with the Reverb Time parameter. The size parameter gives you a general sense of the overall size of the space you’re modeling (expressed in meters) and the time parameter controls the reflectivity of the walls. A larger size will lower the density of reflections and is generally more natural-sounding. But there’s nothing like experimentation.
Please refine your guidance based on this additional information, and let me know what you would adjust. (Remember, I lowered the overall Reverb level by reducing it in Reaper on it's own separate track).
Best regards,
Barney
-
Thank you for the advice Martin! I tried to make the Reverb Size larger by increasing from 32 meters to 36 meters. It automatically increased the related Reverb Time accordingly. This resulted in a pleasing reverb. However, the overall volume of the recording was reduced significantly!
Is there a solution to achieve the more desirable Reverb without losing the volume?
Thanks,
Barney