II. The Edit // JAN 18th
I hope you had an intensive first week of recording behind you, collecting different versions and takes of your very own playing in the workspace of our DAW!
After this live stream, you should be able to edit your recordings, thus creating a master take that inhabits the very best parts from all of your takes !
Please use this thread if you have any questions concerning the workbook or general questions concerning The Edit!
Click here to access Session 2: The Edit // Jan 18th (Live!)
Find the other sessions here: Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
Download the second workbook here
I will post the answers to the questionnaire on Jan 24th!
After the live stream, submit your assignments by replying to this thread!
Answers to this week's questionnaire:
1. Why do we group tracks?
We group tracks for two main reasons:
- When we record several tracks in mono to achieve a stereo sound (using one mic source per channel), we need to be able to quickly apply all the main editing techniques two both of the stereo channels at the same time. This will save in the editing process.
- Left and Right channel need to stay in their correct phase correlation. When L and R get "out of phase" several problems will occur: First, the track will sound weirdly shifted, as sound is coming into your ear from one side and out of your ear from the other side. Second, when summing in mono, your sound will become thin as due tue the phase shift frequencies might cancel each other out, resulting in a thin timbre.
2. Why should you make an edit plan?
We make an edit plan with our score to ensure maximum efficiency during editing, making the execution of the edit just a technical task. When you need to listen back to your whole take, deciding which measure to take from which recording, you are slowing down your editing process and will do edits simply because you can, not because you want to.
3. If you delete an item from your DAW, what happens to it?
Nothing, as the items in the DAW are just references to files on your hard drive. There is only one exception: Right after you stopped recording a take, Reaper will ask you whether to keep this recording or not. This is the only place where you can permanently delete a track from your hard drive.
Here is a link for a step by step instruction of how to implement 4-Point-Editing into Reaper, a workflow commonly used for classical music production but usually only to be found in dedicated DAWs like Sequoia or Pyramix.
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So, here's my recording. I've opted for Landslag I.
I'm playing on a Yamaha C40 II (saving big for an upgrade BTW) with Savarez 510-ARP Alliance Cantiga Premium medium tension strings. Recorded with a Zoom H4n Pro about 40 cm from the guitar.
I messed up quite some takes (10 or so) in rather diverse ways. Tempo, too many repetitions and some foul notes. But decided to use them anyway as a proper challenge
I find that there's quite some noise in the recording and still have some issues getting the recording level high enough. Some transitions were also quite tricky. Enough room for improvement.
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Hi, Martin.
There goes my homework, italian renaissance piece "Se Io M´accorgo".
So easy to play, and so damn difficult to record! I did 5 takes and, at the end, used only to of them. Not that they were good enough, but the others were even worse
So far, these are my thoughts.
1- I´m learning a lot, given the limited amount of time I have.
2- Recording is TOUGH. In my case, I hear uneven rhythm, noisy nails, irregular pulsation on both hands, and the list goes on and on...That said, I prefer to look to myself in the mirror as objectively as I can. After all, the recording doesn´t lie. So, many things to work on.
3- Editing is quite difficult for me at this stage. Even a simple task seems to last forever, and my computer sometimes decides to erase some items by itself. I suppose it´ll become easier, so I´m not concerned.
Now I have 2 questions (and forgive me if they have already been asked):
1- Will you explain how to record more than one guitar track (for duos, trios...)?
2- Any comments on recording with acoustic guitar (metal strings and plectrum)?
Finally: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
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Hello all,
Here is my edited version of Klangbild 1 by Carlo Domeniconi. I did 5 takes in all. The final edited version has about 5 edits. I edited a few places where my attack on the note was off or where I didn't hold the note quite long enough. Though the final edit isn't perfect, I'm pleased with the result.
My setup is as follows:
Unfortunately I have only one good mic, a Blue Bluebird large diaphragm cardiod mic, so my recording is necessarily in mono. I placed the mic about 30 cm from the 12th fret, but rotated it about 30 degrees toward the soundhole. My guitar is an Alhambra Linea Professional with cedar top. The strings are Savarez 540J Alliance High Tension strings.
Let me know how you think it sounds. The recording is only a little over a minute long.
Thanks,
Rick A.
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Hello, Mr. Zimny!
I was wondering, could you please recommend some studio headphones in the following price range: 100-150 euro?
I asked other people too and they recommended me the following products: Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 80 Ohm and Sennheiser HD-300 Pro. What do you think about them?
I am searching for something very comfortable and with a high quality (I am talking about the quality of the sound). Can you please tell me what specifications I should be looking for?
Thank you,
Andrei Pițu
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Hi Martin, here is my assignment with my marked score. Recorded with a Zoom H6, positioned about 20cm in front of the lower part of the bridge, pointing between the bridge and the sound hole. This seemed to be where I could get the best sound in the past, but now I'm not so sure. I realise the sound is a bit low in volume- insufficient gain in Reaper, I think. I also realised after recording that I had both the Zoom and Reaper set to 44.1 kHz instead of 48 kHz. Is this important, and if so, why? I'm very grateful for any advice you can offer,
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Hello Martin,
Here is my late first recording. I still don't have the proper boom for my microphones - it should be arriving Wednesday! So I had to settle for this. It's an AB configuration and they are spaced 57 cm from each other. That's the closest this boom will go. One mic is facing the bridge and the other is at around the 12th fret about 30cm distance from the guitar. It sounds a bit nasal and boxy to me. I did move the mics around a bit but this was the best sound I could get. I will re-record everything when I get the new boom stand. It will be fun to compare the sound when I re-record in OTR configuration.
I chose this simple piece because I'm just going for sound at this point and Romanza has arpeggios, a few rest strokes, and shifts. I wanted to listen for squeaks, attack, nail noise, etc and this piece provides all those things to try to dial in a good sound. I will record the entire piece when I get the new boom and am satisfied with the overall sound.
There is no edit so I guess I flunk that part of the course. Haha. I am sure there will be many opportunities for editing when I re-record it.
Equipment:
Jim Redgate Cedar Top from 1997
Old strings because I am lazy - lol
Microphones: pair of Rode NT-5's
Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen
Room: 3.8 m x 3 meters. It has a couch and chair, bookcase, several guitars on stands and a desk. There is no acoustic treatment. I am sitting center of the room about one meter from the wall where I have my computer on a desk.
Thanks and ciao for now!
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Hello Martin.
I am very sorry to send the material with so little time. It has been impossible for me to do it before. Thanks a lot!
I send you 4 audio tracks. Some are stereo and some are mono.
The mics are Neumann KM 184 (I have used it for mono and stereo) and Scarlett Studio. I imagine that one is much better than the other but I was fine with testing.
Tracks 1 and 3 are recorded in stereo. I have switched channels between them.
Tracks 2 and 4 are recorded in Mono with the Neumann microphone in a different distance.
I would like to ask if we think about recording for social networks is it useful to record in stereo, that is, if it will affect the quality of the audio since you will mainly listen to it on a mobile phone.
Thank you very much for the course, it is being fantastic !!!