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Post by littlesicily on Dec 7, 2013 16:36:52 GMT -6
I know this is common practice, and I've been doing it for a while...but I've always had a slight hesitation when doing so and never realized why until now.
Like many others, I started out with cheaper prosumer gear... built in preamps on MOTU interface, Mackie 1604 mixers, Behringer comps, Alesis fx, etc... and many of those things really don't sound great when applying extreme amounts of anything... mackie hi-end eq... try turning that all the way up like on a CAPi or API eq.... ouch!
For guys who start on great desks...Neve, API, etc, or great outboard... Pultec, UREI, etc... they start out with the no-fear approach that it's gonna sound pretty good no matter how you turn the knobs (for the most part).
Well for the past decade or more, I've have all pro gear...classics alongside some new gems. I've had to unlearn the "tread lightly" approach to engineering I was forced to walk early on by cheapo gear. Now I'm cranking knobs with reckless abandon... well, sort of...you get the point :-)
Anyone else share this experience?
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Post by noah shain on Dec 7, 2013 20:30:54 GMT -6
Yep. Like learning to record all over again but a lot of "Ah-ha!!" moments where you think "THAT'S how you get that sound!" Right?
And come mix time, same thing.
Totally know what you mean.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 7, 2013 22:40:07 GMT -6
Great gear just makes everything easier...Whether it's not having to futz with tuning on a guitar or chinese zing on a mic or attack and release on a compressor...Some things just work/sound right from the start...
I've wasted a lot of money along the way.
That being said, I'm mixing some "demos" for two guys from two hugely influential rock groups (shopping) and the stuff they did sounds freaking amazing. Recorded on a knockoff C12, 57's, Coles 4038, a Quartet and Focusrite Octopre...
Sigh
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Post by noah shain on Dec 8, 2013 11:49:59 GMT -6
Great gear just makes everything easier...Whether it's not having to futz with tuning on a guitar or chinese zing on a mic or attack and release on a compressor...Some things just work/sound right from the start... I've wasted a lot of money along the way. That being said, I'm mixing some "demos" for two guys from two hugely influential rock groups (shopping) and the stuff they did sounds freaking amazing. Recorded on a knockoff C12, 57's, Coles 4038, a Quartet and Focusrite Octopre... Sigh The money we spent trying to save money!!!! Oy!!! How about when you go back and listen to your 4 track demos or your first mixes and they're great? Back when you knew nothing and it was 100% instinct (misguided maybe) and you're thinking, "Where's THAT guy? I wanna be him again." That one kills me |
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 8, 2013 13:16:07 GMT -6
Very true...
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Post by littlesicily on Dec 10, 2013 1:36:25 GMT -6
How about when you go back and listen to your 4 track demos or your first mixes and they're great? Back when you knew nothing and it was 100% instinct (misguided maybe) and you're thinking, "Where's THAT guy? I wanna be him again." That one kills me Yeah, I've found that my early recordings were more daring... bold arrangement decisions, crazy techniques...err... guesses and attempts. I didn't know the "rules" so I just tried stuff, but the execution wasn't that strong. Now that I've learned many of "the rules" and can execute accurately, I have to remember not to lead with those things... but to still perform and record with heart and courage. |
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Post by noah shain on Dec 10, 2013 1:40:52 GMT -6
How about when you go back and listen to your 4 track demos or your first mixes and they're great? Back when you knew nothing and it was 100% instinct (misguided maybe) and you're thinking, "Where's THAT guy? I wanna be him again." That one kills me Yeah, I've found that my early recordings were more daring... bold arrangement decisions, crazy techniques...err... guesses and attempts. I didn't know the "rules" so I just tried stuff, but the execution wasn't that strong. Now that I've learned many of "the rules" and can execute accurately, I have to remember not to lead with those things... but to still perform and record with heart and courage. Hear hear...we all need to remember that. Well said. |
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Post by svart on Dec 10, 2013 7:48:11 GMT -6
Hmm. Not me. My stuff started out terrible. Like so many, i had no idea what good sound was. I didn't have good speakers or headphones ever, so i had no reference. My mixes got better with better gear.
Until.. i started "learning" the "right" way to do things. Then my mixes strayed far away from where i wanted to go. That is, until i realized that the "good" gear i thought i had was still nothing but sales and marketing hype and the "information" i was learning was nothing more than armchair engineer babble.
As for pushing inputs, i do it until the meter is red or i hear too much distortion.
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Post by henge on Dec 10, 2013 9:02:50 GMT -6
Love driving the great river me1nv hard, almost into the red, for bass. Adds a nice grit that makes the bass sit real nice.
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