U. may have just started recording in your basement/studio but this is obviously not from an entry level novice. This was first-rate. And obviously being a drummer, the drums were bitchin', brother. Although I get the impression you're one of these guys that doesn't like his own vocal all that much? I found it to be buried too far down in the mix. It needs to rip through more. Your processing is perfect. Yeah, this doesn't sound like junky equipment to me. The bit about taking 5 weeks to create this track I thought a bit excessive? As an ADD person myself, I wouldn't have spent more than a few hours on this. But we all work differently.

By the way, I have pretty good hearing and can usually detect the use of professional equipment. Back in the day, in the 1970s, there weren't hundreds and hundreds of companies all producing equipment to be stocked at your local guitar shop. In anything that sounded professional was generally from a small pool of known manufacturers e.g. Neumann, Sennheiser, RCA, Electro-Voice, Neve, API, etc.. Nowadays a well executed use of bargain equipment coming in from China can rival the top-end gear. But this sounds like the top-end gear. Perhaps you just don't have shelves and shelves of it? And then of course, not only am I speaking about the hardware but then there are the thousands and thousands of software developers. Everybody is making an emulation of something. Emulations are cool but emulation is just another synonym for imitation. Either way your mix was cool. I just wasn't clear with what all the opening stuff and dead air was all about? I will say your drums sound is extremely tight. Just the way I like it... drum sounds that is. Let's be clear: your chops certainly are.

Give me more vocal or give me death
Mx. Remy Ann David

BTW
it's okay that you live in Ohio we forgive you.

Thank you so much! The reason this track too forever is because I have other longer projects I was working on, and this one just somehow got lost. but then the other day i found it and mastered it and put it on SoundCloud. The reason for the dead air in the beginning is that i forgot to cut it out... but after a while I like the atmosphere it created, like me and Metallica were in my basement just jamming.

I do agree with you about the VOX now that I listen to it. I just loved the guitar track and the rhythm so i guess at the time i just kinda buried the vocals.

And yes what I use isn't very close to high-end.

Focusrite 18i6
3x Behringer MIC2200
Shure SM57
2x CAD CM217
Digital Reference DRDK4
Horizon Cables
Senn. HD280
Numark NPM5
Shure IEM
Pearl VSX
Sabian XS20
a couple boxes of Wonka Gobstoppers.

Well Dan, well done Dan, it's just dandy Dan. (Sorry I had to say that) I'd say, your equipment is no less professional than necessary. In fact I find it a nice and quite proper selection of stuff. One doesn't need frivolously expensive stuff to produce quality recordings. The Chinese have changed everything. But it's not what you've got but what you do with it that counts. And this counted up to 100. A superb execution of proper recording technique and experience. Bottom line is, you don't know how to screw up.

Now you can afford that motorcycle you been looking at
Mx. Remy Ann David

WOO thanks again so much! Hopefully soon Ill get the rest of the things Im working on up soon.!

Yea.. Motorcycle.. I just got my license lol. and my mom would kill me haha

Before I forget, I got another track here.

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://soundcloud.c…"]SAD2 by DrummerDan93 on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]="http://soundcloud.c…"]SAD2 by DrummerDan93 on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]

its not as good as the first one, as it is very very very very hard to replicate the drum sound of "The Black Album" but i tried my best.

So. Make it clear that you are ONLY recording the drums over the Metallica music tracks ....or not. Theres kind of a gray area there as to what you are actually playing on this. Your first post I took to say you were able to remove the drums and play to the tracks of the original song.

Inquiring minds want to know.

The drums do sound good. As for you just getting your license, are we talking 16yrs old or a bike endorsement for someone older??

Davedog, post: 374531 wrote: So. Make it clear that you are ONLY recording the drums over the Metallica music tracks ....or not. Theres kind of a gray area there as to what you are actually playing on this. Your first post I took to say you were able to remove the drums and play to the tracks of the original song.

Inquiring minds want to know.

The drums do sound good. As for you just getting your license, are we talking 16yrs old or a bike endorsement for someone older??

im ONLY recording drums. But I got the master tracks without the drums and thats what im playing to. BUT the master tracks need work. they sound very raw and unmastered.

im 17. and just got my license to drive a car lol

This is very interesting. With Mettalica's problems they have had with people pirating their material, it seems odd that the master tracks would be available in a one off package.

But then stranger things have happened. Post a link to the place that such a thing can be had. I'm hoping there isnt some pirating going on....Its really cool concept and the big bands should do it without a problem at all. As long as someone is paying to use the tracks.......which is my point.

You're gonna be a good drummer.

Davedog, post: 374584 wrote: This is very interesting. With Mettalica's problems they have had with people pirating their material, it seems odd that the master tracks would be available in a one off package.

But then stranger things have happened. Post a link to the place that such a thing can be had. I'm hoping there isnt some pirating going on....Its really cool concept and the big bands should do it without a problem at all. As long as someone is paying to use the tracks.......which is my point.

You're gonna be a good drummer.

thanks for the kind words! What did you think of the tracks?

To be totally honest, I dont really remember where i got the tracks from.... ive had them for like 2 years now, and when i started recording, i found them on an old Portable HD, and made some covers

There seems to be a lot of these types of tracks available. From everyone.

There have been numerous master tracks, safety backups & outtakes that have made it around the block a few times. I was lucky enough to be directed to some 4 track Beatles stuff & 16 track Nirvana stuff. There are some very talented sound alike guys out there but I don't believe, what I got was impersonation's. But that's not to say that they couldn't be? There are some things us old fogies know & remember. I believe my Beatles tracks were alternate outtakes, that were saved to alternate reels that some enterprising young engineers gladly copied & put out there for all to enjoy. Of course these are not to be resold in any manner but something of a lovely keepsake. And certainly a learning tool when you carefully listen to & into, every track. Also having knowledge of equipment used can make re-creation's sound oh so very real or is that reel? I mean, I still have 1/2 inch, 4 track Scully, Scotch 206, Neumann 67/56 tubes, RCA ribbons, custom-built tube preamps/mixer with transformers each as big as your fist. And with that, you get egg roll. Band I have heard about other sites featuring full-blown digital copies of major multitrack, well known recording artists available out there. That's the best schooling anyone could possibly hope to hear or ever get their hands upon. They are all 2 notches up from the mixes & mastering engineers. In fact, it's something I believe that the, mostly failing record companies should be releasing. When we started our studio in the late 1970s, in Baltimore, we were 1 of only 4 commercial recording facilities. No one really had home studios back then, because of the prohibitive costs of professional gear. You couldn't go down to your local music store to find much of anything but lousy PA systems. Today, we have mass production which means massmarketing along with a big mass mess. And only the truly inherently talented folks can take that mass mess and turn it into something magical. Just like you are doing.

Keep listening. Keep recording. Keep learning, always.
Mx. Remy Ann David

RemyRAD, post: 374591 wrote: There have been numerous master tracks, safety backups & outtakes that have made it around the block a few times. I was lucky enough to be directed to some 4 track Beatles stuff & 16 track Nirvana stuff. There are some very talented sound alike guys out there but I don't believe, what I got was impersonation's. But that's not to say that they couldn't be? There are some things us old fogies know & remember. I believe my Beatles tracks were alternate outtakes, that were saved to alternate reels that some enterprising young engineers gladly copied & put out there for all to enjoy. Of course these are not to be resold in any manner but something of a lovely keepsake. And certainly a learning tool when you carefully listen to & into, every track. Also having knowledge of equipment used can make re-creation's sound oh so very real or is that reel? I mean, I still have 1/2 inch, 4 track Scully, Scotch 206, Neumann 67/56 tubes, RCA ribbons, custom-built tube preamps/mixer with transformers each as big as your fist. And with that, you get egg roll. Band I have heard about other sites featuring full-blown digital copies of major multitrack, well known recording artists available out there. That's the best schooling anyone could possibly hope to hear or ever get their hands upon. They are all 2 notches up from the mixes & mastering engineers. In fact, it's something I believe that the, mostly failing record companies should be releasing. When we started our studio in the late 1970s, in Baltimore, we were 1 of only 4 commercial recording facilities. No one really had home studios back then, because of the prohibitive costs of professional gear. You couldn't go down to your local music store to find much of anything but lousy PA systems. Today, we have mass production which means massmarketing along with a big mass mess. And only the truly inherently talented folks can take that mass mess and turn it into something magical. Just like you are doing.

Keep listening. Keep recording. Keep learning, always.
Mx. Remy Ann David

wow thats really cool to hear. i got another track coming soon. actually 2 more, but the the other one kinda stalled out in mastering. im having trouble with the compression.

the one im going to post soon is me with an Orchestra and single bass guitar. the name of the song is The Call of Ktulu......

Sound good, but the kick is getting lost on my mac book pro...i will have to listen in the studio on my new/used NS-10s.

i would do that. im a post a Mark II version soon, with the improvements that have been mentioned. Vocals a little higher, and clearer, and the kick i added a little more higher end smoothness and a little bump around 7k. really came out nice.

EDIT: [MEDIA=soundcloud]drummerdan93/bbsmk2 there

Hey guys i got a new track up.!
[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.youtube…"]Wherever I May Roam Drum Cover - YouTube[/]="http://www.youtube…"]Wherever I May Roam Drum Cover - YouTube[/]

im really liking this one.

So I listened to the BBSmk2 track that you posted and...

I think the mix needs work. The apparent sound of the drum kit overall is decent as a starting point. It sounds like BFD or Superior Drummer to be honest. But the balance isn't quite right with the mix and some of the effects are not dialed in quite right. For example:

The kick has a nice overall sound. But it's level is a little too much at times for it to blend with the rest of the elements. I'd be willing to bet that your monitoring is compromised somehow, either you're using headphones or nearfields that don't extend low enough or your sitting in a null or something that's hiding the bass information from you.

The toms are not tight enough in their body once everything gets playing. That's a common problem but it's especially true of your mix. You have too much resonant overhang from the tom hits that just muddies up the low frequencies and clashes with what would be a cleaner sounding kick drum (and kit sound overall). Also the attacks on the toms don't have enough weight. They ring out. I can hear the stick hit. But they don't punch low just right.

The snare again sounds great but it's pushed just a bit too far down in the mix when everything gets going IMO.

There's a cymbal (splash maybe?) that's way too loud and it's bright and it's obnoxious as it's being hit continually.

Then there's the balance of the rest of the mix. I can't be sure that I hear a bass guitar (if there is one in the mix) and the relative balance between elements needs tweaking.

It's a good effort. But it's not where it could be. I'm also not entirely convinced that you're getting your drum sound exclusively from the gear you're using. It seems a little too polished professional sounding for that gear. The last video you posted definitely was not the sound of your room. Drums and acoustic instruments in general are pretty much inextricably linked to the acoustics of the room they're tracked in. If you're in a basement, one that wasn't purpose designed or extensively tuned to sound great while tracking drums, you're not getting those sounds from your space. There's recording and then there's enhancement. I'd like to hear your RAW drums sounds, no processing, no leveling, no EQ, no effects, no reverb, just panning and all faders at unity. Then you can truly know where you need to go with the sound of your kit and space.

Don't get off on the wrong foot by trying to impress anyone. If you learn how to get the sound raw to be most of the way towards what the final product will be then you'll be a better recordist for it. Doing that is a lot harder than it might seem and while it's not mainly about the gear you use, certain sounds that we have all come to know and love do have something significant to do with the tracking gear. So there's that to consider too.

Mirrormix, post: 375225 wrote: So I listened to the BBSmk2 track that you posted and...

I think the mix needs work. The apparent sound of the drum kit overall is decent as a starting point. It sounds like BFD or Superior Drummer to be honest. But the balance isn't quite right with the mix and some of the effects are not dialed in quite right. For example:

The kick has a nice overall sound. But it's level is a little too much at times for it to blend with the rest of the elements. I'd be willing to bet that your monitoring is compromised somehow, either you're using headphones or nearfields that don't extend low enough or your sitting in a null or something that's hiding the bass information from you.

The toms are not tight enough in their body once everything gets playing. That's a common problem but it's especially true of your mix. You have too much resonant overhang from the tom hits that just muddies up the low frequencies and clashes with what would be a cleaner sounding kick drum (and kit sound overall). Also the attacks on the toms don't have enough weight. They ring out. I can hear the stick hit. But they don't punch low just right.

The snare again sounds great but it's pushed just a bit too far down in the mix when everything gets going IMO.

There's a cymbal (splash maybe?) that's way too loud and it's bright and it's obnoxious as it's being hit continually.

Then there's the balance of the rest of the mix. I can't be sure that I hear a bass guitar (if there is one in the mix) and the relative balance between elements needs tweaking.

It's a good effort. But it's not where it could be. I'm also not entirely convinced that you're getting your drum sound exclusively from the gear you're using. It seems a little too polished professional sounding for that gear. The last video you posted definitely was not the sound of your room. Drums and acoustic instruments in general are pretty much inextricably linked to the acoustics of the room they're tracked in. If you're in a basement, one that wasn't purpose designed or extensively tuned to sound great while tracking drums, you're not getting those sounds from your space. There's recording and then there's enhancement. I'd like to hear your RAW drums sounds, no processing, no leveling, no EQ, no effects, no reverb, just panning and all faders at unity. Then you can truly know where you need to go with the sound of your kit and space.

Don't get off on the wrong foot by trying to impress anyone. If you learn how to get the sound raw to be most of the way towards what the final product will be then you'll be a better recordist for it. Doing that is a lot harder than it might seem and while it's not mainly about the gear you use, certain sounds that we have all come to know and love do have something significant to do with the tracking gear. So there's that to consider too.

thank you very much for the critisim. thats what i needed. did u hear the mkI? im actually starting to like the first one better. and believe it or not, the only thing that has been replaced was the kick. bc i HATE the kick and ive tryed a few diff setups and i just didnt like it. then i found a sample that i really liked and went with it. but other than that everything is real. and the toms i totally understand. im not their biggest fan, but im working on it. Im still really learning how to do all this stuff, and no my monitors arent the best. i use Sennheiser HD280, and Numark monitors. my basement isnt treated. its very rough. but it kinda works.

but thanks for the help and tips for getting me ahead with my studio.

It sounds like you're cooking with gas now. I definitely liked your YouTube with that Middle East motif along with the power drums. Quite cool with that international flair.

Mx. Remy Ann David

thank you so much. im pretty proud of it i must say. its too bad we cant update youtube videos. I had forgotten to turn on the mids-scoop eq when i rendered it out. so the toms are actually alot more deep and meaty.

Hey its been a while and ive gotten some new monitors and places to play them and overall have updated all of my stuff.

I had just come back here, and found this old post and i had forgotten and given up on this song, now with some newtechniques, plugins and HW i think i got it.

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://soundcloud.c…"]BBSAMILLION by DrummerDan93 on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]="http://soundcloud.c…"]BBSAMILLION by DrummerDan93 on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]

I also made a version of this with the natural kick.

[MEDIA=soundcloud]drummerdan93/bbsrealkck

I think both sound good. I actually like the greater definition in the kick drum of the sample bass drum. It's more solid. I think it works better for this very contemporary piece. It's awesome.

It's taking shape
Mx. Remy Ann David

thanbk you! ive worked on a lot of mastering techniques. so if u notice anything thatn eeds improvement. let me know!

Also, I got a new Master Track that i had to record, as it is one of my fav songs ever.
I tried to actually master the song so let me know how i did!

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://soundcloud.c…"]King by DrummerDan93 on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]="http://soundcloud.c…"]King by DrummerDan93 on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]

I'm a little confused about what you are exactly asking about? You got a new " Master Track " that you HAD to record? Meaning that you retrieved this from someone else's CD? Something that had already been Mastered? What does the original sound like before you got your hands on it?

It's fairly cool sounding albeit the lead vocalist sounds like he is on the other side of the bus... depot. Buried alive in some kind of demonic heavy metal way. Low-end thump from the kick is fairly huge while lacking a certain amount of definitive crack. It's a decent sounding in a highly controlled feeling, decent entertainment valued mix. But if you're trying to remaster something that has already been mastered, why? You are going for what in that effect? Otherwise it's all-around cool and quite listenable.

Confused by brain damage
Mx. Remy Ann David

RemyRAD, post: 384369 wrote: I'm a little confused about what you are exactly asking about? You got a new " Master Track " that you HAD to record? Meaning that you retrieved this from someone else's CD? Something that had already been Mastered? What does the original sound like before you got your hands on it?

It's fairly cool sounding albeit the lead vocalist sounds like he is on the other side of the bus... depot. Buried alive in some kind of demonic heavy metal way. Low-end thump from the kick is fairly huge while lacking a certain amount of definitive crack. It's a decent sounding in a highly controlled feeling, decent entertainment valued mix. But if you're trying to remaster something that has already been mastered, why? You are going for what in that effect? Otherwise it's all-around cool and quite listenable.

Confused by brain damage
Mx. Remy Ann David

i meant "Master Stem Tracks" the drums are me.

the guitar and vox tracks are very unpolished and not very clean. so i just put it together.

You add this stems. The vocal tracks and guitar tracks were not polished and you did nothing with them? You just glommed the whole thing together and played with mastering something that was not yet complete. And you want to know if your mastering sounded good? Sure. But why didn't you mix your stems in a more appropriate manner before attempting Mastering? And we are supposed to say what about your mastering? It sounded good but the vocals and guitars sucked? What are you to glean by that? The vocal was buried way too low. Your mastering didn't help that. The guitars were just the guitars. Your mastering didn't help that. You're drums were reasonable. But I'm not sure if the mastering helped that with regards to everything else? You don't turn in a half finished term paper because you weren't ready or prepared for the basic structural content. You don't take your clothes out of the washing machine and wear them without first putting them into the dryer. I mean you could. Would you then ask people how you look in your new clothes, dripping wet? Your grade would then be fail.

You need to learn about having a fail safe. Then your mastering will improve.
Mx. Remy Ann David

What i did, was I got the stems i needed and mixed and then mastered the way I would normally with carving EQ holes and making things fit right. (i also go lucky with having a perfect drum take) and went from there.

jIm not quite sure how the vocals are supposed to be. they sounded perfect in my cans and on my monitors. and then at school they sounded fine too. Im making a remix right now with the guitars lowered a bit and im thinking i may have done something but im not exactly sure on the proper method of mixing a vocal track in a metal song, help is welcome!

UM, turn the vocal up. How can you not be sure where the vocal should be? You've never listened to any heavy metal before? No Metallica? Are you using any kind of musical reference material that is already well-established? Your education is in all of those CDs you must've not listened to. Audio engineering has more to do with listening than playing with knobs, dials, computers, software. It's all about listening. You transfer what you've heard to your fingers. Not on the right notes? Practice some more. Then practice again. Don't stop until you get it right. If you think it sounds good on all of your stuff, whip out those reference CDs and play them back to back with yours. Your observations may change after that? And if not? Then you are good to go.

Am I supposed to change the diapers or just take care of the 1 AM feeding?
Mx. Remy Ann David