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trock 20 August 2004

Hello

I am running Cubase SX 2 on a MAC G5. I purchased a UAD-1 Studio PAK and have it loaded.

I am also pretty new to recording so if you need more info that I haven't presented please let me know

My questions is this

For vocals (female, acoustic based music in the vein of Dave Mathews etc)

what, if any, Insert effects would you apply to the vocal as it is recorded?

She is a very good singer but does not have Mic placement training, and she has a very strong voice from low's to high's.

Should i drop a compressor into this with a touch of reverb? Or have her come in dry and just add after?

Also i run a taylor acoustic into my M-AUDIO 410 then into cubase. again what, if any, insert effects would you use? either from the UAD-1 or from the stock Cubase effects

thanks for the help, settings and opinons

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Comments

Massive Mastering Fri, 08/20/2004 - 11:36

You *might* want to put in just a touch of limiting to keep the peaks at bay. That way, you can go back and compress "traditionally" during mixdown. NO VERB.

For the most part, I'd recommend against even the limiting unless it was hardware-based. If you're clipping your levels, by the time it gets to the DAW, it's going to be clipped already.

trock Fri, 08/20/2004 - 12:05

Thanks massive

That's what i was leaning towards with her, she is very good dry and thats what i figured

Can i ask if you ever use insert effects into the audio "while" recording? or always dry and effect after?

the reason i ask is i program alot of my drums on the triton and used to effect them on the triton and then send them to the 2480 i have.

Would you send even these home made drums off the triton dry and effect them later in the mix?

thanks much

KurtFoster Sat, 08/21/2004 - 10:18

I track dry (no verb or effects) but I do like to use compression on the way to the recorder. More than a hangover from my analog days when compressing to tape was necessary, I do it that way because I like the sound I get compressing just a little while tracking and then again at mix if needed. To my ear it introduces less compression artifacts that way.

This whole trend towards making all the decisions at mix is problematic IMO. By not making these choices during tracking you present yourself with an overwhelming amount of work to perform at mix. No wonder some people take more time to mix one song than was used to make many complete records in the 60's and 70's.

I advocate learning how to envision the mix while you track or perhaps even before you hit the record button. It's called producing. This involves having a game plan and learning a set of skills ... instead of just recording crap until you get something that sounds good by accident.

trock Sat, 08/21/2004 - 20:34

Thanks everyone

I am tearing apart cubase right now, along with the stock effects and my UAD-1 studio pak

I am going to try all these suggestion on different vocals and instruments and fiddle to I get somewhat close

I do think mainly i will try dry to just a little compression and see where that gets me for now

then do most in the mix

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