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Hello there all!
I have created a small Home Studio for myself so I can record my musical project - Iron Dragon (Instrumental Heavy Metal):
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to hear the audio samples:
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Ok, this is my Question:
Currently for my Recording setup, I am using this following:

ZOOM HD16CD - Digital Multi-Track Recorder / Control Surface
Shure SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
Apex 435 Microphone
x2 - Apex 180 Pencil Condenser Microphone
VOX AD30 VT AMP
VOX Wah-Wah Pedal

For mixing/editing I am currently using Audacity and just purchased CUBASE Nuendo 3

I was thinking of getting some sort of Compressor/Limiter, but not 100% of what or if it is actually Necessary.
Something like this:
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WHAT do you guys think is a good next step for Improving Sound?

Comments

anonymous Tue, 01/26/2010 - 11:15

Hey there, relatively newb here. I did have a home recording studio back in the day, nothing fancy, but it got some decent sound for what it is. The drums sound really muddy. They don't pop, bang or crash... they just sort of add a little muddy thud. I know that it's a synth track, but they sound over-compressed to my untrained ear... they never really smash you in the face like a good live drum should. Maybe less compression would help? Then again, I don't know how bad that drum track sounds... I know little about midi/synth recording, so there may be some limitation there depending on the quality of your source. But my thinking for your type of music is that a drum should smash me in the face, cymbals should stand out, etc. Instead, it all sounds like basketballs being dropped into the mud during a loud guitar solo.

That's not meant to be a criticism... well... criticism, yes. But not a knock against you. I'm just trying to explain what I hear. So I guess my vote would be either for more time invested on the drum track, less compression, or a better source for your drum tracks. Hope that helps.

Guitarfreak Tue, 01/26/2010 - 22:15

You don't need anything else, you need to learn to use properly what you have so far before adding things into the mix. Double track your guitars and pan them wide to open up space for the rest of the mix to come through, not just on the harmony parts. The guitar tone is really gainy and buzzy, you should be able to clean that up with mic positioning or mic technique. It also sounds like your amp speaker is quite small, which would account for the fizziness. It sounds like you recorded the parts separately and just copy/pasted them after eachother? There is really no synergy to the music, I can't find a common feeling or motive throughout. It's a start, but take it from me, you need to learn your gear a little better, and learning to mix wouldn't hurt either.

anonymous Wed, 01/27/2010 - 14:05

You should definately take some time to learn how to use a DAW. I think that your music will have great potential with some mixing. The distortion sounds bad, I would maybe try get a guitar interface for your computer and just record your guitar off that, or find a better way to mic your amp. It sounds very cloudy and crowded. Your drums sound fake and too compressed, maybe use less compression, or get the Ezdrummer vst for cubase.

I would also work on your cut-offs and switches in the song, they stop abruptly and leave you hanging. It is definately a start. It takes experimentation to get your perfect sound.

When you mic your amp, make sure it is not directly in the middle of the speaker, put it about halfway on the speaker.

Mixing your parts together would help greatly, the parts should flow with each other more.

But overall sounds good.