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Jim-Bass

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I record using a desktop set up these days, but back in the mid 80's I first entered a real recording studio - and of all studios, it was EMI's HQ here in Sydney. After that, I recorded in several other studios - great memories. I wanna hear what you guys have done ...and what you got up to ;)

 

For me, some Good points:

- great equipment and toys to play with. Every instrument you could want could be brought in if it wasn't there.

- Sitting on the couch in the control room, telling the guitarist to 'do it again, this time right!'

- the perks: some had great chill out rooms with pinball machines, or a Spa and coffee on tap.

- when the producer's friend rocks up and drops off this white powder. That producer racked 'em up and said 'feel free ...you might play better' :eek:

 

The Bad points:

- when the band is happy with the final mix and the producer says 'it really could use a piano track- yes, I'll play it' :facepalm:

- recording the one bass line over and over and over 'cause the others think the timing wasn't spot on. Thank God for digital !!

- spending all night in the studio to get cheaper rates, and then having to go to work the next day :bor:

- thinking you all played great, mixed it well, then hearing it days later. Thanks for the powder producer! :facepalm:

- when the Bass wasn't given it's righteous presence in the mix!! :mad:

- getting tired of it all ....do I have to be there when not needed

 

Gees, looks like more bad points than good. As I said, Digital Desktop Recording Rocks! I don't have to pay but I can charge others who want o use it.

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These days it's all at home on my PC via a Line6 TonePortGX into Reaper.

 

Rarely do I get up to see the guys, but we do get together at times.

 

st1.jpg

 

st2.jpg

 

Basically patch board for drum kit. Alesis io26 firewire into the PC running Reaper. We can record all separate tracks and just muck with it after the fact.

 

It's fun to play. But it's still a garage. We put up some sound deadening and it sounds much better.

 

 

Oh yeah, this is always fun, too:

 

st3.jpg

 

Note the way-too-expensive vocal mic way above doing nothing but picking up the rides/crashes.:facepalm:

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We've recorded our last two discs here and will do so on our next disc as well: www.visionsounds.com

 

the good:

 

-I played a Wal for the first time in this studio. It was sitting all by it's lonesome in one of the studio rooms, so I picked it up and almost ran out the door with it. :D;) No, but I did play it for a bit. Seriously nice bass.

 

-Engineer looks like he's perpetually 15 years old, but really, really knows his {censored}. I think he's around 24, but he looks like a high-school kid. The first time I saw him I thought "there's no way this kid is gonna be able to nail the sound we want", but he surprised us and then some. Great guy, too.

 

-comfortable surroundings including a break room complete with a Sony Playstation. :D

 

 

the bad:

 

-last disc our drummer recorded the drum tracks WAY too fast because he was trying to "get in there and knock it out". Needless to say, he ended up shooting us in the foot, as he had to re-record the drum tracks. :mad::facepalm:

 

-Arguing over everything from last minute song changes to packaging, cover art, etc. :rolleyes:

 

-Paying more cash when you go over the hours you've already paid for. Makes me wanna get and learn pro tools so we don't have to deal with it anymore.

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These days it's all at home on my PC via a Line6 TonePortGX into Reaper.


Rarely do I get up to see the guys, but we do get together at times.


It's fun to play. But it's still a garage. We put up some sound deadening and it sounds much better.



Oh yeah, this is always fun, too:



Note the way-too-expensive vocal mic way above doing nothing but picking up the rides/crashes.
:facepalm:

 

So you are literally 'GarageBand'!

 

Yeah, I have 2 mics - got 'em cheap from local pawn shop. One is a Philips, the other an RSQ (both dynamic models). I don't know much about mics, but they do what they're supposed to do (ie., record), so I don't care if they're low or high end.

 

I use Logic Express with an M-Audio Interface ...in fact I'm recording right now. Just taking breaks to check the forum.

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What's the Toneport GX like? I need a new audio interface.

 

 

I love it. 1/4 in, USB /Line out. I run the USB to the computer, the line to my bass combo.

 

Works with guitar/bass/vocals.

 

http://line6.com/toneportgx/

 

Tons of guitar/bass/vocal amps, cabinets, effects, mic'd cabs, etc. You can't spend a better $69 on computer recording period.

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i was playing a session with a guy i knew,i was recommended by the drummer,i got the EASIEST chord chart possibly ever,a song with maybe 5-6 chords with minimal changes...........and i proceeded to have the biggest brainfart as soon as the red light came on,couldnt play a note!!got it down in the end,the drums as bass ended up being the best part!!!i played a steinberger L2 at a session as well and swore never to play one ever again,its just a bastardised shoebox with strings:facepalm:!!!

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I've been lucky enough to record in a few good ones , Castle Oaks here has been the better of the bunch , but I much prefer my home studio as I have all day and night to fart around and the end result is pretty good so +1 for home studios !
:rawk:

 

What interface do you use at home? :confused::)

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Looks expensive!
:eek:

What do you use for your guitar amp sounds, miced amp or modelling?

 

yeah that's up there but excellent . I use both , I have that Palmer DI , and a ton of other stuff and a UAD-1 and Cubase's VST are damn good , a bunch of free crap , there's no limit .

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Oftentimes I have recorded in the basement. I took some classes in college and have some basic digital stuff. garageband, a couple of samson C03 condensers and have rented a rhodes mic at times. Nightmares.

 

This time I've gone to Audities recording studio. It has been smooth sailing. I go in, I do my stuff, I leave and they take of the rest. Ahhhhh. No more fighting over what my equipment can and cannot do, no more taking crap from whatever player because their stuff isn't up high enough in the mix, no more mixing nightmares where you're mixing and mixing and mixing in order to get rid of something and then as soon as you EQ that one thing, you immediately have to fix at least 2 other things.... blahhhhh, just let me play and save the recording work for someone else thanks. :thu:

The studio also has a great vibe, nice, talented people working there and a ton of stuff to use. I highly recommend them.

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