Recording Session

Ok, so this is going to be a lengthy one! (Pictures below!)

We had a recording session at my college the other day recording the band "Even More Than You", and thought I might share some of the equipment we used, signal paths etc. Links and pictures of equipment will be listed below!

Ok lets start with the drums....

Kick - Sennheiser Evo 602 (Check out my Bass Drum Recording blog from last month!)
Snare - Top and Bottom Both Shure SM57's (Bottom one Phase Inverted)
3 Toms - Each had a Shure SM57
Overheads - 2 C414's using a figure 8 pattern

Overall we got a really nice natural sounding kit, and although I havent had a chance to mix yet, I know just from the tracking that it will be a nice sound!

Using inserts on the ghost soundcraft desk we did the following:

Kick Drum - Compressed using the SSL XLogic G series compressor

Bass -DI into the desk -  Into the Joemeek One Q

Vocals - Recorded seperatley using the technique in my previous two posts.

Synth  - Run into the IVORY 5021 Dual Valve compressor using the stero link then to the MOTU

Everything was then taken from the desk, and using two MOTU 8Pre's into Logic Pro 9 using the aggregate device so everything had its own channel.

I was especially impressed with the Joemeek One Q. It gave such a warm, yet bright feel to the bass and it really does look good in your rack too!

Again with the IVORY and the SSL LOGIC, they are such nice peices of equipment and well worth a purchase if you can afford it.

Personally, this is the first time I really went all out and used outboard equipment rather than doing it in the software (apart from using cheaper stuff) and... people say it... and I just brush it off, but with the SSL and the Joemeek especially, I noticed a HUGE difference in sound quality and clarity. The sounds coming from these peices of equipment were simply amazing! And I definatley will be using them again!

Below are some pictures of the patch bay, taken because I didnt think i would ever fill it up so much! we even had to go get some extra patch cables!

    Ok, so here are the links to the rack equipment and the prices in GBP, if you want to translate it to your currency, use THIS CONVERTER

IVORY 5021 Dual Compressor

Around £570

Joemeek ONE Q

Around £600

SSL XLOGIC COMPRESSOR

Around £2,300

MOTU 8Pre

Around £400

Vocal Sample from previous post!

Here.. Just a little snippet of what was recorded today.

The vocals have been processed with compression, slight delay and a distortion. (some neat old tricks)

The rest of the track hasnt been mastered and all the levels are not final. It is simply just a "quality reference" to the vocals.

Click here for Sample!

The song is a cover of Free's "All right now" which you can buy below!

Simple vocal mic setup

Here is a basic setup to record a vocalist.

(there is no pop shield in the picture but there was one during recording)

The microphone is a Neumann U87 using a figure 8 polar pattern. Which means it picks up sound from the front and the rear of the mic, but rejects sound from the sides.

Ideally the pop shield wants to be 2-4 inches from the front of the mic and the singer again 2-4 inches from the pop shield. This isn't an absolute final figure. It is just what was found to be the best in the situation, try different spacings to suit your sound.

The space used was not a totally dead environment and we also used the vocal shield you see in the picture. The mic was placed in line with the edges of the shield and in the centre of the shield (the camera angle makes it
Look off centre)

The picture isn't greatest quality as it is from my iPhone.

Great mics for the price!

Here is an Amazon link to a rather nifty pair of condenser mics! Although, yes, they are made by Behringer, for the price, they do a great job! Overheads, acoustic guitar etc....

Worth the money for sure! Click the link and grab yourself a bargin!

(The price is for a pair!)


Found this video on youtube, not the best but it gives you an idea of ONE mic... they work great as a stereo pair (and like I said, you get two in the box!)

Drum sound?

Ok, so if your a drummer, and have been on youtube, chances are, you know who Cobus is!

Was randomly browsing youtube (again YAWN!!) and came accross his new stuff, and i am really impressed with the drum sound, I just HAD to turn it up!

Take a listen!