Hi,
I want to record songs using logic pro or garageband. Any tips for someone who isn't a audio engineer and just wants decent recordings done from home studio?
thanks
tips on recording EMX?
Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever
I don't use the software you mention, but I'm currently hip-deep in recording a full CD using the EMX as my main sound source so I'll say a bit here.
The usual rules apply: The more you sweat in pre-production, the better your final recordings will sound. Start by getting your levels set on the EMX so all parts on each pattern sound nice and balanced from the git-go. Listen actively to each sound and part: Is anything distorting in a bad way? Are any parts too quiet, too loud, inaudible? etc.
Once you've done this, take all the patterns you plan to record, then do a dry run: Record a minute or so of each one and burn the whole set to a CD. Play this through every player and set of speakers you can find: Car, discman, rackmount...plus run the highest-quality audio file you can create through the headphones of your iPod or whatever. Then listen, listen, listen and compare. This will give you a good idea of how you need to adjust your EMX part levels so the finshed product will sound good through any system.
(I'm assuming here that you're getting a reasonably decent response from your recording device. But if the entire disc sounds distorted or too quiet overall, adjust the recording sensitivity level of your software.)
Make your adjustments and repeat the process, fine-tuning the EMX levels as you go. This may take a few cycles, or more than a few, so don't get frustrated. In the end, you'll be in a fairly good place when you start recording the full tracks.
If you haven't read any articles or books on production, you might try looking on this forum or Ruso's Electribe forum for the manuals Tarekith put together. They're short and a good introductory primer. (Tarekith, if you're reading this, I still owe you 5 bucks.)
BTW I've found that the loops I make for live performance need considerable adjustment if they are to sound equally good when recorded, so I have been saving completely different versions of them elsewhere in EMX memory so I can adjust their levels as needed without blowing my live show in the process.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
The usual rules apply: The more you sweat in pre-production, the better your final recordings will sound. Start by getting your levels set on the EMX so all parts on each pattern sound nice and balanced from the git-go. Listen actively to each sound and part: Is anything distorting in a bad way? Are any parts too quiet, too loud, inaudible? etc.
Once you've done this, take all the patterns you plan to record, then do a dry run: Record a minute or so of each one and burn the whole set to a CD. Play this through every player and set of speakers you can find: Car, discman, rackmount...plus run the highest-quality audio file you can create through the headphones of your iPod or whatever. Then listen, listen, listen and compare. This will give you a good idea of how you need to adjust your EMX part levels so the finshed product will sound good through any system.
(I'm assuming here that you're getting a reasonably decent response from your recording device. But if the entire disc sounds distorted or too quiet overall, adjust the recording sensitivity level of your software.)
Make your adjustments and repeat the process, fine-tuning the EMX levels as you go. This may take a few cycles, or more than a few, so don't get frustrated. In the end, you'll be in a fairly good place when you start recording the full tracks.
If you haven't read any articles or books on production, you might try looking on this forum or Ruso's Electribe forum for the manuals Tarekith put together. They're short and a good introductory primer. (Tarekith, if you're reading this, I still owe you 5 bucks.)
BTW I've found that the loops I make for live performance need considerable adjustment if they are to sound equally good when recorded, so I have been saving completely different versions of them elsewhere in EMX memory so I can adjust their levels as needed without blowing my live show in the process.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
EMX-1, KP3, MachineDrum UW+, Octatrack, FCB-1010 Pedal, Mackie PA, Taylor T5
http://dubathonic.bandcamp.com/
http://dubathonic.bandcamp.com/
Thanks for your feedback.
now.. when you record using hardware .how do you record. Do you just record it all as one track once you EQ everything? Do you dump everything in midi so that the tracks are separated or do you record audio and separate the tracks? I've been recording audio and it takes a long time.. wondering if there is a better way??
Thanks in advance
now.. when you record using hardware .how do you record. Do you just record it all as one track once you EQ everything? Do you dump everything in midi so that the tracks are separated or do you record audio and separate the tracks? I've been recording audio and it takes a long time.. wondering if there is a better way??
Thanks in advance
I record the EMX's entire output to 2-track so I don't lose the stereo effects. With my hardware recording deck (Boss BR1200) I can only record 2 tracks at a time at most, so that's the approach I pretty much have to use.
If I were using software, I *might* separate all the parts out and record them separately, but getting them balanced afterward would take up the same amount of time (I figure) as adjusting the levels in the way I described above. Others may differ in opinion.
One undeniable advantage to recording the parts separately is that you can apply different effects to each part later on if you like, but that's not something I need for this particular project.
If I were using software, I *might* separate all the parts out and record them separately, but getting them balanced afterward would take up the same amount of time (I figure) as adjusting the levels in the way I described above. Others may differ in opinion.
One undeniable advantage to recording the parts separately is that you can apply different effects to each part later on if you like, but that's not something I need for this particular project.
EMX-1, KP3, MachineDrum UW+, Octatrack, FCB-1010 Pedal, Mackie PA, Taylor T5
http://dubathonic.bandcamp.com/
http://dubathonic.bandcamp.com/