Sound Terrible No youtube for me!

[calstang66]

I've been strumming forever and singing alone or with others in church, but have not done any recording. So, I got the camcorder out this week and recorded myself singing some mellow folk stuff with my Eastman AC812 OM guitar. Well, I guess it sounded rather natural, I got no help from the mic in the camcorder, it sounded quite terrible.

Even what looks like a home recording in a living room on youtube, often sounds professional, as if they are in a studio. But if they are recording live, they can't be putting the voice and guitar thru a mixer, can they? I guess I'm looking for some very basic recommendations on equipment I might pursue to buy. For example, a youtube clip (playing D-55 and singing) he says he is using this stuff: Mojave MA-200 tube microphone; Neumann KM 184 small diaphragm mic; SPL GoldMike pre; E-MU 1212 soundcard's converters; Sanyo Xacti FH1 camcorder. I guess I need tto go to the Guitar Center and learn what this stuff is...
:shock:

 

[dapmdave]

Re: I Sound Terrible!

I've been strumming forever and singing alone or with others in church, but have not done any recording. So, I got the camcorder out this week and recorded myself singing some mellow folk stuff with my OM guitar. Well, I guess it sounded rather natural, I got no help from the mic in the camcorder, it sounded quite terrible.

Even what looks like a home recording in a living room on youtube, it often sounds professional, as if they are in a studio. But if they are recording live, they can't be putting the voice and guitar thru a mixer, can they? I guess I'm looking for some very basic recommendations on equipment I might pursue to buy. Should I consider something like a Zoom Q2 recorder?
:shock:

You may sound better than you think. Hearing yourself play in a recording is something you have to get used to.

OTOH, some video recorders compress the audio quite a bit, and that could also be making things sound bad.

I've never tried a Zoom Q2, but maybe somebody else will chime in with some info.

 

[killdeer43]

Re: I Sound Terrible!

In your opinion, do you sound better than when you first started playing?
Are you just being tough on yourself? :?

Curious Joe

 

[calstang66]

Re: I Sound Terrible! Recording for youtube...

I guess I'm trying to say that it sounds live unplugged and for example, bluesypicky on youtube, a LTG member, is obvioulsy plugged into something that enhances-improves the sound, providing reverb it seems, maybe he is just sending the guitar thru an amp then to a recorder of some type, but then coordinating the timing would be a challenge, so it seems the video must be syncronized with the guitar somehow. I guess I'll go to Guitar Center and their sales staff can probably educate me and sell stuff to me. Anyway, no youtube for me at present.

 

[Brad Little]

Don't know about the Zoom Q2, but I have the Q3. It does a very good job recording the sound-it has digital sound but you need the Q3HD if you want digital video. I've found that the Q3 video is more than adequate for viewing on a computer screen or small TV, can't say how it would look shown on a big screen.
Brad

 

[chazmo]

Cal,

If we all compared ourselves to bluesy, we wouldn't be posting too many clips.

Sorry, I can't help you with recording gear; it's been a plan for me for years to set up a recording studio in my house, but until the kids stop spending my money it just isn't going to happen.

 

[killdeer43]

Cal,
If we all compared ourselves to bluesy, we wouldn't be posting too many clips.

Let's all agree to NOT do that!
Another slice of humble pie, dear? :lol:

Joe

 

[jazzmang]

Even what looks like a home recording in a living room on youtube, often sounds professional, as if they are in a studio. But if they are recording live, they can't be putting the voice and guitar thru a mixer, can they? I guess I'm looking for some very basic recommendations on equipment I might pursue to buy. For example, a youtube clip (playing D-55 and singing) he says he is using this stuff: Mojave MA-200 tube microphone; Neumann KM 184 small diaphragm mic; SPL GoldMike pre; E-MU 1212 soundcard's converters; Sanyo Xacti FH1 camcorder. I guess I need tto go to the Guitar Center and learn what this stuff is...
:shock:

He's got several thousands of dollars worth of gear there. The things that will most dramatically improve recording quality: microphones and recording interface with quality pre-amps.

 

[dapmdave]

Having worked with bluesy a bit, I know that he has some nice gear and knows how to work it. He can come in himself and comment, but I will say that bluesypicky is one of those players who can make a rusty wire and a cardboard box sound good.

If you have the time and funds, some recording software allows you to bring in video and match it up with your audio. But a decent mic and a way to get it cleanly into your camera would probably help.

Dave

 

[calstang66]

Having worked with bluesy a bit, I know that he has some nice gear and knows how to work it. He can come in himself and comment, but I will say that bluesypicky is one of those players who can make a rusty wire and a cardboard box sound good.

If you have the time and funds, some recording software allows you to bring in video and match it up with your audio 22. But a decent mic and a way to get it cleanly into your camera would probably help.

Dave

Thanks Dave and others. I've got a descent mic, AKG Perception 220, I'm trying to get it to work with my camcorder presently. We'll see if this can shift me 0.00125% toward the sounds of bluesypicky... I'm also researching a Zoom Q3HD, lots of reviews on amazon.com claiming excellent audio and so-so video.

 

[bluesypicky]

Thanks all for the flattering comments...

Hi calstang66,

I'm old school. I like the good old multi track recorder format, especially since the "all digital" era made it MUCH easier to get a pro sounding end result. I won't argue with the fact that using recording softwares will allow you a more in depth approach of the mixing, as you are able to tell when you hear Dave's work, (dapmdave) but they are demanding a bit more involvement than I care to get into, being:

A- Mentally challenged.
B- Always in a hurry to get it done (see "A"). :lol:

I've alluded to my set up before, but will be glad to give you the break down again, of what I use for the typical acoustic guitar take, (illustrated by pic below):

I am using a Rhode NT2000 mic, which actually is the single most expensive piece of equipment I own in all of my recording gear (bought $400 slightly used from a recording studio that had maybe made a couple of takes with it). It is an awesome mic, but the difference in the end result, compared to what I had with a $90 marshall mic is not night and day, and the decision to spend an extra $300 or more in a mic (as well as in any other piece of gear) is entirely depending on your expectation, and at how much you value reaching it.

The mic is powered and pre-amped by a bluetube dual channels mic pre-amp, very inexpensive but with the reputation (even amongst some recording studios still using it) to be the best bang for your buck in the mic pre-amp world. It is the little component with the two needle meters under the green pedal.

Then I sometimes do sometimes don't use the Equalizer, mainly to dig and ditch some of the unfriendly (to my ears) upper mids, and maybe boost either end as needed. (Around $100 brand new ordered online)

The last component I will be using before hitting the recorder, is a DBX limiter/compressor (another $100 here). This will not change the sound at all, but will prevent the volume peaks and even out each note attack, particularly friendly when finger picking.
Again, using a compressor or not will not reflect in a night and day difference, but each of these subtle improvements, are what will get you closer to the sought after "pro sounding" end result. (And I'm not implying that I'm anywhere close to it)

Last but not least, the signal will land in my Fostex MR8HD (that a couple of other LTG'ers I know of, also own). I love my MR8. Best $300 I spent. Relatively easy to use (I say relatively because compared to a magnetic tape recorder.... yes, I'm THAT old) :lol: and it comes with a decent reverb (although I'm not crazy about 3 of the 4 reverb settings offered).
Also love the fact that it has a CD writer/reader, as it gives much more possibilities, like working on a backing track, as I did in my long distance collaboration projects with Dave. :wink:

The left and right outputs of the Fostex are going into the aux mic input of my pocket cam Kodak Zi8, used to capture the video, et voila!

 

[Willy]

Bluesy you're my hero I'm still recording with my Sony H20 still camera in movie mode but as I can the equipment will improve, I'm pretty encouraged by the feedback you gave me a few months ago.

I tried using a borrowed Tascam DP-02 this weekend with a couple of SM58's but really didn't have enough signal with those mic's direct into the Tascam. I may try again processing the signal first then to the Tascam but it's all getting too complicated for the impromptu settings I like.

 

[calstang66]

Bluesypicky:

thanks for the descriptions and education. I hope other LTG folks may again benefit from it also.

Off of work today, so I researched and finally after your input, it appears the Zoom Q3HD is out. I have a descent condenser mic (AKG Perception 220) and Zoom's version of your Fostex MR8HD, the Zoom HD8 w/CD maker, though it's been a challenge to operate so far. The phantom power on the HD8 seems not to work, or my mic is dead or maybe I just need an exterior preamp???? The HD8 has reverb and a so-so EQ. So I think I'll invest in a pre amp and go from there. 8)

You deserve royalties from Guild, Gibson and Fender and also from the International Association of Guitar Instructors... for all of the folks who walk into guitar shops dreaming: " I decided I want to play the guitar and I want you to teach me to play like the guy on these youtube videos." :shock:

 

[Steelpickin']

calstang66 ,
I know how you feel. I record all of my youtube clips on an El-cheapo video cam.
No nothing else at all. Wish I was smart enough to use some of the great tools out there...
its hard to get used to seeing and hearing yourself recorded. I put up a lot of videos and take them
down shortly afterwards more times than I can count I would love to see / hear some of your vids
...and I'll go along with the others who said " if we all compared ourselves to Bluesy, we wouldn't be posting much" ! that guy blows my mind

 

[bluesypicky]

Thanks Steel, but if I recall some of your clips, my picking's got nothing on yours.... :wink: (can't wait to see / hear your build finished btw :mrgreen: )

Willy: Trial and error is the way to go! You already have a killer vid, you'll find your sound.

Most welcome stang, and keep us updated on your progress!