Getting "energy" in recordings.

[Element77]

I don't know if that's the correct way to put it but, what are some tips for getting power into your recordings. More specifically with Superior, and programmed recordings.. i.e, I can have a monster riff, heavy as fuck, powerful drums. It sounds amazing in my head, I record it flawlessly, listen back.. it's "eh..."

It's played well, it's tempo isn't lagging, all the pieces are there, but it seems that when it comes together, it lacks the energy I'm looking for. It seems "programmed", not like cohesive band playing together (which I know it's not, but what I aim for.)

What are some things you use to achieve? Some sort of overall compression? Volume and Velocity automation? I'm stumped....

 

[SkybluestudiosBEN]

Compression will help. You have to make sure you set the attack and release appropriate until it sounds more lively.

 

[Skinny Viking]

drums go a LONG way in bringing the energy you're speaking about ... if it sounds too programmed as you say that will make it sterile and lifeless. You should try humanizing the drums so they are not über perfect and something like parallel compression can be a big help as well

 

[Element77]

I think the way I've been recording, I have been going a little overboard with L2. I don't think I'm using it in the correct fashion. I have it on just about every channel I think needs it, using it almost as a Limiter to stop peaking, I just keep adjusting the output to my liking, and go with it. I do this for my guitars, and individual drums tracks, and my drum bus, and my master bus... I think I am doing myself a great diservice this way.

 

[greyskull]

compression, tones and tempo changes.

 

[greyskull]

I think the way I've been recording, I have been going a little overboard with L2. I don't think I'm using it in the correct fashion. I have it on just about every channel I think needs it, using it almost as a Limiter to stop peaking, I just keep adjusting the output to my liking, and go with it. I do this for my guitars, and individual drums tracks, and my drum bus, and my master bus... I think I am doing myself a great diservice this way.

yes.... yes you are.
kill that plugin. kill it til it dies from it.

 

[Star Ark]

How are you tracking the sampled drums?
I've been using a roland td3 for about 3 years now and have gotten pretty good at making the drums sound real. High hats are the worst, kicks, toms and ride cymbals are the easiest.
What really nailed my latest drum sound was spending a really long time velocity mapping my samples and combining samples. If you play it in on a keyboard the same thing would work. If you manually enter the notes on a midi grid then it's gonna be real hard not to make it sound programmed, cos that's exactly what it is, programmed.

If you don't have a midi device I recommend getting one.

Good luck mate

 

[SkybluestudiosBEN]

lol yea if you squish everything with your limiter there is no dynamics whatsoever! That is your problem!

 

[jagarock]

theres also something called groove, that might be missing from your stuff.
which might be close to impossible to fix if it lacks.. minor changes in velocities at the right places of the drums, specially hihats. maybe the bass should be 2ms in front of the guitar.. stuff like that.

i remember trying to copy periphery - icarus lives.. that ended up miserably cause i failed finding the groove. everything was just DEAD AND STATIC.
(and i challenge any of you to do the same! just the intro or whatever, fuck. its not technically hard, but the groove man, couldnt get it)

gotta feel the music first i guess..

 

[Element77]

Actually, i did the same thing with Icarus Lives, haha. Awesome groove. And i got the same effect. Trust me, I have one of the most odd timing and sense of grooves, I love groove, we bought a house together. But when it comes to drums, which I use S2.0, with a trigger finger, but i go back in and quantize things, which probably sterilizes things a bit. I do have to learn to take the time to go back in, and fix my velocities, and add a better performance feel to the drums, and break everything back down, and back up again.

 

[joeymusicguy]

dont use velocity 127 all the time

cuz if you do, you've got no where to go with energy, you're already at the top

 

[>>>GENZ<<<]

on the other hand,in this music,too much dynamics in programmed drums is useless,in the mix you'd want to compress that shit anyway...
check out my examples there's not much dynamics in them,but, honestly,even that dynamics is gonna be killed in a metal mix.

 

[LeSedna]

Yes but a hit at 127 compressed and a hit at 80 compressed more won't sound the same. If you don't use 127 all the time and make it more realistic, even if you compress it, it will keep some dynamic.

 

[colonel kurtz]

definitely heed the advice about having dynamics in the velocities, and using tempo changes to your advantage...automation can also help out a lot, along with sometimes pushing/pulling some snare and cymbal hits

 

[Element77]

I do go 127 constantly, unless it's some odd part. More so for the fact that it's easier to play "live" (with my fingers) then playing while the samples are loading (poor excuse). I do need to do more velocity work. I am having a hard time walking the fine line of having a drum sound of a nice roomy live sound, and also having a tight sound. I'm more of a fan of Gojira, then I am Fear Factory when it comes to drum sound. And as triggered as FF sounds, it still has "excitment" in the recording. I rely waaay too much on L2, considering it's what I'm used to. And I've read posts about Ozone bringing life to a mix, but on mine, it just sounds louder, and like someone just overused the EQ.

 

[GarethSE]

contrast
you cant have brutality without softer stuff.
whether it's on a larger scale (the flow and pacing of an album) or on a smaller scale (the differences in velocity between drum hits,) contrast is a must \o/

 

[AerialThesis]

Lol what a fail... someone complaining that is programmed stuff sound programmed...

 

[Element77]

Lol what a fail... someone still using the term "Fail".

Actually, if you read what I said, It's lacking energy. Considering that about 90% of the stuff that I hear from this board is "programmed" or "faked" with plugins, impulses, samples, etc., I think it's only fair to ask what are tips and tricks people use to make it sounds less programmed. So no, I'm not complaining about anything, I'm asking for help from people who I think are better then me. It can only help me get better by absorbing knowledge, which is what I hope to gain by this thread. So if you have nothing constructive to add, then don't.

What's next? Do I get "Rick Rolled"?

 

[HandsOfDespair]

Which DAW do you use? You have to get Nuendo to get the BOOM and the epic energy, if you use PT, then you're screwed.

 

[Element77]

Right now, for the fact I can get around in it quite well, plus I bought it I'm using Sonar 8.5. My buddy let me try Nuendo to test, and I just couldn't get the hang of it. And I like to feel comfortable with before I buy something. But no, no PT for me... a.) can't afford it, and b.) I've heard more "cons" then "pros" about it. (Just what I've heard, not slamming it.)