Punk Rock Recording

[HeadCrusher]

Ok, so I play in that little Rock, Grunge, Punk, whatever band called "Strange Days"...

This weekend I recorded one of our songs, please check it out and let me know what you think!

http://www.myspace.com/strangedaysrock
("Message" is the one, please don't mind the other ones...)

Keep in mind that this was my first ever try on recording/mixing a whole song trying to sound good!

Besides that it would be nice if you could vote for us on

http://www.friendsjagd.at/a1musicmasters/nickpage?ownerid=1681 (Even though the page is in German the "Vote"-Button should be easy to find! )

 

[HeadCrusher]

Nobody interested?

 

[bob.]

Invalid Friend ID.
This user has either cancelled their membership, or their account has been deleted.

maybe that's why...

 

[HeadCrusher]

Yeah, just heard about it...
MySpace sucks major ass, got no idea why our account is n/a...

Well here's another link that works: http://webs.schule.at/cn/strangedays/StrangeDays-Message.mp3

What are your opinions?

 

[Glenn Fricker]

Get a real drummer. That's my first suggestion. This song just screams "programmed!"


Perhaps a better vocal mic as well... the vocalist sounds like he's singing in a plastic tube. Maybe you used too much EQ on the vocal mic?

Guitars sound thin & hashy. Work on your guitar miking technique. There's LOADS of info on this board about miking guitars, amp & cab choices, you name it.

One last thing: where's the bass? It's in there somewhere. Let's hear it.


Musically, it's not a bad song at all. But, the production isn't supporting the performance.


BTW, I'm not trying to be mean, just honest. We've all gotta start somewhere, and for a first shot, it's not bad. But, it's a long way from where it should be. Also, I'm not just talking out of my ass here. Here's a punk song I finished up the other day:

Far From Right - Glad You're Gone

Best of luck in the future.
-0z-

 

[HeadCrusher]

Hey Oz!

Thanks for the massive feedback! That's why I put the song on - I know that it's far from perfect, but hey - I never said I'd be a pro like most of you are!

Well, were do I start...

Ok, of course it's programmed! It's hard to record a whole drumset if you only good one mic! The one mic we have was used for both guitars and the vocals - and yes the thing is broken!

Can't remember 100% but I don't think that I used a lot of EQ on the voice.... I don't know maybe the singer just had a bad day but we had to get this recorded because we wanted to submit it do a competition (for newbie bands of course! ).

Funny that you don't like the guitar sound! I thought it sounded just as my amp (which is a great 1x12 tube combo imo) and the way it should! Also the comment about the bass was interesting as I thought that the bass volume was just right (at least I can hear the bass but that might also be because I know what it is playing at any moment...).

Well as I said at the beginning: I'm still learning and I know I've got long way to go! And btw: I had to mix this whole thing on my stereo as I don't have real monitors - you know I'm just broke...

Your song sounds great Oz (of course) even though I can't stand the singers voice (but that's not your fault!).

So once again: Thx for the feedback!

 

[chadsxe]

I think I am going to agree with just about everything OZ has mentioned.

 

[xmarcelx]

From a listener:
Yeah guitars are hin and it sounds processed but not in good way! Like used too much EQ

 

[Glenn Fricker]

Hey Oz!


Your song sounds great Oz (of course) even though I can't stand the singers voice (but that's not your fault!).

Don't worry. I wasn't a big fan of his vocal style either. Here's a little word to the wise: Make sure when you're recording punk rock guys that they've taken their tongue piercings out. It came to light AFTER we tracked the vocals that this guy had a great big hunk of metal in his tongue.... ...I'm thinking that it might have been a contributing factor to his nasally sound. Then again, I can't stand Neil Young's voice & he's sold millions, so what do I know?
Lesson learned: ask first, record second.


As for gear...
here's what I suggest: Get an sm57 for your guitar & a cheap Samson condensor for vocals. Both should cost about $100 each. For monitors, maybe something self-powered that doesn't cost too much.

When you look into recording live drums, and if you're REALLY broke, you can look at the multi mic kit from Samson as well. These are certainly not top of the heap mics, but it's something to get you started. Plus you can use the LDC overhead mics for vocals as well, removing the cost from the list above.
Here's the link: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/8DrumMicKit/
That's a lot of mics for $300. Unheard of a couple of years ago.


-0z-

 

[Suicide_As_Alibi]

Don't worry. I wasn't a big fan of his vocal style either. Here's a little word to the wise: Make sure when you're recording punk rock guys that they've taken their tongue piercings out. It came to light AFTER we tracked the vocals that this guy had a great big hunk of metal in his tongue.... ...I'm thinking that it might have been a contributing factor to his nasally sound.

^This^ - I was in a band with a girl that had three piercings in her lip and one through each cheek as well as two through her tongue, and you could tell on playback that they were affecting the way she sang - I don't know about nasality, but her vowel sounds were all a bit odd and stunted, so her enunciation was off too. Though the worst thing was hearing the tongue bars clicking together . Fortunately I'd already quit the band by then, so I just mocked from a safe distance

Steve

 

[HeadCrusher]

Hey Oz, I thougth about getting an SM57 already. What about a SM58 for the vocals? Unfortunetaly mic stands cost money also...
Apart from that the Mic Pre on my DigiTech RPx400 that I used to record this (damn I'm so broke - have to win the lottery today...) is noisy as hell.
On monitors I was looking into the Yamaha NS80M or the Esi nEar 05 (maybe 06).

 

[chadsxe]

Hey Oz, I thougth about getting an SM57 already. What about a SM58 for the vocals? Unfortunetaly mic stands cost money also...
Apart from that the Mic Pre on my DigiTech RPx400 that I used to record this (damn I'm so broke - have to win the lottery today...) is noisy as hell.
On monitors I was looking into the Yamaha NS80M or the Esi nEar 05 (maybe 06).

The SM58 an 58 are essenitally the same thing. The 58 has the wind screen which alters the freq curve a little.

 

[chadsxe]

OZ...

Great job but I was thrown off by the bass drum. Very clicky for punk rock music. Seems much better suited for metal. Anyone else ever mention this? or am I just crazy?

 

[Glenn Fricker]

You're just crazy. The band loved it. I wanted to add a little 'metal' to thier 'pop.' Besides, i've never been able to get a kick to jump out like that on something so loud. I'll be taking the same approach to the kick on my next project, a 'classic metal' band.

-0z-

 

[chadsxe]

You're just crazy. The band loved it. I wanted to add a little 'metal' to thier 'pop.' Besides, i've never been able to get a kick to jump out like that on something so loud. I'll be taking the same approach to the kick on my next project, a 'classic metal' band.

-0z-

Nothing wrong with it. More so took me by suprise. Like I said the "punk" I listen to never had a "metal" type kick in it.

 

[Gizmogloben]

Great job but I was thrown off by the bass drum. Very clicky for punk rock music. Seems much better suited for metal. Anyone else ever mention this? or am I just crazy?

My first thought when listening was, hey there is something wrong with that kick. It's way too clicky. Somehow it doesn't fit the music style. I guess I've listened to too much Bad Religion. Then again if the band digs it...

 

[chadsxe]

My first thought when listening was, hey there is something wrong with that kick. It's way too clicky. Somehow it doesn't fit the music style. I guess I've listened to too much Bad Religion. Then again if the band digs it...

Thats what my thoughts were to. Not that its wrong just diffrent. I have been listening a lot of Rise Against and Break the Silence lately and am so use to more of a thud then click.

 

[Glenn Fricker]

Perhaps I should explain better: In a couple of the other songs on thier project, the drummer had a LOT of double bass work. Hence the click kick. This song doesn't have nearly as much, but in the interest of continuity across the project, I kept it for this song.