What are the steps for a good recording?

[waynesan76]

Hello all! First thanks to the creator and community for FINALLY putting together a dedicated Micro BR site. (also props to intermorphic) I need some guidance on the proper steps for making a decent sounding recording using the micro BR. First I'll explain my current process, then I welcome anyone to shoot some holes in my plan and make recommendations for improving my finalized sound. Maybe this could even have its own section on the site to help others like me!

Before I begin, here is my current setup:
Fender Strat (or Jazz Bass) > Pedalboard (Noise Gate, Comp, OD, Dist, EQ, Dly, Rvb) > Micro BR > Creative 5200 PC Speakers (for monitoring sound)

Lets get started.
Step 1: Create and record drum track on TR1V1. (Alesis SR-16 drum machine input to "line in" on Micro BR)

Step 2: Record rhythm guitar track on TR2V1. (I use my pedalboard for effects as I seem to get too much treble and clipping out of the BR effects)

Step 3: Record bass guitar track on TR3V1. (Fender Jazz Bass direct input, no BR or pedalboard effects)

Step 4: Record lead guitar track on TR4V1. (again using outboard stompboxes only)

Here's where I need advice. Once these four tracks are complete I'm forced to "bounce" down all tracks in stereo to TR1V2 and TR2V2 in order to free up more tracks for vocals or keyboard. Anyhow, here's what I do:

Step 5: Set each track volume appropriately. Bounce TR1V1, TR2V1, TR3V1 and TR4V1 down to TR1V2 and TR2V2.

Step 6: Record vocal track on TR3V2. (Sony ECM-MS907 into "EXT" jack)

Step 7: Bounce vocal track into the originally bounced TR1V2 and TR2V2.

Now I'm left with a complete song on TR1V2 and TR2V2. Here's how I get it onto my PC:

Step 8: Export to PC using the "Micro BR Wave Converter" program and convert to MP3 using a freeware program called "Free MP3 WMA Converter".

If this process is recommended, should I use the MTK, and if so, in between which step(s)?

Sorry for the really long post, but I need some clarification. Someone should write a book of tips and techniques on this little box! Hopefully someone out there can make some recommendations. Thanks in advance to all who've read this far.

[64Guitars]

Step 1: Create and record drum track on TR1V1. (Alesis SR-16 drum machine input to "line in" on Micro BR)

The Alesis SR-16 is stereo, isn't it? Wouldn't it sound a lot better if you recorded it to Tr1v1 and Tr2v1? If you only record it to Tr1v1, you're either getting only one channel of the drums, or you're getting both channels in mono, depending on the adapter you use to connect it to the BR's Line In. If you use the correct adapter with a stereo (tip-ring-sleeve) plug into the Line In and record to two tracks, the drums will be recorded in stereo.

Step 7: Bounce vocal track into the originally bounced TR1V2 and TR2V2. Now I'm left with a complete song on TR1V2 and TR2V2.

I'm not sure I understand. You're bouncing Tr1v2, Tr2v2, and Tr3v2 onto Tr1v2 and Tr2v2? I didn't know it was even possible to bounce to a pair of v-tracks that are currently playing back as part of the bounce (Tr1v2 and Tr2v2). But even if it is, I don't think it's a good idea because you're over-writing those v-tracks, eliminating the chance to re-do the mix if you get it wrong. It would therefore be better to bounce Tr1v2, Tr2v2, and Tr3v2 to Tr1v3 and Tr2v3 which are empty at this point. Now your final mix is on v3 of tracks 1 and 2. If you don't like it, you can always go back and re-do it because your original mix is still on v2 of tracks 1 and 2.

If this process is recommended, should I use the MTK, and if so, in between which step(s)?

The MTK is optional. Personally, I like the wide dynamic range my songs have without the added compression of the MTK, so I skip it. But some people like compression because it allows them to master at a higher level. One thing about mastering on the Micro BR is that it gives you the option to convert the finished tracks to WAV or MP3. So you wouldn't need the freeware wave converter you're currently using if you mastered on the Micro BR. The mastering process would replace your step 8.

[Pedro]

I like using the Mastering step because of the maximizer effect. I hate music that I have to turn the volume knob on my speakers way up to hear it. Even if its quiet music I like to have high volume.

Your recording steps are pretty good. I have a doubt on your Step 7 as well. When I'm bouncing I tend to keep things organized, I never use many virtual tracks. I just bounce all tracks to T12V2 and then move them to T12V1, put T1 on L50 and T2 on R50 and both volume 100. Then I overwrite the other two tracks and repeat the bouncing process. Thats all I do.

Be welcome to the community, my friend, hope to "read" you more often!

[64Guitars]

I like using the Mastering step because of the maximizer effect. I hate music that I have to turn the volume knob on my speakers way up to hear it. Even if its quiet music I like to have high volume.

Yes, but the high volume is achieved by squashing the dynamic range. Personally, I'd rather enjoy the wide dynamic range and turn up the volume on my sound system.

Everyone should read this related article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_wars

[Pedro]

I like using the Mastering step because of the maximizer effect. I hate music that I have to turn the volume knob on my speakers way up to hear it. Even if its quiet music I like to have high volume.

Yes, but the high volume is achieved by squashing the dynamic range. Personally, I'd rather enjoy the wide dynamic range and turn up the volume on my sound system.

Everyone should read this related article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_wars

What a great article, thanks 64Guitars!

[Mr. Scar]

No doubt the BR  can handle it's own in the loudness wars, it's loud...way loud.

Thanks for the article link.

[maxpayne86]

You should have a good SNR so noise must be very small in the signal compared with the level of your record. In pratice you should have a signal wich has a very small level of noise. So be carefully about change the INPUT LEVEL of BR, for exaple guitar rythms and guitar solos need different INPUT LEVEL settings to goal a good SNR.

I think anyway

the tendence to boost in massive media products is common

notice the recents Digital High Definition Tv in which the colours of a flower

may be as violence as a fire, as a consequence of boosting digital contrast

at very high levels

I have my own opinion about theese modern trends

[Scorpios]

I agree with 64guitars as far as recording the drums in stereo, to me this always makes a huge difference, just try not to go too extreme with the panning of the stereo tracks, it will sound cool on headphones, but through speakers it is most likely not going to sound as nice if you pan 50/50 left and right. I haven't used an alesis drum machine, but am familiar with some others, most of them allow you to set the pan for each individual drum sound which is a good place to start.

I think you will find everyone has their own opinions as far as MTK and other techniques go, and it's going to heavily rely on your own tastes, style of music and sound you are going for. I for example like to try to record things in category before bouncing (i.e. starting with drums, bass and other aspects of the rhythm section on the first 4 tracks before bouncing), this allows me to use some subtle setting on the MTK that will bring out what I want in a submix, then I will typically add in guitars etc. - I think the biggest factor to using the MTK is to not just find a preset and leave it at that, found one that sounds best and use it as a template to adjust into something fitting for your track. You can try exporting to wav with MTK and try a version without, compare it on as many stereo systems as you can get access to and let your ears be the judge.

Another option I would suggest you try out for guitars, is instead of running direct, try using the mic to your amp and experimenting with the mic position. In most cases, guitars recorded line in are obvious to me.

Other than that, you seem to be on the right way, basically I would suggest just recording as much as possible and keeping notes of how you are doing things for each track and don't be afraid to experiment.

If you are already using the Br to Wav converter, a very helpful route is also to open up tracks on computer mixing software (sonar, Nuendo, Protools, garageband, Audition, etc etc) so you can access all the virtual tracks at once and not have to guess so much at levels and have to bounce tracks in the final mix.

[waynesan76]

Thanks to all for the speedy replies, and shame on me for the lang awaited thanks! I have been working alot of overtime lately. I just finished my first original song which I'll post soon. Recording in stereo is definitely the best advice anyone's given me, and not only for my drum machine. I was recording acoustics and vocals through a stereo mic to mono, effectively killing half of the volume. Now I understand why my Sony ECM-MS907 was performing so poorly. Thanks a million 64guitars and everyone else!

[guitarron]

Very good article
BTW
Wikipedia is a great tool isnt it-one of the good thing on the internet besides this forum