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Topic: Headphone Sound While Recording |
Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2003 6:20 pm |
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| Recently I have started a couple of topics about recording and recording direct. My thoughts have been on what does the steel sound like in the headphones. I have done a couple recordings where the headphones sounded good to me and others where they sounded awful. I guess I am wondering if you players look for a good headphone sound while recording as well as a good sound through the speakers in the control room. I know that an awful sound to me affects my playing where I am fighting sound and not enjoying the playing. I am just looking for your thoughts as well as any advice on recording. |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2004 8:55 pm
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Paul, a lot depends on what's available at the studio where you're recording. Most pro engineers have learned the immense value of giving the performers a great sounding headphone mix. Some smaller studios, those built around workstations, or situations with mulltiple performers may force you to deal with less than perfect balance or tone, but I'd suggest tactfully trying to get the very best sound possible when recording. You'll definitely play better! If there are several sets of headphones available, try switching around, different types and impedances vary greatly in tone and output characteristics. It's also often more comfortable to track in the control room while monitoring over the CR speakers. That also makes it easier to communicate with the engineer, producer, artist, etc. I prefer doing it that way when I can, with the exception of a full rhythm section date where everybody is in the same room with phones, which can creative a more creative interactive atmosphere. I think it's worth trying to get the proper tone and volume, without being "too" demanding.
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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
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Matt Steindl
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 8 Jan 2004 4:56 pm
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My advice would be............LET IT BLEED!!!!! If you arent comfortable hearing yourself through cans, set yourself up where you can hear yourself through the monitors. There is a big stigma about mic bleed, but I have warmed up some sterile/bland sounding tracks, by livening em up w/ purposefull bleed.
Try it youll love it!!!!!!!!!
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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul
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Randy Beavers
From:
Lebanon,TN 37090
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Posted 8 Jan 2004 7:59 pm
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| Paul, I used a Rane headphone mixer so I could hear myself at the balance I wanted. Some call them a "More Me" box. I referred to mine as a "More Me, Less You" box. The engineer and producer usually wanted to hear the drums, bass, piano, and guitars, more than they wanted to hear steel, while tracking. I would just take their headphone mix and plug it into the Rane unit, where I already had my signal. Then I'd mix it to suit me. |
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Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 8 Jan 2004 8:36 pm
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Randy, do you have any problems with your steel being out of phase in your phones? I record direct and use a Rolls 3 channel mixer
for a more-me and if my steel is turned up in
the mix it's out of phase in my phones. The only thing I can do to fix that is to pan the
cue mix to one side and my mix to the other.
Anybody got any other fixes for this?
Tony |
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Randy Beavers
From:
Lebanon,TN 37090
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Posted 9 Jan 2004 4:41 am
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Tony,
I never had that problem. The Rane unit only has 1/4" inputs. Does yours have XLR inputs? I'm just wondering how it could be out of phase. |
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Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 9 Jan 2004 5:00 am
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Randy, the Rolls has 2 1/4" inputs per channel, each with a volume and pan control.
I've tried using the reverse phase (I think thats correct name) XLR plugs coming out of my direct boxes but, it didn't help. I know the More-Me box that Joe Mills builds have a phase switch that I think (correct me if I'm wrong) works on the XLR outputs. Thanks for any help.
Tony |
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Randy Beavers
From:
Lebanon,TN 37090
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Posted 9 Jan 2004 6:43 am
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| Tony, I seem to remember a phase switch on the Joe Mills unit. I believe Johnny Cox had one that I looked at a few years back. |
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Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 9 Jan 2004 8:04 am
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Randy, a friend of mine has a diagram for a phase switch box for pick-ups that I might try to build. If you find out any cure let me know. Thanks for your help and I enjoy your playing.
P.S. How about tabbing some of that C6 on the E9 sometime. Thanks again.
Tony |
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Randy Beavers
From:
Lebanon,TN 37090
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Posted 9 Jan 2004 1:08 pm
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Another thing I may have taken for granted is the headphones. I think anyone that does much recording should have their own headphones. As you well know, all the different models and brands sound different. If you try to adjust your tone with a different set of phones every time, your consistency of tone will not be very good.
I used a set of headphones that were too bright for awhile. The result, I would back off of the highs too much. Also, a set of phones that accent the highs will cause more fatigue to your ears. I would err on the side of having phones that were a little muddy sounding. But to me, I think it's very inportant to have the same constants every time you hook up to record.
About tabbing some E9th things? I've been thinking of doing just that. I'm not really sure how to approach it. I have ideas that were new to me, although maybe not to someone else. What I've tried to do on E9th is more of an approach to the tuning, rather than just licks.
I'm thinking of starting a thread in the tab section, and try to explain one basic principal that I use, each week. No charge, free for the taking, maybe worth exactly what you paid for it. Many people have given so "freely" of themselves to me over the years, and I think these "gifts" should be passed on in the same manner that they were given to me.[This message was edited by Randy Beavers on 09 January 2004 at 02:02 PM.] |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 10 Jan 2004 2:21 am
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I think Randy has made a very profound statement here about Headphones.
Although I don't frequent pro studios I do spend a great deal of time recording tracks at home for my projects. I do use a Bheringer Power Play PRO Headphone distibution amp which allows for indiviudual volume, bass,treble and are you ready..PHASE...I especially like the versatility of a unit like this as it can please 4 folks at once ! Now that being said, I really like what Randy stated about bringing your own phones to a session..
"Gold Jerry..Thats Gold !!"
I record almost exclusively thru phones but what I have done was write effects patches and dynamics processor settings for each of my Instruments so that when I play thru the phones the sound or "Timbre" that I hear is very close to what I hear thru the near fields. Yes...recording thru phones is generally considered a no no but it sure beats getting beat up for playing sour notes from the minions down in the kitchen !
I have also been know to have my brand X Steel sound very similar to a brand Y Steel..and many of my friends have even commented that my brand Y Steel sounds awesome..even though the truth is it's a brand X...it's all in the knobs I suppose...
t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 10 January 2004 at 02:23 AM.] |
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Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 10 Jan 2004 7:39 am
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I learned a few years back about having your own headphones. I've been using a pair of Sony MDR-V700 for 3 or 4 years and what I hear in the phones is what I hear from the playback speakers or real real close.
I'll be keeping a eye out for the tab.
Thanks Randy and Tony P.
Tony |
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