Ghost Train RadioMy Small Recording Studio Success
Posted on April 10, 2022
I started recording with Cubase LE two years ago using a Focusrite 2i2 and I had no idea about mixing and just used headphones. I liked Cubase so much I purchased the Pro edition. Here’s what I finally ended up with – a zero latency home studio with great monitoring and mixes:
- Cubase Pro
- SSL2+ interface
- Yamaha HS-5’s for stereo mixing
- Avantone Cube for mono mixing
- Fender Mustang 50 watt amp
- Royer R10 and Shure SM-57 on the guitar amp
- SE Electronics VR2 for vocals
That’s it – very simple. I had done shootouts on all of the sub $500 interfaces and tried all of the decent microphones in the $500 ish or less class, and these won hands down.
Mike Seniors Mixing Secrets for Small Studios was the major breakthrough. Once I carefully read his book my home studio went from schmoe to pro.
The SSL2+ is quite a bit better than the UA Volt 276 that I have. While I like the Volt 276 ergonomics better, the SSL2+ preamps are the cleanest out of all of the budget interfaces. The MOTU M2 is pretty nice too, but even though the SSL2+ has a few things I feel they could have done better, nothing came close to it’s clean sound.
SSL2 vs. UA Volt276
Posted on March 3, 2022
The SSL is clean, clear and beats the UA Volt 276 by a big margin. The Volt 276 has better ergonomics and is much nicer looking, but it’s all about the sound. In this regard, the SSL2 also beats the MOTU M2 and Focusrite Scarlett – (at least to my ears and when playing back mixes on my cheap cell phone in mono). On good systems, the mix always sounds really great once I know it passes the smell phone test.
I might upgrade to the SSL2+ and then just have one interface that can switch between the Avantone Mixcube and Yamaha HS-5’s.
Check out my last two songs for a full audio comparison. Now my two mics and monitors and interface are all dialed in.
My mixes are light years better. Finally – the techie stuff is out of the way – I know exactly what to do now that I took time to really test stuff.
One last word – the ribbon microphones – for my ears – are the best of all mics. They work in any situation and give the most realistic sound. I can add effects, EQ and basically add the “coloring” later – during the mix. The SSL2 can be cool and crisp or warm and I can control it. There seems to be a lot less noise with the SSL2.
The Case of The Muddy Mix (solved)
Posted on March 2, 2022
The Mike Senior book is the cats meow. Every word and sentence is good advice. Notice how his title includes “For the small studio”.
David Miles Hubers book is also fantastic. However, notice how it does not specify “For the small studio”. He does mention small ” project studios “, but the book isn’t based on the #1 problem with small studios – Heavy Compromises – in room treatment and budget.
I decided to try double miking and double tracking every track. That’s great if you have stereo pairs of really good mics, (which this book discusses), but I tried mix and match using lesser mics. Fail!
When I got the Avantone Mixcube, I instantly realized I had two many tracks, too many effects (plug ins) and I was using arbitrary Mic pairs. I also fell in love with the Universal Audio Volt 276 because if its awesome ergonomics. Turns out, the ugly duckling SSL2 has cleaner, clearer and crisp sound.
Then I really tested all of my mics and two posts back, you can see what I experienced.
Today I used the VR2 on vocals and Royer R10 and only had 4 tracks. No double tracking! No double tracking because that’s what caused all of my mixing problems, and with bad Mic choices.
The mixing time I spent with the Mixcube today was maybe 10 minutes. The whole experience was so much better and the end result is what I’ve wanted for many months.
Fixing My Mixing – Finally Making Progress
Posted on February 24, 2022
The book and link I posted earlier today are the two resources I’ve used to solve the Mystery of the Muddy Mix.
Here is a list – on what made the biggest difference:
- Microphones – I switched microphones around and figured out what is best and where. I use an NT1A and SM57 on my guitar amp cabinet. The SE VR2 and SE7 didn’t cut it. I use an NT1A and Royer R10 for vocals. The two SE7’s will work for miking my mandolin and VR2 for voice and maybe mandolin.
- I try to use as few plugins and effects as possible. I have been way over doing it for two years
- I concentrate on the mid tones and mix with my cheapie cell phone speaker in mind. If I can hear all tracks clearly, then I’ve succeeded. If it sounds good enough on my crummy cell phone, it will sound great on a better system
- While I record using two mics per track, I always mute the lesser of the two. This also cuts the Number of tracks in two. This really helped a ton – the mix gets much cleaner and crisper
- I turned my monitors to have low cut set and favoring the mids
- I thought my EQ settings needed help, but the mics were much more important
- I had treated my room acoustically, but I don’t think that made a huge difference because my studio is tiny
- My favorite Arturia Piano patch emulated an old upright piano, complete with the banging of the keys. That really created weird thuds in the mix. I switched to one that doesn’t include that thud
- I set two mics to low cut, but that doesn’t seem to necessary, given the other things listed above
- I ordered Yamaha NS-5 speakers and a single Avantone Mix Cube. The judge is out on this one. I suspect the Mixcube will be a serious surprise hit.
Magic Box
Posted on February 24, 2022
YOWZA! I finally am in control of my mixes. I even figured out why the Cello was so muddy as well as other recording and mixing problems. I hope to share these in another post soon.
I thought the mics used on the guitar cabinet were the SM57 and NT1A, but it was actually the SM57 and SE7 small diaphragm, with the low cut switch on and the mic pointed at the right side of the speaker. Happy accident – this is my best mix yet.
For those who hear
Imagination
Into the ether
Communication
For those who see
Imagination
Through the lens
Communication
For those who say
Imagination
Into the Mic
Communication
Chorus
A slight of hand
A magic box
The golden age
Opportunity knocks
in a nutshell
- Most major modern inventions between 1822 – 1922
- Camera, bicycle, radio, automobile, home electricity
- Small simple boxes that seemed like magic
discussion
My father was born February 12, 1922, so I thought it would be cool to Google the Modern Invention Timeline. Sure enough, I would argue the most important modern day inventions all happened in the 100 years before my father was born. I’m also reading a fascinating book on Photography that has both the cultural as well as technical aspects of photography.
theme
My favorite inventions are the Camera, Bicycle, Radio and Microphone. It took many other inventions leading up to each of these, but all these years later, these inventions still are extremely important. Fun fact – the first mechanical computer was invented the same year as the camera – 1822. Today, the Smart Phone has a camera, radio, microphone and computer built in!
conclusion
I’m still blown away by inventors and what they invent. The human imagination is such a gift and wonder. It is magic!
Ten Tin Heads
Posted on February 23, 2022
Ten Tin Heads hide
In shadows they lurk
They come out at night
That's when they work
They steal metal shovels
They steal metal rakes
If it's not bolted down
Then that's what they take
Their lust and greed
Smelted down from tin
Their pointy metal heads
Their creepy little grins
They say that they are DJs
They say they play the hits
Then smack you real hard
On the places that you sit
They won't play my songs
They won't play my rhymes
They lack common sense
And commit many crimes
When they're not lurking
At night in the dark
I'll play my music
And climb up the charts
Chorus
Tin Heads
Steel eyes
At the mic
At radio KRY
in a nutshell
- The KRY theme just won’t quit
- I found out some doll heads used to be made out of tin
- Its always fun writing about pure nonsense
discussion
Guitar, Cello, Piano, Solina and vocals. I started working on my mixing. I think I need to work on this one some more. I record everything in stereo using an SE Electronics SE7 small diaphragm Mic and a VR2 Active Ribbon mic. I need to look at each stereo track and maybe pick one of the two. I seem to have some phasing issues – and low noise rumble – especially on the Cello.
I also need to re-record the vocals. Its funny how you need to sing a bunch of times to flesh out the vocal melody – its quite different than playing a melody on one instrument. You need to fit your voice and it’s inflection and accents accordingly.
theme
Pure nonsense, fantasy, dada
conclusion
My daily dose of fun. I’ve been playing open chords on the guitar and changing one note in the chord to see what progressions I can come up with. Laying down a rough mix, then listening and re-recording (at least the vocals) seems to be a good workflow.
Best in Show
Posted on February 20, 2022
I had written lyrics – but then I found this cool Buchla Easel synth patch and just started riffing – do there’s little room left to sing. I’m also starting to concentrate on creating better mixes – I’m going to use my cell phone as the ultimate terrible sounding device – meaning – if it sounds at least clear with good levels in each track – then it should sound better on better systems. Thenn I try it on my Kindle – which has cheapy Panasonic ear buds that are actually quite great for $7.. I’m reading a great book on mixing – so fingers crossed that I can create better sounding MP3 files. Todays remix:
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