#1626161 - 12/07/00 06:06 PM
Old school blues on a budget
|
Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Dear Doctor Al, you're the blues buff on this board, so here goes. Friends of mine have this great trad blues band (drums, elect gtr, bass and singer/harmonica player). They're into Muddy Waters and the like. I've offered them to produce a demo for peanuts 'cause they're just so good at what they do. And they'd like it to have that old sound. Now playing wise they're deffinetely into that vain and equipment wise too (the drummer's got a metal-flake minimalist drum from the 50's, the harmonica goes through a vintage Fender Champ, etc.).
Here's the question. How did they track it back then? Big room or small room, dead or ambiant, seperation with headphones or bleeding festival (if so how do you place the players with the amps? circle? as a live setup ? gobos?) close mike everything or just a few room mikes. How 'bout drums? One overhead? Mike the kick? Is 8 tracks enough for the whole shabbam? Ribbons, Omnis, etc...you get the picture.
Usually I do modern stuff so this is real exiting and challenging to me. Obviously we're tracking everything together. Saddly I won't have access to an analog recording device (I'll probaly rent a DA-88 or something) or tube pre's and will only be able to rent a good pair or so of mikes (AKG,Neuman,etc.). The rest being the usual 57's and so on. I'll
have as much time as I want for the mixing and
tweaking wise (filters, etc.) I'm not lacking.
I'm more concern about the tracking end of things.
I know, I know, I know. You need coffee to make coffee. But considering my less than ideal scenario (real life) any tips on the type of miking, approach, suggested readings, links would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance and good day from Montreal! (yes we got snow right now and it's bitchin' cold)
Oh yeah, I welcome thoughts from anyone obviously!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1626162 - 12/07/00 11:47 PM
Re: Old school blues on a budget
|
Brenton Trott
Senior Member
Registered: 10/09/00
Posts: 111
Loc: AUSTRALIA
|
Offline
|
|
Great thread..........I'm also very interested in the old ways!!
Brenton
_________________________
Cheers
Brenton
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1626163 - 12/08/00 02:18 AM
Re: Old school blues on a budget
|
Doctor Al
Senior Member
Registered: 05/05/00
Posts: 192
Loc: ,,US
|
|
Offline
|
|
Well, here goes - first off all those records were recorded mono onto a mono analog machine. You could probably rent a mano 1/4 track machine for the same money as a DA-88. There was no post-mixing. The mixing was done as the song was recorded. In the late 40's one or two room mics were used. with another mic on the featured soloist. I would definetly NOT mic the kick drum. That didnt happen til the sixties. Slap back tape echo is in order with only one repeat. I actually played on sessions in the late 50's, but was too young to notice what mics were being used. I would record mono with slap-back, especially on the snare, vocal & harp. I'd use two mics for the drums: One over the snare, and one facing the kit about 2-3 feet away. I'd room mic the guitar, bass, and harp amps. From a minimal distance of 4-5 feet up to 8 feet. Mic PLACEMENT is EVERYTHING. The mic that faces the kit should be positioned to get a full blend of the kit including the bass drum. Some of the original studios were offices dueing the day and studios at night. Others were radio stations and occasional ballrooms. For a 4 piece, the ideal room would have a little space to it to spread things out a little, but not too much. For homework, listen to the early Muddy & Howling Wolf Records on Chess. That will tell you reams more than I can type. For vintage mic info, George Masseburg's your guy right on this forum. Good luck! Sounds exciting!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1626164 - 12/11/00 09:00 PM
Re: Old school blues on a budget
|
Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Thank you Mr.Kooper. Definitely can use the drum tips. And oh yeah we're going mono baby! I just found out that the band has old mics of their own. I don't know their conditions but they'll be fun to work with. If you know anything about them I'd appreciate a lot. I posted my question on Georges board as you suggested but his reply was rather short if not just plain casual. So back at you...
The mics are Shure55, Shure51, EV629
Thanks again for anyone replying
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1626165 - 12/14/00 04:09 PM
Re: Old school blues on a budget
|
Doctor Al
Senior Member
Registered: 05/05/00
Posts: 192
Loc: ,,US
|
|
Offline
|
|
<>>
Sorry - this must be massenburgs busy season
try ed cherney - i want you to talk to a bona-fide engineer on here. I have engineered but i'm not in a league with these gentlemens
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1626166 - 12/15/00 05:18 PM
Re: Old school blues on a budget
|
Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Will do!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1626167 - 12/19/00 03:27 PM
Re: Old school blues on a budget
|
Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Thanks Al and all for the input. It's been a great trip. I've posted my results in GM's forum under "Dr Al said to ask you about the mics".
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
