Tail end of a very hot weekend, I just have enough time to do some alternate takes on my horn solos, and maybe record some vocals as well.
One thing it took me a bit to figure out - I now have multiple settings on the software for my m-audio card. This is handy when I am just working with audio, and not with recording S/PDIF, since all sorts of weird things happen in Sonar when I don't have a digital source (my XL7) plugged in and powered up. Drove me nuts the other night till I figured it out. Always one more thing to learn, but now its no problem, once the synth parts are recorded, to just record more audio with none of the synths powerec on. I believe it would also reduce the ambient audio from having all the other synths turned on.
Speaking of which, I am lovin' the fact that I no longer have to worry about anything when I record other than actually having to play or sing correctly. No more wondering if I am going to lose a good take from having some freaking pop or crakle in the middle of a recording.
First, I just did some re-recording with my analog synths - nice! just the sound of the synth, thats it baby, no extraneous noise whatsoever. And it is interesting to me that now the levels of recording straight from the analog boxes are not so freaking loud as they used to be. I don't see how this could be releated to fixing the IRQ problem, but what the hell, its better so I will take it.
Next I turn to the first half of the bridge solo. I should say here that the last part of the solo was already fine, and foruntatley free of unwanted audio artifacts.
The first part of the solo, which I am replacing, was good conceptually but poor in execution, not exactly in tune. It takes awhile, but I finally got down a good take, and when both takes are put together, it sounds like one long take.
One thing I have noticed when recording my trumpet, I tend to make lines that have reasonable pauses in them. This allows me to to overdub more easily when necessary, but I also like the sound. Sure its fun to play fast, but I like the ease and flow you get when you don't try to put everything in the world in there.
Finally I get to the vocals. The scratch vocals, which I liked fine on the verse, just won't do - not only pops and crackles, but I recorded them with my SM57 which tends to make everything overly round and a little blurry.
On the other hand, the large condenser mic I own, a Studio Projects C1, can tend to overemphasize the highs sometimes if I am not careful. Not that it distorts, it just can be a bit bright. This can be a problem with the trumpet. which of course is bright as hell sounding, even when I play it.
I start to sing the verse, and while attempting to get that correct feel, I find the C1 is making it too clear, if you can imagine that. I decide to do something wrong on purpose. I get much closer to the mic than normal, like maybe an inch and a half, and sing very softly.
This is so not me - after a decade of singing in front of loud bands with lousy PAs, I have a really loud voice. Great in context but not here. So on this piece I am conciously singing soft and low, and trying to make everything sound as round and legato as possilbe.
It finally works, after many many tries, and as always I am happy I am not having to deal with tape recorders, just bits of digital info. I also do many more takes and am happy with the refrain, which like the original verse had pops and crackles, but worse I sang out of tune on part of it.
At that point, I had to quit. I only need to write the second verse - yes, I have put that off till now! - and record it, then mix and master this thing.
Stick around, I promise it won't be long......