Tryin for that simple classic cowboy music sound

[BushmasterM4]

Had a classic country trio come out and do some recording. I work with two of the members (long time friends). Anyway the first is Texas Plains, which has some very good yodal in it. Second is Jingle Jangle Jingle. They are wanting that classic Gene Autry vibe and I hope its there. The first tune the singer wanted to use his 40 year old Sears vocal mic. Well it really stinks. So on Jingle Jangle Jingle we switched to a Shure 58. Those vocals sound better. These are rough mixes and, basically a practice session for them. It had been a few weeks since they played and the singer was not feeling well. They are coming back in a few weeks to spend the day recording. I just have never mixed classic country. So let me know if the old,old style recording was acheived. That sort of flat type sound (I guess you would say). They liked the rough mixes, so I guess thats all that matters. Theres a little bit of noise (I can hear it), that appeared during the mp3 conversion. So disregard it (if you can hear it). I did a quick render and it can cause artifacts. Anyway enjoy and let me know if I am one the right track. Links below.

Texas Plains
Start Player

Jingle Jangle Jingle
Start Player

[Brown]

Fer sure the 57 sounds say "better" but hands down the Sears Mic is the one to go with...no doubt in my mind...if you are going for the old sound...go with the old sound.

[BushmasterM4]

Originally Posted by Brown

Fer sure the 57 sounds say "better" but hands down the Sears Mic is the one to go with...no doubt in my mind...if you are going for the old sound...go with the old sound.

Man there was alot of static in it, I had to get rid of. Maybe I'll have him drop it of and I'll clean it and check the solder joints. Or I can eq it to that sound. Either way we will try both. Thanks

[Brown]

I didn't hear any "crackle" that was annoying. and with tech you can easily eq a 57 to sound like something else. when you listen to those old recordings though there are so many artifacts...that's what gives it the sound right? the sears makes it sound old...keep the artifacts so it sounds old...or go with the 57 and sound like a modern recording of allison krauss and union station...depends what you are after. I love artifacts though...they give it the flava flave. Hungry Like the Wolf .... you can hear a glass some stoned schmuck dropped off a table during the recording...but the take was so hot they left the smash of breaking glass and beer in there...have you ever noticed it? Yeah...didn't think so.

[BushmasterM4]

Originally Posted by Brown

I didn't hear any "crackle" that was annoying. and with tech you can easily eq a 57 to sound like something else. when you listen to those old recordings though there are so many artifacts...that's what gives it the sound right? the sears makes it sound old...keep the artifacts so it sounds old...or go with the 57 and sound like a modern recording of allison krauss and union station...depends what you are after. I love artifacts though...they give it the flava flave. Hungry Like the Wolf .... you can hear a glass some stoned schmuck dropped off a table during the recording...but the take was so hot they left the smash of breaking glass and beer in there...have you ever noticed it? Yeah...didn't think so.

I have a few more tracks (Ghost Riders and another), that we used the sears. I wont remove the noise and I'll post them later tonight. I'll also remove the noise filter on the one (sears mic track) posted. Your dead on about the artifacts. We dont want it to pristine. And I didnt know that about "Hungry Like the Wolf". I give it a listen. I know the Ohio Players had that song (cant remember the name and I have the lp), that a girl was suppose to have been stabbed, and you can hear the scream. Thanks for the feedback. Its what I need.

[Brown]

Dude! A girl was stabbed and you can hear the scream...wicked. wicked sick. And I do hope you find my feedback beneficial. I mean, I don't claim to be correct...so take what I say with a grain of salt...make your own decision. I can tell you this though...for a while I got so stuck on creating the perfect slick sound...I wanted all my tracks to sound slick like Steely Dan...even my heavy metal recordings I wanted to sound like Steely...but what I've learned is that once you reach a certain level...meaning...once you can make a track sound "good"...not too muddy, etc...after that...what is most important is the quality of the musical take. Meaning, I've come to the point where I would rather have a crappy recording of a phenominal mind blowing performance than a crisp clean recording of a performance that might be technically right on...but really lifeless. Its the emotion of music that pulls people in...not whether you can tell me what a German Dominant 7th is and why it is so revelutionary in the key transpostion to the minor 6th of the scale. Get the performance...get the emotion and the "artifacts" will not even be recognized by the average listener which is 99.9 of the people you are after. People on the forums can rip your recording appart all day...but that's becuase they are listening with the sole purpose of ripping the recording...I know that is why we are here...what I'm saying is...come here to get advice...sure, that's what it is here for, but as far as taking to heart some and or all of the comments (including my own towards you) that you hear...screw it. It is clear to me that by listening to your recordings here that you have a certain level of proficiency...now grow the confidence within yourself to trust your own knowledge...trust your own judgement...and go get a great performance recorded and let the performance speak for itself. I hope it helps. I love the art of recording and sure as heck can tell you it's pretty easy for me to sit here and play armchair quarter back to you...but in my own recording life...get back...I'm a perfectionsist and I love it and hate it at the same time...so my words here are just as much to myself as they are to you.

[BushmasterM4]

I like the feedback and I also at times am a perfectionist. But I learned quickly on recording, it isnt gonna happen. I have no musical theory in me what so ever. I play guitar as my main instrument and Im self taught. I cant read music. I wouldnt know a D from a C. The Bass and Drums Im learning and keyboard. So I do all things by ear. I have come a long way in 2 years (when I started recording as a hobby). My early stuff is so damn funny. But thanks for the comments, I really appreciate it. As soon as I get a chance I'll remix the country stuff and repost. Holiday weekend has me going everywhere. Later

[pdalmolin]

Dude, the hard panning left and right is downright distracting. It was done very little, now and then in the 60's, but they learned quickly this was not the way to go. Loose the hard panning....

[Brown]

Many many pro recordings use hard panning all the time...check out almost all of Steely Dan, and Elton John "come down in time" comes to mind...it must be used "correctly"...but it is a great tool for seperation when the situation calls for it...of course, I think you are right in saying that it must be used "wisely"...usually better suited when you have a lot of different parts happening at once. Guitar Bass Drum Vocal...yeah, hard panning might not be the way to go...but drums, 2 to 4 guitars, bass, strings, multiple vocals, some horn sections...hard panning is great in that type of situation.

[pdalmolin]

My rule is: Hard panning on embellishment only. Synth patches, steel guitar pads, strings, horns, tic tac guitar, color percussion, etc. This demo had only guitar on one side and steel on the other, bass and vocal was centered, no drums. The guitar was very rhythmic as was the bass, and hard panned to one side caused a huge distraction from the vocal. The steel was rhythmic as well which then caused even more of a serious clash of the rhythms. If you want some schooling on old time country check out Bobby Flores at Yellowroserecords.com. That guy is the hoss of hosses.