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Recording my new album - The Isolation Waltz
Hi Folks, I recently released my second solo album, "The Isolation Waltz" You can check it out via the link in my signature if you are interested, and to listen to samples.
I mentioned it in the Events forum, and KarenB asked some technical questions about making the recording. I figured I would answer them here, as to get more discussion going. Goals It had been 10 years since my first cd, Noone Lasses, and I wanted to record another one. I recorded the first album in Doug Young's lovely studio, which turned out great. I really wanted to record this second one at home. It would be both logistically easier, plus I guess I just like trying to do stuff on my own, for better or worse. Based on results I was getting at home and comparing them to past recordings at Doug's, and also recordings I made at a local studio, I decided recording a solo fingerstyle guitar record at home would be doable, at least from a sound quality standpoint. Room My studio room/office is basically a spare bedroom in our house. It measures roughly 13' x 10'7" My neighborhood is not overly noisy but we have the usual cars that can go by, people doing yard work outside, etc. I generally tried to record late at night. I should have taken more photos while recording, to better document the process. During recording I had my computer and monitors against the shorter wall, looking out the window. I have since moved them against the longer wall for a change of pace. So my desk was where the white bookcase is now in this photo. I sat with my back to the opposite shorter wall when recording, with the mics setup in front of me. The acoustic treatment in the room is what you see in the photo, and I had a panel in each corner behind me when recording. So I think that is two panels there on the shorter wall, the foam thingees in the corners, plus two panels stood up across the corners behind me when recording. Gear I used the following Guitars - Spruce/rosewood OM and open back banjo by Fabrizio Alberico. 1987 Rosewood Standard by James Goodall Mics - Pair of Gefell M300's. AGK 414 with an M300 in mid side for "Welsh Accordian Tune", which is a duet. Interface - RME Babyface Pro DAW - Logic Monitors - KRK Rokit 5's. Mogami Cables I set the mics up in spaced pair, one pointing at the 12th fret area and one behind the bridge. I paired the inputs on my interface so they both had the same amount of gain. I used a similar setup on the banjo though it was sort of a narrower spaced pair. I tried mid side as well as a single mic, and spaced pair seemed to work best here, at least to my ear. I had never recorded clawhammer banjo before so I was just experimenting. Check out the pictures below. Recording Process I generally did a handful of takes for each tune then edited them into a single version. Once all the tracks were done I sent stereo files to Doug for mixing and mastering. I am very happy with the result, thanks Doug. Several folks have commented that the tone is a step up from my first cd. I think that might be because I am using acrylic nails and later Alaska picks here, which just give me more attack. Plus my guitar has had 10 years to be played in since the first album. So that is basically it. Record and edit at home, send to a pro for mixing and mastering. I don't see why I wouldn't use a similar process for album #3. That is not to say pro studios are not great, I think they are and I love recording in them. If I had to record drums, a string ensemble, or anything beyond guitar/banjo/mandolin I would probably go to one. But for this stuff I enjoy the freedom and flexibility of recording at home. I hope that is useful or at least interesting to other folks trying to recording at home. I think it is definitely doable with some foresight about your room and setting things up. I welcome any feedback or constructive criticism folks have regarding the album.
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http://wwww.celticfingerstyleguitar.com Albums: The Isolation Waltz Noone Lasses Youtube Music on Spotify |
#2
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Hi Anton,
Thanks for posting, and I'm sure there will be some dialog about your process. I thought that you had posted a while back when you initially started the process of doing this recording, but I could not find it when I searched maybe a month ago. In any case, I'm happy that you popped in to let us all know how it went! It looks like your mics are set fairly far back, but there's no in action shot so it's hard to tell. Any specifics on mic distance and if you had any problems with "room sound"? |
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Yea I probably should have taken some more specific measurements. I think they were about 12"=15" inches away from the guitar. I'd hypothesize that my room is dead-ish, given the carpeted floor, and modicum of acoustic treatment.
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http://wwww.celticfingerstyleguitar.com Albums: The Isolation Waltz Noone Lasses Youtube Music on Spotify |
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That's very interesting Anton and thanks for posting. I have to say the sound is top notch in my humble opinion.
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Regards Phil Taylor 'Rivers and Trees' - April 2021. https://philiptaylor1.bandcamp.com/a...vers-and-trees YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNx...0XtP04PcL8HN4Q |
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Thanks Anton - very interesting.
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Burguet AC-007 (2003 - Cedar/Rosewood) Webber OM (2009 - Sitka/Sapele) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8A...2TVEhWes2Djrig |
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Thanks folks. I don't recall a ton of issue with room sound. Maybe Doug can comment more on what he did in the mixing/mastering phase. I would occasionally have to stop recording due to outside noise.
Maybe I could do some sort of top view room layout drawing. Does anyone know of free software or a browser based interface that will do that?
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http://wwww.celticfingerstyleguitar.com Albums: The Isolation Waltz Noone Lasses Youtube Music on Spotify |
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Sounded terrific to me. Excellent work from everyone involved.
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"I know in the morning that it's gonna be good, when I stick out my elbows and they don't bump wood." - Bill Kirchen |
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HI Anton--
Thanks for this information!
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When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down, “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. —John Lennon |
#9
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Quote:
Quote:
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Music: Spotify, Bandcamp Videos: You Tube Channel Books: Hymns for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), Christmas Carols for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), A DADGAD Christmas, Alternate Tunings book Online Course: Alternate Tunings for Fingerstyle Guitar |
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hahahaha, been there
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Interesting and some lovely arrangements and playing Anton.
I liked the sound you achieved with the MS arrangement on Welsh Accordion Tune. Can I ask why you chose MS for this - was it to give post recording flexibility as it’s a duet, or...? |
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Good question. You know I am not really sure. I remember asking Doug about what I should do recording two guitars. I think he said spaced pair could be a bit problematic because if you want to pan each guitar left or right a bit you end up emphasizing one of the mics. Which might result in too much bass or treble. So i recorded them in mid side and it seemed to work.
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http://wwww.celticfingerstyleguitar.com Albums: The Isolation Waltz Noone Lasses Youtube Music on Spotify |
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Quote:
Anton's track was interesting, tho, since it starts with solo guitar for half the tune, and I didn't want to pan that to one side in mono. So the 1st guitar ends up being stereo, maybe pulled a little to one side (I forget), and the 2nd guitar more mono and more placed to the other side to give it some space and differentiate the guitars.
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Music: Spotify, Bandcamp Videos: You Tube Channel Books: Hymns for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), Christmas Carols for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), A DADGAD Christmas, Alternate Tunings book Online Course: Alternate Tunings for Fingerstyle Guitar |
#14
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Thanks Anton and Doug for replying so fully. After several years I have yet to settle on a favorite setup. MS has been my most recent exploration...
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The Isolation Waltz
I just purchased your Isolation Waltz album on Bandcamp. Congratulations on such a nice album.
If you make the sheet music for this album available on Bandcamp, I would purchase that also. I would like to learn some of the songs, like the title track and Klinten.
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John Tucson, AZ 2020 Kraut 00, Swiss/Brazilian, build 2018 Eady EG Pro Electric, Redwood/Mahogany 2013 Baranik Meridian, Blue Spruce/Cocobolo, build 2008 Baranik CX, Blue Spruce/African Blackwood 2008 Breedlove A20 Masterclass 12-string, Adi/IRW 2003 Thames classical, Euro/Brazilian Fodera Standard 4 Fretless bass, figured walnut |