What's up Musicians! You may wanna hear this!

[CastleRecordz]

This music thing can be really beautiful, and then it can be really ugly--all depending on how you're recording, the knowledge in recording you have, the equipment you're working with, and the special tools, skills and techniques you posses.  Crazy as it may be... your talent comes last.   

Your talent in building a beautiful sound with a bunch of instruments, or harmonizing a beautiful melody is all useless if you don't know how to work it into a miracle.  That miracle?  Studio recording. 

That's what brings me here, because I'm up to the ceiling in frustration from my lack of knowledge after recording for several years (I'm ashamed to disclose just how many) and still seem to not know s***!!! 

Over the course of months I started and quit, deleted, and threw out so many songs and recordings because I can't mix and master for s***.    Engineering my own music. 

Vocals aren't blending.  Not picking up on this EQ'ing and Compressing thing.  Booth is boot-legged.  Nice mic, but still not using it correctly (Clipping and hollowness).  Vocals too low, turn them up--too high.   

This list... it goes on. 

I need assistance.     I will be posting threads on exactly what I need assistance with and hope to help anyone with what little information I do have as well. 

Help me before I loose it!

[RawDepth]

Hello, Castle, and welcome. We are a cool and friendly bunch here. I hope you find the wisdom you seek.

It sounds like all you really need is for somebody to explain things so it makes perfect sense. I don't know if we can always provide that, but we can try.

Come on in, make yourself comfortable and ask away.

I made a rough home video to that may be helpful for understanding compression. Check it out and let me know if it helps at all. http://www.home-recording-studio-forum.com/index.php/topic,424.0.html

[stainless]

To reverberate RawD's welcome Hello Castle!

there are many opinions and approaches to recording, some better than others.  You may well get multiple suggestions and the important thing is that you spend some time trying/testing each one , keeping those that seem to work for you (until you either fine tune that technique or discover another that you like even better)

When asking, it seems best to focus on one or 2 issues, rather than a list, as the answers themselves can be more focused and less 'generic'

it's also VERY helpful if you can describe what you did ( microphone 'The amazing mic model 100' plugged into this pre-amp/interface, used with/without a pop screen, any other hardware or software (plug-ins) used on the track, etc)  also, what you're listening back on? earbuds, headphones, monitors, homes stereo, car stereo? etc.  The more info on the front end, the less Q&A back and forth before some suggestion/explanation

in other words help us help you

and if we can't, the response will be the wall of silence (no responses) or an honest I don't know

we're all pilgrims seeking the holy land of sound 

[CastleRecordz]

Hello, Castle, and welcome. We are a cool and friendly bunch here. I hope you find the wisdom you seek.

It sounds like all you really need is for somebody to explain things so it makes perfect sense. I don't know if we can always provide that, but we can try.

Come on in, make yourself comfortable and ask away.

I made a rough home video to that may be helpful for understanding compression. Check it out and let me know if it helps at all. http://www.home-recording-studio-forum.com/index.php/topic,424.0.html

Thanks a lot!  Actually this site has been awesome thus far.     I receive instant replies with very informative, helpful, and personalized information about my issues.

Good deal!