Vdrums or Mike'd drum kit..you decide MP3's here

[AkristaK]

I just finished my web-site, complete with MP3 files of the Vdrums in action.
http://brokensound.iuma.com

It features the V's on the tracks: Mexico, Way you Love and Strange Ways." The other two tracks were my attempt at miking my drum kit(Tama grandstar, SM57's)...big difference in my opinion!
I play all the instruments and sing too. I recorded everything straight into the computer using Calkwalk and Sound Forge. I think the drums came out best on "Strange Ways" but I'll let you guys decide. I gotta tell you IUMA.com gives you a lot of space to put up recordings, and it's all free!! Please let me know what you guys think. Did the V's come out better or the mike'd drumset?

Chris

[Marc.]

Originally posted by AkristaK:]

... other two tracks were my attempt at miking my drum kit(Tama grandstar, SM57's)...big difference in my opinion!

I agree. Get a pro to setup, mic & record your acoustics. (Acoustics blow away E's any day of the week)

I play all the instruments and sing too.

Nice work. Put me on your mailing list for when you release your CD.

[szvook]

Originally posted by Marc.:

Acoustics blow away E's any day of the week

[studioVjeff]

Well I like the Site (IUMA) it's Cool...

The quality of the recording is ok...
The songwriting abilities are good...
The Vocals need help...
The "Timing" is that deliberate or what?
I would buy the CD...

Overall very good considering you played and recorded everything yourself (like me)...Keep up the good work!!

Jeff

Oh and for your question acoustics record better but only if they are properly tuned and miked up.......

[szvook]

Originally posted by studioVjeff:

Oh and for your question acoustics record better but only if they are properly tuned and miked up.......

Oh really. And what do you do when you are into your 3rd song and the acoustics need to be tightened/tuned again (and they will if you want them to sound the same as they did when you started) during a gig?

I guess you are referring to recordings...so maybe I was a bit hasty to put up my .02 cents. Oh well.

------------------
szvook

[This message has been edited by szvook (edited July 30, 2001).]

[Oz DrumR]

Originally posted by Marc.:
Acoustics blow away E's any day of the week

It's very easy to get a very good sound from the v's when recording.

It's a lot more difficult (for the average drummer / engineer) to get a better (than the V's) sound with A's.

A lot more effort & Knowledge for a little improvement in my eyes, an improvement that would only be really noticed by someone with a really good ear.

Just my 0.02

Andy . . . the average drummer

[Marc.]

Originally posted by Oz DrumR:
A lot more effort & Knowledge for a little improvement in my eyes, an improvement that would only be really noticed by someone with a really good ear.

Just my 0.02

Andy . . . the average drummer

Sounds like you've been reading too many drummer jokes.

Not to worry Andy. Even average drummers have really good ears.

[AkristaK]

Thanks for the input guys, it really helps! I know the vocals are the weakest link, but hey I'm only one guy. I think the A's have a more real presence to them than the V's do. I was also told if I had a better pre-amp, and perhaps a BBE Sonoc Maximizer that the vocals and drums would sound fuller and would have more bite. There's just so much damn stuff to buy it can make you go crazy. The last song on the list "Strange ways" won me 2nd place in the Mars Music best solo guitar performance. I guess you have practice the art of recording just like you'd practice the drums, too many instruments too little time!

[szvook]

Originally posted by AkristaK:
I was also told if I had a better pre-amp, and perhaps a BBE Sonoc Maximizer that the vocals and drums would sound fuller and would have more bite.

Big time.



------------------
szvook

[Blades]

For what it's worth,

I don't think that that the A's sound better than the V's. Different, yes, but not necessarily better. I've heard the V's sound better than this, and as previously mentioned, with some work, the V's are generally going to be much easier to get a great sound out of without having to invest thousands in outboard compressors and gates and such just to approach the same level.

I will be posting a tune I'm working on soon and wil be asking for opinions. I will leave the discussion open as to whether I used MY Tama Granstar kit or my Vdrums at that time.

PS: Is there some reason why the lead vocal is panned full-left? In fact, in general, there seems to be a lack opf ANYTHING in the center of the stereo spectrum.

redbrick

[Marc.]

Originally posted by studioVjeff:
The "Timing" is that deliberate or what?

Yes, please address this. If it's deliberate, I'll pass on that CD.

You see, when the music speeds up (and boy does it ever) it brings back traumatic memories of this Hendrix concert I recorded and I wasted too much tape on the opening acts. Sure enough, 1/2 way thruogh Hendrix's set the batteries started to ...

On playback, I thought I was trippin' (you know, I may have been) as Hendix's vocals by the last number had sounded like he was on helium.

I still play it now and then. Mainly for the laughs & the memories. I started the tape about 25 minutes before the show, so there's the out-of-it banter of our group, and finally the riotous pandemonium that shot out when the lights went down signaling the Man's entrance.

But s-h-i-t.

Oh well, fortunately the Hendrix estate has released this particular show on CD and the quality is superior to my cassette, but it's just not quite the same, you know ...?

[AkristaK]

thanks for all the critques and critisims. These songs are just rough demo's, no click track and some mistakes were left in. I wanted to get all 12 songs "very roughly" recorded to be completely re-done at a studio near my house. This gives people the oppurtunity to at least listen to them for content. I am still learning the process of of recording and mastering, and singing for that matter. Marc, I would never put out a CD with the timing that far off, the drum parts were played from memory with no click.

There's just not enough time in the day to be a musician and learn to be an audio engineer...doh!