Finally getting to grips with this recording lark!

[Taz]

I'm so much happier with the quality of my recording now. I seem to be getting to grips with making my tenor sound like a tenor and not a strangulated goat! (Not that I have any experience of strangling goats, it's just what I imagine them to sound like!) Still a few things I need to sort out before I'm really happy with it but it's ok to be getting on with.

Now, if only I could sort my playing out

Here's a quick rendition of The Lady is a tramp.

https://soundcloud.com/taz-16/a-tramp-like-lady-tenor-sax

 

[aldevis]

Great tenor sound.
The piano, on the other hand....

 

[daveysaxboy]

Sounding sweet and nice flow. Good work there.

 

[TimboSax]

Great playing as always.

I loved the overall tone, but some of the notes sounded a bit quiet to me (sometimes at the ends of phrases)? I wonder if using a bit of light compression might help?

 

[Chris]

Nice one Pete, glad to hear you sounding happier about recording..

Chris..

 

[Sue]

Lovely tone Pete, enjoyed it very much, ta

 

[Ivan]

Nothing caprine about the sound

 

[Taz]

Ha ha I had to look that one up! Timbo, I thought that compression was to deal with the louder notes, not boost the quieter ones. Some one will have to explain that one too me

 

[TimboSax]

Yep, you got it, Knock down the loud notes to reduce the dynamic range, then turn the overall volume up

 

[Ivan]

Ha ha I had to look that one up!

So did I

 

[TimboSax]

You could also have a go at manually editing the volume magnitude envelope...

...er, I'll get me coat

 

[Taz]

You could also have a go at manually editing the volume magnitude envelope...

...er, I'll get me coat

No, just get the manual and explain that one! (Actually, don't I can feel my eyes glazing over as I type )

 

[aldevis]

You could also have a go at manually editing the volume magnitude envelope...

No, just get the manual and explain that one!

This was nasty: it is a destructive procedure on the original soundfile! Much better learning automation.

Jokes apart, your loudest note (or noise, even for a fraction of a second) sets the overall volume, since that cannot be louder than 0db. If you take the peaks down and raise the overall volume, the softest parts will sound louder.
This can be done in various ways. The easiest one is using a compressor with "autogain" function.
The best one, a Studer tape recorder (it is mostly a digital age issue) or an expensive outboard compressor.

Recording at 24bit at a lower input level makes a huge difference.

 

[Melissa]

I thought it was great!

 

[Taz]

Thanks Aldevis, I actually understood that!

 

[TimboSax]

You could also play the quiet bits louder and the loud bits quieter...

 

[ArtyLady]

Sounded good to me Taz - both production and playing!!

 

[flukeyluke]

sounded great,brill stuff loved it