• Techniques
  • A follow up to the 'Mic Bleed' thread - what is 'vibe', and how do we spot it? (p.2)
2012/05/31 12:11:25
MP3ISTHEDEVIL
 
Im so glad to hear you guys say that.
 
Ive been envolved with music that may have been a bit shy on talent (probably me ; )) but big on passion.
To me its just like most things. Both have possatives & pitfalls.
 
The dynamic passion seems to add to a project speakes volumes to me.
Playing to a click can always make a tight and polished record.
 
But for me have always been to completly different processes.  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


 
2012/05/31 12:45:38
UbiquitousBubba
In addition to the most excellent comments above, I'd also suggest that part of the vibe is the subtle interplay between how the parts are played, not just in the timing, but in the accents, the dynamics, the ebb & flow of intensity, the passion, etc.  You can play the same part with exactly the same timing, and give it a different feel with just some subtle differences.  Sometimes it seems that this vibe can be lost when repeatedly re-recording parts to get that perfect take. 

Coming back with fresh ears can help to clear the cobwebs.  I think of a studio owner I once knew who used to teach recording engineering classes out of his studio.  He used to tell his students that one of the important roles of the Producer was to occasionally interrupt the artist to say, "Dude!  It's just not happening!"  While he said this to amuse himself, there's a certain amount of truth in it.  Sometimes, when we are struggling unsuccessfully to nail that perfect take, we need to stop and do something else for awhile.  Let the brain reset.  Give the voice/hands/fingers/etc. a rest and come back to it later.

I also think that it is sometimes helpful to try different variations on a theme with some tracks.  Try playing that drum part really hammering that snare and kick.  Try it again with a lighter touch.  Track it with and without extraneous fills.  Play a simple bass line.  Try nailing those accents hard.  Take another pass with a little popping and slapping.  Lock the bass in with the drums, then play off of the drum part. 

This is probably very obvious to everyone else, but I've found it helpful to try playing with a different feel, even if I know I'm probably going to scrap those tracks.  Sometimes, those minor feel differences can spark a whole new vibe that I end up liking better than my original vision for the song.
2012/05/31 13:09:56
batsbrew
some rooms sound great.

and some sound like suck-ass.

you've just got to develop your ears enough to know better!

how can you ever know what a 'good room' sounds like, if you never go to a pro studio or 'known' great sounding room and work in one?

i don't think you can.

if you really want to know what a good room sounds like, pay some bucks for a serious session somewhere.
worth it's weight in gold.


then, you will know.

it's easier to suss out, how live band interplay and capture of room ambience works versus overdubbing in isolation.

2012/05/31 16:28:23
MP3ISTHEDEVIL
Two more great postings.
2012/05/31 16:52:25
MP3ISTHEDEVIL
Mic bleed can be controlled with EQ

Rooms/Air can be controlled with with compression & lift.
Then bleed it back into the 2-buss
2012/05/31 17:24:16
batsbrew
it's fun to play with the bleed on room mics, that's for sure.

when you have a great sounding room to work with, especially with drums, you should do it.

2012/06/01 08:51:17
Philip
The following is my noob-rant:

Extremely interesting thread.  Performance vibe for me is quite different than studio vibe.  Many 'Jam sessions' invariably have that stereotypical 'garage sound' despite the magic going on 'in the air'.
 
While I publicly perform (singing, piano, and guitar) at least 3 times/week ... and do jam sessions to enhance/discover new vibes (per the Op) ... I've only recorded via 'iphone'.  There is great interference-garbage on many levels.
 
So I'm joyfully learning here.

Doubtless, an expensive room-make-over or pro studio would be my thoughts.

Again, please forgive my noob-rant.
2012/06/01 09:11:56
michaelhanson
Some here have rightly observed the apparent sloppiness on the individual tracks of some of the ‘golden oldies’ when soloed, and yet how everything comes together to form a wonderful listening experience when played as a full mix. Is this sloppiness ‘vibe’? How do we know when to re-track and when to let mistakes go, passing them off as an acceptable, even helpful, part of the performance?  



Hey James, I believe that I was the one who mentioned the "sloppiness" in the guitar work of both McCartney's Rude Studio tracks and Queen's, You Tube Video.  I was looking for a word to describe the playing and maybe sloppiness was not the right word.  The playing was imperfect, maybe that is a better way of saying it.

To your topic, I find that these tracks, though imperfect in there playing, are loaded with Vibe.  I actually think that having a lot of vibe in the performance, out weighs the perfection any day.  Even in McCartney's tracks, he is playing each instrument himself and not with a full band.  His playing as a vibe with the other tracks he has recorded, which gives the overall song a vibe.  This is actually what I strive for in my own recordings...to sound like a well tuned band playing together, even though mostly it is myself, one track at a time.

I once read a famous bass player, the name escapes me right now, say that it was more important to play with feel and groove than it was for him to hit the right notes.
2012/06/01 10:37:10
batsbrew
rundgren is another perfect example of a one man team pulling of true vibe
2012/06/01 22:08:16
MP3ISTHEDEVIL
it's fun to play with the bleed on room mics, that's for sure.

when you have a great sounding room to work with, especially with drums, you should do it.

 
 
Its a big part of how I record and mix anymore.
 
 
Ive been a big fan of Dale Crover ( Drummer for the Melvins) for years now. I know what your saying.
 
We should swap recopies some time. :  )
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