Recorded snare sound; FEDUP

Killjingle · Post by **Killjingle** » Wednesday Mar 04, 2009

I really like the sound of the snare on the upcoming FEDUP release. Would u care to let the secret out how the snare was mic'd (position), what it was mic'd with? I know what Matt was using; but I dont know the other variables.

Thanks

faceoffmuzik · Post by **faceoffmuzik** » Wednesday Mar 04, 2009

One SM57, about "two fingers" (maybe 1.5 to 2"?) above the head and about 1" back pointing a little off center. Positioned between the snare and hi-hat on a stand so as to reject the hihat as much as possible.

I'm trying to remember... but i think it was recorded with the highpass on. No other eq/whatever on tracking.

In mixing I can't really recall, I can pull it up tonight and look if you really want to know.

I remember on the first mixes I did Matt (Poop) wanted more snap on it and I remember him telling me to listen to Quiet Riot "Metal Health".

Killjingle · Post by **Killjingle** » Wednesday Mar 04, 2009

it has a "heavy limited" sound with plenty of snap. I like that alot. Almost sounds like the mic is distorting. Id be interested in the rest...

Since we are on the topic I also really liked the sound of the kick on the This Calling disc. What did u do for that sound?

faceoffmuzik · Post by **faceoffmuzik** » Thursday Mar 05, 2009

ok i took a look it last night and i know what you are referring to...

Firstly the snare was strip silenced then on the snare channel inserts there is:

1.) EQ with HighPass & small cuts/boosts, whatever.

2.) Compressor doing about 3dB redux at 4:1, not a big deal BUT I have the make up gain cranked until the backend limiter is engaging (this is a Waves RenComp which has an additional limiter after the makeup gain, allowing you to pretty much drive it as hard as you want without putting the track in the red). This is what produces the limited sound you hear.

3.) Another EQ which has a pretty good shelf boost at around 10-12k which is further increasing both the snap and 'limited' sound.

4.) There is a send to a reverb which I think is a convolution of an EMT140 plate, could have been a hall on some songs.

This all in mixing, it was all tracked dry (see first post).

faceoffmuzik · Post by **faceoffmuzik** » Thursday Mar 05, 2009

Killjingle wrote:
Since we are on the topic I also really liked the sound of the kick on the This Calling disc. What did u do for that sound?

I recorded individual hits of all his drums, about 10 hits for each drum the cut them all out and got them closer to how I wanted them to sound, then made .gog's from them and use it to replace the track. It was processed pretty heavily both when i made the 'samples' and then again during mixing.

Mostly just making sure the hits are consistently the same level (more or less) and cutting a good deal of the low-mid range and boosting the click, pretty much what you would do for typical 'metal' kick sound.

We recorded drums probably 4 different times, sometimes months apart so this was the best way to make everything stay consistent between songs, also the best way to get the sound we wanted and make the kick so you can hear it all the time especially on the fast parts.

I wouldn't necessarily do this on every style of music but it works good getting it all to cut through all the massive guitars.

thanks for listening.

Bloodsong · Post by **Bloodsong** » Thursday Mar 05, 2009

very interesting.

i love Tech Sector.

Killjingle · Post by **Killjingle** » Thursday Mar 05, 2009

thanks for the reply.

next time I want to get that kinda sound I will put that into my book of stuff to try.

nice job.

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Thursday Mar 05, 2009

Matt (Popp) was very specific about how he wanted the snare to sound.

And I think that Matty at Faceoff did a very good job with everything overall.

I am never happy with my vocals, and I was really happy with how they came out on this. Recording is usually very awkward for me, but I had a blast recording there. Plus you guys gave me some cool tips that really helped.

Bloodsong · Post by **Bloodsong** » Thursday Mar 05, 2009

i'm never happy with your vocals either. lol. you've got great character in your voice Unk'l Dirty. i think its awesome how you've morphed from a punk rock singer in the beginning of FUP to a full on metal singer now. it was a cool transition to watch...

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Thursday Mar 05, 2009

matty is the shit.

Charltor · Post by **Charltor** » Thursday Mar 05, 2009

RobTheDrummer wrote:matty is the shit.

I second that. Really cool dude to work with too.