The Self-Recording Band

Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide

BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call

Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community

Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core

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Have you ever fought a bass guitar (or any bass instrument) in your mix that was just not big enough?

Here's what you can do to compensate for a lack of low end in your recordings and add weight to otherwise thin sounding tracks.

In this episode we're walking you through different methods of creating extra bottom end (or the perception of it) if the tone you have just doesn’t have enough of it.

This is why you should know about these techniques:

You can’t bring out with an EQ what is not there at all. If your track never had any content below a certain frequency, there's nothing you could boost, right? So you need to add new low end instead of featuring what's already there.

Maybe you’ve recorded a small amp, or your playing high up on the neck all the time but still want the "weight", maybe your instrument is not a real bass, at all, but you want to make it sound like one, maybe your low end is there from time to time, but not consistently.

There are all sorts of situations and reasons for why you should know how to add extra weight and low end to your bass tones.

These are the methods we're discussing on the episode:

- Plugins like RBass, MaxxBass or bx_subsynth
- Multiband-Saturation tools like FabFilter Saturn or Steinberg Quadrafuzz
- Other software/hardware tools and how to combine them to add low end
- layering MIDI bass below the actual performance
- Dealing with a too dynamic, inconsistent low end and how to lock it in place to make it sound bigger
- How to avoid the whole issue in the first place

For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/115

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide

BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call

Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community

Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core

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A lot of people are asking us about how many mics they should use on a cab, or whether or not they should blend multiple amps/cabs. Benedikt just had this conversation on a masterclass that he did for a German Audio magazine.

Our answer is almost always: 
Start with one amp, cab and mic, learn everything about it and make it sound as good as you can. Only then add more, if you really need to.

And most importantly: Learn your cab!

The speaker(s) and cabinet are one of the most (if not THE most) important parts of the guitar chain. That's why we've dedicated this entire episode to helping you get the most out of your cab or your IR/virtual cab. 

Here are some of the things we cover:

• All speakers within a cab sound different - compare them!
• Impedance
• Volume and cab saturation (open/closed cabs)
• Mic position
• Mic angle
• Mic distance
• The “glue blob”
• The influence of the room

And again, this also applies to IRs/virtual mics!

If you know the ins and outs of recording a cab with a mic, you can choose the right IRs quickly, pick and position your virtual mics with confidence, you'll finally know what to listen for and you'll know how to solve any tone problem.

For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/114

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide

BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call

Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community

Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core

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When it comes to guitar tone, we’re always talking about strings, setup, amps etc. This time we address the playing technique and specifically how it affects the sound of your recordings.

Things we cover in this episode:

Right Hand:

• Chord definition 
• Consistency
• Power
• Palm Muting Technique
• Hand Position
• Pick Angle
• Finger/Pick (Bass)

The attack, definition, groove/timing and presence is all in the right hand.

Left Hand:

• “Death Grip”(and intonation issues in general)
• Chord definition
• Sustain
• Feel (vibrato, bendings, hammer ons, pull offs, etc.)

For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/113

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide

BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call

Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/community

Listen and subscribe to Your Band Sucks At Business:
https://www.yourbandsucksatbusiness.com

Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core

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This week we are sharing an episode of Malcom's other podcast "Your Band Sucks At Business" because we really care about your art and therefore want to help you make sure that people actually hear it. 

We'd love to see you reach your audience and your goals as an artist/band. 

But, unfortunately, so often we see people put so much effort into creating their music and then when it's time to show it to the world...they completely half-ass the release. 

The results: Missed opportunities, no hype, no buzz, no growing fanbase. 
Instead: disappointment and a slowly dying motivation to put out more music in the future. 

We don't want this to happen to you and we get asked all the time about how releasing music actually works, so this is why we're excited to share this episode with you! 

In case you're wondering whether or not you want or need this: 
This is not really about promotion or marketing strategies, because there's a million different ways to market and promote your music that can't all be covered in a single episode. But regardless of the strategy you choose (if any), there are just some things that you have to do no matter what, if you want the release to go well. 

And this episode is all about exactly that: 
Generating the assets you need before any music release! All the things you need to collect, create, take care of and think of when you're planning your next release.

If there was ever an episode to take notes to while listening, this is it. Make a checklist and make sure you tick these off each and every time!

For full show notes go to: https://theselfrecordingband.com/112

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Get Access To Our Mixing Course, "Mixes Unpacked - Vol.1":
https://theselfrecordingband.com/mixesunpacked

Get Some Of Our Favorite And Most Natural Sounding Drum Sample Libraries (Affiliate Link):
https://theselfrecordingband.com/roomsound

Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide

BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call

Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community

Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core

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This is something we get asked all the time, something we see people fail at all the time and something we think we're both pretty good at:

Using drum samples in a way that sounds organic and not like we're actually using samples, while still adding all the punch, control, size, vibe and consistency that the raw tracks might be lacking.

In this episode you'll learn the process and specific techniques we use to do that, including:

• Creating MIDI notes or key spikes to trigger samples
• Adjusting velocities 
• Phase / time-alignment
• Picking the right sample(s)
• Tuning your samples
• Shaping the attack and sustain of the samples
• Fine-adjusting the velocities and articulations, based on the samples you chose
• Creating busses and getting the routing right (using multi output instruments or triggering close mics and kit/room mics separately)
• Committing and printing samples
• Why we like to treat original tracks and corresponding samples together as one new drum, if possible
• Avoiding over-processing of samples - they often are already processed 
• Adding glue, vibe and “kit energy” on the drum bus and/or parallel busses
• Using automation or multiple sample tracks to get rolls and ghost notes right

And even more ideas on how to use drum samples without sucking the life out of the performance.

For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/111

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Hello friends and loyal listeners! 

As you hopefully know, this week, we've launched our first ever mixing course, Mixes Unpacked.

It will be available at an absolute no-brainer of a price during our early-bird offer (goes away March 30th). 

We have zero doubt that this is gonna get you results, BUT since we've opened the doors, we got a couple of questions from people who want to make sure this course is a good fit for them (or not). So we'll do my best to answer them right now.

Can we buy this as a band and share the costs between the band members?

Yes of course! The program (and everything we do) is designed for self-recording artists and bands! Our goal is not to squeeze as much money as possible out of every single person, but to help as many bands/artists, as possible. 

However, if you buy as a band, you'll still get one account and only that one account can access the program. But you can consume the content together and you can bring your bandmates to the Q&A session. We won't kick anyone out for doing that and we just trust you that you will only share it with your bandmates and not anyone else. 

So, sure, be smart about that. If you split the costs between all the band members, each of you will pay less for this course than you've probably spent on coffee or pizza last week.

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I'm busy and it's gonna be a while until I record or mix again. Should I still join now?

Well that's up to you. Just know that prices will go up next week and we might even close the doors entirely for a while after that.

You will need some time anyway to go trough all the material, prepare and implement everything and you have lifetime access, including future updates or additions. 

Also, the live Q&A session will be recorded, so you don't have to be there if you can't make it. You can leave questions in advance, so we can answer them and even if you don't, you'll get insane value out of the replay and our answers to all the other questions.

So you can go through it at your own pace and there's no risk if you decide to jump on the opportunity right now.

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How much time do I need to set aside for this?

You can go through the video course at your own pace. The Q&A is the only scheduled thing, but there's going to be a replay. How long the Q&A takes, depends on how many questions we get. 

Again, if you can't participate live, don't worry. You can submit questions in advance and watch the replay of the meetup later. 

There's a lot that we show you in this course and it's pretty dense, so it will take you at least a few days until you've watched everything and took notes and then it's up to you to practice and implement everything. 

Whether you do it in real time, or binge through and then implement step-by-step is up to you. However you end up doing it - In the end you will make better records. Period. 

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There is some more questions we answered, but you'll have to listen to the episode to hear them!

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Hopefully these answers help you determine if Mixes Unpacked is the right fit for you.

​​You can get all the details (including what sweet bonuses you get) right here. ​​

And remember you can try out the program risk free for 30 days to make SURE you love it and that it's the right course for you.

See you on the inside!

-Benedikt & Malcom

P.S. Join before March 30th and lock in a lower rate than everyone else will pay in the future.

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide

BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call

Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community

Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core

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What exactly are you doing when you're "demoing" or doing pre-production? 

Are you capturing ideas? Working on the songs? Refining the arrangements? Recording scratch tracks?

All of that is fine and important, but the time you spend working on the songs and recording demos is actually still part of the writing process, while pre-production is a whole other step on the journey to a final record. 

The songs and arrangements should be finished (or close to finished) at this point, because there's still a lot more to do and to focus on in pre-pro than just capturing scratch tracks. 
 
So let's chat about the real reason(s) to doing pre-production, as people tend to either treat it as a part of the writing process or just as being about laying down tracks to record to.

Let's go!

For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/110

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide

BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call

Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community

Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core

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Are you feeling overwhelmed every time you're starting a mix? Do you go back and forth a lot, constantly questioning your decisions? 

For a lot of self-recording artists the answer to those questions is "yes". 

Do you know when the mix is actually done? Do you know what needs to be corrected in the raw recordings you're working on? And do you know what needs to be done first, second, third, etc.? 

The answer to these questions is often "no". 

Malcom and I (Benedikt) give you a break down of our “mixing systems”, telling you exactly how we approach our mixes. Step-by-step.

This is all about having a good process and knowing what you're trying to achieve in each phase. So that you can then be creative, completely focus on the task at hand and consistently make progress towards you desired end result.

Understanding the whole mixing process better and coming up with a system or some kind of repeatable approach for yourself will help you 

• stay focused
• be more creative
• make better decisions faster
• serve your songs better
• actually finish your projects

And of course your mixes will sound better, too.

Let's go!

For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/109

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide

BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call

Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community

Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core

--

We got a listener request with some great questions and did this episode because of that!

Stephan sent us an email, saying that he loved our episodes on editing and that he now understands it’s absolutely necessary in most cases. 

He says, he just doesn’t quite know how to actually do it. 

Especially how to do it "on the fly", while he has to do all these other things. 

Also, he said he’d love to hear us talk more in-depth about how to know whether or not something needs to be corrected and which techniques to use. 

So we also discuss discuss time-stretching vs slip editing, among other actionable things. 

Let's jump in!

For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/108

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Download the free Ultimate 10 Step Guide To Successful DIY-Recording here: https://theselfrecordingband.com/10stepguide

BOOK A FREE IN-DEPTH 1-ON-1 FEEDBACK CALL WITH BENEDIKT:
https://theselfrecordingband.com/call

Join the free Facebook Group ("The Self-Recording Band Community"):
theselfrecordingband.com/community

Benedikt's voice on this episode has been recorded with the Antelope Axino Synergy Core

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Let’s assume you’ve already written a song and you can play it. Alone or as a band. How long does it typically take from there until you have a finished, mastered product that you can release? 

1.  The truth for most people/bands is, that the song is probably still not finished and ready to record. Even if they think it is ;-)
   
   
   
2. In this episode we give you the full process and timeline. Without skipping anything. The only thing we assume here is that you have the right gear for the project, know how to operate it and that what you have is in good shape. 
   
   This is meant to help you actually get things done (in case you're taking too long) or to help you realize how much time you actually need to put in if you want it to be great (in case you're rushing it). 

We will tell you how long we think each step could or should take you. We’ll also compare doing it all yourself vs outsourcing the mixing and/or mastering. 

For full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/107

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: [email protected]