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 recording quality of Frank's (live to 2-track)CD's
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =

Mexico
15297 Posts

Posted - 06/16/2003 :  18:46:26  Show Profile
does anyone else feel like there's a big variance between the audio quality of Devil's Workshop and, say, Dog In The Sand?

i don't know much at all about recording or the technical specifics of what make some recordings sound different than others... but i would love it if someone could shed some light..

i'm not making a value judgement, but it seems to me that between DITS, BLD and DW, the "quality" varys a bit. DITS sounds excellent to me - vivid, crisp and loud. whereas DW has this vague muffledness to me. BLD is somewhere in between, but closer to DITS..

is it only me, or what?

because i noticed that (though live to 2-track) DITS was recorded in a "professional" studio. though i guess Frank's studio is no different or less professional..

i quess my question is, what are the main factors that contribute to the "quality" or sound of a cd? is it entirely recording related: quality of equipment, mics, etc.. or does it actually have anything to do with the quality of the final production stage.. like, the quality of the equipment that actually produces the physical cd's?

sorry if this doesn't make sense..

Edited by - floop on 06/16/2003 18:51:08

El Barto
= Song DB Master =

USA
4020 Posts

Posted - 06/16/2003 :  19:46:21  Show Profile  Visit El Barto's Homepage
Pretty much everything you've mentioned has an effect on the quality. Mics, instruments, mixer, mic placement, reel to reel deck, type of tape, what medium they mixed down to (and all the components of that system), the producer, EQ, other outboard equipment...the list goes on. Considering his "mobile" studio, I wouldn't think the mixing board is as top as one in a studio.
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Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =

USA
925 Posts

Posted - 06/16/2003 :  22:29:31  Show Profile  Visit Atheist4Catholics's Homepage
I had read somewhere that DITS was recorded to 1" analog tape instead of the 1/2" that is more common (and a lot less expensive.) This might account for the lusciousness on DITS that's missing from BLD and DW which sound more lo-fi.

Reports of the new one so far claim that it sounds amazing, so maybe the lo-fi quality on the last two releases was due to them figuring out and breaking in their recording gear. I'm assuming that the new one was recorded with the same gear.

www.mp3.com/clootie
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-

USA
5155 Posts

Posted - 06/16/2003 :  23:37:21  Show Profile  Visit Broken Face's Homepage
i'd say SMYT is closer to DITS than BLD or DW, but still not at the same warmth

-brian
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6182 Posts

Posted - 06/17/2003 :  01:33:06  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address
Uhm DW sounds so muffled
because they use a lot of effects on their voices
and much reverb and delay on the guitars




''it's not a box, it's a submarine''
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Jettison
- FB Fan -

USA
228 Posts

Posted - 06/17/2003 :  10:35:22  Show Profile  Visit Jettison's Homepage
I think SMYT has the best sound quality yet.

I'm guessing the production has alot to do with it.

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Puppaduck
- FB Fan -

USA
21 Posts

Posted - 06/17/2003 :  16:47:14  Show Profile
DITS was recorded at Sound City on practically the greatest rock mixing board in the world, to 1/4" reel to reel at 30 inches per second. DW, BLD and SMYT were all recorded on a 10-channel console to 1/4" tape at 15 inches per second. DW and BLD were recorded with everyone in the same room -- no control room even. SMYT was done in a more isolation-friendly studio. Those are the facts. All of the live-to-2-track records were done on 1/4" tape.
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =

Mexico
15297 Posts

Posted - 06/17/2003 :  18:36:03  Show Profile
much thanks to all . that explains thing pretty well ..

when i record my mind-blowing opus, i'll definitely consider Sound City as an option..
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =

USA
4020 Posts

Posted - 06/18/2003 :  14:02:04  Show Profile  Visit El Barto's Homepage
Sound City is where Nirvana recorded Nevermind, isn't it?
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =

Canada
3581 Posts

Posted - 06/18/2003 :  14:03:53  Show Profile
Yes it is. Butch Vig recorded them there on one sunny day (well, I'm sure it was more than a day) in Van Nuys. Not the dark skies Frank sings of.
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6182 Posts

Posted - 06/18/2003 :  14:30:15  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address
seems puppaduck is an insider



''it's not a box, it's a submarine''
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Chris Knight
= Cult of Ray =

USA
899 Posts

Posted - 06/18/2003 :  15:04:30  Show Profile  Visit Chris Knight's Homepage
The fact that 1/4" tape was used for all the live-to-stereo recordings is quite an eye-opener. I guess the simplified recording environment might explain why the drum tracks on BLD/DW sound cruddy and rehearsal space-esque.
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