| Home recording and general music post from the archived Yabb Recording Website Message Board. Some of the info here may be outdated but many of the audio recording and home studio tips are still good. Note: The only tags I made and attempt to convert are italics, bold, center and underline. So if you see some gibberish surrounded by brackets, just ignore it.
Recording Website Archived Yabb board Post
Febuary 2001 Yabb Message Board Archive
Subject: Here's my links
by Tim_Z | 03/13/01 at 19:24:46
Link to my Freefall CD at MP3.com:
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/71/freefall__tim_zurowski.html
and here's a link to my studio website with MP3 samples of other artists I have recorded:
http://www.members.home.net/zuropak/willowcreek.htm
Thanks for listening
Cheers
Tim Zurowski
P.S. Freefall 2 CD soon to be released :)
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by Steve_S. | 03/14/01 at 08:42:02
[size=3]Cool! Looking forward to it Tim. I really liked your first Freefall CD. Let us know when it's available.[/size]
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by Tim_Z | 03/15/01 at 11:26:07
Hey thanks for the kind words Steve. Freefall 2 is going to be somewhat different than Freefall 1, as I am not doing all the playing. I got the old Fusion Band members back together and we are doing a bunch of songs written by the Keyboard player. We also got to use a real Steinway Grand for about 6 of the tunes :) It will also have vocals in three songs. I probably won't be able to afford to send them out for free as I did with Freefall 1, but we'll see.
Take Care
Tim
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by Jon_B | 03/21/01 at 18:31:18
Ya, I was pretty blown away the first time I heard DiMeola play that seamless 32nd note legato(or was it 64th notes? I can't count that fast!) But there's a lot to be said for fusion w/ soul. And you can cut a convincing Blues riff, which most can't. "This" reminds me a bit of Steve Morse.
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by Tim_Z | 03/22/01 at 08:43:23
Hey, Thanks for listening Jon. You know I started out back in the late 60's early 70's, as a total blues player. I wore out the old John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers albums by listening to them so much. I still love to play the blues a lot, which I guess you picked up on in my playing. But my biggest influence was Jeff Beck, which you will definitely pick up in tracks 1, 2 & 9 on my CD. I was especially influenced by his earlier stuff, from Truth up to Blow by Blow. I still believe he is the master of tone and feeling when he is on.
You're the third person to make reference to Steve Morse ::) but you know I never listened to him until recently, so that connection is by fluke. I do really love his playing though. The CD you listened to is just one side of my playing. Our next CD is going to have a bunch of tunes in the style of Steely Dan, who I am also a big fan of.
Now I have to continue to work on my recording engineer chops, which I think is improving with each CD.
Take care and thanks for listening.
Tim
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by Silent_Bob | 03/23/01 at 23:16:39
Finally heard your stuff. I like but the bass drum needs more bass. I'd also run the keys through an amp to be more consistant with the acoustically captured sounds.
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by Tim_Z | 03/27/01 at 19:20:30
Thanks for listening Bob
I think what you meant to say was "In my opinion the bass drum needs more bass". Maybe it's the MP3's encoding or something, but on my systems it sounds great, and pretty well exactly how I wanted it. I've actually had drummers get back to me and ask me how I got that great kick sound, so different strokes ....... I wanted a fairly neutral kick where you can get the attack of the beater. I listen to a lot of Jazz Fusion instrumental music, and this is very similar to the kick sound in much of that music. It also sounds very similar to one of the kick samples in my Roland R5, which I really like.
I would never run any sampled sounds through an amp (maybe bass guitar). Why would you want to muddy up the samples that were recorded in million dollar studios? I could see running them through a high quality DI or mic pre perhaps, but it's really not necessary. I will admit that the keys are lacking on that CD from a players perspective, but that is only because I did all the parts myself on guitar synth, and I am definitely not a keyboard player. Keys on guitar synth simply do not work! For the Freefall 2 CD I have a really good keyboard player which really helps a lot.
The first Freefall CD was largely an experiment out of frustration with having just broke up with my previous band. So I decided to play everything myself and did it mostly as a vehicle to showcase my guitar, which is what I really do. While the engineering and recording is okay, I know that it could be way better. But that project is behind me now and I only want to go on with new and better things. I really wouldn't judge this CD for its engineering aspects, but rather instead for its musical content (assuming you like that style of music).
Take Care
Tim Z
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by DanS | 03/27/01 at 20:46:34
"I'd also run the keys through an amp to be more consistant with the acoustically captured sounds"
SB, care to explain what you mean on this one????
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by JR#97 | 03/28/01 at 15:11:57
You oughta post some links to your Bear Stories playing. I really liked some of the stuff on there.
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by Tim_Z | 03/28/01 at 15:55:29
There are a few short MP3 samples at my Webpage, which I think I posted the link for above. They don't have their CD up at any MP3 sites, but they are doing fairly well with airplay. They are getting airplay on a regular rotation nationally on CBC Radio.
What did you think of the recording of that CD? I feel it is one of my better products from a recording sound quality perspective.
Tim Z
my dogma ate my karma :)
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by old_dan | 03/29/01 at 03:25:36
[quote author=Tim Z link=board=music2&num=984536686&start=0#4 date=03/22/01 at 08:43:23]
Our next CD is going to have a bunch of tunes in the style of Steely Dan, who I am also a big fan of.
Hey Tim, I liked your Freefall CD a lot. The only critisicm(sp?) was the drums, I thought they should have had more impact. But that's a minor thing, the cd is a guitar album anyway.
Now about Steely Dan, I don't understand the attraction. Tight flawless harmonies, catchy melodies, supurb musicianship. I don't get it. But you know they should have had Skunk Baxter join the band;D
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by Tim_Z | 03/29/01 at 12:16:23
Hey Dan, when you refer to impact, can I assume you mean the drum sound and not the playing. This was my first time ever being the engineer for recording a full drum kit, and while I am pleased with it to a point, I do agree with you. There is so much going on in some of the tunes that I think I may have mixed the drums a bit too low in some areas.
Also, while Malcolm really is an awesome drummer, he also learned a lot during this recording session. Mostly in how he plays each part of the kit while recording. It is quite different than playing live for some tunes. There are many places where he was really inconsistent with his attack and power on the snare, which seriously affects the groove in some places. With each CD I have recorded since this one, I feel I am learning and getting better at the drums each time. I really wish I knew more about tuning drums, because it really amazes me how few drummers actually know anything about tuning them, and, as you know, that can make a HUGE difference as to how they record.
Anyway thanks for the feedback :)
Tim Z
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by old_dan | 03/29/01 at 13:55:11
Hey Tim, the drums didn't sound bad, just not enough. I think it was probably a combination of both the recording and Malcoms technique.
I know what you mean about recording drums. I knew a kid that live sounded killer. But recording him was almost impossible. Waaay too many dynamics. I wish I knew more about using a compressor on drums.
Also, I had a book on recording, I think it was 'the Musicians Guide to Home Recording' and it had a section just on tuning drums. Can't remember off the top of my head but I think he tuned the snare to C (?).
The drums on your new stuff (from your site) do sound nice and thick. You ever think about remixing FreeFall? Or you just concentrating on the next one.
Take care,
Dan
Subject: Re: Here's my links
by Tim_Z | 03/29/01 at 14:52:15
Funny you should mention that, because I have been thinking of re-mixing it. I did all those original mixes on a pair of good quality Mirage stereo speakers, before I purchased my 20/20bas. One side of me says redo it, and the other side says leave it behind and go on. Right now I am very busy with Freefall 2, and at the same time have two bands coming in this April to do CD projects. Maybe when I get some free time (yeah like that ever happens) I will re-mix it for fun. Would that mean that I have to replace all the CD's out there with new ones? :o
I really do appreciate the feeback Dan
Take Care
Tim