When Things Just Don't Sound Right

I'm currently in the studio producing the band Snew. Here's a picture on the left of the nice old Neve found in Village Recorders studio A where we're holed up with the great Ed Cherney engineering.

Everything has sounded great right from the start on the this project, but there are times when you're recording when that's not the case at all. It's not uncommon to find that a part doesn't fit well in a track, or fits too well where it can't be distinguished. Here's a list of things to try in order of importance the next time you run in to either situation.

Change the source (the instrument you are miking)

Change the mic placement

Change the placement in the room

Change the mic

Change the mic preamplifier

Change the mount of compression and/or limiting (from none to a lot)

Change the room (the actual room you are recording in)

Change the musician

Come back and try it another day