Greetings, all! I hope you’re all well!
I’ve got a couple of sound quality issues I’m trying to work through. Here’s my basic setup:
Running Win10 and Audacity 3.0.3.
I also have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 that I’m using. So obviously I’m recording this onto my laptop.
Microphones: AKG P170 for guitar, Oktava MK319 or Shure SM58 for vocals.
I don’t know that it matters, but the guitar I’m using is a Takamine EG334 SBC in standard tuning.
My problems are as follows:
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I’m having to record this in my garage. There’s not really any place else in my house to record it, and since it’s pretty much a “personal project” at this point, I really don’t want to shell out hundreds (or thousands) for studio time. My garage is already rather full, so I can’t really “sound treat” anything. I’m having to “make due” with what I have. Which leads us to…
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My absolute biggest problem is background “noise”. I remedied most of it simply by upgrading my microphones. Are there any other effects (other than those I note below), and in what order can I apply them, to reduce noise as much as possible? As I said, this is purely a “personal” project for now, but I haven’t decided if I want to sell copies or not, but that’s for a different post. But I still want it to sound good.
I’ve tried using the Loudness Normalization, Noise Reduction, and Normalization features, but as I said, I’m very, very new to recording/tweaking/mixing. I know the answer to “how much background noise is acceptable” is probably “none”. So if there’s a way to get rid of the background noise completely, I’m all ears. I kinda-sorta can get rid of some of it (though I haven’t written down how), but then when I raise the gain on that track pretty high, I still hear noise, although it’s in the -48db range. If I leave the gain at 0, it’s like the background noise (which is usually that ambient “hum” or some call it “rumble”). I tried turning on the -20db setting on my P170, and unless I’m doing something wrong, or don’t understand what that switch does, I don’t like how it sounds. It doesn’t sound quite as clear as it does when it’s set to 0.
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I’m still having trouble with the guitar sounding as “clean” as I’d like. I might have found somewhat of a “sweet spot”, but I would really like some tips on “mixing” or EQing a guitar. It’s still a little “boomy”, and I’d like it to sound more “natural”. Any tips here would be great.
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Is there a way on the vocal track I can “edit out” the “inhale” sound that happens right before I start singing a line or verse? I have a pop filter in place, but my MK319 is picking up the inhalation breaths.
I’d like my recordings to sound “raw” without sounding “raw”, if that makes sense.
All of these songs are probably just going to be me and my guitar for right now. No other instruments. Ultimately I want to get a vinyl pressing made for myself (hang on the wall), and maybe some CDs made for family and friends, before I decide whether or not to sell them.
Thank you for all your help! Have a great day and make terrific recordings!