Zoom LiveTrak L-20, recording #2

Описание

Recorded using a Zoom LiveTrak L-20 in one take, no overdubs.
The 5 tracks, bass via DI, guitar (two mics), vocal mic, and electronic drum set, were compiled in Mixcraft 9 with only one edit done, a spike in the vocal track was softened.

Drums were an electronic set, straight to the board

Bass was ran through a Sansamp Bass Driver DI, straight to the board

Guitar was ran into a MXR Phaser & Keeley Compressor Plus, then to a Peavey Delta Blues 210 combo. From there it was mic'ed to the board using 2 Shure SM57s, one centered one speaker, and one offset on the other speaker.

The vocal track was ran via a 1970s era Univox CE-5 mic straight to the board.

All monitoring was done via 3 sets of headphones, Audio-Technica ATH-M50X closed back on the master, AKG K240 open back for the vocalist, and whatever the drummer brought for himself.

Additional items used: two boxes with the sides lined with foam. One was placed around the vocal mic with the open side facing the vocalist. One was placed in front of the Peavey guitar combo with the open side facing the speakers with the mics placed inside the box and against the combo face.

The actual room this was recorded in is no bigger than 12 x 12, yes it's very crowded, and not ideal. But... floor is plywood, two walls are covered with a wood planking, one wall is sheetrock, and the outside wall is brick covered in sheetrock, ceiling is sheetrock. Surprisingly the acoustics are very good, very tight, with no reverberations bouncing around that can be heard by the human ear anyway. Microphones are a different story, hence the foam lined boxes that were used.

It's not a perfect situation, nor a perfect recording by any means. Just an example of how good something can easily be recorded using a L-20 in way less than desirable conditions at the drop of a hat. A lot more could have been done to make the recording even better than what it is. More reverb on the vocal track, more defining notes and articulation on the bass, etc... It is what it is, a learning experience.

I've made some pretty good recordings of others in the past 4 track days of old using Fostex gear. But I never had to play bass while monitoring a board before. Playing a simple bass line while keeping your eye on 5 track meters, two effects meters, and one master meter is not as easy as one would think. But it'll get better overtime with more use and practice.

The final mix after recording a 2nd bass track on the L-20 using a 5 string, and then editing with added effects in Mixcraft Pro 9 can be found here:
https://youtu.be/RaEXtlycick

Thanks for checking out the video!