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Post by Flolei on Mar 5, 2012 8:07:15 GMT
Hi, dear colleagues!
I go further with recordings and ask myself about the better solution to make them.
After listenning the recordings I posted on Youtube, a friend asked me if it wouldn't be better to play in a room without echo and - envetually - to add after an artificial echo effect with the software on my computer.
So I did the 3 samples I will send and comment in 3 different posts. In all I play the same tune: the beginning of the Little Cowherd, the tune I'm currently practicing on my dizi in D.
I will be grateful for all comments and advises.
Best wishes to all of you!
Flolei
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Post by Flolei on Mar 5, 2012 8:11:07 GMT
1. recording. I'm in my home office. Small room, only books all around. No echo at all. Usually I don't like to play here because the tone is really "cold". Attachments:
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Post by Flolei on Mar 5, 2012 8:14:55 GMT
2. recording. I'm in my living-room. I usually play here because there is such a nice natural echo in it. Problem: as you will hear, the little recorder can't reproduce the natural echo. The tone isn't bad, but it isn't the same than "in live", when I'm playing. Attachments:
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Post by Flolei on Mar 5, 2012 8:16:44 GMT
3. recording. It is actually the first one, but I add a 0,07 s. artificial echo on it. Attachments:
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Post by Flolei on Mar 5, 2012 8:22:05 GMT
I know that it will be funny for some of you, who have more experience about recording. I'm actually a beginner, but I like the quality, so I would really like to improve.
Something else: I'm practicing the tune, so I know I have to improve my playing too!
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Post by George on Mar 5, 2012 14:42:07 GMT
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Post by phillipr on Mar 5, 2012 14:55:23 GMT
Flolei, Are these posted on YouTube as well? What's your username on YouTube? My computer won't allow me to play the files you've uploaded, but I'd love to hear them.  |
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Post by Flolei on Mar 5, 2012 16:58:35 GMT
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Post by phillipr on Mar 5, 2012 17:10:37 GMT
I really like the living-room sample. And great playing, by the way. You've inspired me to renew my own efforts, which have been sort of lacking lately due to family demands.
If you want to check out some of the videos I've posted on YouTube, my user name is "IrishFluteObsession." So far I haven't posted any dizi music. After listening to your posts I'll be all the more hesitant, seeing how you sound so much better than I. ;D
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Post by Flolei on Mar 5, 2012 17:47:00 GMT
Thanks for your nice comment and compliment. I already saw your videos. Of course, I'm not a expert in Irish music, but it sounds great.
Thank you very much for your opinion. Interesting... I really cannot make a decision between the second and the third. I hope other colleagues will give their opinion too.
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Post by davidmdahl on Mar 5, 2012 18:43:06 GMT
Beautifully played, Flolei. I think that the second sample sounds more natural. I have done my own experimentation with adding reverb to my recordings, and now tend to leave it off. I think that the free or cheap reverb tools are not quite good enough. A professional studio has the right tools to add high quality effects, but even there it is too easy to overdo it. I have heard more than a few recordings destroyed for me by ladling on the artificial reverb like syrup on pancakes. Natural reverb is best, but it can be a challenge to find a good room for the music. Some professional recordings are done on location, such as old churches, and sometimes these recordings are something to cherish. For an extreme example, check out the recordings of flutist Paul Horn in the Taj Mahal and Great Pyramid. I have a few CDs on Wind Records that were recorded in a church in California, with sublime results: ymaa.stores.yahoo.net/pastoralsongcd.htmlI have heard excellent results from using two microphones, with one close to the instrument, and the other more distant. The mix of the two can produce a great immediate close sound as well as more room. Best wishes, David |
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Post by George on Mar 5, 2012 20:31:20 GMT
Yes. Apparently you can get good results from SIR1 and Reverberate LE, but the cheapest near-professional-grade software reverbs, Redline Reverb and 2CAudio Breeze, are $150. For huge, complex, unnatural reverbs there's nothing like 2CAudio Aether, which you have to hear. Just go to www.2caudio.com/products/aether and a sample will start playing automatically. |
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Post by sanmenxia on Mar 5, 2012 22:34:41 GMT
Sorry I haven't heard the recordings so far.
Basically, the further the mic is from the instrument the more the mic will pick up the the sound of the room. An omni-directional mic also will pick up more from the room than a directional mic.
And hard surfaces reflect more sound than soft surfaces. So a living room with carpets, curtains, sofas, wallpaper etc is going to have less reverberations than a bathroom.
So if you want loads of reverb, record in the bathroom or toilet, with the mic a good distance away from the instrument. The drawback is you can't remove the reverb.
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Post by xindi on Mar 5, 2012 23:37:55 GMT
Hi Flolei, I can only gasp in awe at the fun it brings just to listen to you play! Your recording quality is miles better than anything the gerbil running inside my computer can muster up. I've got such a big learning curve, I'm as green as this board with envy lol  Of the recordings, I found no.2 stood out for me. The first one sounded rather claustrophobic with little soundstage. The third one sounded rather odd, a bit like hearing a pop singer in a live concert, singing her own backing vocals at the same time as singing the lead vocals, which often made me marvel as a kid, at how they could throw their voices like that lol. I don't understand the technicalities of recording, other than knowing that I'm not doing it right! Where I work, has a dead acoustic, which picks up mostly vocal inflections, and less of the tone. Where I live, has a better natural acoustic, but I don't have the skills to make use of the space to record. Thanks for privileging us with hearing too! I'm going to have to dig out that piece of music sometime...! |
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Post by Flolei on Mar 8, 2012 22:17:28 GMT
Hi, colleagues flutists!
Thank you very much for all kind and interesting comments! You're so great penpals!
Of course, when I told I would like to ameliorate I thought without buying expensive recording material (for now).
David, the recording of "Trip to Guzu" in church is really wonderful. The idea to have too different microphones at different distances and to mix after the two recordings is really interesting. In each case, I understood the lesson: no syrup on pancake anymore!!!
George, I like very much the picture of the room. Interesting build, isn't it. Thank you to have shown me how it looks like! The reverb I used isn't good enough, I agree. It is the one which is running in Audiacity. Does-it mean that I can change it for a better one which will be hosted by Audiacity instead of it? This solution looks interesting and free, bit I'm not sure I understood well what you wrote about this.
Samenxia, thanks for the further information you added.
Xindi, Philipp, thanks to you too (especially because you give me more motivation) It's great! I really love this piece, but I have still problems with the last, quick part. I have to resolve this before I record the whole piece. I'm working on it...
Best wishes to all of you!
Flolei
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Post by George on Mar 9, 2012 0:03:12 GMT
Hi Flolei! Yes, you can host a different reverb inside Audacity. You'll need to be using Audacity version 1.3. I suggest you download Reverberate LE from www.liquidsonics.com/software_reverberate_le.htm, and when the installer asks you which folder to put the VST plugin into, choose the one named "Plug-Ins" within your Audacity program folder. It will probably be something like "C:\Program Files (x86)\Audacity 1.3 Beta (Unicode)\Plug-Ins". You can then start Audacity and load Reverberate LE from the Effects menu. Best wishes, George |
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Post by Flolei on Mar 9, 2012 9:29:30 GMT
Hi, George! I did it. It was easy and was also a good opportunity to update audiacity (I had an oldest version). Thanks a lot! Maybe it is still syrup on pancakes, but it is much better - see attachment or this link www.youtube.com/watch?v=e47wEQkhY-Y. The old one gave the feeling that the sound was so far and artificial, in this one there's no such feeling, so - in my opinion - it is really much better. Thanks again! Nice day and nice week-end! Flolei Attachments:
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Post by George on Mar 9, 2012 10:11:11 GMT
Great! The picture's very sweet If it's not there in the original recording, the touch of distortion might be due to your Wet and Dry levels being too high in Reverberate LE - try reducing them a bit, and seeing what mix of them you like best. Best wishes, George |
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Post by Flolei on Mar 24, 2012 15:54:15 GMT
Dear friends flutists, OK, I did it. Of course, it isn't perfect, there're mistakes (especially an articulation one in the 3rd part, but I noticed it when the video was already finished), but it was a nice project and I decided to post it anyway. Thanks a lot to all of you for good advices. I'm not 100% satisfied with myself, but I' very satisfied with the recording features (recording in my working room + reverbate LE). The link is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=81UvGWpmJk4Now I'll try to ameliorate my playing of the New Herdmen's song. It is maybe too ambitious, but I will try it! Nice week-end to all of you! Kind regards, Flolei |
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Post by George on Mar 24, 2012 20:25:48 GMT
Brilliant! You play so well.
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Post by xiaodizimusic on Mar 24, 2012 21:28:58 GMT
Excellent!!!
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Post by phillipr on Mar 28, 2012 13:42:20 GMT
Flolei, I loved your playing. It is steady and simple, but most certainly not lacking in emotion and melody. You've inspired me to redouble my efforts at practicing. I hope I can play as well one day.
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Post by Flolei on Mar 28, 2012 16:08:01 GMT
Thanks a lot for your kind comments. I love this piece, but it was important for me to have a goal and to post the recording.
I try to build my repertoire by myself to be able to play if someone propose me to perform, for example, one month before the performance date. Next months I would like to work on Guan Shan Yue and Farewell at Yangguan Pass with xiao, Moon reflecting in the water (actually Erhu piece, but it doesn't really matter) with low G dizi and the New Herdsmen's song with E dizi. At the same time I will still play once or twice a week the two pieces I already recorded.
Thanks again for advices and kind words. It is so good to have the opportunity to speak about such a rare music in Europe with so nice people!
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Post by xiaodizimusic on Mar 28, 2012 18:18:03 GMT
i really enjoyed your professional performance and i would be grateful if i could find someone like you to perform some notes of my music. i posted already two Demo versions of the first part under the general title Chinese Music Pictures.just Demo versions...
Best wishes
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Post by xindi on Apr 1, 2012 22:47:58 GMT
I really liked that one!
I want to know how you get all the English titles to these indecipherable songs!
Kind regards!
Xindi
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