Trying to record the SEVEN

This baby is hard to record. No matter how much I dial back the input, it still seems to overwhelm the inputs and muddies up the recorded sound. It just doesn't sound like it does live. Weird, 'cause all my other stuff does. I probably need some kind of limiter or something on the input signal. Here is a sample. Just fooling around - no drums, just the SEVEN. I did add a VOX from the G7 towards the end, just to add a little color. The voice on the SEVEN is an untweaked preset called MKS EP.

The tune is an old tune called Cristo Redentor, which I think means Christ the Redeemer in Portugese. Just a simple chord pattern played first in Cm then repeated in Gm (kinda clever, actually). No exotic or jazz chords, mainly because of the density of the tones. It's a pretty tune, kind of sad, really. I may try to flesh it out one day when I have nothing else to do. I haven't heard it in years so it may not be totally correct chord wise, but hey, it was just spur of the moment.

Any suggestions about how to improve recording this really 'thick' (fat?, dense?) signal would be appreciated.

https://app.box.com/s/mvw24uwim4ksyev07f4w3xtk7q58nhrm

chas

Catchy! Very Catchy! I'll remember this for a while for sure. I wasn't even listening to the track quality...it didn't matter at all.

Chas, just the we need phantom power to boost the output for some microphones, there are units that will reduce the output. Volume controls can not do the job without losing quality.

I like your recording, but it’s hard getting past the distortion.
John C.

Hi Chas

If you gave some idea of your recording equipment someone may be able to help, without knowing what you use to record it's an impossible question.

Col

Ditto

Yeah Sam, it is the kind of tune that sticks in your head.

John, this was a direct recording, no mics.

Col, Dnj, I used my trusty Alesis IO/26 (great interface) into REAPER (plenty of available effects plugins). Everything I've ever recorded into that configuration has been crystal clear. Only this voice and the DX7 voice on the Crumar SEVEN seem to overwhelm it. I think it may be the pre-fader effects (reverb, stereo phasing, etc.) that's causing it. Obviously I can't add them post-fader nor do I want to. I want to get the 'live' sound I want and record THAT. Oh well, I'll keep working on it. The classic Rhodes preset (untweaked) fares much better. Experimenting is frustrating but fun .

chas

Chas very interesting tune with an eerie melody to it which I like .....can't wait to hear it when you RE-Record it once you get the recording kinks worked out good luck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ1iHnkqiXA

some useful info

Thanks Donny, I've been using REAPER for quite a few years now but it is constantly changing and there is always something new to learn. I'll read this article throughly, I'm sure there is a lot of good info in there.

chas

Hi Chas,
Sometimes the best solution is also the simplest.
If the live sound from the seven that you’re hearing is what you want to record , have you considered doing just that? Using mics on the speakers to record?
Am sure you’ve probably thought of this already though so don’t know if I’ve been of any help
Good luck I’m sure you’ll get it.
Jim

Thanks Jim, yeah I thought about it but haven't tried it. I've got a couple of decent large condensers so I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

chas

Great piece ,, very haunting and cool. Really liked,it and your playing is right on. Just enough spice without overdoing it. Good luck with the recording and repost when you get it straighten out.

Thanks Bill, I was just checking out your FP90 (and Dave's SV-1). That's a great sounding piano. The SV-1 also sounds great and I've got a feeling I'd like the keybed better than the SEVEN, but I think (subjectively) the SEVEN is a little 'fatter'. Of course, neither one even comes close to the FP90 for acoustic piano, but that's understandable - apples and oranges.

As far as that tune, yeah it's funny how such a simple little tune can have such a haunting effect.

chas

Chas,
I bought the SV-1 strictly for a digital Rhodes with stereo pan, and midi. I'm not expecting to use the acoustic piano at all.
Funny thing is ... the SV-1 sits about 3 feet away from a Real Rhodes 73. Gotta have both ... AND, it's RED.

Yeah Dave, that's what I thought. I bought the SEVEN for exactly the same reason. If the SEVEN had not come out when it did (along with a great promotional video), I probably would have bought the SV-1. I'd love to hear you post any little ditty using your favorite 1 or 2 voices from the SV-1. I know you've got the keyboard chops (but more importantly the 'Rhodes' chops - a special skill/technique) to make it sound great.

At this point, if I had to choose (as in, couldn't have both) between the SEVEN and a real Rhodes (I owned one about 20 yrs ago), I'd choose the SEVEN (for some of the same reasons you got the SV-1). Once you get used to certain types of technology, it's hard to give it up .

BTW, stereo pan is one of the things that seems to exacerbate the recording problem; that would seem to point to my recording system, I guess. Love the effect though. I notice that the feature set of both instruments is very similar.

chas

https://youtu.be/FEZiCdYoEwY

This kid plays nice.

That he does. I'm guessing a good player could make either instrument sound fantastic, especially if you're a fan of the 'Rhodes' sound. Any preference of one over the other would be purely subjective.

chas

Yeah, but mine has more Christmas tree lights .

chas

I could see me using a setup like this one day .... maybe just at home, but who knows?

Here's the vid
https://youtu.be/fjO2rDDJ6Hg