MOTM

From Mike Marsh: 
I don't compress or limit the signal from the modular to my deck... 
it just kills the dynamics...  I like to get the right dynamics and 
timbre out of the synth and record it naked...

Mike,

Great advice - it sounds like you know whats going on when it comes 
to recording!
I keep finding, the more I go on - that its way too easy to get 
sucked into the vortex of: "how do I use this thing or that?"

Lotsa times the best answer is: DON'T use this or that...

Especially with EQ and all - it always seems to cause 'hidden' 
phasing problems when you get a little too crafty with the 
parametrics - eh?  An endless battle I feel...

Then again, just to confuse things, my TC Electronics Finalizer does 
stuff that I don't even understand - and can make things sound great -
I just can't always figure it out though - so I just have, at least, 
one trusty yet mysterious 'black box'in my arsenal - and only God 
knows how it works...

Something like the pro-studio's LA-2s and Neuman U-47s...which I'll 
never be able to afford anyways!

Less is better - start with the George Martin 4-track thing and 
you'll get to where you wanna go alot quicker I think.  There's just 
too darn many little knobs to get you all sidetracked and into 
the "mush-mix" zone...I've done it myself, way too many times already!

Best,

Rog