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So the SHCB is well underway!
There's some things a few of us musicians have learned along the way that we can pass along to the members here to help in the recording process...
Start the project with the drum track - most important!!!
If the timing is off the whole project won't sync and it won't sound good.
The drum track is then posted and the bass track is recorded.
The mixer then mixes the drum and bass track and posts it
Third is the rhythm guitar... recording to the drum/bass track
The mixer then blends those three tracks into one and posts it
Fourth is the lead guitar... recording to the drum/bass/rhythm mix
The mixer then posts the 4 instruments mixed for the vocalists to use...
Finally the vocals are recorded last
Each track should be recorded in "isolation"...
Meaning when the musician/vocalist is recording the track should contain ONLY THEM. Some of us achieve this in different methods. Some use a free program like Audacity.
For example: Say you are a bass player... You would load the posted drum track in Audacity and create a new empty track and set it to record. When the drum track starts and you begin playing it records only on the track you have designated. Once you get the track recorded you can delete the drum channel and export your recording.
In every situation try and record in a quiet place with little to no environmental interference. No TVs or phones in the background and cars driving past your window.
DRUMS - The hardest instrument in any recording situation is the drums. Usually it takes multiple microphones and recording gear. We realize most do not have access to set-ups like that so just get the best microphone(s) you can. I have gotten really good results with a single condenser mic placed in the corner of the room before. Try and have your drums setup in a room with carpet or floor rugs. The more "soft" things in the room the better (mattresses for example). Using the audio from a video camera will probably not give good results because the mic can't handle the percussion very well.
GUITARS - Some run direct thru digital processors like Guitar Rig, some use mics. Every guitar/amp/guitarist is different. Just set up to get the best sound you can. If you are using a mic just use the best one you can get. A dynamic mike works best on guitar instead of a condenser mic. Make sure your levels aren't exploding the meters when you record to avoid the "fuzzy clipping" that can occur.
BASS - This info from Bassist SourChicken:
Bass is exactly the same as guitar in regards to recording.
It's best
to experiment with positioning of the mic, as you can get a huge
variance in tone depending on where it is/distance from the cab etc -
Also, try to stay as far away from the mic as you can when recording to
avoid the unprocessed sound from being picked up (The twanging etc)
I'd
definitely recommend using a USB interface though, as even with that
you can run it through your amp and have the tone that your amp produces
recorded.
VOCALS - Get the best mic you can. That's pretty straightforward. Get in a quiet room and sing... don't be afraid of your neighbors hearing you... sing out! I know Kasa has had good results singing into her iphone.. surprisingly good in fact. I'm not sure of her process but somehow she gets really good isolated results.
That's about it! Thanks and good luck everyone!
RG
There's some things a few of us musicians have learned along the way that we can pass along to the members here to help in the recording process...
Start the project with the drum track - most important!!!
If the timing is off the whole project won't sync and it won't sound good.
The drum track is then posted and the bass track is recorded.
The mixer then mixes the drum and bass track and posts it
Third is the rhythm guitar... recording to the drum/bass track
The mixer then blends those three tracks into one and posts it
Fourth is the lead guitar... recording to the drum/bass/rhythm mix
The mixer then posts the 4 instruments mixed for the vocalists to use...
Finally the vocals are recorded last
Each track should be recorded in "isolation"...
Meaning when the musician/vocalist is recording the track should contain ONLY THEM. Some of us achieve this in different methods. Some use a free program like Audacity.
For example: Say you are a bass player... You would load the posted drum track in Audacity and create a new empty track and set it to record. When the drum track starts and you begin playing it records only on the track you have designated. Once you get the track recorded you can delete the drum channel and export your recording.
In every situation try and record in a quiet place with little to no environmental interference. No TVs or phones in the background and cars driving past your window.
DRUMS - The hardest instrument in any recording situation is the drums. Usually it takes multiple microphones and recording gear. We realize most do not have access to set-ups like that so just get the best microphone(s) you can. I have gotten really good results with a single condenser mic placed in the corner of the room before. Try and have your drums setup in a room with carpet or floor rugs. The more "soft" things in the room the better (mattresses for example). Using the audio from a video camera will probably not give good results because the mic can't handle the percussion very well.
GUITARS - Some run direct thru digital processors like Guitar Rig, some use mics. Every guitar/amp/guitarist is different. Just set up to get the best sound you can. If you are using a mic just use the best one you can get. A dynamic mike works best on guitar instead of a condenser mic. Make sure your levels aren't exploding the meters when you record to avoid the "fuzzy clipping" that can occur.
BASS - This info from Bassist SourChicken:
Bass is exactly the same as guitar in regards to recording.
It's best
to experiment with positioning of the mic, as you can get a huge
variance in tone depending on where it is/distance from the cab etc -
Also, try to stay as far away from the mic as you can when recording to
avoid the unprocessed sound from being picked up (The twanging etc)
I'd
definitely recommend using a USB interface though, as even with that
you can run it through your amp and have the tone that your amp produces
recorded.
VOCALS - Get the best mic you can. That's pretty straightforward. Get in a quiet room and sing... don't be afraid of your neighbors hearing you... sing out! I know Kasa has had good results singing into her iphone.. surprisingly good in fact. I'm not sure of her process but somehow she gets really good isolated results.
That's about it! Thanks and good luck everyone!
RG
