Recording Session

Glassjaw20 · #1 10-24-2008, 02:39 AM

Our band recently began recording three tracks for our producer to listen to and form an opinion on to see which one he likes and dislikes. our lead singer and leader of the band was the one doing our recordings. he started off recording the guitar for a reference track so our drummer could record his later. he didn't use a click track and only let him play each track once all the way through. needless to say the tracks were not good, they were fast then slow, and parts were messed up. the following day he recorded the drums which followed the reference tracks and were just as bad as the guitar tracks. a few days later he recoded my tracks. i had no choice but to follow my band mates tracks. m lead singer became very upset about our tracks, only the bass and the drums. telling me that it unproffesional and i should know my parts better. that even if the guitar and drums are off i shouldnt be. i felt as though he was in the wrong for recording the tracks so poorly and not using a click track. im a right for feeling that way?

casio · #2 10-24-2008, 04:26 AM

well, although my answer may not help much, I would believe this situation calls for a good old kick in the groin area...

ryanrex · #3 10-24-2008, 11:32 AM

+1 to kick in the groin.

If all the parts are equally messed up because your guitar player didnt take time to lay a scratch down properly shame on him for blaming the rhythm section...

I know when we recorded in the basement of the music shop i work at... which is about 15 minutes from where trent grew up.... my dad and him used to share bills with there bands, i think he said trents band at the time was klikz or option 30 or something, i forget which one....sorry off topic haha......we lived by the click track.... and we did put unfair amounts of pressure on our drummer cuz he layed his tracks down first to the click and scratch, so we made sure the scratch was as perfect as it could be...

so i belie you should feel that way because i would feel the exact same.

JimmyM · #4 10-24-2008, 12:21 PM

This is a good argument for not letting one guy go off half cocked on his own. Your singer is not a producer, and proved it bigtime. But at least they're only reference tracks and not the final product. I'd save the kick to the groin and just hope the producer can work with them.

Tersan · #5 10-24-2008, 01:00 PM

This reminds me of playing with singers who yell out the keys to songs they are calling for the first time and expecting me to follow along. I mean, love to know that this is technically in G minor...but what about these four strings indicates to you that I am clairvoyant?

Same with the lack of click track or live recording as a band. How could you ever be expected to predict minute changes in time? Yep, silly non-bassists!

bassybass · #6 10-24-2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glassjaw20

. . . .he didn't use a click track and only let him play each track once all the way through . . .

Unless this clown is going for a deliberate "pulling apart at the seams" vibe than I'd say he's nuts, or at least his own worst enemy. Not to say EVERY song has to be tracked with a click, but if you're gonna go without one, you'd be better served by tracking the basics together, rather than trying to follow his fluctuating time after the fact. Or at least give the drummer enough time to "learn" the tempo shifts and get a good tight track down. Jeez.

Glassjaw20 · #7 10-24-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

This is a good argument for not letting one guy go off half cocked on his own. Your singer is not a producer, and proved it bigtime. But at least they're only reference tracks and not the final product. I'd save the kick to the groin and just hope the producer can work with them.

well the tracks were meant to be given to our producer so he can see that we're making progress. our singer has been talking alot of game to him and lying about our progress. so now he's probably going to be pissed hat we only have one track instead of three.

bassybass · #8 10-24-2008, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glassjaw20

well the tracks were meant to be given to our producer so he can see that we're making progress. our singer has been talking alot of game to him...

His approach makes even less sense then, given the above. Weird.
If you're just trying to show this producer you're making progress as a band, then just make the best recording you can of the band at rehearsal, and don't sweat the production--that's what the producer is for---he should be able to hear past it.

jmjbassplayer · #9 10-24-2008, 05:56 PM

It all came to a screeching halt when your singer decided that he'd record your guitarist first with no click, and then have the drummer play to that erratic take.

That's a great way to get some very poopy demos.

Yes he was wrong. And somehow his close-mindedness or personal feelings about the guitar part (or the player) verses the drums and bass (or those musicians) has caused him to come to you with that myopic excuse that you should have known your parts better. Perhaps you should have known your parts better, but I'm sorry, if what you're playing to sucks, you can't polish a pre-existing turd with your playing.

Demo FAIL.

Anyway, speak your mind, without insulting the guy. Just get your point made. Thankfully, they're just demos for a producer.

JMJ