Recording Process For Demo

[jordan2]

Hey guys, I'm recording a demo with my band this weekend and would appreciate some advice from the people with more experience doing this kind of thing. I am right now trying to decide what recording process and techniques we will use and was wondering what has worked for people? Here is the background information about my situation.

About the band: We are a 4 piece originals band (2 guitars, bass, drums) and we play kind of a rock/funk/soul/jam mix with some poppy stuff mixed in here and there.

Equipment we will be using
1: M audio fast track ultra (6 ins simultaneous)
2: 2 sm 58's
3: sm 57
4: decent large diagram condenser (borrowing so don't know make)
5: 2 other decent dynamic mics

Technique idea's/use of gear

For drums I was thinking of starting with a sm57 on snare, the condenser as a mono overhead mic and one of the other dynamic mics as a kick drum, then i could add tom mics if need be. Another possibility would be putting the 58s with out their wind screens as overheads (either spaced or recorderman style).

For bass I'm just gonna go direct into the interface.

For guitars I'm planning on miking the a amp (deluxe reverb) with the 57.

And for vocals I would use the condenser unless it is just really bad in which case I would use a 58.


Recording Process Ideas:
At the moment, I'm thinking of using a click track and starting by doing a scratch vocal and guitar track. Then we would track bass and drums together and then add guitars and vocals separately.

So what have you guys done in this kind of situation and what would you recommend.

If it helps here is a video of footage from one of our gigs.



Thanks in advance for the responses.

 

[Dave W]

Start with the drums. Then lay down guitars or bass, whatever you prefer. I prefer to have the guitars laid down before I do bass, but I don't always have that option. Then guitar overdubs for solos, extra tracks, etc. Lastly, do the vocals.

As for what mics to use where, I would do what you suggest...I also prefer option 1 for the drums.

 

[the Arsonaut]

very basic how to, for drums...
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ditto, vox...with an introduction to compression.
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a single good overhead is worth more than any number of craptacular overheads...
If you haven't worked off of a click before, why start now?..
or, more to the point, you should have been working off of a click track well in advance, to the point where it would seem superfluous.

Are you using a mixer, or going with 6inputs straight into the computer?

 

[nick98338]

Recording Process Ideas:
At the moment, I'm thinking of using a click track and starting by doing a scratch vocal and guitar track. Then we would track bass and drums together and then add guitars and vocals separately.

As another wrote... If your band has experience with using a click track... OK. Several of the groups I've recorded had no experience and found using a tick-track difficult to work with. So, we created a piano track with a midi triggered sampler/synth. It not only had perfect tempo, but also gives indicators of the changes during the song (verse/chorus, etc).

As for recording bass... I recommend recording mono, single track... not stereo.

 

[jordan2]

Thanks for the replies guys.

In response to a couple of things:
1: I will have an 8 channel mixer available but don't see a real reason to use it because I won't really have a need for that many ins and I also only have 6 mics. If there is something you would use it for please explain.
2: My reasoning for a click track was basically that it will compensate some for not being able to look at each other for cues and stuff as we are playing, the idea is that it will keep us together and make overdubs easier. We could take it out after we have a foundation of drums and bass. Also we are considering doing some video with it (not sure exactly what) and it would just make it simpler afterwards. And we have some experience playing to a click.
3: And yeah for bass I was going to record just directly into the interface (mono).

 

[tmdazed]

we do it drums first ( we used 12 mics on the kit with drum mics and ambients, but not everyone has access to that kind of gear , use every mic you can though) I lay my bassline down , usually 2 overlaid with two different tones, we have three guitar players so the two rhythm guys go next then leads , lastly vox and harmonies if we are using them on a song , the singer and I usually do the vox alone , he is more comfortable that way and values my opinion on melodies

 

[jordan2]

If you do pretty much all overdubs do you use some sort of click track or a backing track to help find your place and stay together or do you not run in to issues and don't use it.

 

[Dave W]

My reasoning for a click track was basically that it will compensate some for not being able to look at each other for cues and stuff as we are playing, the idea is that it will keep us together and make overdubs easier.

Just keep in mind that if these guys aren't used to playing with a click track it's going to be miserable and difficult.

If you do pretty much all overdubs do you use some sort of click track or a backing track to help find your place and stay together or do you not run in to issues and don't use it.

When you do an overdub, you generally play it over what has already been recorded. At the very least, there should be drums, bass, and rhythm guitar before you even start with overdubbing.

You would just play what has already been laid down. No need for a click at that point.

 

[jordan2]

Okay so regardless of whether or not I start with a click I'll take it out after drums and bass are done.

 

[Dave W]

Does the drummer practice with a metronome?

 

[sonic assassin]

6 pres.. thats do-able.

the guitar scratch track is a good idea. record that to a click. then have the drummer listen to that while he records. its soooo much better than clicking.

if you intend to DI the bass as well as record it with the drums, then you've got 5 inputs for drums. given what you've got, i would go with the 58's as overheads. not ideal but capable. with stereo overheads, tom mics become less important. 57 on the snare. if you have a large diaphragm dynamic, it would be best in the kick, but otherwise just use whichever sounds the best. with the last input i would use your LDC as a room mic to pick up whatever you are missing. might compensate for not having a kick mic. take the mono room mic and compress it to death and turn it all the way down. then turn it up slowly until your drums get huge. then back it off just a little more. instant big live drums.

57's or 58's will both work on guitars. if you are new to using multiple mics, i wouldnt chance it. otherwise the LDC could make a great addition.

good call on the vocals. it really depends on what sounds best there. but keep in mind that if you use the same mic (57/58) for too many things within the same sonic spectrum, it will be much harder to mix. guitars, vocals and snare drums all fight for space. even worse when they are recorded with the same mic.