when should a band record an album

[Tractorr]

backup, I am not being a jerk but it sounds like you guys have a lot of things to figure out before you record.

I would recommend that you record a practice with a simple recording device and listen back to it a few times. Do the timing issues annoy you when you listen back? Are the songs as good as you want them to be? Listen back for a few weeks, because it is human nature to get excited and like what you are doing. After a bit of time you start to notice problems.

The thing that will affect your recording the most is your band and your songs. When you guys are tight, the songs are good, and you have good tone the recording will be much much easier.

It is a good idea to figure this stuff out before you spend big money on a recording. When I was working in a recording studio the number one thing young bands did wrong was coming in not ready to record.

I am not saying you aren't ready as I haven't heard your music. I am simply saying make sure you are. Maybe find a local musician who you respect and ask what they think of your practice recordings.

 

[tdub0199]

when recording our songs, some we play to a click track & some we don't..... all depends on the song...

 

[MarkMgibson]

Forget the click-track crap. It's useful for practising by yourself, but not when you're playing together. I see no reason why a band would need to rehearse with a metronome. Good bands change up the tempo all the time; subtle rhythmic shifts, slowing and speeding up tempo - good things!!

 

[DwaynieAD]

I love the outright refusal to use a very simple tool that can only improve the quality of your recording and save you time..

bet y'all loathe tuners as well.

 

[bassbully]

I love the outright refusal to use a very simple tool that can only improve the quality of your recording and save you time..

bet y'all loathe tuners as well.

No I see where they are coming from. We tried them and they took the natural feel out of our music. We used a producer who has worked/produced with some pretty big bands and he hates using a click.

He turns out a great product and it can take more time but if you are good players it is not an issue.

 

[MarkMgibson]

I love the outright refusal to use a very simple tool that can only improve the quality of your recording and save you time..

bet y'all loathe tuners as well.

It may save you time, depending whether you go slower or faster than the 89bpm on the clicky. It will certainly not improve the quality of your recording. I've spent a lot of time in recording studios, and while Hip-hop producers probably love the things, Rock & Roll producers seldom use them.

I don't mind tuners myself, but y'all might have a different opinion.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

No I see where they are coming from. We tried them and they took the natural feel out of our music. We used a producer who has worked/produced with some pretty big bands and he hates using a click.

He turns out a great product and it can take more time but if you are good players it is not an issue.

My guitarist and singer tried to use that excuse the last time we recorded, too. Not surprisingly, they also have the worst timing issues out of everyone in our band (especially the singer). IME, people who dislike using clicks tend to be the ones who realize playing along to a click while recording will show just how weak they are in those regards. That's not always the case obviously, but 9 times out of 10 it seems to be that way.

 

[backup]

if lucky we are able record in a professional studio without paying much/anything. for us its less the money but the time spent. i see no sense in spending a whole day just recording one song instead of using that time to practise and wait a couple of months until we are able to record 5 songs a day. if this is realistic at all?

we constalty do rehearsal recordings.

What is mid-high end equipment? Without knowing what equipment it is it's impossible to say.

Mid-high end to me means you high quality for sure. Pro Tools or equivalent with someone who knows how to run it, excellent mics, channel strips, multiple sets of monitors, etc. Thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

well maybe its low-mid end then
i think its definitely ok for medium quality recordings. the issue is the rather small space and quantative lack of equipment that doesnt let us record together.

My guitarist and singer tried to use that excuse the last time we recorded, too. Not surprisingly, they also have the worst timing issues out of everyone in our band (especially the singer). IME, people who dislike using clicks tend to be the ones who realize playing along to a click while recording will show just how weak they are in those regards. That's not always the case obviously, but 9 times out of 10 it seems to be that way.

this is also what i have experienced. i can see why some people may dislike playing to a click but im generally sceptical of those that obviously arent able to do so.

you can clearly tell whne someone cant lock a tempo. i had timing issues myself and since then im constantly improving on this by practising with a metronome.

 

[bassbully]

My guitarist and singer tried to use that excuse the last time we recorded, too. Not surprisingly, they also have the worst timing issues out of everyone in our band (especially the singer). IME, people who dislike using clicks tend to be the ones who realize playing along to a click while recording will show just how weak they are in those regards. That's not always the case obviously, but 9 times out of 10 it seems to be that way.

Well in my case it was a 5 piece band who booted the click out and the producer who gave us the old "I told you so" We trusted him and it was all good. He has worked with allot of bands who I wont speak of here who never use clicks and one is that huge right now.

 

[pklima]

I can think of at least one huge global hit from last year that was definitely not recorded with a click, but if the OP is learning and trying recording, then TRY a click. Maybe do no-click and click versions of the same song.

 

[MarkMgibson]

My guitarist and singer tried to use that excuse the last time we recorded, too. Not surprisingly, they also have the worst timing issues out of everyone in our band (especially the singer). IME, people who dislike using clicks tend to be the ones who realize playing along to a click while recording will show just how weak they are in those regards. That's not always the case obviously, but 9 times out of 10 it seems to be that way.

In your case that's true, because you're playing with crap musicians in a dodgy band. Good musicians don't need click-tracks so they don't use them. Good bands never use them, in a recording studio or otherwise. Your band has a lot of timing issues for sure, but I don't think a metronome is the answer.

 

[DwaynieAD]

In your case that's true, because you're playing with crap musicians in a dodgy band. Good musicians don't need click-tracks so they don't use them. Good bands never use them, in a recording studio or otherwise. Your band has a lot of timing issues for sure, but I don't think a metronome is the answer.

this is the biggest load of bull I've read in days. Tasteless as well.

 

[bassbully]

If you like the click use it... if not, then Don't use it. That is not the big issue here with the OP. They should just go out and do it.

FWIW. I do think if a click is used it should be by the drummer only. If the time is set and is solid by the click, then the rest of the band has no reason to not lock in with them. If they can't it do it then it is no band I would want to be in.

 

[Dave W]

i see no sense in spending a whole day just recording one song instead of using that time to practise and wait a couple of months until we are able to record 5 songs a day. if this is realistic at all?

It's another "it depends" type thing. It's very realistic. It depends on the band members and how well they know the songs. It also depends on the recording personnel and how quickly they can work.

The last time my band did any recording, we did 4 songs in about 3 hours. That doesn't include vocals, solos, overdubs, mixing, or mastering.

 

[MarkMgibson]

this is the biggest load of bull I've read in days. Tasteless as well.

I was a tad harsh, I admit, but not wrong. The man said his guitarist and his singer have crappy timing. Good musicians don't have timing problems, and neither do good bands. Drummers provide the rhythm, not machines.

 

[Néal Zheimer]

Hi

Lots of good advice there. I would simply add that I'd approach this like any other project.

I read you're part of an originals band and talk about getting paid for your studio time. Who is going to pay you for that? Do you have a producer? Maybe the band leader. If it's a members-founded band, then you all will have to pay for studio time and/or studio engineer.

Now that you have identify your Sponsor. That's the one(s) who'll pay for all this and who will have final word about any decision. Next thing you'll need is a Project Manager (you?) to facilitate the decision making process and running operations.

The first thing I'd do is get the requirements (recording, album?) from your Sponsor, the context (fans asking for material) and budget. From there, who'll better see what you can and can't do.

Damn I feel like I'm at work right now

 

[jive1]

In your case that's true, because you're playing with crap musicians in a dodgy band. Good musicians don't need click-tracks so they don't use them. Good bands never use them, in a recording studio or otherwise. Your band has a lot of timing issues for sure, but I don't think a metronome is the answer.

If you ever play to sequenced tracks, you will need a click track. If you add drums to a piece later, it is very helpful to have a click track. If you do any remote recording, it will be very helpful to use a click. You don't have to use a click track to cover up a lack of timing. It's just another way for other people the sync up, including the drummer.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

In your case that's true, because you're playing with crap musicians in a dodgy band. Good musicians don't need click-tracks so they don't use them. Good bands never use them, in a recording studio or otherwise. Your band has a lot of timing issues for sure, but I don't think a metronome is the answer.

Not true at all. Any band looking to do overdubs will almost always have to record using a click. It's not a matter of whether or not a band is good, it's just a matter of making the process easier and more streamlined for everyone involved in the recording process.

Also, I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that my band has tempo issues. Check my Soundcloud link and tell me we have tempo issues, or (better yet) check out this link to a demo we recorded about 6 months ago and tell me we have them. We actually recorded this demo 100% live and with zero overdubs of any kind.

http://tamethehurricane.bandcamp.com/

If you ever play to sequenced tracks, you will need a click track. If you add drums to a piece later, it is very helpful to have a click track. If you do any remote recording, it will be very helpful to use a click. You don't have to use a click track to cover up a lack of timing. It's just another way for other people the sync up, including the drummer.

I knew you were made a mod for a reason

 

[jive1]

I'd also like to add that a click track doesn't have to be a metronome. It can be anything from a metronome, to a drum beat, to actual vocal cues.

As far as whether a click track is amateur, pretty much every pro that plays in a choreographed show will use a click track live. Even if you have excellent timing, a few milliseconds off in the beginning can result in a light effect, sequenced track, etc. being off by measures as the song goes along. That's the thing with music, fluctuations in timing have a cumulative effect. Just being one BPM off in the beginning could cause you to be measures off at the end.
Playing in a setting where the length of time of a song is crucial, such as something televised, it's not uncommon to use a click track so they can be sure that a song is exactly xx minutes and xx seconds long.

 

[DwaynieAD]

I'd also like to add that a click track doesn't have to be a metronome. It can be anything from a metronome, to a drum beat, to actual vocal cues.

As far as whether a click track is amateur, pretty much every pro that plays in a choreographed show will use a click track live. Even if you have excellent timing, a few milliseconds off in the beginning can result in a light effect, sequenced track, etc. being off by measures as the song goes along. That's the thing with music, fluctuations in timing have a cumulative effect. Just being one BPM off in the beginning could cause you to be measures off at the end.
Playing in a setting where the length of time of a song is crucial, such as something televised, it's not uncommon to use a click track so they can be sure that a song is exactly xx minutes and xx seconds long.

Incorrect, as stated above no proffesional musician would be caught dead using a click