when should a band record an album

[bassboysam]

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!!

good things as long as everyone is on the same page and picks up on the changes.

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.

I wouldn't say it improves your playing especially if the players don't know how to follow it.

I have never used a click in the studio, we record everything live off the floor, no cutting and pasting. add some guitar overdubs, mix, master and done.

 

[MarkMgibson]

I've been a professional musician most of my life (my last real job was 25 years ago). I used a click-track once in my life (a stage musical), and the musicians hated it so much they devised a better system. I've played in huge musical theatre shows, and have done years of session work in recording studios, and thousands of live gigs. There are situations where CT's may be necessary, but they're very rare in my experience.

Using these things out of pure choice is utterly ridiculous. You lose so much feel for no gain whatsoever. You may as well hook up a drum machine, and then you've crossed from music to electronic, processed, fast food garbage (do you want fries with your 110bpm tempo?).

 

[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.

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

Jesus, Dwanie, make up your mind.

 

[mikegug]

If you don't get used to using a click track, you WILL be limiting yourself to the number of bands/artists with whom you can play. Evidence: above.

Learn to use it. If I was a producer, looking to record teenagers, I'd require it. It would give me the option to take it out of the mix if needed. it would also show me the level of preparedness and willingness to take direction the band is willing to provide. if they are divas right off the bat and refuse to train on it (or at least attempt), I'd tell them to find another producer.

Back to the OP: record your ablum when you have the songs down and there is a REASON to record. My follow up question would be, "What is your plan for the album?"

 

[MarkMgibson]

If you don't get used to using a click track, you WILL be limiting yourself to the number of bands/artists with whom you can play. Evidence: above.

Learn to use it. If I was a producer, looking to record teenagers, I'd require it. It would give me the option to take it out of the mix if needed. it would also show me the level of preparedness and willingness to take direction the band is willing to provide. if they are divas right off the bat and refuse to train on it (or at least attempt), I'd tell them to find another producer.

Back to the OP: record your ablum when you have the songs down and there is a REASON to record. My follow up question would be, "What is your plan for the album?"

I'm not sure what evidence you're talking about, but you wouldn't need to fire me. I would never use a producer who forced people to use those things, and most musicians I know would feel the same way. I take it you produce hip-hop or dance music?

 

[mikegug]

I'm not sure what evidence you're talking about, but you wouldn't need to fire me. I would never use a producer who forced people to use those things, and most musicians I know would feel the same way. I take it you produce hip-hop or dance music?

The evidence is that the population here is 50/50.

However, if you learn to use a CT, you can play with the people who insist on it (right off the top of my head... Larry Mullen, Jr., U2 drummer uses CT live and in-studio) and you can also play with those who refuse to use it.

If you were a diva un-proven band who has never recorded who refuses to put out effort to follow my rules, I wouldn't waste my time with you. You're off to a bad start without stepping foot in the studio!

HAHAHA! Hip hop/dance? No.

I'm not a producer.

 

[backup]

Back to the OP: record your ablum when you have the songs down and there is a REASON to record. My follow up question would be, "What is your plan for the album?"

thats right without the means to promote and sell one there is not much reason to it.
i think i will try to make my band go the EP way. record 4 or 5 songs professionally and use it as demo and merchandise. also sell it on the internet. this will also give us insight about any flaws we can improve on before recording something bigger.
is this an ok approach?

as to the click track discussion going on here i can only add what is already said.
my father is a professional and he uses click very often. also many other professionals use clicks. as a band you sure dont have to use a CT but for many other situations its a very good and useful tool. not to mention the personal practise with a metronome
and if a player of instrument cant play with a click i assume he has serious timing issues.

 

[pklima]

Yup, definitely an OK approach.

 

[bassboysam]

thats right without the means to promote and sell one there is not much reason to it.
i think i will try to make my band go the EP way. record 4 or 5 songs professionally and use it as demo and merchandise. also sell it on the internet. this will also give us insight about any flaws we can improve on before recording something bigger.
is this an ok approach?

as to the click track discussion going on here i can only add what is already said.
my father is a professional and he uses click very often. also many other professionals use clicks. as a band you sure dont have to use a CT but for many other situations its a very good and useful tool. not to mention the personal practise with a metronome
and if a player of instrument cant play with a click i assume he has serious timing issues.

Personally I would not try to sell the music, because most people don't want to pay for music and they will find it for free somewhere else anyway. I suggest you do a "Pay what you want" type of deal and get your music heard by as many people as possible. Most won't pay, some will but a lot more will hear it.

 

[backup]

Personally I would not try to sell the music, because most people don't want to pay for music and they will find it for free somewhere else anyway. I suggest you do a "Pay what you want" type of deal and get your music heard by as many people as possible. Most won't pay, some will but a lot more will here it.

i know a local band that let people listen to their EP (4 songs) online for free and if they want to download it they pay like 5$.

but in a live situation you think its better to just give away the cd's? i have no experience in merchandise but i could think people wouldnt mind paying 5$ especially when the entrance is free. but thats theory, am i wrong?

 

[bassboysam]

i know a local band that let people listen to their EP (4 songs) online for free and if they want to download it they pay like 5$.

but in a live situation you think its better to just give away the cd's? i have no experience in merchandise but i could think people wouldnt mind paying 5$ especially when the entrance is free. but thats theory, am i wrong?

Not really a fan of CDs. people just rip them onto their computers anyway and they can get pricey depending on your packaging. i say get some custom USB sticks (pretty cheap these days) load your songs on them and sell them for $2-$3. the only thing selling these days other than downloads is vinyl...but thats a big commmitment on the band's part, $2000+.

 

[DwaynieAD]

i'd give atleast one song away for free. gotta create that buzz.

 

[tZer]

If you are wealthy and money is not an object, have fun in the studio!

If you are not, continue to work things out in your own studio and wait. Studio time is expensive - and the studio is fine with taking your $$ and letting you fumble around figuring out what you can and can't do in a studio. When your time is up and you don't have all the takes you wanted, they'll be happy to sell you more time - not to mention sell you mixing and mastering services. Fact is, even polished bands run long.

You'd do well to have your songs down to the point that you feel really good about your ability to execute your parts. Playing with a click is not necessarily a deal-breaker - there are plenty of top-flight bands who don't use a click and cut amazing sounding studio recordings. It's much more important that your songs are fully developed in your own minds and you are able to play them consistently with confidence.

My point is this, the more you know about why you want to use a studio and what you expect to get out of a studio, the more likely it is that you are ready to use a studio. It sounds to me like you could use a little more time in your own studio before you lay out the dough for a pro. Spend some time studying studio practices and learning on your own with your mind on how much better you'll be able to do things with the help of professional engineers and pro gear when you're satisfied that your songs and your chops are ready.

 

[MarkMgibson]

The evidence is that the population here is 50/50.

However, if you learn to use a CT, you can play with the people who insist on it (right off the top of my head... Larry Mullen, Jr., U2 drummer uses CT live and in-studio) and you can also play with those who refuse to use it.

If you were a diva un-proven band who has never recorded who refuses to put out effort to follow my rules, I wouldn't waste my time with you. You're off to a bad start without stepping foot in the studio!

HAHAHA! Hip hop/dance? No.

I'm not a producer.

Fair enough. I'm not a producer either.

 

[backup]

Not really a fan of CDs. people just rip them onto their computers anyway and they can get pricey depending on your packaging. i say get some custom USB sticks (pretty cheap these days) load your songs on them and sell them for $2-$3. the only thing selling these days other than downloads is vinyl...but thats a big commmitment on the band's part, $2000+.

ok i will remember this! thank you

i'd give atleast one song away for free. gotta create that buzz.

i will remember this as well.

thank you all that was very helpful. my band agrees with this all so we will proceed like that.

however as the last question in OP wasnt adressed much im still curious about how much a session bassist gets paid for recording a song? or if this is better : how much would you charge?

is this ok to ask in a completely unrelated thread or should i open another one

 

[MarkMgibson]

ok i will remember this! thank you



i will remember this as well.

thank you all that was very helpful. my band agrees with this all so we will proceed like that.

however as the last question in OP wasnt adressed much im still curious about how much a session bassist gets paid for recording a song? or if this is better : how much would you charge?

It varies a lot depending where you live, and of course the quality of the studio and the people who use it. The usual rate at the studio I work with is $75 an hour, with a minimum of 2 hours. If it's going to be a long session, the price is often negotiated down. $400 for 8 hours, for example. I work as a guitarist, but it's the same for bass players.