Recording--Any tips?

Subject: Recording--Any tips?
From:
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 03:15 PM

Reynaud and I are going to try some recording this weekend...

We're doing a 3-hour session in a friend's studio--the friend has lots of recording experience (his band has been putting out albums since the days of LPs) and he's now recording, producing and engineering. This is just an exploratory session--we might keep the tracks or we might not, though we're hoping for the best possible outcome.

Do any of you have any suggestions?


Thanks in advance--

V

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: PennyBlack
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 03:31 PM

Be prepared, listen to your friend's advice, relax, only drink water stay away from tea & coffee and enjoy.

and did I forget to say enjoy it

PB

(been making recordings from cylinder days:-)

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: MMario
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 03:34 PM

remember most people do *NOT* care for the sound of their recorded voice (if you are recording vocals) and have your friend master a track so you can see the difference between the raw track and one that has been tweaked.

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 08:01 PM

I agree with MMArio...dont focus on your voice...you're not going to like it at all!!..focus onthe sound of the music..is everything blended how YOU want it...the engineer may not know your style of music so its important to be there na dmake sure he knows what the song is SUPPOSED to sound like..and as PB said..ENJOY IT!

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: Gypsy
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 10:02 PM

Practice, practice, practice, then do it some more! Our first recording session was a freebie, and we laid down 5 decent tracks in 3 hours......makes a great demo. But at the most, we did only 2 takes. If you need new strings, put em on yesterday........at least 48 hours before recording, so they sound "normal" HAVE FUN! It is most gratifying to hear yourself thru speakers!

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: Cluin
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 10:14 PM

It's a personal bias, but avoid a click-track. It's like a big annoying old timing Nazi and it kills any feeling in the performance, unless you are really used playing behind it.

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 10:26 PM

All of the above, very good advice indeed. The only thing I would add is, if you don't like the way an instrument sounds be sure to tell the engineer. Microphone placement is not an exact science and some instruments sound different depending on which Mic is used and where you put it, don't be afraid to try something new it might be just what your looking for.

Good Luck and have fun.

Bob Hitchcock - Albion Recording Co.

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: Gypsy
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 10:46 PM

as a segue......our favorite recording studio is IN Albion.....but i bet it is no relation!

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: Cluin
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 10:48 PM

I always found I was more critical of the sound of my recorded guitar. The vocal is what it is.

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 11:48 PM

Much as I hate them, if available use a click track if only to see if you like them. Makes editting and post production a snap.

No matter how well you know your stuff. Write it out so big you can't misread any of it.

If you tune to a tuner, take only one and leave the others at home.
I liked recording late at night and in my bare feet.

If either of you has a cold, do it some other time.


Pre plan as much as you can.

And have fun with it.

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From:
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 08:49 AM

OK, here's a question--why, why, why, when I did a forum search on "recording" I got NO results??? And now, there are 50+ links to related threads? (this isn't the first time this has happened)

ANYWAY!!!!

String change--gotta do that ASAP!!! I'd've *never* thought of that!

Drink Water, have fun, know the material cold, have fun, try a click track and see if it helps, have fun, don't listen to my vocals (*always* a helpful suggestion!), have fun, tell the engineer if something doesn't sound right, have fun, and...let's see...postpone if we get the sniffles...AND

have fun!

Every one a good idea.

I'll try to have fun as I slug down my tea 'n' brandy cold remedy before listening to myself sing something I've never attempted while accompanying myself on my rusty-stringed git-box. And I'll be sure to tell the engineer that his faulty mic placement is the source of my bad sound! ;> (now wouldn't *that* be the recording session from hell?)

Seriously though--I will surely take all your suggestions to heart. Especially, I will remember to enjoy the process and *have fun*. Thank you all for the advice and support!

V

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: MMario
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:32 AM

because if you had found the threads before we wouldn't know you were going in to record! Isn't it amazing that Max has made the search feature prescient?

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 11:03 AM

Now I know this suggestion might get some stick from people much more experienced and professional than me, but here goes:

Consider buying a portable recording studio (eg Roland 880 digital workstation) and adopt a DIY approach. Before folks jump up and down with indignation let me put the case -

1. For around £200 you can get a quality used digital recorder on Ebay (people upgrade like they upgrade their PC's, so you get something that's dropped from £1000 to £200 in double-quick time). You need a decent microphone of course - but maybe you've already got one.

2. You gain an invaluable insight into the recording process.
3. You can practice and experiment to your heart's content.
4. You learn fast about the recording environment and mike placings.
5. You improve your playing and singing (trust me on this).
6. Your friends start to think you're very smart and a techno whizz.
7. You can always go into a pro studio for the real deal - after your apprenticeship.
8. If it doesn't work out for you - there's always Ebay to enable you to get your money back!
9. Or - You can do some recording for your friends etc to recoup your investment.

I'm sure there are other reasons too, but surely you've been sold on this idea already?

Good luck - Jim

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: The Beast of Farlington
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 11:07 AM

Keep it really simple. Don't be seduced by studio wizardry. Any sound is possible but most of it is irrelevant.

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 11:08 AM

I'm with (GUEST)Jim on this one. It's definitely the way to go...

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: breezy
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 11:32 AM

a friend of mine recorded his songs, then went about selling em.

Good songs too, great individual voice, spot on guitar playing.

But

The squeak of the hand up and down the guitar neck added nothing but distraction..

It was only when it was all done and dusted and it was too late.

So have someone you respect to listen to it before going into mass production

Talcum powder avoids that squeak and makes for fast and smooth movement but in time it will wear away the polish/varnish/lacquor on the back of the guitar neck.It apparently contains trace of aluminium???

I now possess an old looking guitar -Chriss Cross Dread't copy - with a glistening shiney neck and I avoid the powder!!

Think what it does to baby's bums.

All the best.

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 05:07 PM

Oh..forgot one..after its complete...get all the engineers and additional musicians as PISSED DRUNK and/or as HIGH AS KITES that they want!!...sure they got paid...likely...BUT...you owe them...and..they're the ones who are making YOU sound even better then you already are!!...SLainte!

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 05:53 PM

And have fun

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: Gypsy
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:21 PM

Yeah, we are putting in a micro studio.......with help and advice from the real studio in Albion. That way, we can lay down the best rough possible here, and have himself do the professional cleanup at the real studio. He sez he can do that in about 3-4 hours, tops. And putting in a microstudio here is about the cost of doing ONE CD in a recording studio.......and we can use it year after year.

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:24 PM

Yes, exactly! You can use it whenever you want, as much as you want. You don't have to pay insane price of studio time,
and you won't have to put your musical life in the hands of
someone who's just gonna push buttons...

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: Bert
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:33 PM

Don't sing on the way to the session or you'll have no voice left.

Don't try to record too much at one time.

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: Gypsy
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:56 PM

Chris, yer a soul after our own hearts! studio time is relatively cheap in my neck of the woods (40$USD), but can sure add up with travel, and retakes............

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From:
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 08:52 AM

Just an update--I hadn't checked this thread since my last post.

We do have a small home recording setup, but it makes things really difficult for Reynaud to engineer AND play. It's really useful for getting down original material, but for this project I think we need someone else to run the equipment so we can focus on the music.

We spent three hours--including load in and load out, set-up, and a quick mix down. We got good basic tracks for three instrumentals that both Reynaud and our friend agree are good for dubbing in the additional instruments where appropriate. We got one of our originals down on a track that isn't production quality, but it's good enough to rehearse with, so that next time we'll get it right.

The process was intense, but both Reynaud and our friend are very easy people, so I didn't get all frozen up. It's a real challenge of concentration to play something all the way through with no egregious flubs--I learned I can actually do that. And do it again. And again. And again!

About my not liking the sound of my recorded voice--because we've done a little bit of recording at home, I already knew that. My recorded singing voice sounds very shrill and weak to me, though it sounds full and rich in my head. This time, however, Reynaud had rearranged one of our originals so I sing it in my lower register, which we haven't recorded before. To me, as I'm singing, my lower register sounds very rough and unpleasant. On tape, it sounds warm and strong. I can't believe it's me. Now I know why Reynaud wants me to sing there!

I only violated one suggestion--I had a cup of tea...but it didn't seem to affect my guitar playing. We also didn't use a click track--the guys didn't mention it, and I didn't ask. Maybe next time.

All in all, a fun, educational, and very useful experience!

Again, thank you all for the support and advice!

V

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: dwditty
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 09:05 AM

I did not have time to read this entire thread, so if it is duplicate info, I apologize.

1. Yes, be prepared:

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: dwditty
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 09:15 AM

Oops.

Have a list of the songs you have practiced. Put them in the order you want to record them (but feel free to change the order once you are there).

Yes, use a click track if you find the songs speed up. To prepare for this, use a metronome (sp?). This will do to thinks...it will get you use to the click click click going on. It will also allow you to predetermine the tempo at which you want to record the songs. You can download free metronomes from the internet via a google search.

The whole point is to not use studio time for anything that can be done before you get there.

If you plan to sell the recordings and they are not of original songs, check out the availability of licensing. DO NOT pay for the license at this point, but see if it available. I had trouble tracking down a few songs and chose not to include them on my cd without being able to obtain the proper permission.

As someone said, have fun. I enjoyed recording so much that I go back into the studio occasionally just to record a song or two.

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 10:42 AM

Good for you,Vixen! Recording SHOULD be fun and productive. Not tedious and complicated... enjoy!

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From:
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:17 AM

DWDitty--

Good point about the licensing. For the stuff we're working on now, The instrumentals are traditional/public domain--e.g. Playford tunes and fiddle tunes. The originals are original. We do a few covers in performance, but not many.

I'll make a note to do my licensing homework before we decide what we want to record--no point in wasting studio time recording something we can't legally reproduce and distribute!

V

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: PennyBlack
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 02:13 PM

Breezy - re string squeaks Elixir (or other) coated string cut this down - well worth the investment.

PB

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 06:54 PM

Well there are a lot of great things here. Yes :
               1)Bring a good string tuner that your are comfortable with .
                2) try more them one mike pointed at your voice for the same performance. Mixing two kinds of voice messages can help a lot in the mixdown to get what you may like .
                3) The thing I say the most in the keep it simple catagory has to do with thinking that a live performance on stage is three dementional and recording is conpressing the same thing to two dementions. Less really is more in this situation. Adding color on stage may just cloud up something that is already good in the studio .
                4) On the Practise Practise thing the point is having a road map of where the croshendo is in the song or thinking about the motion from begining to middle to end and how the thing is held together realy helps hold things and makes for great story telling .
               5) The having fun has the inportant aside of helping you stay present .That is what finaly makes for great work . Stay present and in the moment and everything else will fall into place .. HAVE A GREAT SESSION . All the best Guy

Subject: RE: Recording--Any tips?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 03:39 AM

West Bromwich Albion have a recording studio?