my ideal recording sound

[hardcore guy]

ok, i want to record a demo for my hardcore metal band with my four track and i have an ideal sound that i want it to sound like. i know that analog four tracks can only do so much and dont produce the best sounding products but i think i can get close to this one. it is kind of muddy and bassy but not terrible or distorted. if you have heard anything by eighteen visions, you know what im talking about. if you havent, please go to http://www.trustkill.com/sounds.html
and download eighteen visons' sample mp3. please take the time to download this and help me out here. thanks a lot-jordan

[junkyardearl]

Well, coming from a sort of hardcore background, I think perhaps I can give you some advice.

I don't know about actuall recording techniques and all, but here's what I'm thinking. Please forgive me if you have all this figured out.

I think that you should try to get that heavy heavy distortion from the bass and the vocal. The guitar should be left with not much distortion (on a hardcore, not matchbox 20 level that is). So then when the bass and the guitar are just going along together, it's powerfull and all, but then if the guitar breaks off for a cool little part, it will stick out. Plus if you distort the guitar too much you'll just get a sort of whirling effect that has no definition, and you want that, because I'm assuming thta you do have those little guitar things. I'd try to keep your drums as far away from the guitar amps (different room?) if you're recording the instruments live, and I think you are. They should be clear, because something has to be. If you can get that ambiant sound that is talked about so much on the drum discusions, you'll sound better than Eighteen Visions. Oh yeah, leave the bass on it's own track, do not dump it, I get the feeling that will be a bad idea.

Hope that was a little help. Just remember, too much dumping will make you sound more muddy than you want, and with hardcore like you like it will become really bad. I'd love to hear you when it's done.
~james