Suggestions needed

[TamaSabian]

I´m new on homerecording so I need some advice related to how to record my band at home with less effort. At first I was trying to do midi drum parts, I found some problems on the way and decided to quit. My bass player looking at me and getting sleep before I can finish the whole drum parts was one of those reasons.
Now I got three drum parts from this song that I could loop and make that the other band members play over. What do you think about that??.
Another thing I could do is record as if we were on a "real" studio. I don´t have all the equipment at home, just a PC a SBLive Sonar 2.0 a couple of mics and all the intention to do my best.

We are trying these before we get into our friend´s studio. And I need to learn and practice homerecording stuff.

Wait for your comments......

[djc]

That's not much to work with. Are you doing DEMO's or what?

[Janic]

Hello TamaSabian

Welcome to the sleepless world of home recording!

If you use midi instead of a real drummer it won't be long before you use midi instead of a real bass guitarist too!

If it's specifically your band that you'd like to record I suggest you forget midi drums. Try and record just your drummer one night and make your own loop samples of him/her. If you can't take your computer setup to your practice room, try using a video camera. The sound quality can be pretty good on them. When you get home, transfer the sound from the camera into your computer. Find and clean up the best loops and then arrange the drums.

Ask your drummer to come along to your home studio and be involved. You'll get a more real and organic recording starting that way, even though you may think the quality of the recorded drums aren't as clean as midi. Plus you'll stay friends with the drummer.

You can do this process with all the other instruments too. The bass, keyboards and guitars can be overdubbed later with direct line into your computer. Bass and guitar will need to use some kind of D.I. unit such as a Line 6 POD if you can't mic up their amplifiers. Make loops of them too to keep it nice and tight.

I've heard one outstanding CD recording of a band that used this technique with equipment like yours.

What kind of studio are you going into? Will you all play live there together? That could also be the ideal place for you to record just the drums first. Take that home and then work on all the other parts there. Much cheaper and less hurry.

Well, the best thing to make a band sound really good is to practise together as much as possible and get very tight. Feeling is everything and better than these damn machines anyday!
;-))

[TamaSabian]

Thanks Janic

Let me tell you something: I´m the drummer!!. So there won´t be any problem to mic' my set and record the drum parts.
I want the other band members come home and practice with those loops until they feel comfortable with.
Could you tell me more about this band that record his CD with basic equipment but with outstanding quality.??
Maybe you could check what we´re doing at: http://mamifero.iuma.com

[Janic]

Hey Tama Sabian
I'm listening to your songs right now. They're really good! I should be asking you boys for advice!

Well, I can't think of any advice to give you now! LOL! Tell me, how would you like to record your band ideally? You're obviously not a beginner. Please list all your band's gear and how you think you could use it to record? Also, what kind of a practice room do you have.

Great songs there TS. Very impressive.

Best
Jan

[TamaSabian]

Thanks Janic. What a surprise. I´m glad that you like our work.
I´m not a beginner playing music. I started playing percussion since I was eight years old. Then in 1990 I take drums and never leave them!!.
Here´s what we use:
Fender Stratocaster ZOOM 505 effect
Friend o' mine Gibson Les Paul Standard (just for recording)
Fender Bass
Tama Rockstar with SABIAN AAX cymbals

We used to rehearse at home, since some neighbors start to complain. Then we moved at the studio were we finally recorded what you´ve listened.
Ideally we want to record one or two songs playing all together, something like Coldplay, you know, with that kind of open sound. But just for two songs that fits with Coldplay´s style.

Hopefully we can finish our CD (6 tracks) or maybe just a DEMO this year. That´s why I want to use my home equipment (pretty basic) to work on the 4 remaining songs.

Thanks

[Janic]

TamaSabian hi

The drums and everything sounds great. You're a very tight band and can move a feeling. The drums are the most important instument always, you could never do that with midi - the slowly opening hi hat into the chorus etc, great feeling
:-)
Well, to be honest I think you're so good that you should do the other 4 songs in the same studio that you did those 2 I listened to. If you need to do guitar or vocal overdubs then, yes, try them at home over the studio masters.
Maybe the next step for you boys is to invest in some microphones and a hard disk multitrack ( 8 track minimum..?) recorder.

[Paul881]

Tamasabian, why don't you post your songs on the MP3 forum here @ HoRec? Those guys will give you some really good feedback.

[TamaSabian]

Thanks Paul. I just post a thread on that forum.

Jan

The next step for me is buy a ECHO Mia card, and some mics, overheads ECM8000 and MXL603, because I got an 10 channel mixer. I'll try to record drums at home and see what happens, I know that homerecording quality is very hard to achieve but who knows??.