Hey, Secondskin.
Looks like your question wasn't quite directly answered, though there is some good information posted up there.
Specifically, anything that you want to have in stereo must be on two different tracks. So if you want those 2 guitars to be in stereo, you'll need them on two tracks: one panned right and the other left.
This gets a little hairy when you are working with only 4 tracks, but it can be done. You'll have a lot of hard decisions to make, though.
Do you have a hi-fi VCR that you can use? That would make this process WAY easier and you could even keep your stereo drums.
If not, here's the idea:
Record your drums with 3 tracks. On the 4th track record something that will help you mix the drums: I typically did bass but a guitar might do the trick for you too. Mix those drums for all you're worth, adding whatever compression and effects you think they'll need.
Then cross your fingers, grit your teeth, knock on wood, rub your rosary- and bounce those drums down to track 4- over your bass or guitar track.
Check the mix on the new track!! If it doesn't sound right to you now this is your only chance to fix it. Repeat fix your mix if you have to and rebounce.
Here comes the fun part. Record your bass and 2 guitars over your original drum tracks. Your track setup should look like this:
1 Guitar One
2 Guitar Two
3 Bass
4 Drums
Then, when you have them mixed in stereo to perfection, bounce the drums, bass, and guitar two down onto track one, again adding any effects that you need. Check it to make sure it sounds OK. Then without touching any of the settings, bounce the drums and bass to track 2.
Whew. This is thick, but its how you have to do it if you have only 4 tracks and want stereo guitar. You should now have:
1 Drums, Bass, and Guitar Two
2 Drums and Bass.
3
4
Pan track one hard left and track 2 hard right. Re-record Guitar One on track 3 and pan it to the right so that it balances Guitar Two on the left. Once you have it mixed in perfect stereo, bound tracks 2 and 3 to track four. Check the mix, and then you should have:
1 Drums, Bass, and Guitar Two
2
3
4 Drums, Bass, and Guitar One.
Pan tracks 1 and 4 hard right and left and you should have your stereo guitar mix. See how the process works? Just continue on the same way with whaever other instruments you have to add.
If it doesn't sound good the first time through don't be too surprised. It is difficult to mixthe instruments without having the rest of the song there to mix with. It takes some practice to get down since you have to guess what levels you need for the drums and bass will need.
I hope that's helpful. Good luck!
Chris
