Doubling Tracks. Any Other Way?

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Squirps

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I've been recording music for a while now and I have one question. First off, when I wanna double a track for a stereo sound, I make a copy of the track, slightly offset it over the original, and mix each track into the left & right channel respectively. Is this the way it is usually done or is there a better way?
 
Squirps said:
I've been recording music for a while now and I have one question. First off, when I wanna double a track for a stereo sound, I make a copy of the track, slightly offset it over the original, and mix each track into the left & right channel respectively. Is this the way it is usually done or is there a better way?
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You could try using two mics when recording:)
 
I record things like guitar twice with one track to each channel. I only use this technique for things that can't really be recorded twice like a sound effect or something. I do use two mikes for my drums which are spaced far apart with each mike on each channel but it still kinda sounds mono.
 
Squirps said:
I record things like guitar twice with one track to each channel. I only use this technique for things that can't really be recorded twice like a sound effect or something. I do use two mikes for my drums which are spaced far apart with each mike on each channel but it still kinda sounds mono.
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no no,

They're suggesting to do 2 seperate guitar takes. You'd be surprised how well this will work... actually i'd suggest trying this over using plugins or effects.
 
I always figure that recording it twice was the way to do it. Anything else just seems like a synthesis of that to me.
 
eeb said:
no no,

They're suggesting to do 2 seperate guitar takes. You'd be surprised how well this will work... actually i'd suggest trying this over using plugins or effects.
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Yes...The only...or best way to double is to record it twice.
 
Squirps said:
I make a copy of the track, slightly offset it over the original, and mix each track into the left & right channel respectively. Is this the way it is usually done or is there a better way?
Click to expand...
You can run into mono-compatibility issues with this approach.

Recording two separate takes definitely yields the best results. But if it's too late to add a second track, you can often fake it in a DAW by cutting-and-pasting parts from your mono track. I wrote a walkthrough on doing it in Sonar, but you should be able to adapt the approach to any software: http://www.hometracked.com/2007/06/01/create-a-doubled-stereo-track-from-a-mono-source/
 
RAMI said:
Yes...The only...or best way to double is to record it twice.
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I agree. It seems to give it the fattest overall sound, and also doesn't seem to have alot of phasing problems.
 
eeb said:
no no,

They're suggesting to do 2 seperate guitar takes. You'd be surprised how well this will work... actually i'd suggest trying this over using plugins or effects.
Click to expand...

Actually, I do record two separate guitar takes. I meant to say that in my post but I guess I worded it wrong. Sorry. Thanks though. :D
 
yeah, that does work if that's all you have to work with, but if you have the option, it's a much nicer (and thicker) result to just record multiple takes. I never quite loved doing it with vocals tho...some people do it some people don't, but things like guitar, recording several takes makes it very nice...also with synths...try using similar sounds, but maybe from a different synth, or slightly tweaked and pan around...can make things thick (layering synth sounds can make things very big)
 
Squirps said:
Actually, I do record two separate guitar takes. I meant to say that in my post but I guess I worded it wrong. Sorry. Thanks though. :D
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No ... this is how you worded it:

Squirps said:
I make a copy of the track, slightly offset it over the original, and mix each track into the left & right channel respectively.
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Can't see how that could be mis-worded. And no, it's not a good idea.

.
 
For guitar, I prefer a mic close to the speaker and then a mid/side setup about 6 feet out from the amp. I just did some sessions for my own band and the guitarist used a little 1x12 Mesa and a 2x10 Dr. Z. I ended up with 5 guitar tracks but it was huge. Since it's a funk/blues project, he never plays a song the same way twice so mixing two takes wasn't an option.
 
eeb said:
no no,

They're suggesting to do 2 seperate guitar takes. You'd be surprised how well this will work... actually i'd suggest trying this over using plugins or effects.
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:-)
thats right
 
chessrock said:
No ... this is how you worded it:



Can't see how that could be mis-worded. And no, it's not a good idea.

.
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No not that, I mis-worded this

"I record things like guitar twice with one track to each channel."

When I said that, I meant it like I record two separate guitar tracks. I mix one on the right channel and one on the left.
 
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