Recording- learning fast and need help.

[Marty0123]

Okay, so my band has gotten to the critical point where we need to get a demo or two. We cant afford to buy recording time or to buy our own equipment so we're deciding to use our schools own recording studio. Which is basically where the problems start.

First of all, we're not even sure we're allowed to use it to record for personal reasons so we plan to not reveal this to the music teacher and also to avoid a confrontation with the teacher we gotta record fast.

I've been reading up on how its done but all the guides are very in-depth when we just need the basics and we're not that bothered about quality at this stage.

So all I need is very basic instructions just to get us started. I know nothing about the equipment in the studio though I might be able to get some info by tomorrow night. The singer in my band does music in school and has limited access to the studio though has never used it before. He can sing, play both guitar parts and bass. We plan to record the basics roughly, just lead guitar and drums or bass and drums on a phone or voice recorder device and then uploading to an ipod or memory stick so we have something to follow whilst recording.

So as I said previously we just need the basic information of what we immediately need to do, how to set up and to record with the least hassle, nothing fancy.

 

[mattr]

If you can find out about the equipment then it would be easier to prime you for your hijacking if the studio, but I really think you should actually talk to the teacher first and see if they can help you out rather than just assuming you won't be allowed. The school should be supporting and valuing the groups and bands that its pupils form in their own time. Plus what's the point in having a studio its barely ever used?

Early on in my time at my old school I made good friends with the guy in charge of the music complex, which includes the studio (and a very well designed one at that... the live room has no parallel surfaces! ). We've stayed good friends and I pop in then and now for a chat, do live sound at gigs, etc. And even though I've left now he still gives me free use of the studio (providing its not booked) which I use occasionally for tracking drums. Technically I'm not even meant to be on the school premises, but everyone in the music department knows me anyway and don't care! No one higher up in the school ever needs to know.

So yea, pluck up the confidence to ask and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised. On the other hand you may get scourned at and told to bugger off...

 

[Marty0123]

Well if we do decide to ask we're gonna be waiting for the perfect opportunity.
The singer's music teacher is pretty strict and will most likely not allow it. However the other more laid-back music teacher, my form teacher might allow us. The basic plan is to wait until hes having a good day then we stay in after school and spring the question on him.
Apart from this, past experiences have taught me its always better to take a shot and go for it then play dumb when we get caught than to ask and get a definite no way.

Ill take some snap shots tomorrow of the equipment and upload them.

 

[mattr]

You sure there isn't some equipment list somewhere on the school website?

Most schools with semi-decent studios tend to like to show off what they have. Our school had a load about the studio hidden away in the dusty corners of the website, but the list hadn't been properly updated since the 90s and so looks a bit silly now


So anyway, what do you already know about recording and what do we need to train you up on?

 

[Marty0123]

Yeah I already picked though the website but theres nothing. Its a pretty awful site.

 

[DrewPeterson7]

Okay, so my band has gotten to the critical point where we need to get a demo or two. We cant afford to buy recording time or to buy our own equipment so we're deciding to use our schools own recording studio. Which is basically where the problems start.

First of all, we're not even sure we're allowed to use it to record for personal reasons so we plan to not reveal this to the music teacher and also to avoid a confrontation with the teacher we gotta record fast.

Um, this isn't really the answer you're looking for, but are you really sure this is such a hot idea?

First, are you sure you CAN'T use it for personal reasons? How's your relationship with the music teacher? I got on royally with mine, and if I'd been in a band and had wanted to record a demo on school gear, my teacher probably would have given me the go-ahead. In your case, he or she might even be able to give you some useful advice or teach you a few tricks or tips that would make your demo sound even better.

Second, sneaking into a recording studio which, even in a high school, will have several thousand dollars worth of computers, mics, preamps, and FX units, really isn't such a hot idea. I mean, face it - rock bands are loud, odds are someone is going to hear you in there, and you're going to get interrupted. If you're lucky, you won't break anything and maybe you'll just get yelled at - if you do screw anything up, though, or if something's already broken and you get blamed, you're going to be in quite a bit more serious trouble.

Finally, even if somehow you managed to sneak in, record a song without anyone hearing you, mix it down, and then sneak out leaving no sign you were in there, the results just aren't going to be that good. It's hard enough just to get a good single-take live performance of all of you guys (as under your time constraints multitracking isn't an option), and even if you nail two songs on the first pass, you just won't have much time to mix, or fiddle with mic position - you're going to have to go in, quickly throw a few mics down, hit "record," wing it, and then quickly do no more than set levels and run out, sneaking all your gear and a new CD-R. Is it possible that you're going to get really lucky, and everything's going to sound great? sure, but given those odds and the lottery, I'd start buying scratch tickets.

So, talk to your teacher. He or she just might do you a favor.

 

[NL5]

Drew has a good point.

Also, I would think you could find a hobby recordist in your area that would do a song pro-bono. Even a crappy hobbiest is gonna do better than someone with zero experience (hopefully anyway).

 

[TimOBrien]

Bottom line is you need some basic books to reference.
Good thing is that your local Barnes&Noble or Borders HAS THEM.....



Quick paste from my BASICS page----------------------------------------------


My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad:

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...ce&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/

 

[doctorfungi]

There's no way anyone in here will be able to give you any usable advice if you don't know the gear you'll be using. I couldn't even tell you which program to open (assuming you're using a DAW) with the information you've given.

As a previous poster said, find a hobbyist in the area who would be willing to do it either free or relatively cheap. Until then, get on good terms with your music teachers.

I'm in my second year of University and I just spend the last 4 weeks in my old school's (which I left 4 years ago) recording studio working on a couple of projects with two bands. We tracked something like 40 songs. Granted, I was using mostly my own gear, but they had a few SM57's, headphone amps, leads, stands, and most importantly the room etc. that proved invaluable to my work.

If I was working on a deadline and doing that against the will of the music department at the school, I would have been lucky to get even one decently sounding recording out of it.

I'm just thinking of the techincal plagues I sometimes have to face using my own gear. I once spent a 2-hour period before tracking solving a computer glitch. If you're going to be using gear you don't know like the back of your hand on a time frame like the one you've provided... I can't imagine you'll leave with any audio - let along listenable demos.

 

[NYMorningstar]

Apart from this, past experiences have taught me its always better to take a shot and go for it then play dumb when we get caught than to ask and get a definite no way.

Unfortunately when you grow up there's this thing in law that says ignorance of the law does not excuse you from your crime. Trespassing with the intent to commit a crime (stealing the use of the equipment) is burglary and if you get caught you could very well go to jail. If that happens you are not only going to be playing dumb but you'll be feeling rather dumb too. It's in your best interest to ask whether they say yes or not.

 

[Cosmic]

I agree with Morningstar,

If you go in on the sly, not only will you be in a hurry, but even if you figure out some of the gear (long shot), you will be stressed from working 'undercover' and your music will suffer.

And if you get busted, bad things can happen. At that point, the 'sneaking in' idea will have yielded nothing musically, and perhaps a lot personally.

C.

 

[Marty0123]

Okay, although I'm pretty sure at the age of 16 that I'm not goin to prison for using my high schools recording studio... whoever said that... We've deicded to ask the music teacher. We also got a friend who knows how to run the studio to help us out.

I cant remember the name of the software program but it began with the letter 'P'
Someone had already tagged along the bottom of the mixer desk, input 1 was Vox, as was 2, 3 was Backing Vox and so on..
Check out ma shoddy pictures:

 

[BentRabbit]

Okay, although I'm pretty sure at the age of 16 that I'm not goin to prison for using my high schools recording studio... whoever said that...

There's a pretty cool Porche in our parking lot and I need to get to the store FAST!!!

Can someone teach me how to drive so I can get there and back before the owner comes out and catches me?

Don't worry... I'm pretty sure I won't go to prison for just driving a car to the store...

 

[mattr]

Okay, although I'm pretty sure at the age of 16 that I'm not goin to prison for using my high schools recording studio

Ok, maybe a bit of an exaggeration but it makes a point. Just because you're 16 doesn't make you immune to authority.
I'm 16 and While I have fairly free use of the studio I use, I certainly wouldn't go in there without checking first. Its all locked up anyway so I have to get the keys

We've deicded to ask the music teacher. We also got a friend who knows how to run the studio to help us out.

Ok, so since you've now asked permission I'll help you out...


Looks like a Protools 001 fed from direct-outs from that Soundcraft mixer.

You'll want to ignore those Lexicon and Zoom Reverb units and Alesis 3630 in the rack and just focus in the 001, which hopefully should be all set up and not need to be touched anyway. I can't see the labels on the patchbay either but I assume every this all wired up already, so basically just ignore everything in the rack! This paragraph was really unnecessary

So you'll need to set up the preamp gain for all the mics on the mixer. Hopefully your friend will know all this, and also know a bit about good mic placement, etc.

When you fire up Protools you'll need to create some audio tracks and set the inputs for each track to be from the different inputs on the 001. Leave all the EQ on the mixer flat (just to be on the safe side, not knowing at what point the direct out is taken from).

You'll probably want to set up monitor mixes on the mixer (I don't know what the 001 is like), but this may get more complicated if you want a click track. You'll just have to work this out yourself.

You'll want to do drums first, but even better would be drums and bass together (helps the musicians to lock together) if you have enough channels to play with. You may find yourself short.

Then add build up the guitars and do vocals last.


I don't know what else I can help you out with really. What I've written doesn't really help much either. I think you're just going to have to bluff it - there's not too much irreversible damage you could potentially do to it if you just fiddle until you work it out!

Its a fairly basic setup to be honest and shouldn't be too much for you to handle. I was worried it was going to be something a bit more complex (like a Yamaha 02R... oh how many times have I had to teach kids how to use that desk, only for them to ask me "So flip makes the things move does it?" )

 

[iownrocknroll]

My favorite type of studio, 5 grand in gear and non of it works together.

I there's as much room to patch into that 001 as there is an a MCI console.
hehe

when I was in highschool, my school spend 10 grand on midi guitars, and another 10 on midi keyboard for the music theory class, but the daw was for shit, so nothing ever got tracked.

they claimed midi was the way of the future, i still haven't seen it.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Okay, so my band has gotten to the critical point where we need to get a demo or two.

You know, I looked up the definition of "right" and "wrong" and whaddya know:

right (rite) - adj 1.Anything that you won't get sent to jail for doing.

wrong (rong) - adj 2.An action that results in one's being sentenced to jail.



That aside, I'd like to ask a few questions about the above quote:

1. What is it that makes this a critical point for your band to get some demos right now?

2. You do know that it's illegal for most owners to hire 16-yr-olds to play in their venues right? Why the nee for demos?

3. If your answer to #2 is that you want demos for radio, you do know you're probably going to need the support of an A&R guy or at least a quality before you'll get any airplay, right? And that's assuming that the demo actually sounds any good; which by the looks of that gear and the fact that you know nothing about recording or music production yet, is a long shot.

4. If it's *that* "critical" - why do you want the results to hinge upon amateurs recording in an amateur "studio" (and chancing being grounded by your parents and barred from the band scene even if you don't get sent to juvie)? Doesn't sound all that "critical" to me.

Dude, you don't need to be in such a hurry to record. Thrust me, there's nothing "critical" about this moment in time. Keep working your chops and building up material. If you guys are good enough, work will come your way, by the time you're actually able to legally play the typical band circuits, and then you'll hopefully be able to afford to do it right.

G.

 

[Marty0123]

Dear god, I didnt come to this site for a lecture on what is lawfully correct. All I wanted was some recording advice. I wouldn't have asked if I knew I was going to get so much b'shit back. I apologise if I pissed you guys off but can we just get back on topic like seriously? All my band wants to do is send a demo out to some BotB organisations.


Thanks for the detailed response mattr, it was awesome.

 

[gecko zzed]

I wouldn't have asked if I knew I was going to get so much b'shit back.

The reason why you got so much "b'shit" back is because what you were planning to do was:

a) wrong, and
b) impractical

If you plan to steal someone else's car, how far do you think you can get if you can't drive?

So when you ask the equivalnt of: "Hey, we're gonna steal someone else's car. Give us some quick lessons on how to drive", what kind of response did you think you'd get?

 

[Marty0123]

Okay just stop please, I already apologised and asked to get back on topic.

 

[RAMI]

OK, besides the ethical part of it, which we'll put aside for now.....

If you think you're going to get anything worth listening to without any recording experience just by asking for some tips on a website, you're in for some major disappointment. There's a reason it takes years before anyone should get behind a mixing desk to record a band, let alone the years it takes for a band to be ready to record (but I'm sure you'll ignore that point, as I'm sure you're convinced you guys are ready).

Anyway, you got some good recording advice already in this thread. Run with it and good luck.