Recording tracks..What first?

[presto5]

I just bought just about everything needed to record songs on Adobe Audition...Is it okay to record guitar tracks first...or is more proper to record bass and drums first...If so whats the method? Memorize the song on the drums?

 

[witzendoz]

If you want to record guitar first, you will need to play to a click track to stay in time. If you record drums first than you can play the guitar to the drums.

Cheers

Alan.

 

[Kingofpain678]

It's all personal taste....

Personally I prefer to have drums first, then record bass or guitar (which ever I feel like doing first) to the sound of the drums and a metronome, and last vocals and other ambient BS.

 

[RAMI]

It's all personal taste....

That's the ticket.

I do everything myself. But, being primarily a drummer, I record the drums last. I do all the other tracks to a simple drum machine beat, and then play drums to the whole song. That's just my preference. But, I'd say most common is recording drums first.

 

[rene-lemieux]

I highly recommend drums first (you could also do rhythm guitar + bass at the same time). Whenever I, personally, do the opposite, the drummer has a harder time playing to the tracks (even if recorded to a click track). I like bass and drums first... but you can try anything.

 

[presto5]

Click track?

If you want to record guitar first, you will need to play to a click track to stay in time. If you record drums first than you can play the guitar to the drums.

Cheers

Alan.

Whats a click track?

 

[witzendoz]

A click track is a recorded metronome count, it could be a click click click sound, a hi hat, a kick drum or even a simple drum machine pattern to the general feel of the song.

You play along to the recorded click track so that you stay in time, use the 1st 2 bars to count the song in, to play a guitar intro too when the drums don't come in straight away, etc etc.

If you have a real drum track down first you don't necessarily need a click track, but if you record guitar first it could be very hard to play drums to the guitar track and if the tempo moves too much it becomes more obvious when the drums are added.

Cheers

Alan.

 

[Kingofpain678]

A click track is a recorded metronome count, it could be a click click click sound, a hi hat, a kick drum or even a simple drum machine pattern to the general feel of the song.

You play along to the recorded click track so that you stay in time, use the 1st 2 bars to count the song in, to play a guitar intro too when the drums don't come in straight away, etc etc.

If you have a real drum track down first you don't necessarily need a click track, but if you record guitar first it could be very hard to play drums to the guitar track and if the tempo moves too much it becomes more obvious when the drums are added.

Cheers

Alan.

Exactly! which is why (being primarily a guitarist/bassist) I get drums down first and use a click track for timing and drums for mostly the feel of the song and extra help on timing. But like I said, I'm primarily a guitarist and bassist so that's what works for me. Rami OTOH is primarily a drummer which is why he records his drums last, so he can get the feel of the song and rock the fuck out.
Try a bunch of different ways and use what ever gets you into the groove.

 

[Seafroggys]

Everything does everything differently.

However, this is my process.

I write the music ahead of time, so I know how it will go.

Drums -> Bass Guitar -> Rhythm Guitars -> Other instruments (Piano, acoustic guitar, horns) -> lead parts (lead guitar and vocals usually)

 

[RAMI]

I write the music ahead of time, so I know how it will go.

I'm not understanding this.....as opposed to what???? Laying down tracks that haven't been written??? You lost me on that one.

 

[valacirca]

The drums and bass are usually considered the percussion section of a band and that's what I try to build on.

Drums first, then bass, then rhythm guitar, then anything else needed after that.

 

[Chibi Nappa]

The drums and bass are usually considered the percussion section of a band

That's...an odd thing to say. Bass and drums are usually hold the groove down way more than anything else, but I've never heard anybody say the bass is a percussion instrument.


Anyway, I usually do drums as my first "keeper" track, but I almost always have a scratch guitar (or scratch bass, depending on how the drummer likes it) and maybe even a scratch vocal in place first.

You know, give the drummer something to groove to. Replace 'em later with good guitar and bass tracks.



Otherwise, I will have the bass and guitar play live with the drums (and most likely replace the bass and guitar with better recordings later).

 

[gibsonsgharp]

Obviously personal preference..... I am coming at this from a guitar player perspective, recording myself only vs. recording a several member band.

Most of the songs I write have a predominate drum beat/pattern. I lay that down using drum samples and then the rythmn guitar track (basically singing the song in my head)

At that point I know where the breaks/fills/bridges etc. are going to be and I go back an redo the drums with alternative patterns where appropriate, crash cymbals, fills, etc.

Then I do the bass -
Then I do main vocal (having the basic rythmn/bass/drum tracks are helpful)
Then I add in whatever else I want i.e. lead guitar, harmonica, keyboard, other percussion.

I usually do background vocals last using the main vocal and maybe the rythmn guitar track only as reference so I can hear how the voices blend

Then I listen to it for a week and go back an redo everything!!!

 

[Seafroggys]

I'm not understanding this.....as opposed to what???? Laying down tracks that haven't been written??? You lost me on that one.

You'd be surprised how often people start recording not knowing how the final sound will be.

 

[beatlebum]

If you have the song written, start to finish, do a guide track to the time of a metronome (integral to the recording software) or click track. A guide track is a track that won't appear in the final mix, usually consisting of the vocals crudely recorded with acoustic or piano accompaniment and its purpose is to let you know where abouts you are in the song at any time during recording and get a feel for what you should be doing there.

Then, I would advise that you do drums, bass, guitar/keys/piano in that order.

My approach is to get the vocals down early so that you know what the other instruments should be doing around them. Then don't overdo it!

 

[joeym]

Whats a click track?

tick tack tick tack tick tack.........

 

[DrewPeterson7]

I'm not understanding this.....as opposed to what???? Laying down tracks that haven't been written??? You lost me on that one.

You of course have heard of this band called the Grateful Dead...?






Personally, I think you need to consider your strengths as a musician when tracking.

Obviously, you need to start with some sort of rhythmic framework, be it a click track or a drum beat. I mean, maybe that's not obvious and maybe you don't HAVE to, but in my experience it makes things infinitely easier if you can lay down the rhythmic structure first.

I'm a guitarist who writes instrumental guitar music, so guitar is my strength. Historically, I've always started with a drum loop, rhythm guitars, lead guitars, bass, and any random ambient overdubs. However, the problem here is that I'm just not that exceptional a bassist, and when you already have a full orchestration going, it's a lot easier to accept an "OK" performance on the bass because there's so much going on around it that the little performance issues don't really seem like such a big deal. Furthermore, I'd often find that after recording bass I was no longer that happy with my rhythm guitar tones, so I'd have to go back and record them over to "fit" better.

Lately, I've tried the opposite approach while demoing. I still start with a drum loop, but then I'll go through and record the bassline first. When you're just listening to bass and drums, anything but meter-perfect bass is going to sound like ass, so my rejection threshold is that much higher. Furthermore, when it then comes time to track some rhythm guitars, it becomes immediately apparent whether or not the tone I'm dialing in "fits" well.

So, paradoxically, I've found that saving my "strength" as a musician for the last couple tracks actually helps me get tighter performances and in turn a better mix.

 

[soundchaser59]

I'm not understanding this.....as opposed to what???? Laying down tracks that haven't been written???

ROTFL!!!

I love it......

 

[soundchaser59]

tick tack tick tack tick tack.........

Mine must be broken..... all it will do is tick tack tack tack tick tack tack tack.

Unless there is a power slump, then it will do an occasional tick tack tack tick tack tack..... maybe that's why they call it cut time....?

 

[soundchaser59]

I always record first the instrument on which the song was written, with a click.

But since I do 99% of it myself, this method explains why none of my songs sound like the 1972 Chicago albums I love. There is a lot to be said for writing as a band, jamming as a band, they get a ton of signature sounds and unique parts that one person alone will never be able to conjure.