Search results

I don't know, maybe I'm missing something here, but it seems kind of obvious. When you're programming your drum track, have it start with a hi-hat, or stick click, or something, just going "1-2-3-4" before the actual drum part comes in. You can go back and erase the intro later when you're...

I get a lot of my ideas from weird phrases that catch my ear or pop into my head. A couple of weeks ago it was cooler outside, like autumn, and I thought to myself, "Oh, it's sweater weather." Then I realized that was a cool name for a song (Sweater Weather), so I used it. So go somewhere where...

I have the same problem, and I have a simple but unsatisfactory response: you just have to work harder. For me, the first verse and chorus come really easily, but then I run out of ideas. I have just come to accept that I usually can't finish lyrics in one sitting, and that it will take more...

IT also depends on whether you're recording everything by yourself, or if you're in a band. In my experience, it takes about 400 times longer to record something with a band, because everyone has to be happy with it, not just you. If you're planning studio time for a band, add a couple of hours...

I recommend running keyboards through distortion pedals...but then, I am insane.

Emo is like an offshoot of punk that instead of being all rebellious and angry-like is more personal and "emo"tional. The music and vocals tend to be more dramatic. Some bands considered to be emo are the Promise Ring, the Get-Up Kids, etc. etc. There's kind of a backlash against it now, all the...

I play live with my band the Buddy System (www.resnet.wm.edu/~naamme) all the time. Although I also tend to feel kind of out of place here with all the technical recording/engineering stuff that I don't understand, so maybe that's it. I don't have anything against people who just record though...

Basically we don't want to rerecord it because we don't really have the money to pay the guy to rerecord it. It sounds pretty good overall, especially the drums, so I think we'll just look into the EQing or mastering. Thanks.

First of all, if you can write good songs, than the fact that you're a "bad musician" doesn't matter worth shit. I think punk rock and folk have taught us that. Sometimes being able to keep things simple is a really great quality. I think most heavy metal bands taught us that (by not keeping it...

I also recommend toy stores very highly. In that past, I have used a weird plastic toy shaped like a bear of some kind, with drum pads in its stomach, each producing a different drum sound (bass, snare, cymbal, and hihat). I have also used the YakBak, which basically will record about 3 seconds...

Depending on how anal and cheap you are, a good alternative might be to get an old drum machine off of ebay. I got an Alesis HR-16 for $70, which is on the high end of what ebay has to offer. They always have old Boss and Alesis drum machines on there for around $40 or $50. Of course, if you...

I use Power slinky's, which I believe are 11's. I like the heavy gauges because it feels more firm, like I'm more in control. I tried jazz strings for a while but couldn't hack it.

Thanks Jonax, I think I'm just going to have to try it again with a bunch of different configurations. I was working with limited time last time so I just gave up pretty fast.

I haven't had one show that was completely horrible, but several small bad experiences: 1.Having the volume all the way down on my guitar, and playing along not realizing I wasn't making sound until we get to the part of the song where everyone stops but me. Then it was pretty obvious. 2.Playing...

I think you can pretty much just ignore the first couple of responses to your question...it's not selling out unless you're speeding it up just to make more money out of it. But if you're just writing it slower to make it easier on yourself, that's completely valid, especially if there's a...

I kind of hope this isn't the problem, because I'll feel like a real idiot. I've been recording with that on for like two years. Oh well.

OK, so I thought I'd try the mystical world of VHS mastering, since I don't have my mastering tape deck over the summer anyways. So I plugged the 4track mastering outlet into the "audio in" of the VCR, got it all set up, and did a test run. It seemed like it was working, because the music was...

The only "sync" button I'm aware of is hooked up to the noise reduction (which can be set to on, off, or sync) and I keep on sync all the time anyways. Maybe that is what's causing the problem, but it doesn't seem like it would. But it's something to try. Probably it just needs a good internal...

The main problem is that I didn't record it, and I really have little technical knowledge about threshold, etc. I'm not even sure if the guy who recorded us still has the original tapes. If he does, then we may be able to remix it, but if he doesn't, would mastering help at all?

aphex I remember reading an interview with the electronic artist Aphex Twin where he said that he dreams ALL of his songs. I don't think he uses the humming method though (if you're familiar with his stuff, I think you know what I mean).