How many takes?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Newbie dude
  • Start date Start date
N

Newbie dude

New member
How many takes do you do per mic position on ,say, a guitar track? How many different mic positions do you try? Then after you finish, do you decide which take to keep before going on to other instruments like vocals and lead guitar, or do you wait to see how each track sounds with the full song?
 
I work out the best mic position b4 I start, then do all my takes from there.

When I have all the parts recorded and I'm arranging things together, then I decide what to keep and what to toss
 
It depends on the song. For some it only takes one track, one take, one mic, for others it may require several of each. I prefer to keep it as simple as possible, fewer tracks just make it easier to avoid getting a muddy sound. When I use multiple tracks of the same instrument I decide what to cut/blend/fade in the mix phase, but I try to have a good idea of what I want to hear before I start mixing them together. One good take will generally sound better than ten crappy ones blended together.
 
Dani Pace said:
It depends on the song. For some it only takes one track, one take, one mic, for others it may require several of each. I prefer to keep it as simple as possible, fewer tracks just make it easier to avoid getting a muddy sound. When I use multiple tracks of the same instrument I decide what to cut/blend/fade in the mix phase, but I try to have a good idea of what I want to hear before I start mixing them together. One good take will generally sound better than ten crappy ones blended together.
Click to expand...

Agreed. My policy is "Record until the performer gets it right." If necessary, I'll cut and paste bits from other tracks to fix spots that don't work, but if there's not at least one fairly solid take... yeah....
 
Newbie dude said:
How many takes do you do per mic position on ,say, a guitar track? How many different mic positions do you try? Then after you finish, do you decide which take to keep before going on to other instruments like vocals and lead guitar, or do you wait to see how each track sounds with the full song?
Click to expand...

I get the impression that you are getting a take, then moving the mic for another take? I wouldn't do that. Find the sweet spot with the mic and leave it there. Change your sound slightly for each track by using less/more distortion; different EQ on the amp, etc., and then choose which take you want to use or even combine them.
 
Should I give the same EQ curve to both the doubled tracks? I know they are supposed to have different tones, but I don't really want the sound of two individual guitars playing the same thing. I want the sound of one, very full guitar track.
 
If you get the tone you want out of the speaker, you shouldn't need to use much eq apart from rolling off the lows.

There's no rule around what the curves should look like. Whatever gives you the sound you want is what you want to use
 
Three mics maybe?

We try to record three times... one close micd.. a tad off of the cone... find a sweet spot that has a good grit, and tone.. do a take. then try a room mic far off the amp... and if you have the time and energy do one more with a mic 4 feet off. Take the three mics mix and match them in the mix until you find something you like... from there youll know what you want to keep.. if you liked the mic 4 feet off and just the room mic use those two together.... etiher blend them or rerecord with both mics on. The way you mic your amp should be in relevance to where you want your guitars to sit in the song. if you want the riff to be in your face... a close mic. If you want a single chord to fill in space under a breakdown.. .use an ambient mic. That is the way I seem to find the best mixture of tones... in how the tracks sit with the drums or bass.

If you are recording live.. you have to find the sweetest spot on that speaker and EQ and add a little reverb from there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top