Ideas

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve83
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Steve83

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I was looking for ideas on filling the sound. I have basic 1 vocals, 1 guitar, 1 bass, and 1 drums. It sounds very hollow. I pan them but was wondering what others do as far as how many guitar versions and such you record to make it sound full. The music I do is punk. Thanks
 
You could try some keys but it may not work well with punk music... Better option would be to add another guitar track; use slightly different amp settings and play it again. Mess around with the panning and that might help to fill out the voids. It could also be a simple mixing issue though.
 
Try posting it so we can hear it. I mean, punk isn't really supposed to be big. It is supposed to be raw. At least what I know of punk.
 
Some great music has been made by the trio of guitar, bass, and drums. I like the openness of that kind of music, and being able to hear the interplay of the instruments clearly. That said, I've never recorded a song with only three parts.
 
Man, lots of punk discussions lately. That's cool.

Without a clip, I would think it's tough to say what you need. Not necessarily the best Clash song, but "Rock the Casbah" had a prominent piano.

Wire had nice harmonies. So did the Modern Lovers. I would say that they're both "punk", I guess. Maybe add vocal harmonies?

Minutemen were bare bones, and still filled out the soundscape. Boon was a beast though.

If the Offspring is your thing, that's cool, I guess more guitar layers.

Possibilities in all directions - just like punk! I think.

Daryl
 
Stereo panning would help your track. I've been using various forms of it for years. My very simplistic stereo pan idea from years ago [now I use a couple plugins]:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...ard-heres-link-some-songs-147499/#post1356191

For mixing I would nudge the bass guitar slightly to one side (left/right) and mix the stereo panned guitar in the sound field to feel predominantly from the opposite side (even though the stereo pan will allow it to sit in both sides).

Here's an example of a stereo pan I utilized in a mix for another member, it's a single acoustic guitar but present in both ears:

Across


Stereo chorus can also buy a fake stereo effect, filling in the sound field [the penalty is the modulating 'effect' added]. I'll add light stereo chorus to tracks that I want to sit more center, and apply stereo pan to instruments I want closer to the edges/outside.
 
Listen to the first Ramones album. One guitar, one bass, drums, vocals, no nonsense. Probably the most significant "punk" album of all time.
 
Steve83 said:
Its a rough copy. No vocals yet either. But hopefully can give you some ideas. :-) Thanks!
Test Song Download
Click to expand...

I think that sounds pretty cool actually. Think the song sounds a bit like Joy Division.

Just pan things out a little bit, stick the guitar out to the left a bit, bass out to the right a bit and if you have the capability pan the kit as if you were sitting behind it.

Also, if you have the space to do it, when you record the guitar crank it up really fucking loud, it will sound much bigger and fill more space in your mix.

I normally record with two guitars and have them panned 50% either way with the bass in the middle, when I record with one guitar, I stick the bass 50% to one side. Just my personal preference but having everything in the middle never sounds great.
 
JDOD thanks! I take the joy division comment as a compliment!
Thanks everyone for your input :-) I will keep working!
 
When I played in bands we often either added an acoustic to sit in the back or doubled up the guitar track (copied not a second pass) and EQd one side high and the other low. Bass and vox centred. Kit spread.
 
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