Lead guitar left, lead guitar right???

[Roel]

The band I'm recording has 2 guitarplayers, of which one plays more leads, but they are equally important. (They play melodic lines that fall nicely together at times, kinda conterpoint-kinda thing )

So this got me wondering. They'll be panned left and right, to make place for vocals and get them out of eachothers way. Not hard left and right however.

Which factors decide where to put the one that plays most leads? No importance, or is there a dominant ear or something? I really haven't got a clue. On the demo we panned them the way they play on stage. Which would be the only criteria I can come up with.

Also, we recorded the guitars on 2 tracks each, those tracks are panned hard left and right, so the levels of these tracks determine the panning. How do you EQ that? For ex, guitar 1 'panned' left, do you EQ the left track of guitar 2 different, so that it leaves more space for guitar 1? (In our case that would be cut some mids, guitars are kinda nozy-low mid sounding...)

 

[gnarled]

There's no rule that says instruments have to stay panned to the same position for an entire song. If you want to focus more on a certain lead, maybe try bringing it closer to center. Maybe for the back and forth stuff, pan them harder for effect. Also, you can bring the levels up or down for certain parts as need be. Just ride the fader and the pan pots a little (or the mouse if you have a DAW).

 

[atomictoyz]

As a rule of thumb I would never put a guitarist lead track panned at all. I almost alway put the rhythm
guitars just short of hard left and right. I record one guitar on one track so that the slight differences
help keep the left and right definition pretty clean, too many guitars, especially if distorted, tend to mush too much for me. I then make sure the leads are on seperate tracks, mixed right up the middle if its the classic solo type when the singer isn't singing. If there are harmony guitar solo's I pan them until the seperation gives your the ability to hear them both without interference. There are no rule like gnarled said, just play with the panning and faders and even using a little eq to put eveything in its place. It took me alot of time and experimentation to get to the point where I know exactly how to lay it down where it makes my ears tickle. I used to sit and listen for hours to Steve Vai and other guitar virtuoso's trying to figure out their mixing methods, listen with some good headphones to some music you really like, then try mixing like what you think you hear. Hey if was too easy to figure out it wouldn't be fun anyway.

Peace,
Dennis

 

[Roel]

listen with some good headphones to some music you really like, then try mixing like what you think you hear.

That's the prob... They are about the only band in that style that I like. I'm mixing them live because I know where they come from (I used to start that band, then I grew into jazz, classical etc...), they are good friends, I've got a good idea what they want, and they have alot of faith in me. And they kick ass. There aren't many emocore bands I like, and this is on I could listen to for hours...

Also, how many emocore/hardcore bands are there with a guy playing rockleads and solo's every now and then?

Listening is a good idea... If only I had the time... jee. Really could use some rest...

 

[darrin_h2000]

Get the thin lizzy jailbreak alblem. You will get great ideas from listening to it.

 

[Roel]

Get the thin lizzy jailbreak alblem. You will get great ideas from listening to it.

Ok. Thanks. But if I DON'T like it, I will come over, haunt you down and cause you ALOT OF INTENSE PAIN in the belly-area...

 

[atomictoyz]

Ok, if they are too different to follow any of the main stream mixing concepts, then be different, try putting the main rhythms 8 oclock and 4 oclock and put the lead sections hard left and right to start off. Then as the solo plays back, the solos up the middle slow enough for effect but not fast enough to sound jerky. You could also pan the vocals from left to right like a singer who paces alot on stage. If all else fails be inventive, mix it for DVD surround 5.1 ;0)... The key is to make your friends happy since they are entrusting you, ask them some questions about what sound they are looking for, to sound like something new or something old. Good Luck...

Try listening to Osmosis from Ozzy, Slipnot, my favorite right now is Static X, its a good mix considering the style of music...

Peace,
Dennis