Leave Them Knobs Alone

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dani Pace
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Dani Pace

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Surely I'm not the only person in the world who has ever thought about breaking the volume knobs off someone's guitar, am I? Seriously I wouldn't do it, but I have felt like it. I need help, musicians (some of them are really good on stage but can't seem to grasp the concept that what works on stage does not always work in the studio) are driving me up the wall. Surely someone else has had to argue this point with a guitarist who thinks they have to adjust something continiously. If you have, how did you convince them to "LEAVE THEM KNOBS ALONE?" I don't want to make them mad but I am really tired of getting complaints about how they sound when they are the ones making it almost impossible to get a balanced mix, due to their constant adjustments. I know they are used to playing live and tweeking things as they go so I try to be patient but my nerves are getting frayed. Any suggestions about how to explain this to them without seeming like I am telling them how to play will be appreciated.
 
news flash dude...you will make them mad.....but it needs to be done here....as the name applies I'm a guitarist whos nutty about distortion. but theres ways to handle that:


Diplomatic: tell them that its common place for distortions and volume changes to occur in the studio than on stage...besides the guitar is being recorded by itself...no need to be louder than other instruments cause none are playing at the time.

Trickery: turn the volume up in his headphones over the rest of the mix. he gets a little feeling that he is the loudest thing and that may deter some volume knob playing.

Embarrassment #1: yell at him these words "DO NOT MOLEST THE VOLUME KNOB!"

Embarrassment #2: let him turn it up...when it clips and doesnt sound right after you've recorded it...tell him it sounds like shit and then tell him not to molest the volume knob

Scientific: record both ways and do an A/B comparrison and then explain it to him.

hes going to need to learn this shit sometime....unfortunately you have to teach him.
 
Ha, I had the same problem with my bass player on the weekend. I am recording us a demo and I did all the bass tracks on Sunday. I got him to play some stuff while I set levels and messed with stuff, and then I said we were ready to go so what does he do? Crank up the volume knob and change the tone knobs. Clipped like a bitch!
 
I think most everyone who has done some recording has run into this. I have never had problems if I:

- Explain to him/her why changing the volume screws up the signal to tape and therefore screws up the quality of the recording.

and

- Constantly make sure they are hearing what they want in their headphone mix. The main reason guitarist, or anyone for that matter, adjusts things themselves, is because they want to hear it different. So get familiar with your headphone mix settings and periodically ask them if they are hearing things the way they want to.

This has worked well for me. It doesn't cover everything or every knucklehead who's knee-jerk is to grab a knob, but I think as a recording engineer there are things you can do to curb their behaviour.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Use a compressor/limiter on him and let him do what he wants to do. If he wants to adjust his guitar's volume to intensify or soften his playing let him for God's sake it's his music. Short of that you are telling him how to play and limiting his musical/artistic preferences. HEY Michaelangelo! That red is tooo loud. Tone it down some! Yeah right...
 
Yeah but when you've spent the time to set up mics, levels etc and you are about to hit the record button you don't really need them to crank up the volume knob.
 
Well, think of it this way . . .

Assuming you're charging -- and I do hope you're charging (anyone who's not has either got too much time on their hands or is a big, fat CHUMP) . . .

. . . If they suddenly crank their volume and distort your inputs or digitally clip or whatever, that only means they have to do it over again. And assuming you're charging by the hour, that just means more money for your piggy bank.

So just put a smile on your face and say . . . "Sorry guys. Looks like we have to do it over. The guitar clipped. Did you turn up your volume or something?" Then he's going to feel like an ass for turning up because he knows he just cost the band an extra take or two of billable time. If he doesn't get the point, then at least you can bank on the other guys in the band giving him dirty looks and to start putting the heat on him.

You see, I used to be like you. I like to get things done and move on, and I hate it when things get messed with that disrupt the flow. It's just in my nature. Over time, though, I've tried to re-train myself. Always remember that -- assuming, again, you're getting paid -- more takes = more hours = more pay. And in this business, paydays can be few and far between, so don't look a gift horse in the mouth. :D
 
Thanks guys, it's good to know I'm not alone. I guess you are right, when diplomacy dosen't make the piont, let the crappy sounding recording say it, especially when everything sounds great except the guitar, maybe he will get the idea and realize it is his own fault (I hope so anyway) Once again, thanks for the reassurance that I am not the only one who dealing with this delima.
 
hey whats east flat rock near in nc......I'm in greensboro
 
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