mixing guitars

  • Thread starter Thread starter westg8
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westg8

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Hello, I am really new at pc recording. I'm in a band who wants to record some songs and put em on a cd. We have 3 guitars. When mixing the different guitars, should i put one on the left, another on the right, and like the lead on both? Or would that not be a good idea. A lot of the time the two rhythym guitars would be playing the same thing. Thanks for any response.
 
To my mind there's no right answer to your question. It's a matter of taste and what sounds good to you. Generally a lead guitar would be panned center (like a lead vocal), but there are no hard and fast rules. Play with it until you get something you like.
 
I agree that there are no hard and fast rules, except maybe those things you should never do like have everything panned center, unless you like sounding flat..hey I've heard worse!...

If the rhythm guitars are playing the same thing it will sound good and full to pan them hard left and right. When they diverge you could shift to 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock. you can shift the panning during the song which can have a cool effect if done at the right moment and done right...careful though. the lead up the middle is safe...but don't be afraid to put it off to one side a little. sometimes it becomes more noticable when offset.

hope that helps a little. good luck.
 
When you track the rhythm guitar parts,make their tone noticably different (different pickup selection,EQ,selection of stomp box,etc).that will help them stand apart to the listener.
Alternately,copy a single rhythm track with a 5-10 ms delay.
When panning don't hard pan.Leave some of the signal in both channels.
Another idea is to divvy up the voicing.If guitar #1 is playing an open E,the 2nd part could play the bar chord at the 7th fret.Plan out the voicing to include differences.Even if the same voicings are being used the pick attack can be varied,palm mute etc.
Be willing to experiment and if something doesn't work out,at least you learned a valuable lesson.Good luck
Tom
 
making the tones different is definitely good advice...I also think not panning hard can work, but I wouldn't say never pan hard. It depends.

Another idea is to divvy up the voicing.If guitar #1 is playing an open E,the 2nd part could play the bar chord at the 7th fret. Plan out the voicing to include differences.Even if the same voicings are being used the pick attack can be varied,palm mute etc.

I think you are traveling in composition/performance territory now. This isn't really a mixing suggestion. Not that I don't think this can be effective, but rather than making the song as they have it sound as good as it can, he would be changing the feel... ;)

it also puts him at risk for "dual rock guitar cliche voicing" hehe
 
Thanks for all of the advice - i'll be sure to try some different techniques.
 
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