Monophonic Phore Track Phun

  • Thread starter Thread starter rayc
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rayc

rayc

retroreprobate
Last weekend, after listening to some excellent mono vinyl, (Cavetone Records Monofesto Vol 1), I decided to record a little ditty as a tribute to mono using my 4 track potty studio (Yamaha MT100).
I used a DI plus some of the built in pre for guitars and just the built in pre for bass. The drum (machine) was just straight in.
I had to upload to my DAW from there as I didn't think through the track sequence for bouncing but to keep in theme I used an old, (as in about 1986), dynamic microphone (Grange) to record live cymbals & tambourine through the built in pres of the 4 track & into the DAW.
To finish off I mixed a draft in mono.
It was fun & the 4 track, being in good nick (one owner - me since about '86), did a terrific job.
Mixing in mono with no intention of the panning things was a good experience too. I had to spent time listening & EQ carving so that instruments didn't step on one another too much.
The net result was a bit of fun but also a renewed appreciation of some of my less used gear (I often record basic tracks to tape & then upload them but less so these days & usually I'n not attempting to achieve a result from just a few tracks). I also refreshed my ears in terms of the crucial assembly stage of a mix.
The music? Well, I even wrote lyrics but can't sing so it may have to remain an exercise - nothing wrong with that though.
 
Hurrah Ray. I like working with these severly limited analog forms. Sometimes it really sound snice. I'm not sure if it's the media or just he fact that it is so limited track wise. It sure does make you think about what instrumentation to use, where to use them and the actual performance itself when you've only got 4 tracks, 1 mike and no chop, drag, drop and repeat. I kind of like mono too. Having got the mono and stereo versions of the Clapton Mayall Beano album and Fleetwood Mac's dustbin album, I don't really register the fact that half of the album is in mono and then it's repeated again in stereo.

Are you going to put it up on Soundclick?
 
jedblue,
Thanks for the supportive comments. I'll hope to post the song when it's done. Chasing vocals at present.
I had an enjoyable time listening to the early Hollies singles this morning - pre 68 they were mono & a uniformly nice sound too.
I haven't heard the Beano in mono - I'll look it up.
I bought the Stones Decca singles CD box a couple of years ago. Mainly mono & ferociously good.
 
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