"multi track composer"

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I know the subject title sounds a bit silly but I want to find out something.

I wrote my songs on a very old, bad sounding classical guitar and record everything on a dictaphone where ever I was at the moment.

After recording it on my multi track I start to arrange it.
When I'm done I have to consider that the whole song changed (mostly for the better) and is not recognizable anymore.

Now it happens more often that I start writing from the beginning on my multi track when I have an idea for a song. And to my opinion is it again getting better.

Are there more people around who write songs in this way?

Although I have to mention that the dictaphone recording have much more expression and emotion.
 
Cool idea - i considered it , but i have a feeling I'd be the weirdo walking round the mall singing to myself......................

Is that you???

yiordanaki
 
I kind of have 3 levels of production.

1. Really basic recordings on whatever is handy to capture an improv or idea.

2. Multi tracked rough tracks that I use to flesh out the arrangement of a song and use as a basis for the real production. I'll record a lot of direct guitar tracks and scratch vocals and cut and paste until I'm happy with the overall feel. I may use some of the tracks for the final production but usually rerecord everything to a higher standard. I guess this is my substitute for not having a band to work on ideas with

3. The 'real' production where everything counts.
 
Interesting subject that I've never really thought about before, but I think there are probably as many different ways to put together songs as there are songwriters. Personally, the only time I've ever sat down and tried to write a song from scratch using a multi-tracker or any other kind of recording equipment was my brief tenure as a staff writer for a publisher. Part of my day included spending at least 6 hours in a "writing room" which was basically a cubicle with a keyboard and a few guitars and an 8-track with a few mics and amps working with one or more other staff writers. While it was an interesting exercise in honing my writing skills, I never really got comfortable working that way, and eventually the publisher came to agree and terminated me.

The closest I come to using technology while writing is to carry a compact recorder like people use when dictating. If I'm out for the evening or having dinner and a phrase or melody comes to mind I record it. Usually, I just use my old stand-by, a college-ruled spiral notebook. When all else fails, I call my answering machine and dicate or sing my ideas to it for recovery later.

Once I have the basic structure of a song, I'll then start working with my recording equipment, where there may be a lot of re-writing and editing, but no new work from scratch. I think my method is largely influenced by the fact that recording is not my favorite part of writing. If I had my way, my involvement would end with a guitar/vocal work tape.
 
Damn, and I thought my method was unique (laugh).
But I see everybody uses the, more or less, the same.
I have to remember the answering machine, that's a good one.
thanks..
 
I write in my studio as I create. I very occasionally write on acoustic guitar, but usually it's layer by layer in the studio.

When I begin a new piece, I have no idea what I'm building, and no specific direction I'm set to follow. I'll throw down a track, throw down another, tweak this, delete that, move that, and eventually build a piece of music. I find it a very relaxed and creative way to work, and I'm rarely disappointed in what the song turns out to become.

It's sort of a Frankenstein process, but works very well for me. Take a listen at http://www.allhands.com/redwire if you're curious about what comes out of these sessions.
 
yes skysaw, I started also like that but i had an unnatural feeling about it.
I listened to some parts of your music. Impressive!
 
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