Need help, recording with a click.

[Misanthrope]

I have a Korg d1600, me and my guitarist are trying to record a few of our songs. First, like idiots, we tried recording his guitar, then putting down my drum tracks. That didn't work out at all. So it's been suggested to me to record the drums first. But do it with a click so it'll be on time. Using a click is pretty new to me, I was wondering exactly how you go about doing so? I'll probably have to have the guitar playing while Im recording so I know when the song changes etc. Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[foo]

Record a work track first for structure.

Gtr plus click and vocal (only rough, doesn't need to be perfect).

Get yourself a rough lead sheet of the tune.

Record the drums using the work track on the phones and reading the lead sheet to be aware of upcoming 'events' that you want to hit (e.g. fills etc).

Dump the work track as soon as you don't need it anymore.

Hope this helps,

foo

 

[Wireneck]

assumming

Im going to assume that you can't track your guitar and drum track at the same time based on your post. I don't know anything about the korg. If your unfamillar with using a click my suggestion would be to have both of you play but don't actually record the guitar. Listen to the guitar with headphones so you don't get bleed through in your drum mics, and record the drums. Then have your guitarist go back over the drum track later. Assuming that you both have some timing skills, this method should result in a descent sounding track.

 

[Misanthrope]

Ok, thanks! yeah, given our resources (room and mics) we can't really get the best sound by recording us both at the same time. I think what we're going to try and do is listen to the guitar by headphones as we record my drums and a scratch guitar track, afterwards, have him go over it with a better track, and then go from there.

 

[savageblues]

Misanthrope, I have the d1600 as well.

Your guitar player can plug into the dedicated jack on the front and that way he wont require an amp, and there wont be much bleed into your drum mics (just the acoustic sound of the electric).

You can both monitor the click track, and his guitar on your headphones while you record your drum track. You can record his guitar at this time as well if you like, and dump it later if you want. You could even lay down an internal drum track, and try to play along with that.

Good luck! Im a guitar player, so I dont know how hard it might be to drum to a click! Playing guitar to a click isnt too hard though.

 

[LongWaveStudio]

playing drums to click isnt hard if you're a good drummer.

 

[fenix]

Record a work track first for structure.

Gtr plus click and vocal (only rough, doesn't need to be perfect).

Get yourself a rough lead sheet of the tune.

Record the drums using the work track on the phones and reading the lead sheet to be aware of upcoming 'events' that you want to hit (e.g. fills etc).

Dump the work track as soon as you don't need it anymore.

Hope this helps,

foo

this guy is not a session drummer. I'm assuming he doesn't need a sheet to play drums to a song.

Also you guys make it sound so simple. Like a click will give you perfect time. Not everyone can play to a click and those who can perfectly have years of practice to a click. Unless you have lots of practice with a click, you may find that the timing of your recording will be more natural without a click. In which case you will have to record the drums either live or by themselves playing to the song in your head.