Order of recording?

[plingativator]

Since I have set up my studio, I haven't been able to figure out an effective order to record my tracks. Sometimes I will play the drums first, and other times I will do a melody instrument first. The main problem that I have is being consistent with the time signature. I'm wondering how other people deal with this issue. Obviously, recording to a metronome would be best, but I find it really difficult to hear a metronome over drums. I can play a metronome through cubase, but I don't want it with the audio track along with the drums, which is what happens if I turn it up too loud. Would headphones that block out the drums be the best solution? Sorry about the scatteredness of this post. I think I got the main idea across, so any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

 

[NickSpringfield]

Yeah, you should probably be able to play the metronome through the headphones. As long as it's not TOO loud and depending on the quality of the phones your using, it should'nt leak into the actual recording. I don't record live bands, but if I did, and was only able to record one instrument at a time, I think I would do the drums first because, depending on the style of music, it's probably going to be the backbone of your whole recording.

-Springfield

 

[Gorty]

I dont know what equipment you have but I always go through and lay my tracks down at a demo level and once I have the structure worked out I will lay the drum tracks down first and record eveything else by using the drums as my timekeeper.

You hopefully should be able to keep your time signature tight playing along with the drums.

 

[-=¤willhaven¤=-]

Crank up the metronome and play to it. It makes aligning parts easier if you need to cut things around. It also makes setting punching recording in/out easy.

I ALWAYS record to a click.

 

[Dani Pace]

When working alone I record a "scratch track" first, guitar and vocal. I run a ckick track through headphones while doing this, I'm good but my timming aint perfect and this is the best way I've found to keep myself on time. Musically the scratch track dosen't have to be perfect, it is to set the tempo and serve as a reference for the next few tracks then it gets muted or erased.

 

[FALKEN]

I have done this two different ways based on two different bands I've been in, a third way for my solo recording, my friend did it a fourth for his solo recording, and ive heard other ways of doing it too. it all depends on what works for you.

-my first band we recorded scratch tracks to a metronome on separate tracks. then we layed down drums to the metronome/scratch tracks. the things to remember here are (1) use isolation headphones, or earbuds inside those phones they sell for the gun range (2) any screwup in timing by the drummer will actually create a second screwup when the drummer gets back in timing with the tracks (3) depending on the drummer, your scratch tracks might have to be absolutely *perfect* or they will screw up (4) depending on your drummer, this option might not even work at all.

-when I went to record my solo project, the songs were mine, I wrote them, and there had never been drums to any of them. I put up the mics, then sat at the kit and worked out a part for the song. five minutes later I told my gf to hit record and I would bang out the song, from start to finish, with no scratch tracks. this worked extremely well but only because I knew the songs extremely well.

-now in my next band we record all of the rhythm tracks together, just like its practice, then I mute the vocal track and re-record the vocals. this also works extremely well because we're a damn good live band.

-my friend, when making his solo project, actually recorded the rhythm guitar first. not the scratch track, but the actual rhythm track. he is such a good drummer that he laid the drums over it, no metronome or nothing.

-all of the old raegge recordings were recorded with a hybrid of the above...they would lay down bass and drums together in the same room. it was essential that the drums and bass be locked in together and sounding great. this also contributed the "live" feel to the music. then guitars, keys, and vocals would be overdubbed for the "studio" sound.

its all about whos playing the music and what works best for them and the final sound of the recording.

 

[Bulls Hit]

I got myself a pair of those industrial strength ear muffs - the kind the guys with jackhammers wear. Tuck a pair of earbud phones in there & you're good to go

 

[funkydrummer]

the order i record is:

-metronome
-drums
-bass
-piano
-rythym guitars
-lead guitars
-aux percussion
-vocals