Order of Recording!

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MarshallFender

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Hi, now this might seem obvious to some but in which order should a song be recorded?
I am talking in a band situation here i.e. - 3 guitars, drums, bass and vocals.
Should a basic track be played by all as a base or just a guitar and drums be done first and then a new individual track for each be recorded then separately?
I have often recorded a rhythm guitar to a click track first and then got the drummer to record his part to the guitar but it hasn't always worked well. Other times we have recorded guitar and drums together first we have achieved a better result with timing etc.
What are your thoughts about the best way to go?
Thanks, MF
 
There's no set answer, but you seem to have the idea - if your drummer recording to a click track + scratch rhythm doesn't work (many drummers can't play to a click), then go ahead a record an initial scratch band track - everyone playing - then let your drummer reocrd his tracks to that. Then everyone can add their own separate tracks.
 
I like to get drums and bass (DI) in the first pass, with the guitars (isolated or direct) and lead vocals doing scratch tracks. People simply play differently together than one at a time, so getting the first stuff down with everyone playing makes it sound more natural.
 
No right answer, if you really want to start somewhere tho the main melody would be a "good" place to start but its not typically the best.
 
No single answer as said, but.....
With a band I like to get the drums and DI bass down as the foundation.
If they choose to work to a click then it doesn't matter what goes down first as long as the arrangement is mapped out. I still aim for drums first though.

With acoustic guys I tend to work from an agreed click, or a scratch recording of them 'live'.
If the latter, I'll usually map tempo changes to match their performance so there is a variable click.

Whether acoustic or midi, everything gets constructed around that variable click and then the performer will redo vocals and guitar at a later date.
The advantage here is that their performance is spurred on by the backing music.
 
Steenamaroo said:
The advantage here is that their performance is spurred on by the backing music.
Click to expand...

^^^^ this

Even though I'm largely a solo recorder... I do a metronome click, then record scratch something... acoustic usually, just to locate everything.

I then go back and program the drums properly to get the feel of the piece happening, then add the bits and pieces in one at a time. By the time it's ready for vocals I've got basically everything else done and it's really grooving/rocking along, which makes it easier to sing to because you feel like you've got this whole awesome band backing you...

Then I go back and tweak whatever as required. Mix. Done...
 
Thanks everyone, that all makes sense and I will start using the methods described here for various songs we record. I appreciate all of your help.
Cheers,MarshallFender.
 
It's a shame you're not called Peavey Rickenbacker the third !
 
If the band has drums, I usually try to get a good drum track down first, if the drummer can play to a click track then I will use one. I will get the rhythm section to play along with the guitars and bass DI'ed and a guide voc (if required) from the hallway between the control room and the recording room so we don't get spill in the drum mics, they all get replaced later but the drums usually is a keeper as he has played along with the band and the dynamics are right. Watch out for guitar intros and stops where a count in may be required (click or drummer).

I have recently been working on an album where we recorded the guitar (acoustic) to a click then guide vocals, this was then given to the other musicians to learn the songs, the drummers we used however both were great with click tracks. So the answer is whatever works for you and the project.

Alan.
 
MarshallFender said:
Hi, now this might seem obvious to some but in which order should a song be recorded?
I am talking in a band situation here i.e. - 3 guitars, drums, bass and vocals.
Should a basic track be played by all as a base or just a guitar and drums be done first and then a new individual track for each be recorded then separately?
Click to expand...
Just out of interest, what are you guys like as a band ? I mean, how do you play together ? Are you tight ? Sloppy ? Improvisational ? Play off each other ? It might be an idea to record yourselves as a band if you're all up on the material. You have nothing to lose and it could be an educationally eye opening experience from which you may gain much.
 
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