Order to Record Instruments?

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missamaya

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I'm going to do a track that has 2 acoustic guitars, probably a violin section, harmonica, and of course vocals. I've never recorded with strings or a harmonica before, what's the best order to record in?
 
missamaya said:
I'm going to do a track that has 2 acoustic guitars, probably a violin section, harmonica, and of course vocals. I've never recorded with strings or a harmonica before, what's the best order to record in?
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I would do the guitars, harmonica, violins, then vocals. You can pretty much do what you want though. My reasoning behind this is the guitars provide a solid base to the song, the harmonica and violins will just be additions to the song, then the singer can adjust their singing to the feel of the recorded song.
 
I would have done the guitars and violin sections together live, and on top of that I'd overdub the harmonica and vocals.
Just to have some nice "live" feeling.
 
I like doing violin and cello first, followed by the trombone.
 
Are you playing any or all of the instruments ? What's the set up ? How many players ? What's their availability ?
 
I'll be singing - I've got composition for the guitars down, but everything else will be session work. My guitarist will also likely play the harmonica, but the string player will be tricky to get in.
 
Record a scratch track for everything first. If it can't be done live (and these days it usually can't), then lay down what you can and overdub scratch tracks for everything. Since they are scratch tracks, the order doesn't really matter.

That way you can:
*See if the arrangement even works to your satisfaction before spending real energy on the actual recordings.
*Maybe get lucky and be able to keep a scratch track or two if you want the spontaneous vibe.
*Record your final parts and be sure that the sound you choose doesn't clash with the full arrangement of the song since all of it is already there for instant comparison.
 
Usually I start with tracking the rhythm (i.e. drums, rhythm guitars, bass, or whatever instruments are needed.) Then I add the overdubs later (i.e. vocals, lead guitar, etc). One you have the tracking done and edited, the overdubs are cake.
 
I always start with just guitar scratch and vocal, then I build the other instruments and drums around that. Unless you know the whole composition of all the instruments. My reason for this is it helps me know what flourishes to add when I need them, you don't want your all important vocal competing for the same frequencies as another instrument.
 
I think starting with harmonica is a great idea use it for the rythem get a solid groove goin on i dont see why harmonica ant be the highlight/main instrument
 
I usually record all of them at once and do a stereo mix of it. Then go over drums, then bass then guitars and vocals last.
 
I'd start with scratch tracks of what ever is going to be your rhythm instruments.
 
one guy said:
I think starting with harmonica is a great idea - use it for the rhythm, get a solid groove going on; I dont see why harmonica can't be the highlight/main instrument
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missamaya said:
I'll be singing - I've got composition for the guitars down, but everything else will be session work. My guitarist will also likely play the harmonica.
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In probably most recorded rock, soul, jazz, blues, pop songs, the main instruments and highlights are not necesarilly the ones that are recorded first.
 
I have ever started any recording without a drum track first - there may be several instruments - like a live take of drums, guitar, vocals - but the drum track is the guide.

That is recording, not writing or arrangement... Creating the song I do with guitar or lyrics - which ever comes first. Sometimes I coue up with a cool riff that I will write lyrics for, sometimes I come up with cool lyrics that I will write a riff for :p
 
I've found that making a scratch guitar/vox track to a click track is really helpful. Once I've made the guitar and vox tracks then I mute the click and play to just the guitar and vox to get a solid drum track.
 
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