Stereo Placement

[capitolio]

I am starting a new project and would like some suggestions. I am recording tracks that I plan on playing live at coffee houses, and want them to sound very similar (but not exactly) on CD as they will live. I also want the mixes to sound good in their own right, and have been unable to find any commercial examples of the setup I intend to use. I want to make my arrangements with an acoustic guitar, a very subdued bass, lead vocals, and a second backing vocal of the same voice but harmonizing (also very subdued). The lead vocals and the acoustic guitar will be much more prominent than the other elements, as they will be the only things you here when I play live. My question is: where do I place everything in the stereo mix. I always used to record with two guitars, one on the left, one on the right, with the bass smack in the middle. I don't know how to make a balanced mix with just vocal, backup, bass, and guitar. Any suggestions?

 

[metalhead28]

Take this for what it's worth, cause I have never done such a thing. But I would do a stereo recording of the acoustic guitar, so that it would be opened up a little. I would put the main vocal and bass down the center, and the backing vocals swung out a little to either side. Like you said, the bass and backing vocals being very subdued, I don't think it would be hard to mix.
Someone with more experience could probably help out lot more, just wanted to tell you what my first thoughts would be.

 

[dwillis45]

If your goal is to give the mix a live sound, you could array your instruments just as the players appear on stage. Otherwise, I would start with lead vocals in the center, bass and acoustic at about 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock and background vocals doubled and panned hard right left. Other than that, it's pretty hard to say without knowing how the instruments are played, what range they occupy, and what type of music you're playing.