Track layout

[Zydrus]

Hey all,

I've been recording demos for a while already so I have a basic idea how everything works. I'm not sure how to word my question but basically I have a question about how you structure your tracking in general. I know you can get as crazy as you want with all the tracks we have available but just a general guideline is what I'm looking for.

For instance take a basic rock song.

Structure:
Into
Verse
Chorus
Verse
Solo
Chorus
Outro

Instruments
Vocals
Guitar
Bass
Drums

Do you just do 1 track for guitar, vocals, and bass? Do you double them in the chorus to make them sound bigger? Run one track dry and add effects on another track and pan them? If you track a right and left do you record two parts or just record one copy and pan one left and right?

 

[mjbphotos]

No, no, no, no.

You do what is right for the song! Each instrument should be on its own separate track so that you can mix it correctly when you get to that stage - unless of course you are 'recording live', in which case you may have any combination of separate tracks and 'combo' tracks. Copying a track and panning one left and one right just doubles the overall volume of that track.
Want a fuller guitar sound, track multiple guitar tracks, changing the sound/instrument/amp, and maybe the way the chords are played (open on one, barred on another, for example).

 

[Zydrus]

Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant an individual track for each instrument. Not 1 track for all of them. But you answered part of what I was asking. For instance if you are recording a one guitar band I do you just do one track for the whole song, or a left and right, or one track in the verse, multi tracks on the chorus, etc? Same for vocals, just one track all the way thru or double everything. Problem I run into when trying to double is playing two takes damn near identical so they sound as one.

 

[Armistice]

You need to go back and read mjb's answer again.

You do what's right for the song... if you want to track multiple guitars because that's the sound you're after... do it. If you want to keep it simple, that's OK too.. it depends. If you can't execute something well enough, get better at it, but don't double everything just because you think you should...