Track order

[frosty55]

Are there any rules regarding eight track recording? I ask this as I want to do a demo with my band using a reel to reel but arent sure of the track order.
Only seven of the eight tracks actually work but I was planning on this....
Trk 1 Drums
Trk 2 Guitar 1
Trk 3 Bass
Trk 4 Guitar solo
Trk 5 Vocal
Trk 6 Guitar 2
Trk 7 Bck vox
After reading about things like "frequency clash and crosstalk" I thought I better check with you guys first.
Any help appreciated.

 

[Talldog]

Frequency clash would be more of an eq thing and crosstalk would depend a lot on your deck. lower frequencies may bleed more so I put bass on one of the outside tracks just in case. Track order doesn't matter too much. I'm thinking you're going to want two drum tracks though to make it stereo. Maybe lead and backing vocals on the same track or the guitar lead on one of the other guitar tracks...

 

[bruiser1964]

3 guitar tracks and 1 drum track? I guess the guitard owns the multitrack? If you want that many tracks you might have to do some bouncing... As Talldog said think about where things fit in the stereo mix.

 

[frosty55]

3 guitar tracks and 1 drum track? I guess the guitard owns the multitrack? If you want that many tracks you might have to do some bouncing... As Talldog said think about where things fit in the stereo mix.

Yep. Guitarist I am indeed, but the drums occupy only one track on the recorder. The "Demo" I am doing isnt at all serious really. No one will hear it apart from us, the band.
The drums were recorded in the drummers garage on his electronic kit, through the stereo outs into one track of the recorder.

 

[briank]

If you have 3 guitar tracks, especially if they're all pretty saturated with distortion, that sure can take up plenty of room in the mix. In that case, summing a mono drum track panned down the middle certainly makes sense. No rule drums have to be in stereo, especially in rock, though not sure what sort of material you're recording.

Far as 8 track order, I like to put the more bass heavy/percussive stuff toward the outside tracks and keep the more delicate sources like vocals on the inside tracks.