What is the process for recording my song on a BR-800? Thanks

[GMc67]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been struggling to work out, albeit with some success, how to record a song I’ve written on my BOSS BR-80. I have done all I can.

If possible could someone lay out the entire process for me to follow, please? - I’d be massively grateful!



I want to record:

1. a stereo acoustic guitar track
2. A mono 12-string acoustic guitar
3. A Stereo or Mono Bass guitar track
4. Lead guitar track
5. 3 /4 x drum mics for acoustic drum kit
6. 1 x tambourine track
7. Lead vocal track
8. Backing vocal track

So far I have managed to mix down the parts 1. to 4. onto Tracks 1&2 (V track 7&8) but I don’t know how to record parts 5-8 and add them to the first 4 parts to complete the song.

I’ve found the BR-800 manual a real pain to follow and I’ve been dipping in and out of using the unit for about 15 years and never really built up any momentum and therefore, understanding.

I’d be eternally grateful if someone could help me, please and thanks!

I find writing songs so cathartic and to hear a finished song which I’ve composed and recorded would mean the world to me!

Cheers!, Gareth

 

[rob aylestone]

I'm sure we can help - but you've not given us much to go on? We have no idea of what the song is, and we are guessing. I have assumed you are playing and singing everything? Not recording somebody else. You have 4 mic inputs and you have to make a few compromises - like the drums.
First thing though. What exactly do you know and what don't you? You have prepared yourself for bouncing, so you understand at least how to route the inputs to the recording tracks. With this kind of thing, the usual route would be to record the most channel hungry items first, and probably the most important last - so can you get a nice drum balance actually recorded and bounced to two tracks, or can you do it while recording, so only using 2 and no bounce - OR - is it not vital to have stereo drums and they can be one track? For me, I usually need something to play to - so I'd have one track with a very rough version of the song on - maybe with a click - something to lock things to. Then you can start flip flopping. I see no reason ever to record a bass in stereo - even if it is double bass. Bass is so hard to localise, wasting two tracks on bass in my view is pointless. I could probably think of a reason to do it, but when tracks are short, why?
Have you actually worked out how the bouncing works - physically? You need a plan to follow, then follow the plan. Level setting like this really needs experience - otherwise you will start to add the vocals and discover already buried levels are wrong and it is too late. Hopefully with all the virtual tracks - is it 32 or 64? Something daft, you don't have to actually delete stuff. The compromises are the 8 potential destinations are 4 separate ones plus two stereo ones - handy for the drums maybe? With the ability to playback up to 8, hopefully bouncing can be kept to a minimum. The way it looks to me with your list is that you need to get the drums recorded and balanced to stereo early on. The acoustic 'stereo' track. what is that? two mics isn't really stereo it just gives you dark and moody ones side, bright and fingery the other - the flip-flopping left to right can sound quite strange. I may well use two channels in my DAW, but very rarely do they get panned apart. If I was going retro and using a tape style recorder with limitations, I'd just stick with mono. How important is it?

So - does any of that make sense?

 

[GMc67]

Thanks for your help, l’ll get there

 

[GMc67]

Hi. I’m recording an original song and playing and singing everything. So if I want to record drums I need to start with an acoustic guitar as a guide but I also need a click track which is loud enough for me to play drums over because the internal studio one is too quiet.
So when I get ghe drums recorded and bounced to 2 tracks, what is the process after that. How do I add other tracks to the drums? Thanks