M
Mindset
Well-known member
um all at once...
um all at once...
C
cusebassman
Freakin' sweet
Yup - drums, bass, guitar, mandolin, piano, vocals
...its not bragging - I've just been single for a long time, and as such I have had a fair bit of free time
I generally start with kazoo.
But really, its rhythm guitar to a click track, then drums, bass, maybe redo rhythm if the flow is too rigid from playing along to the click initially, then fluff (mando, piano, etc - those can be forefront instruments but I'm not good enough at them yet).
Of course I've strayed from that, and vocals get done somewhere in there - depends on the type of song really.
D
danny.guitar
Guest
I thought all songs were started this way?
(I keep the kazoo track in the mix also).
C
cusebassman
Freakin' sweet
Well, who doesn't keep the kazoo track in the mix?
Man... someone should construct an organ that replaces the air-driven pipes with kazoos. What a sound that would be. Yikes.
I would like to see a bass-kazoo that produces the bottom spectrum of a piano
C
cusebassman
Freakin' sweet
G
Guitarer
New member
Scratch guitar
Drums
Bass
Real guitar
Any other random instrument like piano or whatever
Solo (if any)
Vocals
Drums
Bass
Real guitar
Any other random instrument like piano or whatever
Solo (if any)
Vocals
BlackHawk2029
New member
scratch programmed drums,
scratch bassline,
any random synth stuff,
scratch vocal,
real drums and bass,
guitar,
vocal,
backup vocal if any.
scratch bassline,
any random synth stuff,
scratch vocal,
real drums and bass,
guitar,
vocal,
backup vocal if any.
T
tremoloking
New member
if it's a singer songwriter type song, guitar AND vocals, then i build up the track bit by bit. if i have a pretty good idea of the arrangement, first click track or some basic drum/precussion thingy, then guitar, then bass, then all the rest. vocals sometimes last, sometimes right after the guitar.
depends!
on the song!
my mood! time of day! if i'm behind on my bills! if i had an argument with my wife!
depends!
on the song!
my mood! time of day! if i'm behind on my bills! if i had an argument with my wife!
Chili
Site Moderator
Definitely depends on the song. Most times I lay down a scratch guitar and scratch vocal to a click, just to get the idea recorded so I don't lose it. Then build everything else from there.
Then I listen, the song will sound like crap, I delete everything and start all over.....
Cheers,
Then I listen, the song will sound like crap, I delete everything and start all over.....
Cheers,
undrgrnd studio
New member
If it's a possibility for you, the best way to get a solid foundation is to do drums with direct bass/guitar/piano at the same time. You can then replace the rhythm later if need be. With this method you know you won't run into timing troubles later on with the drums, and you can catch really great moments between bass and drums that are just lost when tracking drums after the rhythm instruments.
I've found that in every single case, if live drums are going to be a constant in the song it's best to lay them down with at least one other rhythm instrument. Every time I try getting drums on an existing song, you run into small imperfections that just don't sound right. A slightly missed kick, or a straying snare.
If there isn't going to be drums, I always start with rthm guitar.
I've found that in every single case, if live drums are going to be a constant in the song it's best to lay them down with at least one other rhythm instrument. Every time I try getting drums on an existing song, you run into small imperfections that just don't sound right. A slightly missed kick, or a straying snare.
If there isn't going to be drums, I always start with rthm guitar.
S
Schmange
New member
Scratch drum track first. Then add scratch guitar, bass and synths with a scratch vocal if necessary.
Work on it for a few weeks until something starts to form then start replacing the original drums with a combo of loops, drum machine, real drums and samples.
Then go back and redo the music from scratch. Keep redoing until it sounds like a real band.
Do a temp stereo mix of the entire tune and keep it around for a couple of weeks, to several months, to work on vocals and lyrics.
Then go back and rework anything that's been bugging you.
Take another stereo mix to a separate arrangement window to free up 126 tracks.
Then work on vocals using as many tracks as necessary for harmonies etc..
Do a reduction mix on the vocals to reduce it to about 8 tracks. Move the reduction stereo vocal tracks back to the main mix
Then mixdown the whole thing.
Keep it around for a few weeks and if it doesn't give ya the heeby jeebies, do some final tweaks, make MP3's & hope for the best on iTunes.
Work on it for a few weeks until something starts to form then start replacing the original drums with a combo of loops, drum machine, real drums and samples.
Then go back and redo the music from scratch. Keep redoing until it sounds like a real band.
Do a temp stereo mix of the entire tune and keep it around for a couple of weeks, to several months, to work on vocals and lyrics.
Then go back and rework anything that's been bugging you.
Take another stereo mix to a separate arrangement window to free up 126 tracks.
Then work on vocals using as many tracks as necessary for harmonies etc..
Do a reduction mix on the vocals to reduce it to about 8 tracks. Move the reduction stereo vocal tracks back to the main mix
Then mixdown the whole thing.
Keep it around for a few weeks and if it doesn't give ya the heeby jeebies, do some final tweaks, make MP3's & hope for the best on iTunes.
I
IloveJesus
New member
If I want a good song, I start with programmed drums.
Then I listen to that a few times and play guitar, recording it when I like it.
Then I add bass a couple times and mix them.
Then add more guitar.
Keyboard if wanted/needed.
Then I destroy the song with vocals.
Then I listen to that a few times and play guitar, recording it when I like it.
Then I add bass a couple times and mix them.
Then add more guitar.
Keyboard if wanted/needed.
Then I destroy the song with vocals.
S
songright
New member
Scratch vox and guitar with click track. Then it's on to drums. Bass. Guitar. Vocals erase over scratch track. Add other elements where applicable.
M
mattkw80
New member
I always start with
Drum Machine or Scratch Drums with
Scratch Acoustic and Scratch Vocal
(scratch vocals are kind of fun - because you can use odd ball cheap mics just to try them out, knowing your going to erase it anyway. You can also add some ad lib hooting and hollaring into the performance, because it's all just scratch. Never know when some of that improv may sound okay later)
After that it's hard to say..... put I probably grab for my bass.
Too often I get lazy later and keep the damn scratch drums, usually from Addicitve Drums, Easy Drummer, etc.
Many time I record all instruments myself.
Too hard to get my brother and law or brother (band mates) to come over that quickly, and I've got the most experienced timing, so it's easier to play their Bass and Drums myself.
I'm not some kind of Billy Corgan studio Nazi or something like that -- it's just reality that I do a better job. They are more like my live band.
Drum Machine or Scratch Drums with
Scratch Acoustic and Scratch Vocal
(scratch vocals are kind of fun - because you can use odd ball cheap mics just to try them out, knowing your going to erase it anyway. You can also add some ad lib hooting and hollaring into the performance, because it's all just scratch. Never know when some of that improv may sound okay later)
After that it's hard to say..... put I probably grab for my bass.
Too often I get lazy later and keep the damn scratch drums, usually from Addicitve Drums, Easy Drummer, etc.
Many time I record all instruments myself.
Too hard to get my brother and law or brother (band mates) to come over that quickly, and I've got the most experienced timing, so it's easier to play their Bass and Drums myself.
I'm not some kind of Billy Corgan studio Nazi or something like that -- it's just reality that I do a better job. They are more like my live band.
Wish
Never Sarcastic....Honest
I do the following:
- drum machine playing basic pattern for click track
- scratch guitar and vocal played together to click
Then I replace the all of scratch tracks usually in this order, but always the rhythm guitars first:
- rhythm guitar tracks - usually more takes/tracks than I will use in the end
- drums
- lead quitar
- bass
- vocals
I struggle the most with bass and vocals so those are usually towards the bottom of my list.
- drum machine playing basic pattern for click track
- scratch guitar and vocal played together to click
Then I replace the all of scratch tracks usually in this order, but always the rhythm guitars first:
- rhythm guitar tracks - usually more takes/tracks than I will use in the end
- drums
- lead quitar
- bass
- vocals
I struggle the most with bass and vocals so those are usually towards the bottom of my list.
N
nickwarhead
New member
I will usually lay down a scratch guitar/bass track while just recording the drums at first.
Then I put down guitar or bass, then leads, the lastly the vocals.
I don't see how someone would want to add drums later, even with a click track. That would be a pain.
Then I put down guitar or bass, then leads, the lastly the vocals.
I don't see how someone would want to add drums later, even with a click track. That would be a pain.
D
DAS19
New member
First I just want to get out that any drummer that considers himself a decent drummer should be able to play to a click track. Drums is the instrument I have been playing longest but I have never relaly taken it seriously and still I can play to a click track becuase the only drumming i do is recording.
I started to do
Stratch Guitar
then drums
then bass
then guitars
then keys or anything else
then vocals
people say you cant do durms last but thats rubbish. I record songs tracking everyhting with a click track and at the ned just play to the song on drums. If anything it might be easier for th4e drummer to record after if hes used to playing to a cd but for the other musicians and for the sake of being as tight as possible drums are better going first.
but most of my songs that are actually completed have been done tracking.
guitars first
then bass
then keys/anything else
then drums
then vocals.
I started to do
Stratch Guitar
then drums
then bass
then guitars
then keys or anything else
then vocals
people say you cant do durms last but thats rubbish. I record songs tracking everyhting with a click track and at the ned just play to the song on drums. If anything it might be easier for th4e drummer to record after if hes used to playing to a cd but for the other musicians and for the sake of being as tight as possible drums are better going first.
but most of my songs that are actually completed have been done tracking.
guitars first
then bass
then keys/anything else
then drums
then vocals.
D
DAS19
New member
M
Microfiction
New member
Drums first. For sure. Possibly I'll record a whole band scratch to the click, or just guitars/vocals scratch, but it depends on the drummer.
Then Bass.
Followed by guitars, or keyboards- whatever needs to be there for the singer to sing along to.
After this it's often dependant on the individual clients needs. Some vocalists like to sing at certain times in the day, or people have to leave the session early etc.
My preferred method is the tried and true, anyway
Drums
Bass
Guitars
Keyboards
Vocals
I really don't think recording drums last is a good idea at all. The drummer shouldn't be obtaining the feel from the other instruments- it should be laying down the feel.
Then Bass.
Followed by guitars, or keyboards- whatever needs to be there for the singer to sing along to.
After this it's often dependant on the individual clients needs. Some vocalists like to sing at certain times in the day, or people have to leave the session early etc.
My preferred method is the tried and true, anyway
Drums
Bass
Guitars
Keyboards
Vocals
I really don't think recording drums last is a good idea at all. The drummer shouldn't be obtaining the feel from the other instruments- it should be laying down the feel.
R
RAMI
Guest
To each their own. That's what makes music a beautiful thing. Everyone has their own way of doing things. I find laying my drums down last doesn't affect the "feel" in any negative way. In fact, I find it helps lay down a better drum track.