What's Your Process for Getting Started

[BenignVanilla]

In the past when I've recorded it was with my band. One of us would lay a scratch track down, and then we'd each lay our part in as time permitted. These days time doesn't permit very well, so I want to start going all Matthew Sweet on my DAW, and do some recording myself. I have a bunch of songs ready to go.

So what's your process for getting rolling? How do you begin laying down tracks? Matthew are you out there there?

 

[RAMI]

I usually deicde the tempo and then record a straight drum machine beat as a click track. From there, I'll usually do a scrap guitar track for guidance. Then, I start recording real tracks., starting with bass most of the time. I do all my tracks to the click track, with drums being the last thing I record, 99% of the time.

 

[Chili]

I usually record a scratch vocal and acoustic guitar to a click track. I'm probably still working out arrangement at this point. Then build everything on top, eventually replacing the scratch tracks.

 

[Dogbreath]

Pretty much the same here.

Scratch guitar to a click.
Drums to scratch guitar and click
Bass
Real guitars (2 or 3)
Keys, synth, whatever...
Vox are usually last unless they help make the tempo or feel or whatever.... In that case they'll go right after or with the scratch guitar.

 

[Seafroggys]

This is the process i used to record my album

1: Establish tempo chart (lots of fun tempo changes)
2: Record drum tracks
3: Record Midi keyboard parts
4: Record bass tracks (now that I decided that I would record bass)
5: Record rhythm guitar
6: Record piano
7: Record acoustic guitar
8: Re-record most bass tracks
9: Begin recording lead guitar with crappy guitarist with crappy tone
10: Re-record piano
11: Begin recording vocalists
12: Record new Lead Guitar at the same time *
13: Finish recording vocalists

* = where I'm at right now

 

[stepXinXtheXmix]

As for me...

1. Scratch guitar with drums at the same time(depending on the band being able to know their place, i'll do a scratch vox)
2. Drums
3. Guitar 1
4. Guitar 2(if there is a second)
5. keys/synth/loops
6. Bass
7. Lead Vox
8. back ground vox
9. mix
10. CAR TEST/IPOD test!!!!!
11. re-mix
12. burn cd
13. let my ears rest

 

[nzausrec]

I do the guitar chords/pattern first unplugged on the bed or something, then come to the daw and get the tempo sorted then lay the guitar line against the click. After that usually kick then bass then other drums or whathaveyou.
Trouble is I usually end up with just a nice sounding verse no chorus.