When doubleing up guitar tracks..........

  • Thread starter Thread starter chadsxe
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chadsxe

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Do you record the same tone distortion etc levels as the first track or do you change them. Like maybe use the bridge pick up hard left and the neck hard right, or cut the bass and add some mid for one and add bass for another. I just was wondering if 2 exact tones and levels kind of start clashing with each other.
 
I've done A/B tests to determine what works best with the second guitar track, and the best combination for me is never the exact same tone. I think what happens is I subconciously seek a tone that will fill whatever sonic deficiency is left from the first track.

I typically use the same pickup patterns and similar mike positions though.
 
I like using the same tone if I want a big hard panned stereo type of sound. If the tracks will be more blended then I go for very different clean/distortion/EQ settings.
 
i agree with tex....use the same tone and everything...as a matter of fact..after you record the first guitar...go back do the second one right then and there so you have the same sound...its still going to sound stereo and it will sound blended. try to do the second guitar the same way you did the first and it'll sound pretty good.
 
Another option is to keep the same tone settings and record each take with 2 mics, say a dynamic and a condensor, so you end up with 4 tracks to pan and blend
 
In the song in my signature line, I did one rhythm guitar track with the electric and one with the acoustic, and panned them a little to opposite sides. I tried not to copy the picking. If I put more time into it, I'd probably try different ways to play the same chords, too.
 
it really depends on what i'm going for. if the goal is for it to sound like one huge guitar with lots of crunch, then i generally go for 2 or 3 (or more) takes with the same lowish gain settings and duplicate the track several times with several (different) mics on the amp.

if i'm looking for contrast between the guitar parts, i'll do em with different settings, pickups, guitars, etc., or maybe add an acoustic track or two under there, maybe with one playing open chords, the other using barred or capo'd chords.


really, it's all about what'll suit the song best and works with the goals you have in mind.


cheers,
wade
 
When recording distorted guitars, I usually record the second track with a different tone to fill any void in the frequency spectrum then pan tracks at 10/2 o'clock. Also mixing in acoustic or clean tone on a third track adds some clarity..of course it depends on the song as well.
 
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