Single tracking, dual tracking, quad tracking etc.

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Member Since: Sep 30, 2009

I'm just kind of curious, when recording guitars, or even basses, vocals, anything. How many takes do you guys like to layer together? I've heard lots of commotion about quad tracking distorted guitars and the like (if my understanding is correct, thats taking 4 performances of the same riff, and layering it, with different mic positions and tones each time. Am i right?).

So just to narrow this discussion down, lets talk only in hard rock/ metal tones. How many tracks do you guys like to layer on:

Distorted Rhythm Guitars
Leads
Shredding
Clean Strumming
Clean Picking
Bass

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Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Oct 18, 2009 12:58 am

I usually dont layer clean picking, shredding, leads

distorted rythms guitars ill usually not exceed 4 on either side of the stereo so that is 8, but thats my ceiling, i usually only have 2 on each side. Remember ur not just layering for teh sake of layering, if u get two tones that complete eachother (high end, low end) and the timing on both has enough delays and things to beef eachother up it should be plenty thick. If u have too many tracks u run the risk of making it mushy

Clean strumming it depends on wat kind of strumming, if its more of a light jangly telecaster type strumming i wont layer, but for thickening ill usually do 2

bass i dont layer, but i actually record it with several mics and a line in all at the same time so i have a variety of tone but without losing the tightness of the part.

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Oct 18, 2009 01:02 am

I do two for clean strumming and picking as well as distorted guitars.

Everything else I use single tracks.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Oct 18, 2009 01:31 am

leads i keep single, unless its simple and needs the thickening.
rythyms im still messing with, come to some conclusions with a new method that i havent actually tried yet, but im convinced it'll kick buttocks.

I guess it comes down to how much clarity you want from whatever instrument you record.
the more tracks you do, the thicker it becomes, and with quick stuff, mostly it'll take the edge off the crispness of it.
but then also you wont have the thickness if you dont mutlitrack.

Delays are good for that, especially with lead work. you dont have to layer it, the delay kinda gives it the thickness without killing the attack response. (attack respone? well you get what i mean)


can i ask another question (if i may fragile?) on this that may help both of us here?

when doing heavy open chordy type stuff, could one multi track those quite heavily, and then go back to 2 a side for "shredding", (as you put it, fragile) and quicker type stuff?

in the past i thought na it'll stick out too much if you do that, but, if the volumes are correct and panned correctly, it should be a goer, yeah?

Member
Since: Sep 30, 2009


Oct 18, 2009 07:26 am

Thanks guys :] definitely a good starting point for me. There's so much to this whole music thing lol. And here I am thinking the hard part would be learning instruments (I play guitar, bass, keys, and drums a little), and then learning how to really develop a style. But now recording its just so. gahhh FUN :] Makes me wanna rip off something but its fun.

@ deon, your logic makes perfect sense :] probably have to spend a considerable amount of time making that transition sound perfect, but i bet you could do it. Then again i have no experience so how should i know.

Let me know how that turns out for ya! I don't even know how I'm gonna do panning yet. That part really confuses me, just which instruments a little heavier in which side.. gah idk lol. I guess i'll be experimenting soon enough.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Oct 18, 2009 09:09 am

experiment with 4 guitar tracks, left 80, right 80.
left 30, right 30 for panning.

bass guitar front centre, drums central if using software, Overheads you can adjust width wise a bit if needed.
i wouldnt go all the way left and right but its your call.

drum software is pretty much setup how you need it pan wise.



Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Oct 18, 2009 10:37 am

@Deon

it does work switching back and forth, but yes u will have to probably ride the faders a bit to make sure they match up in volume or watever, but i mean if ur changing parts from open chords to chugging or watever, by definition it wouldnt be weird to have a change in the thickness or tone or watever, they r differnet parts and if musically it flows, u should be golden.

Member
Since: Sep 30, 2009


Oct 18, 2009 12:15 pm

Hmm. Forgive me for being kinda oblivious here, but i can't quite figure out what you meant by "left 80, right 80. left 30, right 30 for panning" deon haha. Sorry but could you dumb that down a bit for me?

I'm assuming you meant each of those being a different track, one being to the left 80, and to the right 20. Another being to the left 30, to the right 70. But i just wanna check.

And as for drums, unfortunately i'm cheaping out and not getting software yet. Down the road it would probably be a good investment, but not yet :\ I'm just tracking each electronic pad one at a time, sometimes unplugging the other pads and playing along to get a better feel for the rhythm. Time consuming, i know haha.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Oct 18, 2009 01:54 pm

left 80 = 80% left etc IE: Left 100 would be 100% panned to the left (hard left). Only a stereo track would be panned 80 left and 20 right. If it is a mono track it would be 80 left only.

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Oct 18, 2009 02:44 pm

I do the panning style Deon mentioned when I have four guitars running.

Guitar 1, both takes are panned L100 and L65 (this varies every song for me) and the two takes from Guitar 2 would be R65 R100. Very thick sound, I like it.

I want to verify something as well, I don't know what another considers shredding. Sometimes people call my harmony a solo when I think it's not. Anyways, if I can't play it the same way twice then it's single tracked. Pretty good guideline :)

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Oct 18, 2009 10:43 pm

i was mucking around last night doing some writing and i just shoved the mic in front of the speaker as i usually do, and POW! the best guitar sound i ever had was recorded.

I have 2 amps, a 120 watt tube amp, and a 80 watt combo amp which is on its way out (which is the one i used), seriously, i couldnt believe the sound that i got from it. so i took a picture of all the settings and mic placement.

point is there's alot to be said about mic placement, the littlest change in posi can make HUGE difference.

"INTERESTING"
one thing that you might find interesting is, i have a "Biohazard" symbol stuck to my pracy amp grill, just above where the speaker dust cap is.

the other day i found a circular piece of aluminium, like a penny shape, which fell off one of my speaker stands, so i stuck it in the centre of the biohazard symbol, essentially blocking off that area for sound to come thru.

well, as i said, i recorded the best guitar sound ever last night and im thinking its no coincidence.

food for thought .


www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Oct 19, 2009 03:01 am

Hey Deon, it truly is about mic placement and about know the characteristics of the mic. Inches can make all the difference. Post the photos if you get a chance... Would love to see them :)

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Oct 19, 2009 07:23 pm

ok will do BH.
im away atm, so can do next tuesday or wednesday.

Member
Since: Sep 30, 2009


Oct 19, 2009 07:56 pm

Thanks for the panning explanation haha. And hmm. I've actually wondered what some sort of muffling would do to your tone. Never tried yet. I'm looking forward to these pics! Thanks deon!

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Oct 20, 2009 04:11 am

i gotta say though, sticking that crap on my amp grill, i wasnt intending on doing anything to it sound wise.



Member
Since: Sep 30, 2009


Oct 21, 2009 07:16 pm

Hey, how do you think peanut butter cups were invented? :] the best things in life are purely accidental.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Oct 23, 2009 11:10 am

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1694/pa170116.jpg


http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Oct 23, 2009 11:10 am

the mic is in the centre of the dustcap

Member
Since: Sep 30, 2009


Oct 23, 2009 11:26 am

Hmm. I'm trying this later :] You said its just a piece of aluminum? I'll probably round up a few random household items and see what muffles best. Thanks!

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Oct 23, 2009 11:48 am

i dunno if it was the stuff i stuck on it or not, more than likley just mic placement

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Oct 23, 2009 03:02 pm

Little of both is my guess. You are going to get at least some rejection right in the center, I could see it even taking a little of the harsh\tinny sound out of it.

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