Would you recommend this?....

Posted on

Member Since: Feb 26, 2004

We have our studio setup, and we are ready to go. But our drummer isnt able to make it till next week.. Would it be smart to go ahead and record the guitar tracks, and let him do the drums when he gets here? Or am I overlooking some major problems that will come up...We will be using the cakewalk metronome and everything...so it will all be on beat...I dunno

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Member
Since: Jan 08, 2004


Mar 02, 2004 10:24 am

Talk with the drummer and see if it's ok with him first or you could create a rift in the recording if the drummer is a friend and takes it personally. Some drummers cannot play with click tracks so I would ask first and see what he thinks, remember communication is very important when recording.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 02, 2004 11:13 am

In addition to Gregor, I have found that a lot of times a player performs better with more than just a click track behind them. So have an actual drum line helps build the enthusiasm. maybe even just program a drum beat rather than just the metronome.

Emerson's Transparent Eyeball
Member
Since: Jan 19, 2004


Mar 02, 2004 01:39 pm

As a guy who records everything himself, I find it easier to record drums first with a click track and a scratch guitar track (turned down low so I know where I am in the song) than to fully record everything but the drums and add the drums later. It's easier for me to get more energy out of my guitar playing if I have drums behind them, like dB says. I've tried it both ways, that's just what works for me, but I'm not a drummer as much as a guitarist...I think it makes it harder for the bassist to lock in as well without the drums.

punk rock @$$hole
Member
Since: Feb 29, 2004


Mar 02, 2004 02:40 pm

i record drums first too. usualy with scratch guitar track as drayburn suggested. gives everyone else something solid to play to.

Your favorite rockstar
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2003


Mar 02, 2004 03:08 pm

Drums are what hold most songs together, so I usually record them first as well. It's a lot easier to tie instruments tightly into drums that are laid down than it is to tie drums into other instruments that are laid down.

Before he's ready, you could lay down guitar scratch tracks with a metronome for him to play along with

Member
Since: Jan 08, 2004


Mar 02, 2004 03:47 pm

Yeah it's a good plan to record drums first but you have to remember it depends on the drummer if you want to record something with a click track. Every drummer will slow up or down (unless your Neil Peart:))it takes a drummer that practices with a metronome to be able to play with one. I've heard drummers that can play with an album note for note but as soon as they try to do something with a click track they are all aver the place. If you record your guitars first with a click track make SURE the drummer is ok with it and if he's confident enough make a cd of it and let him listen to it and if at all possible play with it and get use to the fact. I cannot stress this enough if the drummer has no experience with a click. Even with a drummer with experience with a click I would do this as well, but someone that has no experience with playing with a click will make lots of mistakes and get frustrated easily and makes for a bad vibe.


I just have to throw this in....How many drummers does it take to screw in a light bulb? .......none, they have machines that do that now!:)

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 02, 2004 03:48 pm

my answer woulda been:

"20, 1 to hold the bulb and 19 to drink until the room spins" LOL

Member
Since: Jan 08, 2004


Mar 02, 2004 03:54 pm

It's so funny cause all the drummers I know don't really drink that much, it's the bass players that do! hahahaha That is a good one db, never heard of it before.....hahahaha very good indeed!

Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Mar 02, 2004 09:10 pm

No, wait and record the drums... and promply fire you drummer for the loss of a weeks studio time :D

Same as what everyone else has said - our drummer has only our click track fed into his headphones - but then our drummer is mental.

Most drummers I work with will want the guitar and bass playing along with them, if they have never practiced to a click before, it will only throw them off in the studio.

jues.

Member
Since: Feb 26, 2004


Mar 03, 2004 10:37 am

Thanks for all the input guys. We are just going to wait until we are all ready to get going. We are all just kind of anxious, seeing as we recorded 4 of our songs...only to get ERASED FROM THE HARDDRIVE!! sucks majorly, but hey, what can you do.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 03, 2004 10:40 am

BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP.

Never fully trust a single hard drive.

Member
Since: Feb 26, 2004


Mar 03, 2004 09:06 pm

Yeah I know, stupid mistake. but hey, live and learn...

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