What to lay down first?
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Posted on Dec 12, 2002 11:08 am
J. SCOTT
Help I'm stuck in Utah!!!!!!!!!
Member Since: Dec 10, 2002
I want to record drums, guitar, bass and vocals with me doing all 4. What is the best way to start this? I mean which is easier to record first? I have tried this by doing Guitar first but when I went to put down the drum tracks it didn't sound like the cues were right on.
Please help,
Scott
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MurphyAn outburst for perfectionMember
Since: Dec 11, 2002
Dec 12, 2002 11:19 am Drums first then Bass, rhythm Guitar, Vocals and Lead Guitar last.
That's the way I do it anyway.
I normally record a rhythm Guitar track for a guide then re-record it later. I also use a Guide vocal until I've the lead Guitar in place.
I find it easier to record lead around a vocal.
J. SCOTTHelp I'm stuck in Utah!!!!!!!!!Member
Since: Dec 10, 2002
Dec 12, 2002 11:27 am So you do the drum track first or the guide track?
MurphyAn outburst for perfectionMember
Since: Dec 11, 2002
Dec 12, 2002 11:30 am Yeah! Always drums first, then bass or Guide Guitar.
J. SCOTTHelp I'm stuck in Utah!!!!!!!!!Member
Since: Dec 10, 2002
Dec 12, 2002 11:33 am do you play to a click track or nothing at all?
Dec 12, 2002 11:52 am J. Scott,
Are they: live drums, PC drum software, or a drum machine?
SonicoMember
Since: Apr 19, 2002
Dec 12, 2002 12:16 pm I've had very good results laying down a guide track first. I record myself playing an acoustic and singing at the same time, then I play drums with a keyboard controller and then bass and all the instruments.
You have to laydown the guide track with a click or metronome playing at the same time so you can have a guide track with a pretty steady time.
Good luck!!
Dec 12, 2002 12:54 pm I agree w/ Sonico. I would lay down a crappy guitar and vocal to a click track, then it is easier to play drums over it. Well, that is, sometimes its easier. It all depends on your tightness as a drummer. I've been playing jazz drums for 12 years and I still can't play to a damn click track (alone that is). Grrr! However, if I have the click going and the guide track pumped way up I can usually pull it off.
Also, another option is to just lay the drums down first with no click. This is harder because of its demands on your memory, but it can actually sound a little more natural and free-flowing. Good Luck!
J. SCOTTHelp I'm stuck in Utah!!!!!!!!!Member
Since: Dec 10, 2002
Dec 12, 2002 01:49 pm DrunkTank,
They are live drums.
Dec 12, 2002 01:57 pm Definitely drums first with a click track and scrap guitar part for reference. Then record bass and rhythm guitar. After that it doesn't really matter what order you record things in, although usually I like to have vocals last. If you record like this then the timing is usually much tighter, and things just seem to sit in the mix better. Of course, this all depends on if you have a good drummer. If you don't, you may want to reconsider how you record.
MitchMember
Since: Apr 14, 2002
Dec 12, 2002 02:05 pm You could record the click track, do some crappy vocals and a guitar track, then mute the click track, and just play drums to the vocals and guitar...
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Dec 16, 2002 12:46 am Wow, good topic. I don't have any natural order. A tic tak track; definately. It has saved me hours in trying to make things fit later. I usually work with multiple musicians, so maybe that makes a difference. We generly reherse untill we are sick of the piece. First is rythm guitar for me. I need that to set the style of the piece. Then comes bass weaving around the guitar. Now drums and discard tic tak. Last lead instruments. After all of that, go back and fix arguments. I have had songs that get recorded three times over by the time we are done.
glynbMember
Since: Dec 16, 2002
Dec 16, 2002 06:58 am Hi to all, my first time on this group, just joined up today and so glad I found it.
Anyway, to add my two penneth, I start by laying down either a click track or a crappy rhythm unit for 5 or 6 minutes depending on how long I think the song will last. Then add a rhythm guitar to get the song structure right. Then I add bass drum and snare (separate tracks), then hi -hats. Next comes bass guitar. To do the bass I put the bass drum high in the mix and always try to synchronize the bass with the bass drum. If I don't synchronize bass & bass drum I always feel that something sounds disjointed when I come to play back. Once happy with the bass and that it fits with the drums OK its time for additional guitars and keyboards. Sometimes the original rhythm guitar is good enough to keep, sometimes I have to re do it as it no longer fits propoerly with the bass etc. I don't usualy bother with a guide voal as I keep it in my head as I play, but following reading the posts here I may try that in future.
I might add that Ive only been recording for a couple of months yet and am still finding the best ways out.
Feb 19, 2003 07:28 am glynb, why are you always inserting empty posts?
Do you have some odd page bookmarked or something? It is kinda getting irratating. It's always from your account and I think it is always in this thread...if you have a bookmark, please delete it and make a new one.
Feb 19, 2003 09:51 am I do the guitar and drums togther, gives me a beat to play to and good timing...you can always add more drums later on...
