Harmonies and solos (mono/dual/triple tracking)

[texisthebest]

I know some people record rhythm guitar in quad tracking, but lets talk about the another guitars: solos, harmonies, whatever you are playing at the same time as stereo rhythm guitars are sounding.

I usually record 2 tracks for rhythm guitars (dualtracking)
100% L/R hard pan, no delay/reverb, dry.

Then I record another three tracks for soloing, harmonies.
Two tracks are L/R hard pan for harmonies and whatever
and I use the center track for some solos
(when I am using this center track I am not using the other stereo tracks for harmonies at the same time)

This three tracks go to a stereo bus with some stereo delay and reverb.. so it do not sound so hardpanned and it sounds wet and atmospheric.

I do progressive metal and I like my solos harmonies to sound like ambient sounds (tipical djent clean kind of).

How do you think do your solos/etc?
Cheers!

 

[guy in latvia]

Hmm, interesting approach. I do things quite differently, I work with melodic metal stuff where leads are going on at the same time with vocals. In those cases I would either double track the leads and pan them 30-80% per side, depending on the amount of space I want to give them, or have a single centered one, especially if its reinforced with keyboards, but then I work around that to get the vocal out of the center. Its all very case by case really and I don't think there is anything wrong for different sections having a different sense of space even in the same song. I always use delay, but reverb would only be used if the part needs a lot of "atmosphere" and needs to sit a little more back in the mix.

 

[Heabow]

I think there is no rule. Whatever the music needs to your ears is a good way to go! I mean, sometimes you'd want to double track a solo, sometimes not. Sometimes a solo can be slightly off center (say 20% left or right) then add a verb and/or delay to the other side (and not necessary the exact same percent). But the more I produce music, the less I tend to double track same parts and the less I shape things in a symetrical way unless I'm in search of a particular effect/tone.

 

[texisthebest]

Thanks for your point of view guys!