help recording and mixing lead melody guitars with rhythm guitars

[darksound]

I am working on some recordings and a few of the tunes feature a lead melody going over a power chord rhythm for a verse or chorus (think Paradise Lost, Sentenced, Amorphis, Amon Amarth, etc.). I want to know the best way to record this as far as number of overdubs go. I normally record my rhythm tracks 2 left and 2 right which creates a nice thick and 3D sound. I am not sure it is is best to still keep the 4 rhythm tracks and then have 4 of the lead melody tracks or how I should do it?

Also I am not sure how to mix the lead melody. I have the L/R rhythm tracks panned hard (100%) should I bring in the lead some (60%)? My experiment so far with this has yielded a mush of sounds where the lead always sounds too loud and the power chords are buried. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Sacha]

For harmony stuff I usually do 2 tracks panned about 50 / 50 per side. Single lead lines go up the center and get treated similar to the vocal volume wise.

 

[darksound]

For harmony stuff I usually do 2 tracks panned about 50 / 50 per side. Single lead lines go up the center and get treated similar to the vocal volume wise.

Thanks I will give that a shot!

 

[GearMan2point0]

I got a question about leads, what do you usually do differently EQ wise with leads to make them cut through nicely?

 

[Mm1066]

I got a question about leads, what do you usually do differently EQ wise with leads to make them cut through nicely?

Usually more high mids for me.