How to prepare for recording a band?

S

Sam Bottner

Member
Jul 18, 2010
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Chicago
So tomorrow (or today by the time I post this :)), I'm recording my first band that I'm not in, and I'm doing it for free because half of it is for me to practice.

Anyway, I'm just doing one song and, luckily, they did some pre-production so I know what it sounds like. I just wrote MIDI drums for it, keeping it mostly the same as how it was, but I just changed a few things here and there to make it sound better.

Then I basically set up an entire project around it and threw on some guitar/bass FX chains of mine. I even recorded myself playing the first riff and mixed it a little.

I guess the reason I went to all this trouble is that I only have three and a half hours to record tomorrow, so I figure having it almost mixed before I start is just more efficient.

Sorry for the long explanation... What do you guys usually do to get ready (if anything)?
 
Yeah like you did.. set up the project, if there are MIDI drums and you know what sound the band is going for roughly then I'd premix the drums a little.
- Do a quick test if everything's working (I normally test all channels/preamps, it takes just a few minutes)
- make shure you're not getting dropouts (and if so, find the problem)
- make shure there's enough space left on your harddrive
- if you're using an external drive make shure it works as well
- set your clicktracks properly (especially if there are a lot of speed / rythm changes)
- clean up your room
- remind them of bringing enough water/soda/whatever or they will fucking erase your whole fridge :bah:
- remind them to be on time, and to have set up their instruments properly (again and again and again)

Optional / "Producing" stuff:
Listen to the prepro / midi files a a few times, decide where you'd like to have the guitars doubled, where a harmony would fit in nicely, if there's need for a nice drumfill, some special FX etc. and bring it up as a suggestion in a careful and friendly way while tracking :Spin:
 
definitely along the lines of jipchen on this one.

Clean up.
Create a session so that you don't waste time making new tracks & signal chains every 15 minutes.
Create folders on the hard drive you're using. (I have a organization tutorial I'm working on, so look out for that!)
Have all the hardware, mics, cables that you're using at hand.
Make sure to run through a checklist with them so that they don't forget anything.

good luck dude!
 
Thanks so much for the help guys!

I'm also thinking that since they have 2 guitarists, I'll record both and use two takes of the tighter player for double tracking. :) They don't need to know...
 
Sam Bottner said:
I'll record both and use two takes of the tighter player
Click to expand...

You'd best be careful. They may want to set up differently or they will play different parts, like harmonies. Once they discover you messed with their parts you'll be screwed.
 
Alright guys I finished tracking a few hours ago. Guitars took a long time, but luckily both players were fairly tight so it wasn't like I had to record rhythms twice. One guy record all the rhythms and the lead guitarist did harmonies and a solo and the intro thing. Bass was done in one take, pussy picked and untight, but it is what it is. As I said drums were programmed beforehand. Vocals were easy as the vocalist as decent technique and really good timing. Just that damn bass is going to take a hell of a lot of editing.
 
Just wanted to add (even though I know the drums were MIDI) if you track real drums, have the drummer drop off his kit (with new heads) a day or two before so that you can get them tuned and acclimated to the room.
 
Jordon said:
Just wanted to add (even though I know the drums were MIDI) if you track real drums, have the drummer drop off his kit (with new heads) a day or two before so that you can get them tuned and acclimated to the room.
Click to expand...

+1

SIDE NOTE: Good to hear everything worked out decently enough for you, though if you play bass you may want to retrack it :D.. they need never know!

-P
 
dude... you really did a lot to prep for your clients.

that's awesome man! ...annnnnd you did it for free?

these are signs of a great engineer! (keep up the good work, man)!
 
^thanks man :) yeah I figured if they like how it sounds and im cheaper than whoever they go to, maybe ill get more business in the future
 
Sam Bottner said:
here's a quick unmastered premix i did, leads are still DIs hahah. it sucks enough that i didnt want to make a whole new thread for it, but I figured it was at least worth posting.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7071005/Ephesus - Algernon.mp3

band is called Ephesus, myspace link is this: http://www.myspace.com/ephesusband they're some kids i go to school with
Click to expand...

sounds good dude!! snare seems too loud IMO. either that or bring the kick up a hair.

EDIT: yeah kick sounds too low in the mix for me.
 
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