It Prevails/ melodic hardcore sound

[chrisrivalry]

I know it's pretty noobish to come on here and ask "how do you make my recordings sound like this" but I have a band coming in this week with a very similar sound to It Prevails and I kind of want to get in the ball park of their tone in terms of guitar. I believe they used a hughes and kettner for their album, but I only have a double recto and a marshall 2x12 for this project. here's a sample of the tone I would be going for, any advice would be greatly appreciated for the over all mix or anything!
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCVPGofiCe8&feature=related[/ame]

 

[AllanD]

It's pretty neat, I actually emailed Rain City studios asking this info. It was a dual recto for the rhythms, Marshall SLP for leads, all into a 1960a cab with gt75's. Bass was reamped by the mixer who I couldn't get into contact with. Drums are live with samples. Vocals were recorded into a super expensive microphone. Rhythm guitar used was a danelectro baritone guitar with single coils I believe, leads were a les paul with EMG's.

 

[chrisrivalry]

that's awesome man! yeah the mixer was Beau from Saosin actually. Well that's good that they used a double recto, even though it doesn't really have that soggy over saturated tone. That's the main thing I'm worried about for this project is the guitar tone, I really don't know how to get that high end sparkle there.

 

[AllanD]

Turns out I was a tiny bit inaccurate, here's the original email.

Hey Allan,

there was a lot of stuff used on the record... but I'll highlight a few key things:

vocals : Soundelux U195 -> Great River MP

guitars: we used 2 heads, a 90's Dual Rectifier, and a Marshall JCM Slash Signature, and just a standard Marshall 1960a cab. Then we had 2 Gibson Les Pauls (one stock from the 60's, one modded with EMGs), a Danelectro Baritone (most of the rhythm tracks), and 2 Gibson SGs.

The cab was mic'd with a Sm57 and a Royer R121, going through Brent Averill API 312's

Drums: Truth Custom Drums maple kit and 14"x8" Truth Brass snare. Neumann KM184s for overheads, Neumann TLM103's for rooms, Beta52 on kick, sm57 on snare, and 421's on toms. ... all going through an old analog, British made "Soundtracs" console from the 70s-80s for mic pre's and eq's.

Bass was tracked DI, then later re-amped by the mix engineer. Not sure what he used.

It was a special record, but not because we used any fancy gear or techniques... the whole thing was tracked in like a week... but it's still a great record that I'm very proud of.

-Ryan Furlott / Rain City Audio

Sounds like that soggy hi end was more than likely the use of GT75's as opposed to V30's, and the guitar. Notice the single coils.

 

[chrisrivalry]

ughhh what I would do for that Soundelux haha. I may try and borrow a friends 1960a for this after reading that.

 

[TofNazareth]

I can be of help here as well, I did all the prepro for their newest record and know all the guys really well.

Post any other questions and I'll get ya the answer.

 

[AllanD]

I can be of help here as well, I did all the prepro for their newest record and know all the guys really well.

Post any other questions and I'll get ya the answer.

You're talking about Stroma right? Any recording info on it? It sounds "underproduced" compared to their other two albums, very raw.

 

[TofNazareth]

I completely agree, it was recorded at under city stuidios not that great IMO. Ian likes to keep it simple but you have to get a DD5 that is his secret weapon. Also I know in the videos other band members are tracking but every time that I've seen them track Ian (vocals) tracks everything but the drums.

 

[AllanD]

Yeah I've read an interview, he writes most of the songs minus the drums, even then he recorded the drums for the new demo IP just posted, lol. Yeah I'm not keen on the production at all. Only two guitar tracks, no center leads, the bass sounds really cheap, and the high mids in general are a bit heavy. I feel like It Prevails is one of those bands that does NOT benefit from raw production. Same thing with the EP, just didn't do the justice.

 

[TofNazareth]

We quad tracked on the Pre pro, I'll ask Ian if I can post a track up here.

Also we tracked some vocals from Tony (American Me) for Stroma that didnt make the final cut I'll see I can throw that up as well.

 

[AllanD]

That would be awesome

 

[chrisrivalry]

What is this DD5 you speak of haha

 

[TofNazareth]

I know your joking but here are the settings he rolls and it's on tap tempo mode 8 even though it does look like it.

 

[chrisrivalry]

oh snap that's awesome, and he keeps that regardless of tempo of song? just as a general sweetener for leads and such, because that's when I usually hear it.

 

[TofNazareth]

It has a external tap tempo hooked up.