Questions: Quad/Pans/Width/Disto/Bass/keys/drums...

[Plendakor]

[...]

 

[Vinny]

Guitars-
Distortion 1-
100% Left, 100% Right

Distortion 2- 75% Left, 75% Right

Lead Distortion- 0%

Harmonies- 20% Left, 20% Right

Bass-
Ditorted Bass- 0%

Clean Bass (DI)- 0%
(If you have a good stereo expander, USE IT)

Drums-
Kick 0%
Snare 0-15% (Left or Right)
Toms- Completely Subjective, I have a 4 tom set and pan-
Tom 1- 60% L
Tom 2- 20% L
Tom 3- 20% R
Tom 4- 60-80% R

Overheads- 80-100% (Left and Right)
16 inch crash- 60-100 % L
17 inch crash- 60-100% R
Ride- 20-40% R
Ride Bell- 20-40% R
China- 80-100% (Left and/or Right)
Splashes- 40% L - 40% R

Synths- No idea. Completely subjective. I only use one track on synth and pan 0%

But pianos I pan-
Left Hand- 20-40% L
Right Hand- 20-40% R



The main objective is to not pan stuff together that might interfere with each other. (And that includes High passing kick AND bass since they lie in the same region of the stereo image)

*****EDIT*****
Just noticed I didnt post something about hi-hats-
I like the hats panned pretty hard, usually around 40-60% left or right, but almost any panning will work

 

[Vinny]

But for orchestral stuff, I use EastWest and pan the stuff inside of Kontakt so I can put it all on one track.
I usually pan the same as I do piano, unless if it is an all-orchestral song.

 

[P-E]

Doing the other way around usually sounds better (somewhat more balanced), in my opinion (changing amp settings just a little bit but use same mic and same position).

 

[Vinny]

Edit 1: I tried your settings and its FUCKEN-AWE-SOME!?

Glad ya dig

I almost always just double track guitars, but some bands like to quad track, and for that, A different mic sim or whatever should be enough. But make sure that the two tracks panned at 75% have alot less distortion, and more of a cleaner sound. This is for note definition, especially if the two tracks panned at 100% have high amounts of distortion. I NEVER EVER have the same amount of gain on the tracks panned at 75% as I do on the tracks panned at 100%.
(It will also work if the tracks panned at 100% have less distortion while the tracks at 75% percent have more distortion, but in my opinion it doesnt sound as balanced as the other way around.)

And for faders-
Group the two tracks panned at 100% to one bus or Aux track. Adjust the volume of the single tracks until the left and right side of the fader on the Bus/Aux tracks are peaking at the same volume.
Then do the same for the two tracks panned at 75% and group to a different bus. Once you have that done, adjust the volume of the two bus or Aux tracks until they fit well with each other, and then for ease I group those two Busses to one single bus once the levels are adjusted.

And harmonies-
I almost always add two extra guitar tracks (one for each harmony obviously) panned at about 20% left and right, so during the harmonies there are a total of about 6 tracks of guitar in all playing back at once. This will not be a problem as long the rhythm tracks panned at 75% and 100% Left are doing the same and the tracks panned at 75% and 100% Right are doing the same thing. So in other words, the rhythms should only sound like 2 tracks at almost all times, despite being an actual of 4 tracks. But, sometimes I have the rhythm tracks doing the harmonies without any backing tracks and it sounds fine.

Hope this made sense

 

[P-E]

How do you level the 4 tracks after they have been recorded ?

thanks mène

ohhh also I'm wondering like, when you have harmonies, how do you split or slit that up ? 4 guitars for every part of 2 guitars doing harmony 1, which ones, how?

Depends of the mix really, I've got no guidelines on that. Vinny's given great tips regarding that though.

 

[chrisrivalry]

vinny could you expand upon your use of a stereo enhancer for bass? I'm assuming you use something like the waves soundshifter or similar.