Top tip for the day

[greyskull]

Never ever; underestimate the power of NOT doubling/quad tracking guitars in mixes.
I've just been going through and UN doubling the doubles in a lot of places; the mix is now SO much more dynamic and the parts have so much more space.

When the doubles come in; they REALLY kick your arse.
I have been listening to a lot of Andy Wallace mixes. that might explain it.

 

[Metaltastic]

If you only have one guitar playing, do you automate the panning?

 

[Machinated]

seriously, im really getting into layering things up by doing tracks of different things rather than just doubling up by playing something in exactly the same.

that said, it really depends on the music as some music inherently isnt dynamic enough to benefit from it.

 

[ForefrontStudio]

seriously, im really getting into layering things up by doing tracks of different things rather than just doubling up by playing something in exactly the same.

that said, it really depends on the music as some music inherently isnt dynamic enough to benefit from it.

same here. typically when I record other bands, I record them doing 1 take through 2 amp sims (pod farm) hard pan them, then record the second guitar doing the same. almost every band I record has 2 guitarists. sometimes I';; go back and layer a 3rd or 4th guitar track, also through 2 different amp sims, in certain parts of the song. when there's one guitarist, I almost always go back and make a second track and change stuff up. sometimes a 3rd, sometimes a 4th in some spots. I've found different guitars/pickups help a lot too.
one thing I learned that really helps with the stereo image and that "wall of amps" sound with only one take through 2 amp sims is to chose 2 different setups that have a VERY different tone. ie, one very scooped and smooth and the other more midrangy and chunky. if the tones sound too much the same, the image suffers greatly. one of my favorite combos is the 5150+ENGL combo then play with different cabs and on/off axis micing. the eq/boost pedal helps a lot with this too. When I mix the guitars then, I'll usually have one of the amps a bit lower than the other. usually the one that is more favorable/more at home in the genera/song is a bit louder. then do vice versa for the second guitarist, so each guitarist is a little stronger on one side than the other.

 

[ForefrontStudio]

wow. sorry for the sucky typing. it's almost 4am here...

 

[greyskull]

If you only have one guitar playing, do you automate the panning?

yes; but this is especially with 2 guitar bands.