Doing More doesn't equal less to do
It's always much more work than it seems. That's what I am slowly realizing as myself and two friends prepare to take our own stab at the world of putting a band together and recording.
When we began it all seemed simple enough; we strapped on our guitars, gripped our drumsticks, cranked up the PA system and simply started writing songs. A surging power chord was driven by clashing cymbals and the thud of the bass drum. Although many of the songs were partially written prior to the three of us coming together, no matter how solid a tune appeared it always melted away and became something completely new.
After a complete summer of this process, it was time for school to begin and me to make my way back to Tucson and the University of Arizona. We agreed that after my December graduation, the three of us would put our money together and head to the Pus Cavern to record an 11 track CD that we had spent so much time developing.
Now as the semester edges on and December creeps ever closer, I am finding that there are still so many things to be done. The first thing we had to work out was the dates for recording and how much time we could afford. Studio booking must be accomplished in advance and a deposit paid as a confirmation. The hardest part was getting three college students' work and academic schedules to cooperate. Although I would be out of school, my fellow bandmates would only be on a winter break. We also had to account for the fact that we would need time to rehearse the songs and write two additional songs to replace others we had fallen out of love with when the hiatus took effect.
After the booking fiasco, other necessary tasks started popping up. I had to go through each song, figure out keyboard and other similar effects, and record them at their respective song tempos using the program Reason. We had to begin working on the artwork for the CD cover, which went through several different concepts and drafts before settling on one. Next a track order had to be determined as well as the segues (to make the tracks flow together). Following these details, the order of business became the lyrics. Changes were made to better complement the music, and more had to be written for certain parts. Finally, because we lacked a bass player, I was give the responsibility of writing all of the parts and practicing enough to be able to record the instrument when January rolled around.
Though this is only the beginning of my own experience, I have found that this is not merely an endeavor that one dabbles in. There is no way to just run out and make a record on a whim; it takes hard work and most of all plenty of time. For now it seems that the more I accomplish, the more there is to do.
When we began it all seemed simple enough; we strapped on our guitars, gripped our drumsticks, cranked up the PA system and simply started writing songs. A surging power chord was driven by clashing cymbals and the thud of the bass drum. Although many of the songs were partially written prior to the three of us coming together, no matter how solid a tune appeared it always melted away and became something completely new.
After a complete summer of this process, it was time for school to begin and me to make my way back to Tucson and the University of Arizona. We agreed that after my December graduation, the three of us would put our money together and head to the Pus Cavern to record an 11 track CD that we had spent so much time developing.
Now as the semester edges on and December creeps ever closer, I am finding that there are still so many things to be done. The first thing we had to work out was the dates for recording and how much time we could afford. Studio booking must be accomplished in advance and a deposit paid as a confirmation. The hardest part was getting three college students' work and academic schedules to cooperate. Although I would be out of school, my fellow bandmates would only be on a winter break. We also had to account for the fact that we would need time to rehearse the songs and write two additional songs to replace others we had fallen out of love with when the hiatus took effect.
After the booking fiasco, other necessary tasks started popping up. I had to go through each song, figure out keyboard and other similar effects, and record them at their respective song tempos using the program Reason. We had to begin working on the artwork for the CD cover, which went through several different concepts and drafts before settling on one. Next a track order had to be determined as well as the segues (to make the tracks flow together). Following these details, the order of business became the lyrics. Changes were made to better complement the music, and more had to be written for certain parts. Finally, because we lacked a bass player, I was give the responsibility of writing all of the parts and practicing enough to be able to record the instrument when January rolled around.
Though this is only the beginning of my own experience, I have found that this is not merely an endeavor that one dabbles in. There is no way to just run out and make a record on a whim; it takes hard work and most of all plenty of time. For now it seems that the more I accomplish, the more there is to do.
posted by in2thegapagain85 at 9:11 PM
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