A permanent record
When you’re on your own, it never feels like there is enough time or money to get the job done properly. In a month I will be heading into the Pus Cavern for 8 days of recording, but even these daily 10 hour sessions don’t seem like ample time.
We will be recording 11 songs with 2 guitars, bass, drums, vocals, and some electronic instrumentation. Though this may be a simple set up compared with other types of bands and musical genres, it still takes an immense amount of time to track these instruments.
On the first day of recording, a band must first set up all of the equipment and get all the necessary microphones placed. This seems simple enough, but in reality this initial preparation can take hours. The drums have to be balanced and equalized and the tone of the kick and snare must be adjusted to fit in the mix. Guitar tones must be decided upon and the mics placed to reflect this choice. Finally, if acoustic guitars are to be used, other mics must be placed on standby so that they can be used when the time comes.
After setup is complete, the tracking process can begin. When a signed band records, they have the time to record each instrument individually. They start with drums and then add guitars, other instruments, and finally vocals. With a tight budget however, we will have to track multiple instruments on each take. For example, the drums, bass and rhythm guitar will all be recorded at the same time. Once these parts are finished, it is then possible to go back and add additional rhythm guitar tracks, leads and solos. While recording each instrument separately allows for greater flexibility when editing and mixing, a live recording can make the performance feel more vivid and saves valuable time.
The instrumental portion of recording will take 4-5 days to complete, not including the mixing. Following this begins the real challenge; capturing the vocal performance. Oftentimes this is the most challenging part of the recording process, but also the most vital. Vocals are what draw a listener’s attention and the thing that they remember in a song. They are what define the song. Because there can be so many different tracks dedicated to the vocals (harmonizing, doubling, etc), it takes a large chunk of time as well.
Once the vocals have been tracked comes the final part of the whole process; mixing and mastering. In this portion of the recording, all of the individual track levels are determined, effects are added, and the tracks are made ready to be put on a CD. Although making simple level adjustments and adding some effects would seem like quick undertaking, in actuality it also burns time faster than one might expect. As the band members sit in the control room with their tunes playing over the studio monitors, each person interprets how things should sound differently. One might think an instrument needs to come up, one might think it needs to be turned down, and another thinks it is fine the way it is. The democratic part of talking out these differences of opinion can eat away the clock rapidly. There’s also the business of getting the songs into the right order with the right amount of time in between and setting a standard volume for the CD. Ultimately mixing is a critical part of recording, that can get shorted if tracking runs longer than expected.
We will be recording 11 songs with 2 guitars, bass, drums, vocals, and some electronic instrumentation. Though this may be a simple set up compared with other types of bands and musical genres, it still takes an immense amount of time to track these instruments.
On the first day of recording, a band must first set up all of the equipment and get all the necessary microphones placed. This seems simple enough, but in reality this initial preparation can take hours. The drums have to be balanced and equalized and the tone of the kick and snare must be adjusted to fit in the mix. Guitar tones must be decided upon and the mics placed to reflect this choice. Finally, if acoustic guitars are to be used, other mics must be placed on standby so that they can be used when the time comes.
After setup is complete, the tracking process can begin. When a signed band records, they have the time to record each instrument individually. They start with drums and then add guitars, other instruments, and finally vocals. With a tight budget however, we will have to track multiple instruments on each take. For example, the drums, bass and rhythm guitar will all be recorded at the same time. Once these parts are finished, it is then possible to go back and add additional rhythm guitar tracks, leads and solos. While recording each instrument separately allows for greater flexibility when editing and mixing, a live recording can make the performance feel more vivid and saves valuable time.
The instrumental portion of recording will take 4-5 days to complete, not including the mixing. Following this begins the real challenge; capturing the vocal performance. Oftentimes this is the most challenging part of the recording process, but also the most vital. Vocals are what draw a listener’s attention and the thing that they remember in a song. They are what define the song. Because there can be so many different tracks dedicated to the vocals (harmonizing, doubling, etc), it takes a large chunk of time as well.
Once the vocals have been tracked comes the final part of the whole process; mixing and mastering. In this portion of the recording, all of the individual track levels are determined, effects are added, and the tracks are made ready to be put on a CD. Although making simple level adjustments and adding some effects would seem like quick undertaking, in actuality it also burns time faster than one might expect. As the band members sit in the control room with their tunes playing over the studio monitors, each person interprets how things should sound differently. One might think an instrument needs to come up, one might think it needs to be turned down, and another thinks it is fine the way it is. The democratic part of talking out these differences of opinion can eat away the clock rapidly. There’s also the business of getting the songs into the right order with the right amount of time in between and setting a standard volume for the CD. Ultimately mixing is a critical part of recording, that can get shorted if tracking runs longer than expected.
If you think about it in any other context besides recording, 80 hours is a long time. But from the moment you step into a studio that time chips away faster than you or anyone else can expect. As an independent band recording, you realize how much time and money a professional band spends to make their CD. For their recordings perfection is a must while an unsigned band must sometimes learn to not sweat the small things. With limited time the miniscule details are less important than the overall product.
This is my last blog entry of the semester, but feel free to check out my band’s page in January to hear some of the recording. I hope you have enjoyed my column and don’t forget to Rock On.
This is my last blog entry of the semester, but feel free to check out my band’s page in January to hear some of the recording. I hope you have enjoyed my column and don’t forget to Rock On.
posted by in2thegapagain85 at 10:08 AM
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