Bash the hell out this song, please

[DarioScotto]

This is my bands first song.

The recording equipment we used was a Line-6 Gearbox, Audacity, and some Radio Shack mic for vocals.

The drums were done on FL Studio 7, we don't have any way of recording drums, and the drummers around here either aren't into metal, can't play it well enough, or don't have a good enough kit.

I will admit, it was a bit rushed, but it's still just a demo.

We will record the guitar differently around next time. By...
-using a mic plugged to gearbox, to capture the guitar from the amp for a "bigger" sound
-practice the whole song instead of in pieces

The bass wasn't recorded, something about it being a slap bass and I don't know what. It does sound a bit weird... So we chose to leave it out until we find how to record it so that it sounds good, learn to use it creatively, or if we buy a better bass.

Vocals will be record again. This time I (as well as the backup vocalist) will practice more before we record. Part of them were also recorded just straight from the mic into the laptop. So they sound super fuzzed and dumb.
We may just buy a recording mic and find a place that sells sound proof foam and set it up in the guitarists room (where we do the recording). It's not a very big room at all, but it does have a closet that we can isolate amps and record vocals in.

Uhm, drums... I don't really play them, but I made them all. I know how drums are played, like I can listen to a song and visualize what's going on with the drums. I just don't play because I lack a kit.

Any advice is appreciated.




MySpace.com - TAKE TO THE SKY is writing and recording - PROSSER, Washington - Hardcore / Death Metal / Experimental - www.myspace.com/taketotheskyband

[MetalDave]

You need to post the song here to get about 40 - 70% of us to listen to it. Sorry, I won't go off this site anymore to hear something. I have had problems from this.

[flim]

The guitar is clipping. I like the tempo changes. Thanks to your picture that accompanies your track, I imagined the rat and mouse sharing the vocal duties.

[Hope Leaves]

Myspace isn't really the best place to check out a mix - but based on what's there i have a bit of advice.

1.Practice - There are some parts where the guitar sounds like it is playing a diferent song to the drums etc. I would recommend you make sure you know your parts inside out before recording - even if you tell people it's only rough it still doesn't give a good reflection of your band.

2. Guitars - it sounds like there is just one rythm track panned centre - try doing 2 tracks one panned left one right, this should help you acheive a 'bigger' guitar sound.

There is more but sorting these out should improve this alot.

[Stevo22]

Originally Posted by MetalDave

You need to post the song here to get about 40 - 70% of us to listen to it. Sorry, I won't go off this site anymore to hear something. I have had problems from this.

Yeah sorry DarioScotto, I have to agree 100% with MetalDave.
It's a pretty easy process to post it here, and I would have liked to have listened to it. Especially since you have the word "please" in your title.

Steve.

[DarioScotto]

Originally Posted by MetalDave

You need to post the song here to get about 40 - 70% of us to listen to it.

Alrighty, I have it attached to my first post now.

Originally Posted by flim

The guitar is clipping. I like the tempo changes. Thanks to your picture that accompanies your track, I imagined the rat and mouse sharing the vocal duties.

What do you mean by the guitar is clipping? Like you could tell we recorded it in sections?
lol the rat is a bat. XD

Originally Posted by Hope Leaves

1.Practice - There are some parts where the guitar sounds like it is playing a diferent song to the drums etc. I would recommend you make sure you know your parts inside out before recording - even if you tell people it's only rough it still doesn't give a good reflection of your band.

All the parts were correct, it was just that the guitar was sketchy or not timed well with the drums. So we will practice the song till we can play it perfectly then record the instruments over again.

Unless you mean that the drums and guitar didnt seem to match in some places?

What time of the song did you notice this?

Originally Posted by Hope Leaves

2. Guitars - it sounds like there is just one rythm track panned centre - try doing 2 tracks one panned left one right, this should help you acheive a 'bigger' guitar sound.

There is more but sorting these out should improve this alot.

lol, we forgot to do this before uploading it. When we do, should we use the same one track panned left and right?

Or two seperatly recorded tracks of the same guitar part? Panned L and R?
And when panning the tracks, should they be about 75% to each direction?


Since there is only 1 guitar I guess I could say it plays lead and rythm...
But in the intro of the song, there are strums played about 4 times, and in between there is synth and "lead guitar" playing the same melodic part. These parts were recorded seperatly... how should I pan these?
Strums L and R? Lead and Synth in the middle?

And for the rest of the synth, sometimes it follows the guitar, and sometimes it's just there for ambient purposes. Should it be panned in the middle? Or have 2 tracks panned the same as a rythm would?

Bass? Panned same as the rythm?

Should all drums be in the center?

[Hope Leaves]

It was at some breakdown bit at the end of the songs, the chugs were out from the kicks.

I would say 2 takes panned left and right, this is usually just for rythm, add leads as a seperate track panned centre is what I would do.

Bass centre.

Drums, kick and snare usually centre toms and cymbals are usually panned around the kit from either audience or drummer perspective, dont go wider than 40 or 50% each side though for this or it'll start to sound wierd.

[DarioScotto]

lol oh yah, i had to do that part at the end, the guitarist had to go to work.
that was as close as i could get.

Thanks for all the info on panning! As soon the guitarist and I get to record (he cut his fingertips pretty deep with some scissors so he can't play for a while) we will make sure we follow these tips.


When we re-record the instruments, would a mic plugged into the gearbox micing the amp be a better option instead of just the guitar straight into the gearbox?

Are there any specific ways to isolate or mic an amp?

[Hope Leaves]

If you can get a great tone from an amp then i'd say go for it - it depends how much better tonewise you think it would be. I don't really know how you'd go about isolating it short of throwing some blankets over it or putting it in a cupboard or something. You could try reading up on impulses also - it's a useful way to be able to record your amp direct, just try searching in google, you should find out what you need.

[DarioScotto]

Also, is it best to record the instruments in one whole take?
Or in seperate ones, like we did? Was it noticeable?