How do you capture the live energy in a studio?

[In10city]

I'm not sure which forum this question belongs in so I'm dropping it here. I've searched around and not found anything pertaining to this topic yet so if I missed it I apologize in advance.

When I watch video footage or listen to our live performance, our songs really seem to crackle with energy, excitement and enthusiam. When I listen to our album, all the notes are there (without any mistakes) but they sound sort of "clinical" or unemotional.

I know for my part, by the time I finally capture a 'flawless' drum track I'm pretty worn out from failed attempts, technical difficulties and loosing the magic in the process. I've already taken several steps to prevent that from happening again on this album.

We built a newer computer with faster processing speed and more ram, we sent our 1604VLZ off to get new ribbon cables installed so the subgroup channels would not drop out during a recording (but the service center closed up and ran with our mixer) so we are using my Mackie 32 channel main board to record the drums. We also moved the recording computer, amp and monitors out beside the drums so I won't have to run into the control room between every take and wear myself out before I get started.

I also plan on setting a "take limit" for myself for each song. If I don't get it right in say 5 takes, I will take a mandatory break and come back fresh. I also plan on playing through each song about 30 times in the days leading up to the official 'start' of recording so I should have the kinks worked out of my playing.

Should I set a limit on how many songs I can or should try to record in 1 session or day?

Now, I'd like to hear anyone else's recomendations on how we can shoot for a more live energy sounding recording. Something with all the excitement the songs have when we play them live.

[brandondrury]

You may want re-read your post. I think you've answered your own questions. You just need to have the balls to go with your gut here.

When I watch video footage or listen to our live performance, our songs really seem to crackle with energy, excitement and enthusiam. When I listen to our album, all the notes are there (without any mistakes) but they sound sort of "clinical" or unemotional.

BINGO! You've solved the problem! Re-read this quote until it makes sense.

The problem here is the use of "better". I don't think you actually typed out "better" in your post, but I guarantee someone in your band says that overdubbing everything is "better". Why?

The only thing you are trying to do is convey an emotion that happens to be repeatable by the use of little circles (we call them cds). A song is 100% emotion 0% everything else. The only exception to that is that there are some standards that need to be met. However, if the intensity is there, those standardsa are overlooked assuming the engineering isn't wretched.

Most young bands I deal with are obsessed with "perfection". You can define the P word however you want to. To me, it's my favorite record of all time and it just so happens to have vocal pitch issues all over it. I don't care. I didn't when I was 14 and I don't now either.

The problem is how we define what "sounds good". Some people thing that massive overdubbing makes a recording sound good or at least that perfect engineering makes a record sound good. I think music that makes me excited sounds good. That's it!

So, I would be totally willing to record a band live, ditch the tom mics, and put them on electric guitar, and just go for it. I would overdub the vocals most likely though because I can usually get more excitement out of a singer on my own, but not always.

Right now I hate bands with a passion. You'll read about it an upcoming blog.

Bottom line. It sounds like you are recording the wrong way for your band! You can accept "sterile" or you can just play live and love it.

Many times the click track is the right choice for a band, but sometimes it is not the right choice. Playing to recorded backing tracks is a vibe killer, that's for sure!

It's your call. I consider "vibe" to be an effect. I think some songs can be quantized and stiff as a board and still sound amazing. However, some songs rely on the vibe a lot more. It's you, your band, and the producer's job to find that.

Brandon

[In10city]

So I've got the tiger by the tail...

Short of going to a 'real' studio and paying some engineers and a producer we are limited by our recording system to overdubbing. I'm going to have to figure out a way to play with the same level of intense energy I do at gigs. Then of course, if I manage to get an acceptable performance, we will have to get every other member to capture their performance with the same excitement. The odds of this are shrinking as I think about it... That's why I am looking for some psychological tips to employ with the recording process this time around. Maybe just pointing out this defficiency to ourselves will help us be more cogniscent of it and possibly rise to a new level.

[brandondrury]

Short of going to a 'real' studio and paying some engineers and a producer we are limited by our recording system to overdubbing.

Well, that is one solution. (And not a terrible one depending on your financial situation). Whatever you decide to do, you will be living with this cd forever. I'd make something to be proud of.

I used 9 mics on a drumset I tracked 2 weeks ago. Now that I'm mixing, I'm down to 3 mics. My Shure Beta 91 on the kick drum and two Oktava MC012s that were used as "overheads". I had the Oktavas just slightly below the drummers shoulders and pulled towards the back corners just far enough where he couldn't reach them without leaning over. I measured to make them equadistant from the snare drum.

The toms don't have a lot of bottom, but they don't have mud problems either. I've got a feeling that this is going to be some of my best drums I've recorded in my stupid room.

If you did this, you could use 3 mics on your big drum set, 1 bass DI (or mic), and two mics for your guitars. Done.

Then of course, if I manage to get an acceptable performance, we will have to get every other member to capture their performance with the same excitement. The odds of this are shrinking as I think about it...

Sure. This is part of the magic! Of course, they can still overdub their parts right then and there. They don't have to redo the whole take, just mistakes. Done!

I wouldn't do this often, but if you really wanted to sound live and your room is big enough, invite 20 people over. Drink some beer and play your show through twice. I've never done this, but if that's what the album called for, I'd do it. Neil Young setup an full live concert PA for his band to record several albums.

No rules! It's up to you to make me go "Yeah!" when you post this in Bash This Song. If I say "It's okay" you failed. You figure out the rest.

Brandon

[DemonicTempest]

3 mics do give a far rawer feel much of the time and can produce great recoridng too.

Good idea ive messed with here at home is taking live videos and ripping the sound off them. Then mess with the eq, take your 32 band on what ever program you use and raise and drop out frequencies. find the best bass frequencies and boost them on one track, then find the best tom tom frequencies and boost them, same again for the guitars and whatnot.

Youll have a helluva lota tracks, but if done well you can get a good sounding enegetic and cleaner mix than what original came through those hella crappy camera mics haha.

[brandondrury]

I'd imagine this is a phasing nitemare, but it's not like you have a lot to lose with a camera recording.