Question for one-man-bands....

[ryst]

I am recording a new cd (5 songs). What would be the best, most efficient way of doing this? Assuming I have all the tempos mapped out for each song: Should I record each song completely (all tracks for each particular song) before moving to the next one? Or, for instance, should I record all the guitar tracks for each song, then bass, then drums, then keys, then vox? What would you suggest? Since i am doing this all myself I want to figure out the best, most efficient way so I am not stuck in my room for the next year.

[dman]

I would record a few of the beds if not all and then build the tracks from there. I find that when i'm recording a block of songs sometimes it's nice creativly to pick and choose what you lay down next.

 

Some days I'm more in the mood for laying guitar tracks and the next day my I may have the inspiration to do vocals. That way your not locked into " I have to do xxxxx today" although creativly I feel like doing yyyyy. Grab the inspiration when it's there and keep it fun.

 

My 2 cents

[Tedster]

I'm more or less with Dman. Play it by ear.

 

A lot of times what I'll do is record a click (SHUT UP, click haters )...then I'll on one track do a scratch rhythm guitar and vocal. Then I build from there. The click, and scratch guit and vox track gets wiped at the end.

 

Oh yeah, one definite advantage of NOT doing the "whole song by whole song" thing is...if you get a great drum sound, or whatever, it's going to be more consistent across the tracks.

[ryst]

Ahh! cool! I can see the tracking each song completely before moving to the next could also drain creativity...at least for someone like me. I have pretty much all the guitar and bass tracks for each song ready to record. I also use either a click or a loop so all the tempo maps are already set. It's starting to make sense now....kind of.

[coyote]

Usually it's difficult to get an entire band to answer a question.

 

Not in this case though.

[Sp3nc3r]

Ryst,

 

If resources allow, you could have a couple of "stations" set-up For example: an acoustic guitar station, as well as an electric guitar station, and so on. That way, if the inspiration hits you, you can move from one instrument to the other with only minor change-over. This also has the distinct advantage of allowing you not to get bored doing one instrument for too long. 14 bass tracks right in a row might make you wish you didn't pick it up in the first place...

 

Now I must go and hide from all of the "Low Down-ers" that are gonna come after me because I used bass guitar as a negative example

 

Cheers!

Spencer

[ryst]

Thanks Spencer! What else do you one man band peeps do before recording? What other preparations and preproduction methods do you use to ensure a relativley smooth experience? Please share!

[DC]

I always do one song at a time just because that's how I write. The instrument tends to be quite different tune to tune too.

 

I always start with a drum beat loop that suits the song. Then the rhythm instrument; guitar or piano, then the bass. Now it's time for a proper drum part that will lock with the bass.

 

Then add all the texture instruments.

 

Lead vocal and instrument, and then background vox and I'm done with the tracking.

[Phait]

I know I didn't finish my album, but shutup

 

I usually would do several demos, maybe a dozen, to get the feel of the album or the "band". From there I'd go song by song. It seems less daunting to do it one at a time, than several tracks of several songs at a time. It also seems best to let your mind focus on one complete song at a time, instead of several.

 

Also I typically establish a theme for the album so that I don't end up with an incohesive collection of songs. This usually involves writing visual scenes down (I like to think of potential movie scenes that a song would fit to, helps evoke it), or poetry or whatever supports the song. Album artwork plays into this too.

[Raymar]

Why not mix it up.

 

* All tracks in a tune section by section assuming midi is involved. Add on any tracks that have to be linear.

 

* Whole tune track at a time.

 

 

* Either of the above if you can play two or more midi'd instruments at a time.

 

* Add tracks to multiple tunes if the flesh is willing.

 

Steve

[theblue1]

You might consider doing at least one track, front to back, to see what all the issues are, how you work best, etc. Once you've got one under your belt, you'll know more about how you work best and how to approach your project. (And don't be afraid to throw out that or subsequent tracks. Everyone has outtakes. You usually learn more from a failed experiment than a successful one.)