So many approaches...and yet so many consistencies...
Totally opposite from U B I K..I keep the tape rolling constantly. I have my single MXLV69 plugged in to my RME Fireface...and I record when I play. (The whole demo album is just the Fireface and MXL) That's it.
I manage to keep the spontaniety that way...
My last self-produced record was total polish, shine, perfection and safe. Great and boring.
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Originally Posted by Syki Amen , Rodney Gene ...I love to write, produce and track also . Mixing is a whole other monster sometimes better left for the true mix masters (art form unto itself) ..I would love to hear your demo when you are finished! |
...Mixing!!! is fun, to me anyway...but only when the original source tracks sound good. But I still find that after 10 years or so I am just barely catching the glimpses and uniqueness of the way I personally like to mix (or can mix)....and Syki, thanks for the compliment, I would be honored to share the tunes...
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Originally Posted by Yetti A friend of mine is a solo country artist, and we track each new idea and instument one at a time. Yes, it can be terribly exausting when it takes 10 hours to track a song that is 4 min. long. Mixdown is usually a process of what to remove, rather than what to add... |
Hey bro, that is exactly what happens here ALL of the time!!
Some times I have 40 tracks (lot's of extra vocal tracks as I love vocals) It takes experience and restraint to leave out tracks and keep the best interest of the song and vision intact. Although I have found that the vision can change or even improve through different arrangments of different track ideas...sometimes even transforming into new ideas. Much like a band in rehearsal.
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Originally Posted by Yetti I think that the bands who record also go through this kind of creative process, only they have worked it out in rehersal before coming to the studio. There may be a few that have a solid vision of exactly the way the song should sound, but for most , the vision is only a guildeline. |
Absolutley...!!
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Originally Posted by Yetti By the way, that MP3 demo song posted sounds REALLY GREAT! |
Thank you bro!! That means alot to me, honestly!
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Originally Posted by autodidactic Hey Rodney, your tune kicks ass. |
Thank you!! Honestly!
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Originally Posted by Ziggy Paradoxically, its the comfort factor that im worried about. Being too comfortable with what you are doing means your music isn't developing. An external influence like a hired producer will push you into uncomfortable territories in hope of extracting new and different musical ideas and processes. |
This is true..and in my experience also the other way around. I find that if I am comfortable with my instrument, song, headspace etc..then recording comes really easy. I do ALOT of first takes and just keep em'. I think one trap that people fall into is that they do take after take after take...out of habit. In my experience, I can get excellent energy from the first take..and if that fails then I have to resort to massive concentration (at least for guitar) and push myself out of the comfort zone.
Sometimes I have to take a piss or my ass hurts from the chair...and I stink and I am sweating and my back feels like shit...but I won't move until I nail that take in one shot...!! Somehow being under the pressure really helps me perform.
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Originally Posted by UBIK keep your process focused. |
Agreed... and at the same time don't lose sight of the songs expression or which hat you are wearing. For me, producing and writing are one in the same, even when I am working with other artists. Flow and process is good, but being flexible in your approach is also good IME.
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Originally Posted by UBIK keep your ego's interests out of the way of the music's. |
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Originally Posted by UBIK also, for me, the occasional checking in with really good herb does wonders. once a week at most, otherwise it loses its magic. seek outside perspective often. |
Of course...'herb' works for some folks... but it is not the path to creative freedom and expression...nor open mindedness for alot of us. There is also mediatation, play time with your dogs, nature, sex, and just the unbelievable magic of the moment...!! And for me...Coffee!!!
BTW.... One other thing I would like to add that MAY help the self production warrior...Don't duplicate parts with cut and paste (at least play each track all the way through several times and pick the best parts from them like old school tape recording)...avoid auto-tune (as much as you can) Be yourself...focus on the music...not the elusive sound ghosts...
Forget hoping for, wondering about, and questioning why you are not getting world class production at home... unless you have the gear and skill it won't happen. It really does require excellent gear (including the room) and the knowledge in order to reach a particular result...(Don't chase the Dragons tail) Your music and the entire reason you got into this will suffer...
Keep the main thing the main thing....make great recordings and get them out here for all of us to ponder.
Much Respect,