How many tracks do you normally use? - Page 3

dbbubba · 6th October 2008

One of the first things I want to do when I get my console completed is to track a band on my Ampex AG-440C-4.
1/2" four track analog.
It'd probably be GTR, bass and drums and I did that a lot when I was in high school back in '73/'74.
Still, I want to do it.

Four mics on drums, one on bass and one on GTR.
Submix and add vocals.

chris carter · 6th October 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by moracspace

This is sad!I mean completely!

I think your comment is kind of sad actually. How could the number of tracks typically used on pop/r&b records be sad? It's what the genre generally requires. I think you just are so unfamiliar with the genre (or biased against it) that you don't really respect what's involved in making that record.

What if we had a poll that asked, "how many mics do you need to record a song?" Most of the rock, blues, etc. guys who dominate this forum would say stuff like "I need at least 16 - 20" or thereabouts. And you'd find r&b guys saying "one, maybe two" because most of the music is done direct. And then when one of them asks why the rock guys need so many mics someone exlplains, "well, you've got your kick in and out, your snare top and side and maybe even bottom, sometimes the hat, your overheads, a pair or three for toms, and then your room mics. Then I've got a 57 and 121 on each of the two guitars, the bass is direct but I also have it mic'd. Then the B3 is miced up with a pair, plus a room mic. Then there's the singer. blah blah blah". Make sense? Sure.

And then some r&b or hip-hop guy/gal says that it's completely sad that you need all those mics.

I think what's really sad as that we're all supposed to be about making music on this forum; sharing ideas; learning from one another. I don't really understand why anyone would look down upon the methods generally necessary for certain genres just because they don't understand it or they don't like the genre... that's just silly.

rack gear · 6th October 2008

I think there's been a shift in the home/project studio world.

it used to be "how can I get this down with only ____ tracks" and people would have to get very creative - bouncing down, midi samplers to run loops, phrases, etc - all mixed together w/ sync to 2track.

what I've seen now is - wow, I have these tracks left over - what can I add. so there's this temptation to fill the space, whether it should be or not.

of course as some have pointed out, track counts can also vary by genre which is different. but I'd still say, that contemporary urban production as far back as 80s midi, sequencers and samplers has probably always had a higher track count than straight ahead rock records (dependent on layers).

cjogo · 7th October 2008

8 phantom channels --8 direct >.... works great for live http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJnKMLbXSFU

kernelpanic · 7th October 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearaddict

70-100 vox tracks...come on...don't you think thats so unnecessary...could be done on 8 tracks if people knew what they were doing....don't argue..it is just plain ridiculous

I never ever exceed 69 vox tracks that would be absurd

chris carter · 7th October 2008

Ken Lewis explains the high track counts in pop/r&b probably much better than I (and has all the platinum to back it up LOL).

Here's a good post of his regarding track counts:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/1878519-post5.html

Here's the whole thread:
200+ track mixes -- Ken, what's really on those tracks?

View Poll Results: How many active tracks do you normally have in a project?
8 or less	6	2.36%
9-16	25	9.84%
17-32	96	37.80%
33-48	70	27.56%
49-64	23	9.06%
65-80	15	5.91%
81-96	10	3.94%
97-128	6	2.36%
129-160	1	0.39%
161 or more	2	0.79%
Voters: 254. You may not vote on this poll

6th October 2008	#63
rack gear Gear Guru Joined: Mar 2008 Location: the big rack Posts: 10,234 10 Reviews written	I think there's been a shift in the home/project studio world. it used to be "how can I get this down with only ____ tracks" and people would have to get very creative - bouncing down, midi samplers to run loops, phrases, etc - all mixed together w/ sync to 2track. what I've seen now is - wow, I have these tracks left over - what can I add. so there's this temptation to fill the space, whether it should be or not. of course as some have pointed out, track counts can also vary by genre which is different. but I'd still say, that contemporary urban production as far back as 80s midi, sequencers and samplers has probably always had a higher track count than straight ahead rock records (dependent on layers). __________________ *... My band has a million unpaid downloads and all I got is this lousy T-shirt...* Last edited by rack gear; 6th October 2008 at 05:56 PM.. Reason: added the word "urban"

7th October 2008	#64
cjogo Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2002 Location: CARMEL Posts: 1,547	8 phantom channels --8 direct >.... works great for live http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJnKMLbXSFU __________________ Crystal Studios Bridging Old School to Middle School A Tympanic Tweaker

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6th October 2008	#61
dbbubba Banned Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 7,099	One of the first things I want to do when I get my console completed is to track a band on my Ampex AG-440C-4. 1/2" four track analog. It'd probably be GTR, bass and drums and I did that a lot when I was in high school back in '73/'74. Still, I want to do it. Four mics on drums, one on bass and one on GTR. Submix and add vocals.

7th October 2008	#66
chris carter Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,012	Ken Lewis explains the high track counts in pop/r&b probably much better than I (and has all the platinum to back it up LOL). Here's a good post of his regarding track counts: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/1878519-post5.html Here's the whole thread: 200+ track mixes -- Ken, what's really on those tracks?