what is your favorite recording "trick"

[maskedman72]

when it comes to recording/mixing what is your favorite recording/mixing trick?

the more unusual the better.

[paultools]

Disconnect the faders from the automation while the producer/artist does their level rides. thumbsup

[Dragonfly]

Run a snare track out of an Auratone taped to the top of a snare and miced on the bottom with a C800.

When I'm tracking a hollowbody, I like to take a lavalier mic, secure it inside a u87 style windscreen and stick in one of the f-holes. Works pretty well depending on the guitar/player/style.

Refer to eveything as sexy until the artists get nervous and leave. ie: "thats one sexy maracca!"

Dante

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

Refer to eveything as sexy until the artists get nervous and leave. ie: "thats one sexy maracca!"

Dante

Or "bitchin", "incredible,"or the classic "gives a hard on".

Like that is one "bitchin" guitar take that will give anyone a "hard on".

[logichead]

The best trick I have that works again and again is to be in record before anyone realizes it.

Best....H

[max cooper]

Get the guitar or bass amp cab off the floor!

Hardly a trick, I know.

I also dig pianoverb on some drumkits. I tried electric guitarverb once, but it didn't work out so well, probably since the guitar wasn't chromatic like the piano.

One that I hadn't thought about until I read about it is to slightly change the transport speed when someone's doing their vocal double; the idea is to get their voice to slightly change in timbre. Tried it last week and it definitely has promise. Gotta have a good ear, tho.

[maskedman72]

what exactly does getting the gtr or bass cab off the floor do anyhow?

[I <3 The Beatle]

Redo the guitar/bass part yourself or with another talented member of the band.

[the1Hub]

Originally Posted by I <3 The Beatle

Redo the guitar/bass part yourself or with another talented member of the band.

been there.

personal favorite. if recording drums in a small room, like at a home studio or project studio that dose not have the space for a good drum room. put a condensor mic out in the hall way with the door open to the tracking room. move it around till it sounds good and then blend it to taste with the rest of the kit.

[Jim Williams]

Stick a good looking chick in the control room.

Works every time, except in West Hollywood.


Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[T_R_S]

Originally Posted by maskedman72

when it comes to recording/mixing what is your favorite recording/mixing trick?

the more unusual the better.

Making sue that drummers plays good time hits the drums without bashing the cymbals. Making sure the bass and guitar players use new strings and can play in tune. Getting a great performance out of the singers the tweaking any tuning and timing issues. After that it's a breeze to mix. The musician's and the quality of the song will make a bigger impact that any single piece of gear, plug-in, summing box, clock, convertor or whatever.

[CorkyTart]

Stick a $39 Radio Shack omni directional microphone about 10-15 feet back off a guitar amp and use it for a natural reverb sound. Kinda the VH thing Gtr left verb right.

[GPl]

Using a professional window dresser for the inflatable doll in the vocal booth. Works wonders


Paint all mic stands red, then send the the assistant out to "grab" the "Big Blue One"!

[jho]

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

Run a snare track out of an Auratone taped to the top of a snare and miced on the bottom with a C800

this trick "Drives Me Crazy" (ooh...ooh)

[audioez]

Originally Posted by maskedman72

when it comes to recording/mixing what is your favorite recording/mixing trick?

the more unusual the better.

tricking people into working within' boundries, not endless options of crap!!!


http://www.ezraudio.com

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Stick a good looking chick in the control room.

Works every time, except in West Hollywood.


Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

My thoughts exactly.

lol @ West Hollywood comment. So true, so true...

[Dragonfly]

Do you guys really think "tricking" a client is the best way to go about running a session? I don't think the confidence between the artist, producer, and engineer should be abused because they know less on the subject or are giving an opinion which differs to yours. One should take more pride in their work I should think.

Dante

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by jordan19

My thoughts exactly.

lol @ West Hollywood comment. So true, so true...

I had been living in West Hollywood for a couple of weeks when out of my neighbor's house came this incredible singing...then I found out that Alain Johannes was my neighbor and Chris Cornell was recording in his living room. For a minute I though the kid next door had the world's coolest garage band.

[jbuntz]

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

Run a snare track out of an Auratone taped to the top of a snare and miced on the bottom with a C800.

When I'm tracking a hollowbody, I like to take a lavalier mic, secure it inside a u87 style windscreen and stick in one of the f-holes. Works pretty well depending on the guitar/player/style.

Refer to eveything as sexy until the artists get nervous and leave. ie: "thats one sexy maracca!"

Dante

Why does it have to be an Auratone? Can't it just be any small speaker?

Trigger in a hand clap underneath a snare or kick for that matter to add snap. If you do it right, you wouldn't know it was there until you mute it.

[Dragonfly]

Originally Posted by jbuntz

Why does it have to be an Auratone? Can't it just be any small speaker?

It could certainly be any small speaker, but Auratone's are available to me, and they do have that lo-fi quality which accentuates the tones of the snare I'd want to work.

Dante

[Improv]

If I'm not producing while tracking (i.e. not focusing on the performance as a whole), I'll focus on editing and cleaning up while recording. I love the look in a client's eyes when they ask me to fly a bgv that I've already marked and cut and spotted for each chorus. Marking bad bass notes and suitable replacements on the fly is easy and fun, too.

"I coulda sworn I f'd up that downbeat... weird..."

My boss gripes at times that my sessions often end early but he loves that clients always come back requesting me.

[maskedman72]

Originally Posted by jbuntz

Why does it have to be an Auratone? Can't it just be any small speaker?

Trigger in a hand clap underneath a snare or kick for that matter to add snap. If you do it right, you wouldn't know it was there until you mute it.

this is a bit unusual.

[Jules]

Tell anecdotes in the control room untill the band are SO bored that they are DESPERATE to get out there and lay tracks down..

Asking the drummer to bring in a new Ambasssador coated snare head for the session.

COMANDING the band to get their messed up, junky, dropped off the back of the van, guitars intonated and re-fretted before coming in. (I send em to someone to get it done at discount rate)

But my all time favorite, that I use on live band takes is projecting my 'DONT F*** IT UP" brain beam from the control room to the live area..

[Tim L]

Originally Posted by Labs

Have the guitarist clean the toilets. Itll soften his fingers and provide a smooth clean tone.

Gustav

...

[dave-G]

I hate it when the trick slaps me... or worse yet, wants to kiss me ...

Oh wait a minute... that's not what you meant by "trick", is it... hmmm ..

[largeunit]

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

Refer to eveything as sexy until the artists get nervous and leave. ie: "thats one sexy maracca!"

Dante

Yes, apparently referring to everything audio as "sexy" is the hip thing these days.

As in, "this microphone has a sexy tone."

Sexy is the new groovy.

WTF.

[audioez]

ok I'll add this one, never label anything with console tape ie boards, comps eq's you know what I mean.

This works wonders, only if you have a good memory; for me it's all about not having people touch the console unless asked to. Also avoiding the peverbial "I never compress my vocal" coming from a musician who can read labels on outboard gear.

http://www.ezraudio.com

[covert]

Originally Posted by maskedman72

this is a bit unusual.

Adding hand clap to snare was a pretty normal drum machine trick, back a few years ago.

[Tim L]

Originally Posted by covert

Adding hand clap to snare was a pretty normal drum machine trick, back a few years ago.

Yup... triggering white noise into a gated 'verb as well...

[rolo]

Originally Posted by paultools

Disconnect the faders from the automation while the producer/artist does their level rides. thumbsup

that is SOOOO mean! but so damn funny!!! when i get a pissy producer (who knows nothing about anything) who wants more "orange" or whatever in the lead vox track, i'll jump to a strip with nothing going thru it, fiddle with it for two or three minuites, look back at him with an inquisitave brow and ask... is that better sir. they ALWAYS say... "yeah... yeah... much better" HA!