Learning to edit for modern rock!

jimcroisdale · 29th December 2009

Hi all,

I've been getting better at this lark for the last few years, and I'm pretty happy with my progress. Every time we record i learn something new and learn to improve for next time, which is all good. My tracking skills are going well, and my mixing skills are getting better too. The one area I've never delved too deeply into is editing - and by that I mean the kind of editing necessary to sort out crap!

I read a little of a book called 'Recording Secrets' or something, but it was based around Pro Tools, whereas I'm using Cubase 4.5.2 AI. It was hard for me to make parallels between the two.

I guess I'm looking to get good at modern rock/metal (at a pinch) production and need to know where to start. Up to press I've been using programmed drums which make it easy, and mixing my own guitar playing. I'm reasonably tight/in tune, so I've not had much practice at getting stuck in.

So. Which features in Cubase AI do i need to be familiarising myself with to have the ability to smash everything into a grid, as and when the need arises....

Cheers,

Jim

jimcroisdale · 30th December 2009

Bump!

gainreduction · 30th December 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimcroisdale

the ability to smash everything into a grid

Is exactly what makes rock not so rock anymore.

An important ingredient in rock is a kind of "primitive energy" that is hard to explain. Urgency, drive, energy and attitude in a way you feel just as much as you hear. Smashing everything to a grid kills that.

I know this doesn´t answer your question but it is simply the best advice I could give.

jimcroisdale · 7th January 2010

I know it's not an ideal approach, but I feel that the reality of my situation is that this is an area of my skillset that needs to be brought up to speed with the rest.

In the future I'm planning on working with bands other than my own and I don't want to be caught with my pants down!

Any more ideas people?

Jim

IzzyRock · 7th January 2010

What you want to achieve is not that hard and you don't need a book to do it. It just takes time!
It means editing drums to the grid, same with bass, electric guitars and acoustic guitars hopefully. Good tuning skills, make singers in perfect pitch without sounding like cher. Its all about taking the TIME and doing it. The sissor tool is your friend
what else?

jimcroisdale · 7th January 2010

So it is just a case of chopping hits and notes and lining them up manually as required?

I always figured that this would leave small gaps between sections that had been moved, and that these would be audible?

IzzyRock · 7th January 2010

It takes skills to get it sounding good. You have to manage wether to warp thos gaps, overlap the next section to the back , and do nice crossfades. I've done it. I've seen pros do it. It works

passenger · 8th January 2010

slightly off topic.

I started turning off the click more often so in the end there is less editing to do. Clients generally expect less editing and opt for a higher caliber take.

Makes editing more difficult, yet at the same time i think i save hours editing, because there ain't much to do when it ain't on a grid......

Learn your parts, call me to book time when your ready.... editing is not an option. Scare the kids....

29th December 2009	#1
jimcroisdale Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mirfield, U.K. Posts: 958 Thread Starter	Learning to edit for modern rock! Hi all, I've been getting better at this lark for the last few years, and I'm pretty happy with my progress. Every time we record i learn something new and learn to improve for next time, which is all good. My tracking skills are going well, and my mixing skills are getting better too. The one area I've never delved too deeply into is editing - and by that I mean the kind of editing necessary to sort out crap! I read a little of a book called 'Recording Secrets' or something, but it was based around Pro Tools, whereas I'm using Cubase 4.5.2 AI. It was hard for me to make parallels between the two. I guess I'm looking to get good at modern rock/metal (at a pinch) production and need to know where to start. Up to press I've been using programmed drums which make it easy, and mixing my own guitar playing. I'm reasonably tight/in tune, so I've not had much practice at getting stuck in. So. Which features in Cubase AI do i need to be familiarising myself with to have the ability to smash everything into a grid, as and when the need arises.... Cheers, Jim __________________ I'm a qualified guitar tech with 15 years experience. If I can help anyone out, PM me! Add me on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/jimcroisdale

7th January 2010	#5
IzzyRock Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Santiago, Chile Posts: 416	What you want to achieve is not that hard and you don't need a book to do it. It just takes time! It means editing drums to the grid, same with bass, electric guitars and acoustic guitars hopefully. Good tuning skills, make singers in perfect pitch without sounding like cher. Its all about taking the TIME and doing it. The sissor tool is your friend what else? __________________ www.estudiosbassino.cl Producer/Mixing Engineer

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30th December 2009	#2
jimcroisdale Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mirfield, U.K. Posts: 958 Thread Starter	Bump!

8th January 2010	#8
passenger Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 558	slightly off topic. I started turning off the click more often so in the end there is less editing to do. Clients generally expect less editing and opt for a higher caliber take. Makes editing more difficult, yet at the same time i think i save hours editing, because there ain't much to do when it ain't on a grid...... Learn your parts, call me to book time when your ready.... editing is not an option. Scare the kids....