Recording a dirty sounding band (dirty in a good way)

magibatalla · 19th April 2008

Last thursday I went to a rehearsal of a band I'm recording in a couple of weeks. They are huge Arctic Monkeys fans and their music goes in this direction. At first I was scared by his cranked cheap small amps, his cheap guitars, cheap cymbals and cheap sounding everything. The singer plugged his mic into a kinda broken 12" bass amp... But they sounded great! Well, great for what their music is supposed to be. I mean, it sounded like 4 teenagers raging in a garage, and it had a vibe, really.

I started to think about how I should approach this recording. Getting clean takes and making them dirty later when mixing? Placing a mic in front of that broken amp for vocals? I don't want a lo-fi recording, but I do want to keep those innocent sounding instruments. Should I use better guitars, better amps, better drums and cymbals even though I'm going for a dirtier sound later?

Has any of you been in a similar situation before? Any advice?

Wo0d643 · 21st April 2008

I dont know waht to say other than i tracked a guys fender blues jr pinned out old rattly tubes and such and it sounded horrible. But it sounded pretty good just weak when they jammed.

good luck

magibatalla · 22nd April 2008

Any more experience to share? Thanx!

Dr. Fringe · 23rd April 2008

hey, I think I've been in that band

anyway, the band I'm in right now, wants to use their own equipment and do everything live, even though I keep suggesting the merits of using better equipment and layering and capturing sounds

seems like a lot of musicians get pouty about stuff if you try to take away their toys and make em do it right. I'd suggest getting as close to their basement/garage setup. If they seem to think I it would be a good idea to upgrade then go for it, but some people see studios almost like a lab or a sterile environment.

That's my gut anyway, should be a great listen, can you post some stuff?

19th April 2008	#1
magibatalla Gear addict Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Barcelona, Spain Posts: 304 Thread Starter	Recording a dirty sounding band (dirty in a good way) Last thursday I went to a rehearsal of a band I'm recording in a couple of weeks. They are huge Arctic Monkeys fans and their music goes in this direction. At first I was scared by his cranked cheap small amps, his cheap guitars, cheap cymbals and cheap sounding everything. The singer plugged his mic into a kinda broken 12" bass amp... But they sounded great! Well, great for what their music is supposed to be. I mean, it sounded like 4 teenagers raging in a garage, and it had a vibe, really. I started to think about how I should approach this recording. Getting clean takes and making them dirty later when mixing? Placing a mic in front of that broken amp for vocals? I don't want a lo-fi recording, but I do want to keep those innocent sounding instruments. Should I use better guitars, better amps, better drums and cymbals even though I'm going for a dirtier sound later? Has any of you been in a similar situation before? Any advice? __________________ Just because you're paranoid don't mean they're not after you

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21st April 2008	#2
Wo0d643 Gear nut Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 119	I dont know waht to say other than i tracked a guys fender blues jr pinned out old rattly tubes and such and it sounded horrible. But it sounded pretty good just weak when they jammed. good luck

22nd April 2008	#3
magibatalla Gear addict Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Barcelona, Spain Posts: 304 Thread Starter	Any more experience to share? Thanx!

23rd April 2008	#4
Dr. Fringe Gear Head Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 39	hey, I think I've been in that band anyway, the band I'm in right now, wants to use their own equipment and do everything live, even though I keep suggesting the merits of using better equipment and layering and capturing sounds seems like a lot of musicians get pouty about stuff if you try to take away their toys and make em do it right. I'd suggest getting as close to their basement/garage setup. If they seem to think I it would be a good idea to upgrade then go for it, but some people see studios almost like a lab or a sterile environment. That's my gut anyway, should be a great listen, can you post some stuff?