Recording song with slow, acoustic solo intro?

[Poprocks]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to record a song that starts off with a slow solo acoustic part, and then the band joins in. And when I say "the band", I mean multitracked parts of myself. Listen to "The State I Am In" by Belle & Sebastian for a good example of what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soMbZ7eLKlM

Here's the issue: I'm trying to figure out a way to handle the tempo change between the slow and the fast part. I tried using two click tracks of different tempos and it sounds *OK*, but the slow part sounds too rigidly on-the-nose. I want the speed to be more liberal and I want to be able to add pauses, etc. In other words, I don't really want a metered time for the first part, but I do for the second part.

Can anyone think of any creative ways of doing this, apart from recording live (which I may just need to bite the bullet and do to get the sound I want...). Perhaps some kind of pedal could work, where I have a click track at an uptempo speed start when I tap the pedal, and have that record dynamically as well, making that my "click track" for the uptempo part.

What do you guys think?

[signorMars]

record it in sections and splice it after the fact.

[LazarusLong]

Record it live then go back and make a tempo map later if you must. If you're concerned about the song locking to a click for the B section, make that part a separate take with a click track.

This can be once session in ProTools, just use the tempo map!

Happy recording - these projects are a fun challenge.

[MoreSpaceEcho]

record it in sections and splice it after the fact.

yeah. just record the first section without a click, as free as you like, let the last chord ring long so you have some room to maneuver when editing. then just splice that onto your second section. should be easy.

[jgimbel]

I have songs like this frequently. What I generally do is record the first part with no click, then maybe overdub the end of that part WITH a click, and find a spot I can splice the two together that isn't obvious - it often just sounds like the player is picking it up a bit, which adds a little build before the band comes in. Then record the rest of it to that click. Always worked for me.

[Poprocks]

I have songs like this frequently. What I generally do is record the first part with no click, then maybe overdub the end of that part WITH a click, and find a spot I can splice the two together that isn't obvious - it often just sounds like the player is picking it up a bit, which adds a little build before the band comes in. Then record the rest of it to that click. Always worked for me.

Yeah, I think I'll do it this way. I was originally adverse to using separate takes because I didn't think the transition would sound smooth enough, but I think that with a bit of trickery it won't be too hard. I actually think I *won't* let the chord ring, because I want it to sound like it's the same guitar player/part just speeding up, not like a second player has entered the scene.

[JGriffin]

Yeah, I think I'll do it this way. I was originally adverse to using separate takes because I didn't think the transition would sound smooth enough, but I think that with a bit of trickery it won't be too hard.

Listen to Radiohead's Paranoid Android for a great example of cutting a song together from separately recorded sections that are at different tempos. I think it came out pretty smooth. You can do it.

[vvv]

Let's say you want 1 minute of slow before 3 minutes of the the fast.

Lay down the fast click on another track with about 1 minute of silence before it. Use 3.5 minutes or so of the click.

Start the slow part over the silence; when you get to the click, just gradually ease into sync.

[Nick Sevilla]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to record a song that starts off with a slow solo acoustic part, and then the band joins in. And when I say "the band", I mean multitracked parts of myself. Listen to "The State I Am In" by Belle & Sebastian for a good example of what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soMbZ7eLKlM

Here's the issue: I'm trying to figure out a way to handle the tempo change between the slow and the fast part. I tried using two click tracks of different tempos and it sounds *OK*, but the slow part sounds too rigidly on-the-nose. I want the speed to be more liberal and I want to be able to add pauses, etc. In other words, I don't really want a metered time for the first part, but I do for the second part.

Can anyone think of any creative ways of doing this, apart from recording live (which I may just need to bite the bullet and do to get the sound I want...). Perhaps some kind of pedal could work, where I have a click track at an uptempo speed start when I tap the pedal, and have that record dynamically as well, making that my "click track" for the uptempo part.

What do you guys think?

Don't use a click?