production advice

Recording Techniques, People Skills, Gear, Recording Spaces, Computers, and DIY

Moderators: drumsound, tomb

Post Reply
User avatar
banana brains
gettin' sounds
Posts: 122
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:39 pm
Contact:

production advice

Post by banana brains » Thu Feb 20, 2014 12:01 pm

I recently recorded my Dad playing acoustic guitar and singing. He is awesome, but a bit reluctant so I just threw up a couple of mics and let it rip. One take of all 6 or 7 songs. I was afraid if I started "engineering" he would bail out.

Anyway the recordings are fantastic (obviously biased), not because of the recording technique or anything, but because he is so good.

His guitar playing is mediocre and not always in time, but he is an excellent singer and creates a great emotion when he is doing his thing.

This is what I'm considering, I want to take it somewhere to have it "mixed" and mastered as it is without adding anything to it. But I also want to create a version of a few of the songs with some production added.

Has anyone ever tried this? What did you add? I did some backing vocals which sound cool, I did some electric guitar, which was cool.

Just curious how you all approach something like this. I think I know the answer is going to be "it depends" on what you play and the style of music, but wondering if you all had some experience trying this and whether it ultimately worked or not.

Thanks!

User avatar
Nick Sevilla
on a wing and a prayer
Posts: 5555
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:34 pm
Location: Lake Arrowhead California USA
Contact:

Post by Nick Sevilla » Thu Feb 20, 2014 3:48 pm

It can work, as long as you follow his timing, and tune to his singing / guitar.

If I were you though, I would leave them as is.

Cheers
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.

User avatar
Gregg Juke
cryogenically thawing
Posts: 3544
Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:35 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
Contact:

Post by Gregg Juke » Thu Feb 20, 2014 4:55 pm

I added a full string arrangement and some spacey keyboard stuff to a piano-and- vocal-only two-track about a year ago. She wanted "something" and thankfully she had really decent time (not metronomic, but well within reason). Generally, I'd never try anything like that, but I did, and it worked out ok. I liked it, as did my friends (but she hated it-- always get either carte blanche final say, OR _very_ explicit directions).

Anyway, that sort of thing is possible, but usually so difficult as to discourage most of us, due to timing issues and the difficulty of getting a decent mix when the instrument and vocals come "per-mixed."

GJ
Gregg Juke
Nocturnal Productions Music Group
Drum! Magazine Contributor
http://MightyNoStars.com

"He's about to learn the most important lesson in the music business-- 'Never trust people in the music business.' "

User avatar
losthighway
resurrected
Posts: 2347
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:02 pm
Contact:

Post by losthighway » Thu Feb 20, 2014 5:34 pm

Yeah, to add on to what others have said. If his rhythm is weird, than adding rhythm based stuff might not work. But big whole notes, sonic stuff, pad stuff, strings, sparse keys, or sparse electric guitar with reverb might bring a 3rd dimension to what's already there. Basically, if his stuff could benefit from a moody treatment, overdubbing could be easy, but if "sonic layers" are blocking some fun old-time music it might be harder to add things.

User avatar
vvv
zen recordist
Posts: 10139
Joined: Tue May 13, 2003 8:08 am
Location: Chi
Contact:

Post by vvv » Thu Feb 20, 2014 5:57 pm

Just did this with my band.

To a guitar and vocal, we added A/E bass and another acoustic, and finally percussion consisting of a toy tom-as-hand-drum, and tambo.

It's here: "Gidget".
bandcamp;
blog.
I mix with olive juice.

User avatar
Gregg Juke
cryogenically thawing
Posts: 3544
Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:35 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
Contact:

Post by Gregg Juke » Thu Feb 20, 2014 7:57 pm

Let it not go without saying that tuning is extremely important as well. Hopefully, you took care of that before tracking your dad. Otherwise, that could provide for "a lot of fun..."

GJ
Gregg Juke
Nocturnal Productions Music Group
Drum! Magazine Contributor
http://MightyNoStars.com

"He's about to learn the most important lesson in the music business-- 'Never trust people in the music business.' "

chris harris
speech impediment
Posts: 4270
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:31 pm
Location: Norman, OK
Contact:

Post by chris harris » Fri Feb 21, 2014 7:04 am

In the 33 1/3 book about Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea", it says that the version of "Oh Comely" that made the album, was a take when Jeff Mangum was simply testing mic levels. Thankfully, tape was rolling. 9 minutes later, they had captured a truly magical take. If you crank the volume, you can even hear someone scream "HOLY SHIT!" from the control room as the last chord trails off. It's a remarkable song. They didn't add much to it. But, some thoughtfully placed background vocals and horn overdubs turned this simple, beautiful performance into an epic, indie rock masterpiece.

User avatar
Snarl 12/8
cryogenically thawing
Posts: 3510
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 5:01 pm
Location: Right Cheer
Contact:

Post by Snarl 12/8 » Fri Feb 21, 2014 9:59 am

I would say that if you're hearing parts in your head that aren't actually there, record that, but don't give it the full rock band treatment just for the hell of it. As someone pointed out, it might not even be appreciated as much as you think.

Also, I'd print the best damn mixes of just the guitar and vox that you can and play that for him first and then say something like, "just for the hell of it, I tried this... what do you think." And don't be married to any of it.

Treat your dad like the client, he's kindof acting like one.
Carl Keil

Almost forgot: Please steal my drum tracks. and more.

User avatar
banana brains
gettin' sounds
Posts: 122
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:39 pm
Contact:

Post by banana brains » Fri Feb 21, 2014 4:24 pm

Thanks everybody. I appreciate all your ideas. I'm definitely going to do a good mix of just the way it went down. Then screw with a couple of them to add some different atmosphere.

Def not going to do the whole band thing on this stuff.

drumsound
zen recordist
Posts: 7474
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 10:30 pm
Location: Bloomington IL
Contact:

Post by drumsound » Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:34 pm

Just always think of the song and what its saying to you musically.

User avatar
floid
buyin' a studio
Posts: 983
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 1:39 pm
Location: in exile

Post by floid » Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:30 am

maybe you could find the right way to say, 'this is a great FIRST take, but i think we could do better if we worked on it a little.' thinking more as a facilitator than engineer, type thing.
Village Idiot.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 61 guests