production advice
- banana brains
- gettin' sounds
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:39 pm
- Contact:
production advice
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!
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!
- Nick Sevilla
- on a wing and a prayer
- Posts: 5574
- Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:34 pm
- Location: Lake Arrowhead California USA
- Contact:
- Gregg Juke
- cryogenically thawing
- Posts: 3544
- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:35 pm
- Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
- Contact:
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
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.' "
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.' "
- losthighway
- resurrected
- Posts: 2351
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:02 pm
- Contact:
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.
- Gregg Juke
- cryogenically thawing
- Posts: 3544
- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:35 pm
- Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
- Contact:
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
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.' "
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.' "
-
- speech impediment
- Posts: 4270
- Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:31 pm
- Location: Norman, OK
- Contact:
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.
Studio - http://www.hookechosound.com
Label - http://www.wearenicepeople.com
Band - http://www.depthandcurrent.com
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/HoodEchoSound
Label - http://www.wearenicepeople.com
Band - http://www.depthandcurrent.com
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/HoodEchoSound
- Snarl 12/8
- cryogenically thawing
- Posts: 3511
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 5:01 pm
- Location: Right Cheer
- Contact:
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.
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.
- banana brains
- gettin' sounds
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:39 pm
- Contact:
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 161 guests