Doing it all yourself....

I recently pulled back from a couple of friends that I had been playing with because of control issues and differences of opinion. Most of the differences were based on his recording style learned at a 90s era studio (analog/digital). Also I have a good idea what I want my finished songs to sound like and they were just getting too fast and rocking (not that there is anything wrong with that).
As a songwriter I feel its my right to guide the song where I see it going, but this was becoming hard to do with the difference of opinions on recording styles, instrumentation, tempo, lack of interest in click tracks....I found myself struggling for control.... we were going to start playing shows but that didnt happen if I didnt go out and find them.

I decided that I was better off just doing it all myself. So now Im shopping for a drum set, keyboard, bass, mics, cables....all things I would buy sooner or later anyways...

SO how many of you work alone? How do you organize your time? In what order do you record the instruments? Are you happier with the results or just happier because you dont have to deal with the ****?

I cant wait to get good at playing the drums!!(my wife not so much)

Jason

Too late, haha. I picked up a nice Sonor set yesterday, still need cymbals etc...
Im not really into programmed drums. Itll all be real instruments or loops for the effect, but thanks for the tips!
I already have the interfaces etc taken care of...I have a good setup going.

Im not adverse to working with others, just those who want to fight me over my property.....

i do all the writing, singing, rhythm guitars, lead guitars, and bass.
i bring in a keyboard player, and i have several drummers to use.
i like the new ideas they bring in for my songs.
i seldom have to steer them.
in the end, it's my show though.
final arrangement and mix is almost always mine.
now if one of the musicians i use have a song of their own i just turn into engineer and let them call the shots.
now writing for me is always by myself. i have seldom collaborated on the writing of a song.
also, i can't seem to get all 4 appendages doing different things so me drumming is not a consideration.

I do all my writing and recording alone.  I've organized my time so that while my wife(tobe) works on Sundays and Thursday evenings, I do my projects then.
My usual workflow is to get a rough demo with either a guitar or piano, and vocals, and run through the basic idea.  Then i'll embellish and change whatever is needed, get a rough idea and export it.
At that point I start a fresh project (usually the tempo will have changed, and it's too much of a PITA to adjust the old project), with the scratch guitar/vocals.  Then add the other instruments as required.  I do all my drum tracks with a mouse and EZDrummer, and the bass, guitar, piano, and vocals are all tracked one at a time.

I haven't written or recorded with anyone else in a few years.  I miss the challenge, of someone inspiring you to push yourself further.  I don't miss having to cede some control to allow the other person their input.

 I think the biggest problem was that the studio wasnt on my turf. As soon as I brought my gear home to my new place and set it up the trouble began. I think my buddy thought he was going to mix everything......I knew a long time ago I wouldnt be happy with his mixes.....

I hear ya on the drums BUT, I just dont really like the sound of programmed drums. (and I can almost always tell) Plus I dont care to edit drums in midi, thats no fun. I almost bought an electronic kit though...I just always wanted real drums and the sounds they make in a room....plus if Im going to play them I want to play the real thing!!

I know, I am making it harder on myself....lol.

Chinchen

...I hear ya on the drums BUT, I just dont really like the sound of programmed drums. (and I can almost always tell) Plus I dont care to edit drums in midi, thats no fun. I almost bought an electronic kit though...I just always wanted real drums and the sounds they make in a room....plus if Im going to play them I want to play the real thing!!

Don't confuse "programmed drums" with using quality VSTi softsynth drum libraries...I'm willing to bet you can't tell the difference when the drums are played properly (via keyboard or V-drum setup)...

I agree with Papa. There's "no way" you can tell the VST-beats played by skilled drummers using excellently recorded (well mic'ed drums in an acoustically good room) samples from the beats played by skilled drummers using well mic'ed drums in an acoustically good room !

montezuma


Except it can take a lot longer if you want to attempt to humanize sampled beats

I wasn't talking about using "sampled beats"...I was talking about playing in realtime using well recorded sample libraries...

To say a sample library can sound good is certainly true.  And MOST people (non drummers) probably wouldn't know the difference....or even care.

Except for those of us who record live drums all the time.  WE pick up on it very quickly.

Nothing wrong with either method in my opinion...or a hybrid of both, like Rbh.  Many times I like the sound of samples supporting a real drum recording.

Chinchen, it boils down to what you want to focus on.  Do you want to spend your time buying mics and learning to RECORD DRUMS REALLY WELL....or do you want to spend time WRITING SONGS?

As for the collaboration thoughts...We were not really writing together. The songs were mine with the exception of only two that were written together. I have written  with others already since, and in a much more relaxed way. I still would love to write greater songs with a team and I think I can function in that way.

What do you do when your drummer doesnt want to tune his drums after you tell him the toms sound flat? And then throws a fit when you try to get him to record to a click?
You do it yourself. Plus it frees up those 3 nights a week to be home, near my family, working on my stuff. Sure beats dealing with some whiney ass b1tch who speeds up 3 -5 bpm EVERY song and thinks his **** doesnt stink.

As for the VST/E drums. Yes there are some great drum libraries, loops, etc...but for me, the challenge of a new instrument and the personal growth in that direction is what is fun for me. I like to write songs, I like to play guitar, I like to play any instrument with my hands that vibrates and resonates. I have played drums through my keyboard but Im just not satisfied....viscerally.

I think learning the instrument for real as well as the process of recording it etc is where I have fun. Plus Ill be able to relate better to real studio musicians when and if I ever get the chance in a real life situation.
Think about it this way. Had the drummer I was working with ever written songs, dont you think he would be more empathetic to my requests?

After years of collaborating, I've taken the go-it-alone route recently with great results. I finish songs quicker and they are not diluted. Its way easier for me to write alone and then get the guys together and rehearse and performed the finished product. You'll spend forever trying to finish songs if every creative effort is a 4 or 5 way democracy in a band situation.

I think the break down in a collaboration comes when its not clear who's song it is and who gets to steer the ship. The best experiences I've had collaborating are when those things are defined, then one guy gets to control his 'baby' and everyone else is just throwing out suggestions.

Good luck!!!

Chinchen


As for the collaboration thoughts...We were not really writing together. The songs were mine with the exception of only two that were written together. I have written  with others already since, and in a much more relaxed way. I still would love to write greater songs with a team and I think I can function in that way.

What do you do when your drummer doesnt want to tune his drums after you tell him the toms sound flat? And then throws a fit when you try to get him to record to a click?
You do it yourself. Plus it frees up those 3 nights a week to be home, near my family, working on my stuff. Sure beats dealing with some whiney ass b1tch who speeds up 3 -5 bpm EVERY song and thinks his **** doesnt stink.

As for the VST/E drums. Yes there are some great drum libraries, loops, etc...but for me, the challenge of a new instrument and the personal growth in that direction is what is fun for me. I like to write songs, I like to play guitar, I like to play any instrument with my hands that vibrates and resonates. I have played drums through my keyboard but Im just not satisfied....viscerally.

I think learning the instrument for real as well as the process of recording it etc is where I have fun. Plus Ill be able to relate better to real studio musicians when and if I ever get the chance in a real life situation.
Think about it this way. Had the drummer I was working with ever written songs, dont you think he would be more empathetic to my requests?

I can respect your need for "real" drums. I was in a band with a drummer who swore by e-drums or triggerin his acoustic drums. I use to get into arguments with him about it. I realize it's way easier in a live situation, and recording, to use triggered sounds. But I want that genuine resonance, and even a "crappiness" to them if the room doesn't sound right.
But the drummer did know how to play for a song, very well. So it's all give and take.
 
Sounds like the drummer you were playing with didn't know how to "play for the song".
 

what is the confirmation that you are looking for here?

I started composing at a very young age, first band the guys didn't know how to write songs even if their life depended on it, so I was under pressure to come up with the goods and steer them only if need be.  That band went on to get great gigs, performing at larger venues. Great band, sadly it broke up after the drummer (17) got a 15 year old pregnant and the bass player was going through some sort major mental breakdown after he found out he was adopted.

As the years moved on I thought about collaborating (co-writing) with others, as a 'live' jam situation with a band that could actually improvise/write on the spur of the moment, but unfortunately those years was wasted, nothing good came about.

Then I got a call from a manager who introduced me to a singer, we collaborated, he wrote most of the lyrics whilst I did the musical compositions.  Didn't take long to get a 6 piece band together and went on to perform at some of Sydney's best venues.  Then jealously kicked in; the singer felt uncomfortable with the girls (singers) pity because they added the icing on the cake and Fiona had an awesome voice (did lead on a few songs). Anyway, the band broke up.

Then I went back to writing alone and worked with a TV starlet who has appeared in popular shows such as; Police Resue and Friends, and WOW she could sing superbly, it was her dream to break into the music business, sadly a year later she died of cancer (age 21).

Sometimes incidents out of our control effects our lives. ****z happens!!!

I was on my own again as writer, soon met up with another girl I loved, two years later she died (age 19) was rundown by a van! Her friends, family and I all devastated! It took me years to get over her death and to this day I miss her very much.