General Question

Anderton
You're overthinking it. Please come to my "Recording on the Fast Track" seminar if you'll be at this year's Summer NAMM.

Anderton

rbecker
I responded to a post a while back with a trick I use to combat fatigue, but will repeat it here because it might also help with the head game. I will often not record a tune in a linear manner. Here is how I may record "Row, Row, Row Boat" as the backing track is playing in the background:
 
TAKE1:
"Row, row, row your boat"
<no singing, only backing track>
"Merrily, merrily, merrily merrily"
<no singing>
TAKE2:
<no singing, only backing track>
"Gently down the stream"
<no singing>
"Life is but a dream"
 
I then stitch them together to get the complete tune.
This helps me catch my breath, but also allows a couple seconds to think about the next phrase.

 
This is something I do as well, and I find it useful.
 

rbecker
The OP wrote:
"Sheesh ... and this is more than likely in the wrong forum."
 
This question does indeed belong on this forum...because the resolution resides within Sonar.
 
My first "studio" was a VestaFire 4-track recorder. You may recall that 4-tracks like this used regular cassette audio tapes, and recorded each stereo track as a separate track, and on playback played both sides of the tape at the same time for the total of four track. Trouble was that you had only about two chances to get a track right, or the degradation of the media on that tape track ruined the whole tape.
 
I can't get nervous any more about bad takes. Between the essentially unlimited number of takes Sonar allows, and the ease of comping, I think the whole thing is -well- a cakewalk.
 
I do all my personal recording on a loop because I know I want multiple takes. I had a difficult 4-bar section last year that required THIRTY takes before I was happy! I kid you not.
 
The trick is getting out of a "performance" or maybe more accurately "rehearsal" mentality when recording. My wife has this problem...She has a wonderful classical voice - Ten times better than mine - But she will stop singing during a session if she perceives a momentary problem, like a missed note or wrong word...then I yell "Keep singing!..Keep singing!".
 
I responded to a post a while back with a trick I use to combat fatigue, but will repeat it here because it might also help with the head game. I will often not record a tune in a linear manner. Here is how I may record "Row, Row, Row Boat" as the backing track is playing in the background:
 
TAKE1:
"Row, row, row your boat"
<no singing, only backing track>
"Merrily, merrily, merrily merrily"
<no singing>
TAKE2:
<no singing, only backing track>
"Gently down the stream"
<no singing>
"Life is but a dream"
 
I then stitch them together to get the complete tune.
This helps me catch my breath, but also allows a couple seconds to think about the next phrase.
 

Bristol_Jonesey

Anderton

rbecker
I responded to a post a while back with a trick I use to combat fatigue, but will repeat it here because it might also help with the head game. I will often not record a tune in a linear manner. Here is how I may record "Row, Row, Row Boat" as the backing track is playing in the background:
 
TAKE1:
"Row, row, row your boat"
<no singing, only backing track>
"Merrily, merrily, merrily merrily"
<no singing>
TAKE2:
<no singing, only backing track>
"Gently down the stream"
<no singing>
"Life is but a dream"
 
I then stitch them together to get the complete tune.
This helps me catch my breath, but also allows a couple seconds to think about the next phrase.

 
This is something I do as well, and I find it useful.
 

Likewise.
 
I build up harmonies and/or double tracks using a similar system.