Answeredrelaxed recording...

Author
electrodome1
Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 74
  • Joined: 2015/05/16 19:33:03
  • Location: Shelburne, VT
  • Status: offline
2017/11/12 20:06:00 (permalink)

relaxed recording...

What is the most relaxed way to record?  I mean guitar or any other instrument, including vocals.  I like recording guitar on a portable Zoom recorder for ideas...I can upload it and fit it to a time...I can even make it sound decent with a limiter...For a guitarist like me, I think this is probably a good solution to having to create in front of a live mic.  Of course, there are additional methods of relaxation, but just try turning the recorder on and just play and play...there will always be something salvageable...even if it sucks...especially if it sucks...Think of the first recordings made by The Who...they sucked, but they sucked in a good way...people are always trying to put us down...

SONAR Platinum
RME FireFace 800
G-Force 960
cs750m
Dual monitors
Win 10 64 bit
i7 4790 8-core
16.0 gb ram
C;, D;, E; Hard drives - progs, audio, samples
vst's:  Arturia mini m, m.mod, arp2600, roland Jupiter, cs80, oberheim, DVi mellotron
FF800
#1
stevesweat
Max Output Level: -83 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 360
  • Joined: 2016/05/12 11:30:22
  • Location: Austin
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/13 13:51:21 (permalink)
The most relaxed you could get would probably be via immense preparation. I don't record myself writing, maybe I should but that's just too much to weed through looking for the good bits for me. 

Steve
Sweaty Productions
http://www.youarentweird.com/
https://soundcloud.com/user-978097986-982906152
https://sweatyproductions.bandcamp.com/
Windows 10 x64
SONAR Platinum x64
AMD FX6300 3.5gig 6core
HYPERx FURY 16gigRam
PNY GeForce GT730
WD Caviar 1TB 7200rpm
Gigabyte ATX AM3+ AMD 970 chipset
Roland Studio Capture
#2
bitflipper
01100010 01101001 01110100 01100110 01101100 01101
  • Total Posts : 26036
  • Joined: 2006/09/17 11:23:23
  • Location: Everett, WA USA
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/13 14:54:20 (permalink)
For me the biggest factors in making the recording environment relaxed are a) doing it alone and b) completely ignoring the clock.
 
Try being relaxed and creative while watched through glass by six other people, one of whom is visibly annoyed by every re-take, two others are debating Metallica vs. Megadeth, and another is pacing because he's the one paying the hourly rate. 
 
My #1 self-relaxation technique: telling myself it doesn't matter if it gets done today.
 
 
 


All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. 

My Stuff
#3
gswitz
Max Output Level: -18.5 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 5694
  • Joined: 2007/06/16 07:17:14
  • Location: Richmond Virginia USA
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/13 19:23:57 (permalink)
Always have mics out. Never embarrass anyone with tapes you release. You will earn trust and comfort will follow.

I also don't try to be too serious, while instilling good habits at the same time. For example, I discourage talking before the last note fades by teasing those that always jump in with their opinion.

StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen.
I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
#4
gswitz
Max Output Level: -18.5 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 5694
  • Joined: 2007/06/16 07:17:14
  • Location: Richmond Virginia USA
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/13 19:30:00 (permalink)
.

StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen.
I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
#5
Beepster
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 18001
  • Joined: 2012/05/11 19:11:24
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/13 19:34:02 (permalink)
Insane amounts of practice then some test tracks. Listen back then another insane amount of practicing/rekerjiggering then more test tracking.
 
Repeat as often as necessary until that schtuff is as smooth and natural as breathing.
 
Also, memorize your keybindings so you can engage/stop record transport with your eyes closed. Better yet set up a MIDI transport controller.
 
JMO
#6
Beepster
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 18001
  • Joined: 2012/05/11 19:11:24
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/13 19:59:10 (permalink)
Oh, and make sure as you go you get your backer tracks up to snuff wherever possible.
 
Example: If you just plugged in a simple beat and/or bass line to write to but intend on fleshing them out more later... well once you get your parts "written" and have some decent test takes (I will generally comp together the best version of my first round of takes to work with) then get right in there and finish your rhythm section (or get it closer to what you envision the final product to be).
 
It's like a back and forth for me. Start simple with the rhythm section, flesh out the riffs/vox/other melody/ornamentation. Go back to the rhythm section and fancy it up based on what you wrote on top. Then go back to the guits/vox/keys/etc and fancy them up. Just back and forth until you have something you are happy with.
 
Then rerecord EVERYTHING for the final. At that point every note/beat/cadence/whatever will be drilled deep into your subconscious, your muscle memory will be wrapped around the tune and for any "improv" parts you'll be able to launch into them much more smoothly because you aren't getting all wound up in the back of your head about what's coming up next (or what you may have mucked up before).
 
I treat my "pre production work" as if I were rehearsing/writing with a band. Just constantly working out little nuances and getting more and more comfortable with the tunes.
 
Anyone who's played in live, gigging bands can tell you that after all the pre tour prep and then actually playing the material live night after night for x amount of weeks/months that once you get back home the songs/band will be RIDICULOUSLY tighter/stronger/more confident/relaxed. And that's exactly how I treat material I'm working on here by my lonesome now that my gigging days are over.
 
And some may say that for chaotic/ecclectic music that that approach sucks the spontaneity out of things. I think the opposite is true. To truly be able to slam out some freaky deaky crazy person music that ebbs and flows and harms the listener's soul it is much more effective if all players know exactly how the other band members are going to react to random changes on the fly. Like with free form jazz jams and the like.
 
I probably don't work or write like many others these days though so that may not be all that useful.
 
I just hate half arsing these things.
#7
jamesg1213
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 21760
  • Joined: 2006/04/18 14:42:48
  • Location: SW Scotland
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/13 20:12:58 (permalink)
I remember that Steely Dan 'Making of Aja' doc, where they talked about getting the band so tightly rehearsed that they'd eventually play 'past' their parts, in other words, the tune was 2nd nature to them by then so they relaxed and started to get the feeling into it.
 
I try and do that in a small way (pretty much what Beepster and Steve are talking about), getting the parts right under my fingers so that I feel there's time to get the nuances in and not worry about screwing up.

 
Jyemz
 
 
 



Thrombold's Patented Brisk Weather Pantaloonettes with Inclementometer
#8
Beepster
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 18001
  • Joined: 2012/05/11 19:11:24
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/13 20:32:03 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Slugbaby 2017/11/14 14:07:36
jamesg1213
I remember that Steely Dan 'Making of Aja' doc, where they talked about getting the band so tightly rehearsed that they'd eventually play 'past' their parts, in other words, the tune was 2nd nature to them by then so they relaxed and started to get the feeling into it.
 
I try and do that in a small way (pretty much what Beepster and Steve are talking about), getting the parts right under my fingers so that I feel there's time to get the nuances in and not worry about screwing up.




Absolutely. That's where (IMO) the magic REALLY starts to happen and the artist can let loose. The bands I played in that I felt were the tightest, yet most "free", were the ones that practiced at least 3 times a week. Anything less than that it was essentially just upkeep/prep of the basic material for the next gig. It's kind of why I eventually got so frustrated playing in live bands because there was ALWAYS some dumbmuckery preventing the acts from reaching their full potential.
#9
mettelus
Max Output Level: -22 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 5321
  • Joined: 2005/08/05 03:19:25
  • Location: Maryland, USA
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/13 21:06:25 (permalink)
stevesweat
[...] too much [...] weed [...]



That will do it.

ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero (Wi-Fi AC), i7-8700k, 16GB RAM, GTX-1070Ti, Win 10 Pro, Saffire PRO 24 DSP, A-300 PRO, plus numerous gadgets and gizmos that make or manipulate sound in some way.
#10
electrodome1
Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 74
  • Joined: 2015/05/16 19:33:03
  • Location: Shelburne, VT
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/13 21:54:58 (permalink)
Lot of good responses here: foremost - proficiency...practice as much as possible...Also, I liked the post about letting people hear your stuff...I have stuff I did 15 years ago, remixed 10 years ago, and posted 5 years ago on another website. 
I've played very little live music, and I like to record alone...I keep getting into writer's block situations like I never did way back when...but I always end up going back to the guitar...Even with all the nice, new, creative vst's I have at my disposal, I still feel most free to create on the acoustic guitar.
 

SONAR Platinum
RME FireFace 800
G-Force 960
cs750m
Dual monitors
Win 10 64 bit
i7 4790 8-core
16.0 gb ram
C;, D;, E; Hard drives - progs, audio, samples
vst's:  Arturia mini m, m.mod, arp2600, roland Jupiter, cs80, oberheim, DVi mellotron
FF800
#11
Anonymungus!
Max Output Level: -85 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 259
  • Joined: 2014/09/05 16:08:43
  • Location: Nice, Ca
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/16 16:58:29 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby electrodome1 2017/11/25 23:35:12
Having no deadline is great!
By the way, anybody ever tell you that you almost look like Groucho Marx?  

Sonar Platinum x64 Lifetime, Windows 10 x64, Intel Quad Core CPU@3.40GHz, 8GB RAM, (2)1.5T Hard Drives, Presonus AudioBox 44VSL, Roland A-500Pro MIDI Controller & lots more stuff
  
#12
Cactus Music
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 8424
  • Joined: 2004/02/09 21:34:04
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/24 02:50:25 (permalink) ☼ Best Answerby electrodome1 2017/11/25 23:36:12
I love my Tascam DR 40 and keep it in the front room. I take it to every gig and band practice.
But those recordings are just used for educational purposes and song ideas. 
 
I make a bed track for my originals and then go out and play them wherever I can. 
I might make a rough demo of the song to play in the car. 
But only after I actually feel comfortable and actually have remembered my own words ( harder than you realize these days) do I try and make a proper recording of it. I use those midi driven bed tracks now. I just don't have a good drummer at my disposal anymore but if I did that's my best work, just me a guitar and a good drummer. 
But as I get better at using VST drums I'm happy enough with the results. 
I don't like comping a track I like to play from end to end so that's why I wait until I'm ready. And I'm always relaxed anyhow, I got over being intimidated by microphones a long time ago. 
I think a good way to overcome fear of recording would be to just tell yourself that I'm the only one who's ever going to listen to this. It's the same trick like we would tell singers that we were not recording but to run through the song. Then secretly arm the track.  Bests takes ever. 

Johnny V  
Cakelab  
Focusrite 6i61st - Tascam us1641. 
3 Desktops and 3 Laptops W7 and W10
 http://www.cactusmusic.ca/
 
 
#13
Rob[at]Sound-Rehab
Max Output Level: -47 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 2819
  • Joined: 2011/02/03 04:31:35
  • Location: Sound-Rehab, Austria
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/25 10:03:38 (permalink)
jamesg1213
I remember that Steely Dan 'Making of Aja' doc, where they talked about getting the band so tightly rehearsed that they'd eventually play 'past' their parts, in other words, the tune was 2nd nature to them by then so they relaxed and started to get the feeling into it.
 



if you are in a band or recording a band, that's the way to go but it takes lots of time and dedication before recording (and potentially wears out some band members in these busy times). plus yo need to have recorded very good demos before so that you are certain that what you rehearse and record will work. the last you want is to practise forever and then hear it not working out (no you can't fix it in the mix. that's the same big lie as "it'll work in the next software release")
 
as for recording by yourself you need to find out what is best for you, but it'll always be hard to take care of technology and feel the groove at the same time. that's why you should get other people involved. somebody to lay down the beat. somebody to listen in whether you nailed it. or just somebody to push the buttons for you and tell you when it's good enough.

GOOD TUNES LAST FOREVER
  +++   Visit the Rehab   +++
 
DAW: Platinum/X3e, win10 64 bit, i7-3930K (6x3.2GHz), Asus Sabertooth X79, 32 GB DDR3 1600MHz, ATI HD 5450, 120 GB SSD OCZ Agility3, 2x 1TB WD HDD SATA 600
Audio-Interface: 2x MOTU 1248 AVB, Focusrite OctoPre, (Roland Octa-Capture)   Control-Surface: VS-700C 
VSTi: WAVES, NI K10u, FabFilter, IK, ... (too many really) 
#14
electrodome1
Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 74
  • Joined: 2015/05/16 19:33:03
  • Location: Shelburne, VT
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/26 00:05:23 (permalink)
I also like this idea for overcoming writer's block - set forth to write and record the worst possible piece of music you can manage...then keep doing it over and over...eventually you will learn the hard way...by your own mistakes...and it's kind of weird, because some of the best riffs have come from mistakes.

SONAR Platinum
RME FireFace 800
G-Force 960
cs750m
Dual monitors
Win 10 64 bit
i7 4790 8-core
16.0 gb ram
C;, D;, E; Hard drives - progs, audio, samples
vst's:  Arturia mini m, m.mod, arp2600, roland Jupiter, cs80, oberheim, DVi mellotron
FF800
#15
electrodome1
Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 74
  • Joined: 2015/05/16 19:33:03
  • Location: Shelburne, VT
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/26 00:11:44 (permalink)
Yes, I have no deadline!  And I spent my impressionable years watching and loving the Marx Brothers 

SONAR Platinum
RME FireFace 800
G-Force 960
cs750m
Dual monitors
Win 10 64 bit
i7 4790 8-core
16.0 gb ram
C;, D;, E; Hard drives - progs, audio, samples
vst's:  Arturia mini m, m.mod, arp2600, roland Jupiter, cs80, oberheim, DVi mellotron
FF800
#16
Cactus Music
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 8424
  • Joined: 2004/02/09 21:34:04
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/26 00:16:08 (permalink)
Oh that's who that is,,, I thought it was you!   

Johnny V  
Cakelab  
Focusrite 6i61st - Tascam us1641. 
3 Desktops and 3 Laptops W7 and W10
 http://www.cactusmusic.ca/
 
 
#17
electrodome1
Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 74
  • Joined: 2015/05/16 19:33:03
  • Location: Shelburne, VT
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/11/26 01:55:42 (permalink)
Never too young to teach your kids the value of good humor...I always felt Groucho Marx was a big middle finger to the self-important bureaucrats of the time...He was so outrageous 

SONAR Platinum
RME FireFace 800
G-Force 960
cs750m
Dual monitors
Win 10 64 bit
i7 4790 8-core
16.0 gb ram
C;, D;, E; Hard drives - progs, audio, samples
vst's:  Arturia mini m, m.mod, arp2600, roland Jupiter, cs80, oberheim, DVi mellotron
FF800
#18
Muso Goodshot
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1
  • Joined: 2017/12/10 20:14:33
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/12/20 20:42:01 (permalink)
I find a good way to relax before recording is to actually listen to music for a good hour or so before your session.
I think this allows you to be subconsciously or consciously for that matter, to be listening to some really good production before you start.
 
This can help once you start recording to set levels, have a feel, and get into a vibe before you start.
 
Another thing I do is demo on Garage band with a cheap mic, to try and structure the song I want to record, so i have a plan when I come to record it properly in my home studio.
 
Hope this helps.
 
 
#19
electrodome1
Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 74
  • Joined: 2015/05/16 19:33:03
  • Location: Shelburne, VT
  • Status: offline
Re: relaxed recording... 2017/12/24 17:33:07 (permalink)
Thanks, all...for the responses.  Very informative for me.  

SONAR Platinum
RME FireFace 800
G-Force 960
cs750m
Dual monitors
Win 10 64 bit
i7 4790 8-core
16.0 gb ram
C;, D;, E; Hard drives - progs, audio, samples
vst's:  Arturia mini m, m.mod, arp2600, roland Jupiter, cs80, oberheim, DVi mellotron
FF800
#20
Jump to:
© 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1