Anyone play all of the parts, incl live drums?

[Terry McInturff]

I would love to hear what your routine is. Do you cut a scratch gtr first, or play drums to a click, etc etc?

Please detail your method...if it involves your playing every instrument. What order do you cut the tracks?

I am especially interested in hearing from those who record with real drums.

[GaryNattrass]

Hi Terry i always play all the parts and include live drums.

I do all the guitars first inc the bass and then that gives me something to follow on the drums.

I suspect that is coz I am mainly a guitarist and can keep good time with a guitar track.

I have tried playing to click tracks but I cant seem to do it as the feel of the song comes from the first track laid down.

[ricoh]

Greeting from sunny S.Fla.
I have recorded all the tracks numerous times. The easiest way for me is to get the song straight in my head and then go at the drums and lay on the main instument after. I get the best feel this way. I have also used a drum track and recorded the drums after but it can play tricks with your mind if your meter is less than perfect!!!!!!! On a rare occasion I will play guitar and then drums.
Get someone to help you get your levels on the kit and mark the faders. I leave the first 4 tracks as dedicated drum tracks and leave the outboard pre-amps set up for drums. I am using old stuff and do not use computers at all. Although I would probably benifit from some in box stuff I don't feel like going through the learning curve. Something else that has worked well for me is recording an entire song with a drum machine and then bringing in a "real" drummer. I often feel capturing the spirit of the recording is more important than getting it perfect..........have fun!!!!

[dave s]

My originals are recorded in the manner you suggest, but I play a drum machine by hand. Here's the order:

1) Initial rhythm guitar track recorded to click track

2) Put down drums, kick and snare only using a drum machine manually

3) Record bass line

4) Listen to basic guitar/bass/drum mix and make changes to arrangement as necessary

5) Record everything else in random order from there.

dave

[E-Rock]

I usually record scratch git to a click. Then lay down drums, then bass, then everything else. But, sometimes I break the rules :)
The feel is always different after the drums go down, so I have to replace the guitar. I don't usually waste time on the 'tone' of the scratch.

[Dutchman]

Here's my writing/recording technique.

1. Simple drum track just for meter, (I'm able to adjust my tempo track)
2. Rhythm guitar of melody in my head
3. Then start on the actual guitar tracks, until finished
4. Add Bass guitar, seasoned to taste
5. Play Drums to fit song arrangement
6. Add keys, piano etc if needed
7. Vocals, write vocal lines from original idea, or a new one that just jumped into your head....it's your song.
8. parts to accentuate vocals, harmonize, horn shots etc..
9. Get a good mix, figure out what needs what, then take each perfected track or track clusters to 24 bit wave file as separation masters tracks.
10. Take separation masters and dither to 16 bits and mix and master song.

The easiest songs to write and record are the ones that you can hear the next part while your playing the first part, then the song writes it's self. They go quickly also, and they are fun

The hard ones are the specific issue/response/mood to fit a sound track songs, for me at least. To much like work:jo

[Denyle_Guitars]

Drums to a click track first, then whatever feels good. I usually start with the instrument that I used to work out the tune.

[StJimmy]

I also do a drum machine by hand but I usually leave drums until last or next to last if something has tempo changes or odd breaks,etc. As you know, the difficult thing about doing everything yourself is that sometimes you think something will work, but once you play the parts together, they don't. Sometimes I maybe record 3 different melody type riffs and wait until later to see which one works best. If I have to adjust guitar riffs, fills or little quirks in the song, it may require accentuation by the drums or cymbals to emphasize that particular bar or bars. Having the drum tracks already recorded constricts me on what I can create on the other instruments. I usually do it this way.

1) Initial rhythm guitar track recorded to click track

2) lead guitar

3) Vocals

4) Record bass line

4) Drum machine pads by hand (using 3-4 tracks) while trying to ensure it doesn't sound like something a drummer couldn't really do

5) Record everything else in random order from there. (or reverse 4 & 5)

[Grun]

Often I start with an acoustic guitar to a click. That is assuming I have the song 'ready'. If I am working 'on the fly' I might put a rythym track together first to comp over. Either way I try to get the rythmic foundation done before adding leads and vocals. I might add rythmic 'candy' (Fills, addtitional percussion, etc.) later on, but for my money the rythem comes first.
I used to just wing it on acoustic/vocal and then try to play the drums afterward. It was OK at best. Especially if you are using a computer based system the click is invaluable. Now I use Drums on Demand (DOD) and I imagine I could replace with a live drummer much easier than if I didn't have the click. Either way, with the click, the drum programming is a cinch. Let us know how you make out.

[bjm007]

I usually record scratch git to a click. Then lay down drums, then bass, then everything else. But, sometimes I break the rules :)
The feel is always different after the drums go down, so I have to replace the guitar. I don't usually waste time on the 'tone' of the scratch.

That's the way to do it :)

[DiazDude]

I usually record scratch git to a click. Then lay down drums, then bass, then everything else. But, sometimes I break the rules :)
The feel is always different after the drums go down, so I have to replace the guitar. I don't usually waste time on the 'tone' of the scratch.

I second this method. Even when I record my band I allway will thow out the original guitar track. I like double micing my 4x12, one close, one about 3 feet away and put ea on seperate tracks for more depth/body.

[Framus]

:eek: About the same compared to what others have posted...

Being a keyboard player and drummer among other jobs...I tend to lay down tracks with drums first,bass second,keyboards third,guitar parts last...vocals are always the easy part :>)

I never got in the habit of using a click track because it tends to sound too dry and robotic when you listen to the final mix...just my opinion.

Just a habit I developed from sequencing cover tunes on keyboard for computer sequencing used in live shows.

If no keyboards are required for a song...I just deactivate the midi channels and don't use them on the playback.

Warning:
Keyboard patches have become so sophisticated due to sampling that it's almost impossible to distinguish some rip snorting guitar leads played on keyboard from the real thing played on guitar.

Yes...that sounds counterproductive to most guitar players,but I have played in a couple bands with keyboard bass players that were frankly so talented a regular bass guitar player would have been a fifth wheel.Turn them loose on guitar parts and you might be out of a job...some are so versatile it's downright scary....Brrrrr... :>)

Don't get me wrong here...I prefer to play guitar above all other instruments...nothing like a live smokin' three piece band to get my juices flowing...keeps me on my toes :>)

:RoCkIn:RoCkIn:RoCkIn

We be jammin' Mon