Studio Etiquette

[Lozz196]

  On 06/12/2023 at 12:05, Supernaut said:

Don't record your part and then clear off down the pub! 

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For myself 100% agree, I like to be present for the whole process.
 

For some people I’ve been in recording bands with however I’ve wished that they had done exactly that and left as soon as their parts were done.

[DJpullchord]

  On 02/12/2023 at 15:35, SteveXFR said:

 

There's one in the practice space we use. Our guitarist used it while his Marshall was being repaired. He developed a deep hatred for that thing because it doesn't work with pedals and all the high gain settings sound terrible. We did recently find a use for it, it makes a good weight to stop the kick drum moving forwards. Terrible amplifier, useful dead weight.

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good for metal.

[SteveXFR]

  On 06/12/2023 at 15:37, DJpullchord said:

 

good for metal.

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No, dreadful for metal. It's got loads of distortion but all of it is bad. In the faster parts of songs I couldn't hear what he was playing, there were no audible notes in the mess of overdrive. 

[BigRedX]

  On 06/12/2023 at 16:31, SteveXFR said:

there were no audible notes in the mess of overdrive

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Isn't metal supposed to sound like that?

[tauzero]

  On 06/12/2023 at 12:05, Supernaut said:

Don't record your part and then clear off down the pub! 

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It was McDonalds. In my defence, the drummer and I were both hungry. Anyway, I only played one bum note and the guitarist cunningly worked it in. http://tauzero.co.uk/music/mp3s/TornInTwo/I'llForgiveHer.mp3

[SteveXFR]

  On 06/12/2023 at 17:04, BigRedX said:

 

Isn't metal supposed to sound like that?

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What's the point of filthy riffs if people can't hear every disgusting note? 

Our guitarist uses a Strat with single coil pickups for better note articulation (at least that's what he claims)

[Supernaut]

I've heard the Boss Metal Zone with a Line 6 Spider is an awesome combination used by countless professionals. 

[SteveXFR]

  On 06/12/2023 at 19:14, Supernaut said:

I've heard the Boss Metal Zone with a Line 6 Spider is an awesome combination used by countless professionals. 

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The metal zone can sound alright but only if you put it in the effects loop. The Line 6 spider doesn't have an effects loop and doesn't like pedals so it would be a horrible combination. 

[paul_5]

Best sound I ever managed to get from a Metal Zone was the satisfying 'clang' as it hit the inside of a skip.

 

Your mileage may vary though.

[nilorius]

  On 06/12/2023 at 19:04, SteveXFR said:

 

What's the point of filthy riffs if people can't hear every disgusting note? 

Our guitarist uses a Strat with single coil pickups for better note articulation (at least that's what he claims)

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I know a guy who plays telecaster for death metal and he feels satisfied.

[SteveXFR]

  On 06/12/2023 at 20:15, nilorius said:

I know a guy who plays telecaster for death metal and he feels satisfied.

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With all the heavy guitarists playing a Les Paul in to a Marshall, it's good to hear something different. 

I quite like Baroness, one guitarist plays a strat and the other a tele and they share leads so their contrasting tones add another dimension to their music.

[TimR]

Is this Guitar Chat? I don't feel very well. 

[AMV001]

  On 04/12/2023 at 17:43, BigRedX said:

Has anyone here from a performer PoV spent more than a couple of weeks continuously recording and mixing an album in a proper commercial studio?

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Yes, I have. Although this was a long time ago (1990s).

Edited December 13, 2023 by AMV001

[Jonge McLengo]

  On 06/12/2023 at 15:10, BigRedX said:

If I was running a commercial studio, all the work areas - control rooms and studio rooms would be faraday cages and there would be no WiFi. If you are in the studio or control room you are there to work. If you want to play on your phone go somewhere else.

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I don’t know, it’s quite nice to have something to do while listening to the guitar player balls up the same overdub in the same place over and over and over…

[diskwave]

  On 13/12/2023 at 14:44, Jonge McLengo said:

I don’t know, it’s quite nice to have something to do while listening to the guitar player balls up the same overdub in the same place over and over and over…

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And ..'that's why he's messing it up cause you look like you could'nt care less. It was always the case tho not nessecarily easy to sit there..head up and taking an interest in what the other band members were doing....Absolutely nothing worse in a control room than a band member demonstrating little interest in what everyones doing as they either read or mess about doing something else.

[Dan Dare]

  On 13/12/2023 at 15:04, zrbass said:

And ..'that's why he's messing it up cause you look like you could'nt care less. It was always the case tho not nessecarily easy to sit there..head up and taking an interest in what the other band members were doing....Absolutely nothing worse in a control room than a band member demonstrating little interest in what everyones doing as they either read or mess about doing something else.

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Depends on the individual. I prefer to be left alone to work on something without half a dozen pairs of eyes watching my every move. You can't generalise..

Edited December 13, 2023 by Dan Dare

[TimR]

Surely it shows more respect if you say you're going to leave the control room so that X can concentrate on their part without the rest of the band (critising) distracting them?

 

But I agree, either be involved or go outside into the breakout area. Don't be semi-engaged. 

 

After all. Everyone has already agreed and practiced their parts and overdubs so when you hear the final mix there shouldn't be anything unexpectedly added while you were away. 😆

[diskwave]

  On 13/12/2023 at 15:11, Dan Dare said:

Depends on the individual.

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Sorry I just do not agree. Your there to work (someones paying) even when ur not playing u shld be thinking, engaging even if you dont really want to...pretend!  Goodness knows Ive done it enough back in the day. It also suggests that there is a lack of chemistry when band memebers attention starts 'wondering off so to speak.

[neepheid]

  On 13/12/2023 at 17:21, zrbass said:

Sorry I just do not agree. Your there to work (someones paying) even when ur not playing u shld be thinking, engaging even if you dont really want to...pretend!  Goodness knows Ive done it enough back in the day. It also suggests that there is a lack of chemistry when band memebers attention starts 'wondering off so to speak.

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You're free to disagree. Just as I'm free to disagree with you. But it's not ok for you to cast aspersions about band chemistry in bands you know nothing about based upon a few words on a web forum. I think you've taken that too far.

 

Also, in my crappy amateurish world, we're the ones paying for studio time and we'll use it as we see fit.

 

Feel free to disagree, of course.

Edited December 13, 2023 by neepheid

[Dan Dare]

  On 13/12/2023 at 17:49, neepheid said:

You're free to disagree. Just as I'm free to disagree with you. But it's not ok for you to cast aspersions about band chemistry in bands you know nothing about based upon a few words on a web forum. I think you've taken that too far.

 

Also, in my crappy amateurish world, we're the ones paying for studio time and we'll use it as we see fit.

 

Feel free to disagree, of course.

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Took the words out of my mouth. If I'm paying, it's my business and I'll do as I see fit. As for the "someone's paying" point in a pro' situation, I've been there, too. We didn't expect everyone else to be in the control room, hooting, hollering, high-fiving and "engaging" during tracking/overdubs. It would have been pretty naff, actually.

[Stub Mandrel]

I think mpst people don't want a audience while they are concentrating.

[nilorius]

  On 13/12/2023 at 19:37, Stub Mandrel said:

I think mpst people don't want a audience while they are concentrating.

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I agree, but what would leader - lead vocalist do ???

[TimR]

  On 13/12/2023 at 19:42, nilorius said:

I agree, but what would leader - lead vocalist do ???

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Usually they bring their own groupies...

[nilorius]

  On 13/12/2023 at 20:00, TimR said:

 

Usually they bring their own groupies...

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Consisting of exgirl/boyfriend and 5-8 years old child?

[cheddatom]

A wonderful session of lead vocals yesterday. This singer hates headphones and asked if there was a way to record without. Some engineers would refuse, others would try to set up a super accurate out of phase monitor system, I just handed him the SM7b, put my earplugs in, and turned the monitors up loud. He was nervous that it wouldn't work as he's never seen it done like this, but I know the guy, and he's LOUD, so when I played it back with the vocal solo'd, you can hardly hear the track at all, just his screaming voice! Ditching the headphones really loosened him up and we got some very "live" performances