Bands who have recorded, about practising before recording

[Kujiss]

Okay hello all you rockers out there. I have band. We are supposed to record 3 songs this weekend. We have had 2 practises before this, and our guitarist keeps saying that "we don't need to have practises, it's enough if we just practise those songs at home because when we record it's not band recording, it's one at time recording". I don't believe this SHIT he's tryin to feed me with... Anyway, we are going to record one song THAT WE HAVE NEVER! PLAYED BEFORE! And our wiseguy keeps still talking like he has recorder 1000 albums

So question is: Do you think it's enough if everyone just practises their own parts at home? And do you think our situation is hopeless?

Thank you, I want some replies here okay?

[ktallett]

Well it depends on how you want to record. i have heard of some bands who record a couple of instruments at the same time. and i no some band records as a entire band dont remember who. It just depends. Really you have too practise both with and without the band. Without so you can get your part exactly correct. And with so the timings correct. It depends on the sound you wish to get and the vibe you want on the finished copy.

[Jordan123]

Early Metallica (until the black album which was recorded separately) was all recorded at once

[Forcemaster]

In July I spent a week recording for my band so I have some advice for you.

If you're recording live, then that's a little odd, to be honest i've only ever done it twice for two demo recordings which are obviously completely different anyway. But from what I found I prefer individual recordings.

One thing you MUST, MUST, MUST do:
Make your drummer learn to play to a click trick, it sounds easy, and your drummer will probably go 'nah, i'll get it down easy' he won't, slap him in the face. It takes a few hours to learn, but it's a valuable technique to make sure your recording is at the best quality.

Practice together as much as possible, slap your guitarist as well. The notion that you don't have to practice for recording is just complete bollocks.

[the_relic]

..............Your guitarist is a fucking idiot.

[Kujiss]

Well it depends on how you want to record. i have heard of some bands who record a couple of instruments at the same time. and i no some band records as a entire band dont remember who. It just depends. Really you have too practise both with and without the band. Without so you can get your part exactly correct. And with so the timings correct. It depends on the sound you wish to get and the vibe you want on the finished copy.

Yeah, that timing thing is what I have on my mind, that song we haven't played together is really tricky song, weird timings and stuff so practising together would be great

In July I spent a week recording for my band so I have some advice for you.

If you're recording live, then that's a little odd, to be honest i've only ever done it twice for two demo recordings which are obviously completely different anyway. But from what I found I prefer individual recordings.

One thing you MUST, MUST, MUST do:
Make your drummer learn to play to a click trick, it sounds easy, and your drummer will probably go 'nah, i'll get it down easy' he won't, slap him in the face. It takes a few hours to learn, but it's a valuable technique to make sure your recording is at the best quality.

Practice together as much as possible, slap your guitarist as well. The notion that you don't have to practice for recording is just complete bollocks.

Yes! I got permission to slap 'em both *dances* Our drummer said already that he won't use click, and guitarist (drummer in thrash metal band) said that "I didn't use either, who needs it?". Well his (guitarist) drumming sounded fucking great on record but I think I gotta ask him (our drummer) one more time about it, he isn't that great drummer...

..............Your guitarist is a fucking idiot.

Thank you for agreeing with me

And well, yesterday (after making this thread) they both came cryin to me that we can't have it done in two days (it could be easily possible since we have only 3 songs to record and if we had practises it'd be easy as fuck), and guitarist had suddenly changed his mind "seriously dude, I don't wanna fuck up this demo, we haven't practised at all, we have to practise" NO SHIT!? We decided about recording this weekend 2 WEEKS AGO and they came whyning DAY BEFORE... Once again I say I'm starting to understand why Chinese Democracy is taking 7 years to get done...

"I tell you folks, it's harder than it looks" - AC/DC

[Forcemaster]

Yeah, that timing thing is what I have on my mind, that song we haven't played together is really tricky song, weird timings and stuff so practising together would be great

Yes! I got permission to slap 'em both *dances* Our drummer said already that he won't use click, and guitarist (drummer in thrash metal band) said that "I didn't use either, who needs it?". Well his (guitarist) drumming sounded fucking great on record but I think I gotta ask him (our drummer) one more time about it, he isn't that great drummer...

Thank you for agreeing with me

And well, yesterday (after making this thread) they both came cryin to me that we can't have it done in two days (it could be easily possible since we have only 3 songs to record and if we had practises it'd be easy as fuck), and guitarist had suddenly changed his mind "seriously dude, I don't wanna fuck up this demo, we haven't practised at all, we have to practise" NO SHIT!? We decided about recording this weekend 2 WEEKS AGO and they came whyning DAY BEFORE... Once again I say I'm starting to understand why Chinese Democracy is taking 7 years to get done...

"I tell you folks, it's harder than it looks" - AC/DC

I thought they'd say that, basically they think they don't need it. But say you want to send it to a record label unless you've written the next DSOTM, AFD, Back in Black, Master of puppets and rust in peace all in one record they're not going to do jack shit if you haven't played to a click, there will be tempo fluctuations unless your drummer is a robot.

Best idea, would to be ask the engineer/producer (assuming he's experienced and professional) whether you should play the drums to a click.
I bet he'll say yes.

The drumming may be good, but there will be slight tempo fluctuations that you'd discover if you were to set a metronome up with the track. My father's actually a full time drummer and also says this about click tracks.


Just again for emphasis


MAKE THE DRUMMER PLAY TO A CLICK

[jamillos]

Okay hello all you rockers out there. I have band. We are supposed to record 3 songs this weekend. We have had 2 practises before this, and our guitarist keeps saying that "we don't need to have practises, it's enough if we just practise those songs at home because when we record it's not band recording, it's one at time recording". I don't believe this SHIT he's tryin to feed me with... Anyway, we are going to record one song THAT WE HAVE NEVER! PLAYED BEFORE! And our wiseguy keeps still talking like he has recorder 1000 albums

So question is: Do you think it's enough if everyone just practises their own parts at home? And do you think our situation is hopeless?

Thank you, I want some replies here okay?

No fuckin' way my friend. You need to hear the vibe, the sense, the sound, to fuckin' jam a bit for chrissake. It's always different when you play at home for yourself (even if you have some pro-music programs on your pc with pre-recorded parts of the other bandmates) by various reasons. Some people can afford not to play together but just each of them separately and then join it all together later on, but these people are highly skilled musicians who have been playing for years, have been living off the music etc. Tell your guitarist to get his ass to the testing room because there are always tons of other guitarists who don't act as a macho pro-guitarist and are eager to play. Anyways, no pc program, even the best one, can match the real joy of playing together in a band...
That's just my input to the discussion without having read the posts above.

[Kujiss]

I thought they'd say that, basically they think they don't need it. But say you want to send it to a record label unless you've written the next DSOTM, AFD, Back in Black, Master of puppets and rust in peace all in one record they're not going to do jack shit if you haven't played to a click, there will be tempo fluctuations unless your drummer is a robot.

Best idea, would to be ask the engineer/producer (assuming he's experienced and professional) whether you should play the drums to a click.
I bet he'll say yes.

The drumming may be good, but there will be slight tempo fluctuations that you'd discover if you were to set a metronome up with the track. My father's actually a full time drummer and also says this about click tracks.

Just again for emphasis

MAKE THE DRUMMER PLAY TO A CLICK

Well, first thing drummerboy asked when we were recording was if I wanted him to play with click, I was so surprised and told him to play with click.

Recorded drums yesterday, after all fighting I was surprised that everything went well and drums sound so damn good. Another thing that surprised me was their whole new attitude after I yelled the shit outta them friday. Friday they still were like "we are right, kujis calm the fuck down" after fight and saturday guitarist came apology that he was wrong about so many things. God I love being right. Well I kinda feel that whole band is doing better after that lil' fight.

No fuckin' way my friend. You need to hear the vibe, the sense, the sound, to fuckin' jam a bit for chrissake. It's always different when you play at home for yourself (even if you have some pro-music programs on your pc with pre-recorded parts of the other bandmates) by various reasons. Some people can afford not to play together but just each of them separately and then join it all together later on, but these people are highly skilled musicians who have been playing for years, have been living off the music etc. Tell your guitarist to get his ass to the testing room because there are always tons of other guitarists who don't act as a macho pro-guitarist and are eager to play. Anyways, no pc program, even the best one, can match the real joy of playing together in a band...
That's just my input to the discussion without having read the posts above.

Yeah I agree with you, if everyone practises their parts home without bandmates and go record, it just sounds like there was some studio musicians recording, instrument after instrument. We ain't looking for profuckingstudio sound, what we are looking for is good old rock n' roll sound, like The Stooges and others. And that really needs that fucking feeling of band there. And too bad this is pretty small town, there's not much guitarists out there so I kinda have to keep my guitarist in until I know other one who really has time and wants to play without machoing...

[Forcemaster]

Nice dude, glad the drummer came round to the sensible way of thinking!

Sounds like you've got some good stuff going on there, post a link to the recordings when you've done them, would be cool to check out.


All the best.

[Kujiss]

Yeah sure thing

[I ARE ESS]

Yeah sure thing

hope it goes well dude
good luck and enjoy it

[bledge1]

Recording bands is my work, i work at a studio 10-15 hours a day. My opinion is to practise as much as you can before you enter a real studio. It safes much money and time,

[Nathstone]

Early Metallica (until the black album which was recorded separately) was all recorded at once

the days when metallica was good! 

im hitting the studio tomorrow, only to record 2 tracks but we practised today to make sure we are perfect.