tracking guitars?...

[kasperjensen]

It's different for each band and song, etc...

..production goal, ep, album, vibe, it goes on an on and there are no rules. You want to track guitars till your eyes bug out, go for it. Mixdown is not the time to track more guitars, unless you really want to piss off your bandmates.

+1

I usually will do 2 tracks and then "fake" double them (so move one side of a stereo track by milliseconds)...sure you don't get "nuances" of doing 4 takes but it is easier and still sounds a million times better than single tracks

Tracking at mixdown? Why would you do that?

Anyway... Copying them over is just not the way to do it. Once you have a good take, doubling it shouldn't take much time at all. The nuances are all important in getting that massive sound.
In just the same way that a section of violins sound the way they do because nobody is playing EXACTLY the same thing. The minute differences create the effect. If you just copied one take and spread it, it's not going to have the same effect. This doesn't mean it can't sound good, or that it's not right for your song...
If you are going for that wall of guitars, then your music deserves some double tracking. Obviously, you gotta know when to stop, but 2 takes on either side is generally a good rule of thumb.

 

[sytharnia1560]

Tracking at mixdown? Why would you do that?

Anyway... Copying them over is just not the way to do it. Once you have a good take, doubling it shouldn't take much time at all. The nuances are all important in getting that massive sound.
In just the same way that a section of violins sound the way they do because nobody is playing EXACTLY the same thing. The minute differences create the effect. If you just copied one take and spread it, it's not going to have the same effect. This doesn't mean it can't sound good, or that it's not right for your song...
If you are going for that wall of guitars, then your music deserves some double tracking. Obviously, you gotta know when to stop, but 2 takes on either side is generally a good rule of thumb.

yeah at mix down .... it just fattens each track a little. So I usually do one track left in stereo then nudge one side of the track (so basically delaying the signal by milliseconds) then do another track on the right in stereo then nudge the opposite side to the first, then do a centre track. The nudging is exactly the same principle as using a delay pedal to fatten your tone live

It works for me ..... years ago when no more tears came out I did 4 tracks like zakk did and thought it sounded great so kept going and ended up with 8 guitar tracks ....gotta say 4 sounded great 8 sounded like shit the sound actually started to thin out and the nuances in the playing created an ugly chorus type effect that wasn't pleasant on the ears

 

[kasperjensen]

Tracking at mixdown? Why would you do that?

Anyway... Copying them over is just not the way to do it. Once you have a good take, doubling it shouldn't take much time at all. The nuances are all important in getting that massive sound.
In just the same way that a section of violins sound the way they do because nobody is playing EXACTLY the same thing. The minute differences create the effect. If you just copied one take and spread it, it's not going to have the same effect. This doesn't mean it can't sound good, or that it's not right for your song...
If you are going for that wall of guitars, then your music deserves some double tracking. Obviously, you gotta know when to stop, but 2 takes on either side is generally a good rule of thumb.

yeah at mix down .... it just fattens each track a little. So I usually do one track left in stereo then nudge one side of the track (so basically delaying the signal by milliseconds) then do another track on the right in stereo then nudge the opposite side to the first, then do a centre track. The nudging is exactly the same principle as using a delay pedal to fatten your tone live

It works for me ..... years ago when no more tears came out I did 4 tracks like zakk did and thought it sounded great so kept going and ended up with 8 guitar tracks ....gotta say 4 sounded great 8 sounded like shit the sound actually started to thin out and the nuances in the playing created an ugly chorus type effect that wasn't pleasant on the ears

Hey... Whatever works, works.

And yes, they can easily end up sounding not so good. Just before it starts sounding like an effect, is when to call it a day haha.

 

[Pushead]

I'm not a fan of quad or more tracking. I stick to one track per guitar, Fredman mic'd and hard panned, for the rhythm/backing tracks and then a typically single tracks for the melody, supporting or lead tracks. Perhaps it's because I'm not tight enough to get quad tracked stuff sounding clean.

It could also be amp setup related. Less gain for more tracks? Dunno, but I like how my way works.

 

[Revson]

One track hard left and one hard right, typically using the same rig and a single mic on a single cab. Occasionally I'll add on an second mic, but I try to get the tone I'm after using just one. During high-energy parts that I want to add some impact in, like a chorus, I'll change up the rig (usually much less gain) and add another track or two, but have it kind of buried.

Also, the guitarists need to be tight with each other. If they're not playing the exact same rhythm patterns, then you can have a weird push-pull effect or the part will turn to mud. The simplest way to fix this is to have the guitarist that plays the part better lay it down.

 

[kasperjensen]

I'm not a fan of quad or more tracking. I stick to one track per guitar, Fredman mic'd and hard panned, for the rhythm/backing tracks and then a typically single tracks for the melody, supporting or lead tracks. Perhaps it's because I'm not tight enough to get quad tracked stuff sounding clean.

It could also be amp setup related. Less gain for more tracks? Dunno, but I like how my way works.

100% yes. As another rule of thumb (which, like all rules, should be broken) is to set the gain to where you like it, then take it back. I.e. If you think it's awesome at 8, take it back to 5.5 or 6. I would almost say that you should set it to right below where you think it's too little. Then double it.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I'm not a fan of quad or more tracking. I stick to one track per guitar, Fredman mic'd and hard panned, for the rhythm/backing tracks and then a typically single tracks for the melody, supporting or lead tracks. Perhaps it's because I'm not tight enough to get quad tracked stuff sounding clean.

It could also be amp setup related. Less gain for more tracks? Dunno, but I like how my way works.

100% yes. As another rule of thumb (which, like all rules, should be broken) is to set the gain to where you like it, then take it back. I.e. If you think it's awesome at 8, take it back to 5.5 or 6. I would almost say that you should set it to right below where you think it's too little. Then double it.

This is a huge one.. there is a reason that ACDC albums sound so huge. The preamp gain is dialed back and the power comes from hitting the strings and pushing what little gain is there. Try it for yourself and i guarantee that you will like the track with less gain much more because it sounds more defined. Amps always sound gainier when recorded anyway..

 

[petejt]

Amps always sound gainier when recorded anyway..

I wonder why that is? Is it that microphones pick up more of the fizz?