[thedonutman]

After finally getting along with Guitar Rig, I've decided to get started on recording a demo for the band I'm in. Got a few questions though:

1. Do you try and do the whole song all in one take at first and then edit it, or do you just record it bit by bit?

2. I had a go at recording some of my (rhythm) parts split up into a few sections, a few bits sound disjointed, I'm not really sure why (see/hear the clip)
Maybe I should just sustain that last note in the twiddly bit or the last chord of the 4 chord progression just a little more so it flows onto the next (repeated) bit.

3. Sometimes my guitar sounds out of tune (like in the D# power chord in the clips), but it isn't. Intonation isn't off either. I think it has something to do with the light gauge strings I'm using for Drop D, any way to work around this with EQ/Effects? Or will I just have to re-record with heavier gauge strings/different guitar?

4. Does Cubase Quantize audio properly? maybe I'm not doing it right, but from what I've seen it doesn't really tighten it up that much.

5. Will a midi track using a vst instrument (ie EZdrummer) be perfectly in time? Providing the midi is right? Or is there a delay for VST? Basically, can I listen to the drums rather than the click sometimes?

Thanks
here is a clip to demonstrate what I mean in Q1 and 2. Yes, I know the high part is sloppy, still working on it, going to redo it once the lead guitar part is done.

/noob questions

[drawnQ]

Originally Posted by thedonutman

After finally getting along with Guitar Rig, I've decided to get started on recording a demo for the band I'm in. Got a few questions though:

1. Do you try and do the whole song all in one take at first and then edit it, or do you just record it bit by bit?

2. I had a go at recording some of my (rhythm) parts split up into a few sections, a few bits sound disjointed, I'm not really sure why (see/hear the clip)
Maybe I should just sustain that last note in the twiddly bit or the last chord of the 4 chord progression just a little more so it flows onto the next (repeated) bit.

3. Sometimes my guitar sounds out of tune (like in the D# power chord in the clips), but it isn't. Intonation isn't off either. I think it has something to do with the light gauge strings I'm using for Drop D, any way to work around this with EQ/Effects? Or will I just have to re-record with heavier gauge strings/different guitar?

4. Does Cubase Quantize audio properly? maybe I'm not doing it right, but from what I've seen it doesn't really tighten it up that much.

5. Will a midi track using a vst instrument (ie EZdrummer) be perfectly in time? Providing the midi is right? Or is there a delay for VST? Basically, can I listen to the drums rather than the click sometimes?

Thanks
here is a clip to demonstrate what I mean in Q1 and 2. Yes, I know the high part is sloppy, still working on it, going to redo it once the lead guitar part is done.

/noob questions

1 - for a scratch/demo track i guess you could do it all in one take. for a final edit I wouldn't. its all personal taste.

2 - that is up to you. its all going to depend on your playing, try to find the best places to cut the recording so that when you punch-in or add something to it - it will sound fluid.

3 - thats all on the guitar. besides doing pitch correction (which can get tricky fast) you'll have to make sure the guitar is set up first. gauge of strings won't really make that much of a difference IMO. unless you are using weak, small gauges to down tune. just make sure the guitar is set up with the right action.

4 - depends on the settings and original signal path.

5 - depends on if you set up the project with a set tempo. if yes, then it will load the drum information to the tempo grid accordingly when you map it out. there shouldn't be a delay with the VST. but this depends on the VST and how much computing power your machine has.

[sakeido]

Typically I will record one whole riff at a time and loop as necessary. Mostly, because it drastically cuts down the amount of time I spend playing something. I don't have time to be running my amp at high volume for extended periods of time.
I have a general process I use to record stuff...
1. Record riff to the metronome
2. Program drums according to the riff I just played, but using proper timing (think in terms of 16ths, triplets, etc). As time wears on, I have to tweak the timing less and less as my own ability improves. I set the grid to 32nds but do not use snap to grid to get more natural feeling drums that sound less like a machine. This is especially important in very fast passages.
3. Replay riff according to the new drum beat without the click
4. Multitrack riff according to the riff I played without drums to ensure tightness
If the riff is pretty hard, I record it one bar at a time, string the bars together, and then play the riff in time with the individual bars. If I have time, I will then step it up again and record the whole section, but generally I am not able to do this and move on. If it is sloppy the first time, I practice and practice, and eventually re-record.
In my experience both EZDrummer and Superior have zero lag and can be played with live (my comp is quite fast though).

[thedonutman]

Thanks for the help guys,

I've fixed most of the problems, Drop D with a .42 , Drop D with .49

Sakeido- what spec is you PC? I'd say mine is pretty fast (dual core, 2gb ram), but I don't have a sound card and I'm using a M-audio USB thing. And I don't know what fast is in terms of audio editing.

[7 Dying Trees]

Originally Posted by thedonutman

1. Do you try and do the whole song all in one take at first and then edit it, or do you just record it bit by bit?

No. I split it up into clearly defined parts, that way I can restructure if necessary, and do it quickly and seeing as I colour each section the same colour (as opposed to the individual tracks like some people) you can see the structure + variations quickly.

One take to get tight is a bitch, if you can do it one, then do it, otherwise it is quicker to do it in mini takes. Cross fade between each segment (fast fade) will get rid of clicks too

Originally Posted by thedonutman

2. I had a go at recording some of my (rhythm) parts split up into a few sections, a few bits sound disjointed, I'm not really sure why (see/hear the clip)
Maybe I should just sustain that last note in the twiddly bit or the last chord of the 4 chord progression just a little more so it flows onto the next (repeated) bit.

Always sustain notes of lead lines over the next part as it'll sound better and fade them. Also play the first part of the next riff, and a bit of lead in to begin when recording in sections. I prefer to record on loop, playing the same riff over and over, then pick out the tightest one to the drums/click, then record the double/quad tracking to that. And get it tight using the same looping approach.

Originally Posted by thedonutman

3. Sometimes my guitar sounds out of tune (like in the D# power chord in the clips), but it isn't. Intonation isn't off either. I think it has something to do with the light gauge strings I'm using for Drop D, any way to work around this with EQ/Effects? Or will I just have to re-record with heavier gauge strings/different guitar?

Thick strings. And tune in between takes. There's a reason for not using floppy strings, and that's the out of tuneness when you put everything under a microscope, which, is what you are essentially doing when you record.

Originally Posted by thedonutman

4. Does Cubase Quantize audio properly? maybe I'm not doing it right, but from what I've seen it doesn't really tighten it up that much.

You need to play tightly. Use less gain and double track. You can quantize midi information, but audio, well, your fingers and hands will have to do the quantizing.

Originally Posted by thedonutman

5. Will a midi track using a vst instrument (ie EZdrummer) be perfectly in time? Providing the midi is right? Or is there a delay for VST? Basically, can I listen to the drums rather than the click sometimes?

Yes. I never record to click, just record to a simple beat to start off withk then redo the drums afterwards.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by 7 Dying Trees

Yes. I never record to click, just record to a simple beat to start off withk then redo the drums afterwards.

Me too. I hate click tracks; too lifeless and uninspiring. I like a simple groove from EZ-D, record the clip(s), then go back and program the drums more elaborately later. I find a midi clip I like, copy -paste, -paste, -paste, -paste, -paste, -paste, and then get the drums sounding spicy later.

[7 Dying Trees]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Me too. I hate click tracks; too lifeless and uninspiring. I like a simple groove from EZ-D, record the clip(s), then go back and program the drums more elaborately later. I find a midi clip I like, copy -paste, -paste, -paste, -paste, -paste, -paste, and then get the drums sounding spicy later.

Plus, recording to a drummer you need to get away from a metronome as no drummer is spot on, but you need to be spot on with the drummer, which is harder than it sounds sometimes...