Recording setup for improvised music.

randumb.tune · Post by **randumb.tune** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 3:07 pm

Hello
Me and my bandmates play some sort of improvised psychedelic space rock. What we play is all most impossible to record in one instrument at a time fashion.
So we want to record everything together.
The drummer lives in outskirts of city in a farmhouse. So we are gathering recording equipment and setting up things at his place.

Has anyone done this before ? I need some inputs regarding recording equipment and some isolation techniques such that sound of one instrument doesn't bleeds too much into another.

ajaxlepinski · Post by **ajaxlepinski** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 10:43 pm

I had an analog studio for 14 years. It had one room for the band and one control room/lounge so, leakage was always a problem when recording multiple instruments.

Carpet covered plywood doesn't look pretty but, it helps block direct leakage.
Stand them around the drums and around the amps.

Assuming that you are giving each instrument its own mic, put the mic as close to each instrument as possible.
Use DI Boxes when possible.

Facing the amps away from each other and away from the drums helps reduce leakage.

Try to record at the lowest levels that you can without compromising tone.

Hope this helps!

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:46 am

Zoom H6

Boom.

Ostinato Rubato · Post by **Ostinato Rubato** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 12:56 pm

Sounds interesting... to say the least. Good luck and post clips!!!

ajaxlepinski · Post by **ajaxlepinski** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:46 pm

duncan wrote:Zoom H6

Boom.

That Zoom H6 looks great! I wish they were selling the H6 when I bought my H4N

randumb.tune · Post by **randumb.tune** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:03 am

Right now we have planned to mic each instrument separately, on guitars ( me ) I am going to use Jet City JCA100HDM a Framus 2x12 cab with celestion V30, and will mic it up with Shure SM57.

Drummer plans to use 3 mics for drums, one for snare, one for kick, and one condenser mic for overhead.

Thanks for tips guys, we have planned the recording session end of Christmas holidays, I will convey these inputs to my band members.

Devin · Post by **Devin** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:06 am

I use a Tascam DR-1 with the external Tascam condensor mic to do this. Work really well!

randumb.tune · Post by **randumb.tune** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:10 am

I have a ZOOM H2N, which has delivered surprisingly good quality in rehearsal space, for guitars and bass at least not so well in case of drums.
I do plan to use it in this recording session too, to capture the overall atmosphere.

RustyMetal · Post by **RustyMetal** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:20 pm

If you are needing to play together, but want the best isolation per track, why not just do iso boxes for the mic'd amps and wall off the drums with carpeted sub walls like someone was talking about, then use in ear monitors or headphones. There should be enough ambient stage sound plus your monitor headphones and still be able to keep the recording tracks fairly clean and isolated.

I don't know how well that method would match up to your existing equipment, or the hardware you are planning to buy/use.

Ostinato Rubato · Post by **Ostinato Rubato** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:30 pm

^ Good suggestion but I think they want a solid studio-live sound. Besides... their whole mojo is based on off the cuff improv stuff. I imagine that wouldn't be easy to accomplish with everyone in their own world with ear monitors etc.

RustyMetal · Post by **RustyMetal** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:39 pm

Oh, I though his primary concern was track isolation when recording, as opposed to recording one instrument at a time.

randumb.tune · Post by **randumb.tune** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:23 am

Mike LX-R wrote:^ Good suggestion but I think they want a solid studio-live sound. Besides... their whole mojo is based on off the cuff improv stuff. I imagine that wouldn't be easy to accomplish with everyone in their own world with ear monitors etc.

Exactly !

RustyMetal · Post by **RustyMetal** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:39 am

It looks like I'll be asking Santa for some Hooked-On-Phonics tapes. :lol:

randumb.tune · Post by **randumb.tune** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:45 am

Hahah

Telephant · Post by **Telephant** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:05 am

Close mic everything and let it bleed. People have been recording live for a long time. Nothing wrong with it and I personally dig the way it sounds.

randumb.tune · Post by **randumb.tune** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:51 am

Cool, while googling a bit on this subject, I came across some pictures of recording setup of one of my favorite bands Russian Circles, and they didn't had much isolation between various instruments either, and they sound amazing.

Ostinato Rubato · Post by **Ostinato Rubato** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:34 pm

yeah seriously, a little bleed in a studio live type of setting won't kill the project. Especially because there will be very little post production... i imagine...

If post production and wav editing was crucial then yeah, you'd need solid isolation.

Telephant · Post by **Telephant** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:41 pm

Recording live separates the men from the boys. :cop:

Ostinato Rubato · Post by **Ostinato Rubato** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:53 pm

^I actually agree 100%. Van Morrison (don't laugh fuckers Van is the shit) recorded Moondance studio-live like on the second take. Not just for him, but for the whole band... that says a lot.

I wish I had more examples, and I wish more young cats would kick it old school. For a 30 year old I'm really really really out of touch with how most guys are doing the whole music thing these days. I'm glad guys like randumb.tune are willing to capture teh live mojo in a bottle like a crocodile hunter. There's life in live recordings.

Telephant · Post by **Telephant** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:32 pm

Mike LX-R wrote:^I actually agree 100%. Van Morrison (don't laugh fuckers Van is the shit) recorded Moondance studio-live like on the second take. Not just for him, but for the whole band... that says a lot.

I wish I had more examples, and I wish more young cats would kick it old school. For a 30 year old I'm really really really out of touch with how most guys are doing the whole music thing these days. I'm glad guys like randumb.tune are willing to capture teh live mojo in a bottle like a crocodile hunter. There's life in live recordings.

Who the fuck is gonna front on Van Morrison?!? Sure as hell won't be me.

And I completely agree with everything you've said here.

randumb.tune · Post by **randumb.tune** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:33 pm

Thanks guys, there are many bands that I derive inspirations from do recording this way. Some examples are:
My Brother The Wind, Öresund Space Collective, Yuri Gagarin.

If you are looking for a tasty dose of psychedelia these bands will provide it.

Telephant · Post by **Telephant** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:36 pm

randumb.tune wrote:Thanks guys, there are many bands that I derive inspirations from do recording this way. Some examples are:
My Brother The Wind, Öresund Space Collective, Yuri Gagarin.

If you are looking for a tasty dose of psychedelia these bands will provide it.

My whole solo album was recorded live but my amp was isolated in another room. But the B3 and Leslie were in the same room as the drums and it sounds really good IMO. YIf you're interested, you can download the album here (for free):

http://sonoffire.bandcamp.com/

Ostinato Rubato · Post by **Ostinato Rubato** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 4:48 pm

^I checked out that link. Still listening. Cool shit!!!

Ostinato Rubato · Post by **Ostinato Rubato** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 5:02 pm

^still listening... loving this album Shea!!!

Telephant · Post by **Telephant** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 5:21 pm

Mike LX-R wrote:^still listening... loving this album Shea!!!

Thanks Brother!!! :love:

Fun fact about that record, the leads were cut live. For the few tracks that have rhythm guitar behind the leads I actually went back and overdubbed the rhythms. Its totally assbackwards but it worked OK I think.

Now if I could only find a gat damn bass player...

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