Hello-

I'm recording a band (drums, bass, electric guitar, vocals) who wants to track all in the same room without headphones. The singer wants to track vocals (not scratch) at the same time as well. Basically, they want create the same feeling as playing live. The band referenced Black Sabbath's first record as how they'd like it to sound.

Anyone had success doing this? Any technical tricks worth passing on? What was your setup as far as micing techniques?

Best,
Justin
justin@moggs.com

What do you have in the way of isolation materials?
e.g.- gobos, closets, a nearby bathroom, couches.
What mics do you have at your disposal?

Is there anyway you could do the band, and then track vocals next? Can you convince them of that?

-A

I have done this but not with a very loud band... a quieter band where bleed is fine and wanted. I do not have the kind of space to do a loud band like that...to separate the amps from the drums, etc. One thing I would suggest is a Shure Beta 87 or the like for vocals... it is super directional and has good cancellation for other sounds off axis... I have seen it work wonders with quiet singers and with a singer playing really loud drums at the same time... it would help getting your vocals without as much bleed as you would with many other mics.

This is an application where I think it would be good to have a ridiculous amount of channels to work with. What do you have to work with?

alex maiolo wrote:What do you have in the way of isolation materials?
e.g.- gobos, closets, a nearby bathroom, couches.
What mics do you have at your disposal?

Is there anyway you could do the band, and then track vocals next? Can you convince them of that?

-A

The band is set on recording everything at once. I can get whatever iso materials are needed, I just need to know what would be an ideal setup to make it happen with good results.
-Justin

skatingbasser wrote:This is an application where I think it would be good to have a ridiculous amount of channels to work with. What do you have to work with?

I have a 24 track 2" machine. Console is a 36 ch Lafont.

Why can't they use headphones? If you isolate the instruments, it would be hard for them to hear anything.
They should atleast use headphones. That isn't so bad.

can't see any reason a setup with everyone playing live without headphones and the singer singing live without headphones wouldn't yeild great results.

my only suggestion would be take carefull note of stereo bleed issues, or whatever.... like, if the guitar/bass amp is on the right/left of the drumset, make sure to be aware of this when panning those instruments in relation to the overheads and any room mic's...... this would be one of my prefered recording setups, actually. Enjoy!

nathan

you shouldn't get too much spill as long is everyone is playing at similar volumes and you place your mics well. and point amps away from other amp's mics.

you should def try and get the singer to do vox afterwards though, unless he is completly uncomfortable doing so.

As I recall the Evergreen 'Pants Off' 7" was recorded like this in Steve Good's basement.... loud, all at once, singing too... no headphones....one thing that may have made it easier was Sean sang thru a mic thru an amp/PA.