I tried to search for this and shit didn't work, so I'm hoping I won't get Kerbled one dozen times within two posts.

We're thinking of self-producing our EP to cut down on costs and maintain a good chunk of control over what it sounds like. We'd probably get it mixed and mastered professionally though. I'm wondering if you guys have any tips?

Here's what I know so far and what I don't. I've heard it suggested that our guitar amps should be mic'd and DI'd through the board in order to boost solos and lead lines in the mixing. I know we'd like to record live off the floor but we'll likely do overdubs later. In particular I don't know shit about how to properly mic drums, except that I'll probably use one kick drum mic, one snare mic and one mic above the kit for the rest of them.

Oh, and I guess most importantly how will I actually record it? Probably just a rented multitrack, I'm assuming?

not to discourage you but it sounds like you have very little experience recording. you could be seting yourself up for a big headache. if your going to rent a multitrack your going to need a board. you'll also need cables to connect the board to the multitrack. a calibration tape and some way to generate tones will also be needed. can you align a machine? lets not forget mic's, cables and mic stands. oh and speakers and an amp to listen to playback. a good sounding room is also a nice thing to have. plus like 100 other things.

if it's just an e.p. why not do it at a studio. there are plenty of engineers who will let you have all the control you want over the sound of your record.


also there is no need to both di and mic the guitar to make things like solos louder. you can just turn the guitar up on the mic'd track.

I would recommend refining your search for specific things like micing drums, micing guitars, bass, vocals, etc. There's lots of information if you look, and I recently employed some of this in a basic demo recording I did for my band. I rented 4 mics, ran them into a borrowed mixer, sent a L-R out to a loaned m-audio firewire box, and into my computer. Vocal and guitar overdubs done later. It doesn't get much simpler, but it was achieved for low cost, in a short period of time.

If you don't have the mics, aren't sure where to put them, and nothing to record to, you are going to need to rent or borrow a lot of equipment. At that point you need to determine if those costs and the time involved in learning to use the equipment are a better value to you. There's much to be said for learning how to engineer a recording and I wouldn't discourage that, but you need to realize when the end result could be better achieved by you or someone who already has all the mics, headphones, and iso booths. Because, amassing that stuff yourself could be costly and time consuming. I don't however, want to down play the very rewarding experience of the do-it-yourself recording... just have realistic expectations for the end result.

Hey Johnny C,
Where in the Geat White North are you? If you are in Vancouver, I would offer free studio time to you. You can produce all you want. I have mics, gobos, a board, a fridge and all and all a nice little setup. We are Columbia on Broadway.


Let me know, and let any other Vancouver acts know...

I wish, but I'm holed up in Regina.

Vancouver acts come through here all the time though. I'll mention your studio when I can!

HAHAHAHA,
Sorry, I'm from Regina so I feel I can laugh. How was Buffalo Days this year?

Probably shitty and filled with greasy carnies calling people "faggots."

Depending what you are after, you can rent and go all the way or do some at home and then go to some of the locals and use other gear to mix etc.
I heard there was a project studio in Lumsden(to me that sounds fun). Not that there are a shortage of decent priced ones in Regina.

Who do you play with?

Johnny C wrote:I wish, but I'm holed up in Regina.

Vancouver acts come through here all the time though. I'll mention your studio when I can!

Regina...She's nice.

Butch wrote:Depending what you are after, you can rent and go all the way or do some at home and then go to some of the locals and use other gear to mix etc.
I heard there was a project studio in Lumsden(to me that sounds fun). Not that there are a shortage of decent priced ones in Regina.

Who do you play with?

We play with mostly whoever asks us to at the moment. The lead member of Rah Rah plays guitar with me, we did a show with Goldenmile, we've tried to do a show with Polymaths at O'Hanlon's but it's fallen through constantly and we've played The Manhattan Room and The Club a bunch of times.

I didn't know there was a studio in Lumsden! I hope there are windows and the view is great. Those bastards.