I was asked on Facebook about my recording process. It has evolved and gotten cleaner. One friend said it has a sheen to it now. I shared my process on Facebook. I figured I would share it here too.
Frank, I can't read music. I don't know music. I just *know music. I'm self-taught on singing, playing, producing.
I was however raised in the church of Christ where a cappella music is the norm. That handed me my ability to harmonize. I also record 6 part harmony 12 track a capella hymns where I double each part and fully pan.
On this song I sang a high harmony throughout and a low harmony on the chorus.
I am using a condenser mic. I am recording with a Fostex VF160EX. It's a standalone CD burner based multitrack recorder. About 15 year old technology.
It was designed to record and mix on. Then you record the mixed down song onto a cd and you're done.
What I do instead is record all the parts I want. Then I record each instrument or vocal onto a single track onto a CDRW. Then I put the CDRW in the computer and open the tracks with audacity, the free multitrack recording program.
It's designed to record, edit, and mix. But unless you have a quality interface latency is a real obstacle.
My Fostex gives me the ability to record 8 simultaneous inputs with great quality and no latency.
So I record on the unit and edit and mix on audacity.
My recording process is this.
I use my phone to make a click track. I record each instrument and try to do it well but not perfect. Then I lay scratch vocals.
Then I go back and replace each instrument one at a time aiming for perfection.
Little nuances tighten up the recording in an organic way similar to a band practicing a song.
Then I rerecord my lead vocal. I pan that to to the left and duplicate the lead vocal panned to the right aiming for perfection.
If a vocal bend isn't the same it sounds bad. If timing and phrasing aren't identical it sounds clumsy. I usually have in mind the precise way that I want to sing and phrase everything. But doubling the lead vocal only works if you are willing to truly duplicate all of the nuances.
I have never used any pitch correction software. Autotune, melodyne, or anything else.
On this song I added a single high harmony and panned it about 20%. Then I added the single low harmony and panned it to the other side about 20%.
Sometimes I double my harmony parts.
I use the Fostex onboard reverb at a Setting of 34/100. And I crank my treble up to positive seven.
There is no adjusting of the reverb at that point once I have committed to a finished vocal track. But 34 is my sweet spot on the reverb.
I know that was probably more information than you were looking for. What can I say? I am thorough. I really enjoy the whole process.
Comments
This is great! Does have a 70's vibe, Lobo, Raspberries. Excellent!
Frank, I can't read music. I don't know music. I just *know music. I'm self-taught on singing, playing, producing.
I was however raised in the church of Christ where a cappella music is the norm. That handed me my ability to harmonize. I also record 6 part harmony 12 track a capella hymns where I double each part and fully pan.
On this song I sang a high harmony throughout and a low harmony on the chorus.
I am using a condenser mic. I am recording with a Fostex VF160EX. It's a standalone CD burner based multitrack recorder. About 15 year old technology.
It was designed to record and mix on. Then you record the mixed down song onto a cd and you're done.
What I do instead is record all the parts I want. Then I record each instrument or vocal onto a single track onto a CDRW. Then I put the CDRW in the computer and open the tracks with audacity, the free multitrack recording program.
It's designed to record, edit, and mix. But unless you have a quality interface latency is a real obstacle.
My Fostex gives me the ability to record 8 simultaneous inputs with great quality and no latency.
So I record on the unit and edit and mix on audacity.
My recording process is this.
I use my phone to make a click track. I record each instrument and try to do it well but not perfect. Then I lay scratch vocals.
Then I go back and replace each instrument one at a time aiming for perfection.
Little nuances tighten up the recording in an organic way similar to a band practicing a song.
Then I rerecord my lead vocal. I pan that to to the left and duplicate the lead vocal panned to the right aiming for perfection.
If a vocal bend isn't the same it sounds bad. If timing and phrasing aren't identical it sounds clumsy. I usually have in mind the precise way that I want to sing and phrase everything. But doubling the lead vocal only works if you are willing to truly duplicate all of the nuances.
I have never used any pitch correction software. Autotune, melodyne, or anything else.
On this song I added a single high harmony and panned it about 20%. Then I added the single low harmony and panned it to the other side about 20%.
Sometimes I double my harmony parts.
I use the Fostex onboard reverb at a Setting of 34/100. And I crank my treble up to positive seven.
There is no adjusting of the reverb at that point once I have committed to a finished vocal track. But 34 is my sweet spot on the reverb.
I know that was probably more information than you were looking for. What can I say? I am thorough. I really enjoy the whole process.
That water is so turquoise. Super nice song. Sounds like a hit out of the late 60s. Nice all around.