The Recording Process

I record at home. Can't afford to send my songs off to a studio, as there is virtually no chance of making my money back. I can produce a work tape ok, but not something that is a final product.

My setup is very simple. A computer with a DAW, audio/midi interface, a microphone with a pop filter on a stand and a cord to plug into my guitar. A MIDI keyboard for virtual instruments. Anything else is done via software on the computer.

I only record vocals on the microphone, so a large diaphragm condenser mic works well for that.

I don't mic the guitar, just use a direct input and apply a cab+amp simulation inside the DAW using Guitar Rig (ver 5 for me, but there are later versions).

Getting a nice clean, clear signal on the inputs is a critical first step. You can't fix a poor initial sound recording with effects later on. You want it strong but not clipping.

I don't use any FX on the input on the way in. Keep everything clean and add things like reverb, delay, chorus etc afterwards.

I'll set up tempo (BPM) in the DAW, then lay down a dummy drum track to record against. I need to record against a proper beat to get the timing right, and a metronome (audio or visual) doesn't work for me. I'll remove the dummy drum track and craft a new one specific for the song later, but you do want the dummy drum track to more or less match the final groove.

Then I'll record the guitar parts (for me there are always guitar parts!) usually over several takes which I'll comp together. Then I'll select the guitar sound FX I want.

For bass, I often record it on guitar, then drop the pitch of the audio by an octave and send it to a Bass amp+cab simulation (again Guitar Rig). I do have a Bass Guitar, but I'm not especially good at it. There is also an option to use the keyboard to do a synth bass. Or sometimes I'll use a cello/bass for more of a string sound.

I'll then likely do vocals, again over several takes and choosing the best parts. I need to be careful if doing this across sessions because my distance from the mic, presence or absence of the pop filter, placement and angle of the mic all make a noticeable difference in the recorded audio and the listener can tell it isn't a continuous recording, but mostly it's close enough that you don't notice.

I'll then level the vocal volumes on the recording manually, bringing up soft parts or toning down phrases before applying any compression. I often use a VST called Vocal Doubler which adds tunable chorus FX to vocals. Often I'll duplicate the vocal track and apply the doubler just to one of them.

At this point, there is probably only MIDI based virtual instruments left. For me that's things like piano/organ, brass, synths, flute, strings. I'm normally using these for accompaniment, rather than carrying the main groove. So I tend to fit these around the vocals in particular so having the main instrumentation and vocals already recorded makes it much easier. I am a two finger keyboardist, so I record in MIDI where I can edit mercilessly afterwards, and so I can break things down into small musical phrases that I can build iteratively.

Sometimes I will include a solo copied across from Band-In-A-Box at this point. It will be as a MIDI file so I can choose the sound for the virtual instrument

With all the tracks in place, it's time to mix levels. I'll try to keep the master track at around -10db and lower the volumes of other tracks around the vocal to make sure that is clear. This isn't an area I am particularly skilled at, so I do little in the way of EQing or other mastering techniques. Just set volume levels and render down to an output track.

I'll play this back for 4 days and learn the song

Then sing it in studio here in Clear Lake Cal

One ruff mix will be sent to gospel singers to add harmony

The dry vocal will be sent the San Fran studio

the gospel singers will also send their vocals to San Fran studio

Also violins and hammond parts will be added to chorus

Once BZ Lewis the San Fran Producer gets all the stems

He spends a few hours mixing it all

https://hearthis.at/elvis-nash-xk/piano-3-1-1-1-1/Klh/

Sometimes it feels like a fight against a flood

With life dragging us thru the mud

Some man or women broke our trust

That turns our souls to rust

Lights turn to dark in a unkind way

But it can turn on a smile if we say

Chorus

Its amazing might sound crazy 

But miracles happen everyday 

When you feel like your falling apart

Cuz life is to hard 

If we let hope become our best friend 

The pain ends and hearts mend

V2

We all get broken but need to carry on 

Find the calm in ghostly storms

Cold nights bring on the past 

But remember they never last 

There's a trail of unwanted tears

But sunlight breaks it ends the fears

Repeat chorus 

Bridge

Love gets mighter brighter

And lighter

If we toss our regrets into the fire

Repeat chorus

Can Afford this RDM ? not really . they're not major studios , they have pro tools and a vocal booth . Its a naked song to sing , Will see how I do

bz studio132.com

I had a talk with the engineer from the last session. He recorded things almost a little too "hot" on the last song, but he's a super-nice guy, very understanding, and I think things will go smoother for us next time. Chaulk it up to "growing pains" as he gets used to your loud-ass mouth! 

Rawk on!!

-BZ

I have a home studio with a Mac Studio/Logic Pro DAW combination, connected to UA's Apollo x6 interface. I've got a Roland RV-730 synth which serves as an input only device. I've got the Boss GT-1000core for guitar processing. Numerous guitars but my main one is a Godin Radium X equipped with piezo pickups. I've got a broad range of microphones. As far as sound generation goes, there's no limits! I produce at 24/96 kHz and downsample for demos. My equipment far exceeds my ability!

Once I have crafted the lyrics, I'll sit at the keys and develop the melody and the chord progression. I always lay down a piano track first—and becomes the basis for everything that follows. The mix is developed using a pair of AKG Reference Headphones (I don't use the studio speakers). Once I have a rough cut of a verse or a chorus, I render to a file, I'll listen to the track on my headphones (multiple types), my car, home theatre system and of course a pair of studio reference speakers.

I enjoy every aspect of the songwriting and production process.