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Posted by: thefireball Jun 23 2012, 10:09 PM

Hey GMC!

I'm recording an EP . I got the main frame for one song. So I was thinking about another song I want to do in the EP. I think the next song would benefit from a boost of 5% gain on the amp head than the other song. I think had plenty of distortion for the song I already have recorded. So is it "wrong" or not going to sound right if I change the sound (drive) a little bit? I'm going to try to keep the same overall tone throughout the EP, but I wanted to make some changes here and there so it sounds a little different. This boost of gain is an example.

My guitar is a Jackson SLSMG with 81/85 EMG Pickups, tuned to Drop Ab with 14-68 gauge strings.
Signal chain in POD Farm:

Noise Gate, Compressor, Line 6 Big Bottom Head, and 4x12 Treadplate Cab, miked with a 57 off axis.
Head settings are as follows: Drive 30, Bass 28, Mid 83, Treb 42, Presence 100.

It's these settings I have used for my first song I recorded. The second song I want to record will be in Standard Bb, and I want to bring the gain up to 35%. (It's just because of how I want the song to sound. Just needs a little bit more boost.)

So is this okay to do in an album/EP?


-Brandon Burch

Posted by: Jesse Jun 24 2012, 02:21 AM

If it sounds good, it is good.

Posted by: thefireball Jun 24 2012, 05:09 AM

Thanks Jesse.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jun 24 2012, 06:55 AM

When it comes to this I think there is no right or wrong way to do it. IMO you should treat each song differently and set the appropriate tones and even use different instruments if its going to benefit the song itself. Having that in mind, changing settings on the amp sounds sounds OK. Each song is different and might require a different "formula" for it to sound good.

I understand that you want to keep the similar feel/sound throughout the EP and I guess you are going to accomplish that anyway if you use same "fingers", same studio (recording environment) + possibly have it all mastered by the same person keeping the same feel throughout.

Posted by: WeePee Jun 24 2012, 07:12 AM

Yeah I agree with Bogdan. Just record your songs like you want and leave the volume level/mixing/mastering stuff for the hired guy

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 24 2012, 01:40 PM

Can't put it better than Bogdan treat each song as a different person they all look different, have a different message and feel, right?

Creating a homogeneous sound is not done only by using the same tones it's a matter of creating a personal touch to your music - this comes with time and writing A LOT! Explore and write, write, write!

Cosmin

Posted by: tonymiro Jun 24 2012, 02:57 PM

Short answer - yes.

Longer answer - people use a variety of gutars, amps and amp settings etc when recording more than one track. Some change these mid track. The choice of what to use is a production decison and based on the individual composition and what it needs. Whether or not you need more distortion or not for a particular track - none of us can answer that as none of us have heard it or know what the production intends for it.

Cohesion is something that is usually considered part of mastering. Here it's about ensuring that the entire work sounds like a cohesive entity if so desired. If it is desired it is often more about macro EQ etc rather than micro managing the settings on an indivdual amp.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 24 2012, 04:43 PM

Yeah, go for it Brandon. I often think back to the 2 Megadeth albums that were the most varied tone wise : Cryptic Writings & Risk. They used loads of different tones and effects. The person mixing will have to use their experience to make it work in the overall mix and treat each guitar differently as they have different pickups, slightly different volumes etc but yeah, having different sounds on different tracks seems to have been going since the dawn of recording

Posted by: thefireball Jun 24 2012, 06:34 PM

Thanks for the replies, guys. Now I feel more confident. It's kinda scary recording your very first EP. But it is the only way to share with the world what I have got. I may not ever get very popular, but I don't care. As long as a handful of people enjoy what I do, I will be thankful.

Posted by: The Uncreator Jun 24 2012, 06:44 PM

Your first EP will be one of 30 maybe?

I actually released a full blown "album" a few years ago, something like 2 hours long, 15 songs, artwork and stuff. But its all a learning experience for me. Since that I have done two EP's, I only consider an EP a publicly available collection of songs for analysis and criticisms for the day when I have the proper time and money to do an actual, full album, high quality and everything.

So basically, experiment with anything. I do most things musical with little to no consideration, learned some really cool things, learned some really, REALLY bad things as well

Posted by: thefireball Jun 24 2012, 06:54 PM

Thanks, Brett. I'm trying to forget the fact that I will probably "hate" my first EP five years down the road.

Posted by: tonymiro Jun 24 2012, 06:55 PM

Which is true for us all, regardless of time and experience. Anyone who thinks they know it all is deluded.

Back to you though Brett - you've come on a hell of a long way from the early recordings that I remember .

Posted by: thefireball Jun 24 2012, 06:58 PM

And THAT makes me excited knowing that can improve myself too with time.

Posted by: tonymiro Jun 24 2012, 07:08 PM

Great - and you've also improved a hell of a lot Brandon .

It's a long road but as MAo once said - a journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step...

Posted by: thefireball Jun 24 2012, 07:32 PM

THANKS, Tony! That means a lot coming from you.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 24 2012, 07:38 PM

It's true.. you've made some amazing progress here Brandon !

And Brett, you already know how much I admire your level of creativity. I don't know how you do it.. create other worlds and stories. Like the Tolkien of metal

Posted by: thefireball Jun 24 2012, 07:43 PM

Thanks, Ben.

And I totally agree with you on Brett. I'm amazed at the quality of his music! It sounds like it is ready for commercial, if it were mastered. The atmospheres he creates is awesome. There's one song I remember that had a riff so dark and epic I literally loved it.

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jun 24 2012, 07:44 PM

Yeah, his production puts me to shame !

Posted by: The Uncreator Jun 25 2012, 03:46 AM

I'm wicked embarrassed right now

Posted by: Mike RR24 Jun 25 2012, 04:45 AM

Fireball I'd love to hear a sample. What kind of music?

Posted by: thefireball Jun 25 2012, 05:26 AM

Sure man! Just follow myhttp://www.facebook.com/analyzedwithin by liking it! I have a sample there already called "The LORD's Rebuke."
It's Christian Progressive Metal/Djent.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jun 25 2012, 05:57 AM

Don't be, everyone has to start somewhere. It's just part of the process I cringe at some of my first recordings. You guys stuff sounds pretty killer!



I think you may be pioneering a new Djenre!

Posted by: Mike RR24 Jun 25 2012, 06:18 AM

Hey not bad at all dude. I love that low tuning stuff. Sound's great for your first album fireball. Thanks for turning me on to the facebook page man.

Posted by: PosterBoy Jun 25 2012, 09:24 AM

I agree with everyone else Go for it as long as it sounds ok recorded, and the recorded bit is the key.

A lot of great heavy recorded guitar tones were recorded with a lot less gain on the amps than we think. Layered guitars and even a overdriven bass track are often used (with less gain) to produce what we hear.

It's an often discussed subject matter, so worth searching.

Posted by: thefireball Jun 25 2012, 07:49 PM

Maybe without realizing.


I'm glad you think so!


Thanks for the support!



I think he was embarrassed because we are bragging on him.