Varying Distortion In Ep, +/- 5% Gain Change Options

[thefireball]

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

[Jesse]

If it sounds good, it is good.

[thefireball]

If it sounds good, it is good.

Thanks Jesse.

[Bogdan Radovic]

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.

[WeePee]

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

[Cosmin Lupu]

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

[tonymiro]

...

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


-Brandon Burch

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.

[Ben Higgins]

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

[thefireball]

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.

[The Uncreator]

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

[thefireball]

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

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

[tonymiro]

... But its all a learning experience ...

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 .

[thefireball]

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 .

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

[tonymiro]

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

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...

[thefireball]

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...

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

[Ben Higgins]

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

[thefireball]

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

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.

[Ben Higgins]

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.

Yeah, his production puts me to shame !

[The Uncreator]

I'm wicked embarrassed right now

[Mike RR24]

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

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