Micro-Studio TIP: High and Dry

Another TIP for the micro-studio producer: High and Dry

There is a crazy dichotomy in the recording of tracks when it comes to effects processing. Here is the dilemma ...

1] Adding the effects later in guitar or vocal or keyboard tracks make more sense because you have MORE CONTROL of the overall sound when adding the FX later. The 'perfect' sound can be engineered this way and fed into the mix in a much more intelligent way. Besides, today's digital effects are SO much better (usually) than ANY outboard gear that will process the instrument BEFORE it is recorded.

OK, that makes sense to me. It sounds like good advise to me. Until I heard the next argument.

2] Expecting to get a solid performance from an artist, in particularly an electric guitarist, simply CANNOT be achieved in a dry track. The FX makes a big difference in HOW the track is played WHILE it is recorded. Asking the player to 'imagine' the final sound is out of the question. Plus, the chance of finding just the 'right' FX in post production is like a needle in the hay stack.

Wow, sounds logical to me, too. So, what should we do?

See, when it comes to the digital drum-vs-acoustic-drum-set problem is really an easy one to solve. Simply allow the player to play his (or your) actual acoustic set, then trigger the sounds digitally without telling the drummer. :-)

But the guitarist often cannot play the same 'dry'. And certainly will not usually 'feel' comfortable doing so, either.

MY SOLUTION:
Only hire professionals who have practiced the tracks 'to perfection' and can play them WITH OR WITHOUT the proper 'sound'.

Sorry to be so blunt, but unless I am recording it "Their' way (and 'they' are paying me to do so), I need to at least expect that much professionalism.

To add insult to injury, I also expect them to PLAY TO A CLICK TRACK.


Sorry if that is asking TOO much of the players,
-Jack