How woudl you guys approach this situation?

[micline]

Hello,

I had a singer/songwriter come by to record a few songs. She has typically recorded her Vocal and Guitar at the same time in past sessions with other engineers. However,this time she wants larger productions with percussion and bass and harmonies and other elements

Do you guys think doing the Vocals and Guitar at the same time is still a good set up for this? if we are planning to add more elements later?

for her I use figure 8 mics on the guitar and voice. and then do over dubs later on . Her timing on the guitar is not the best so we have been with the over dubs

So the question is should I continue to try to get one great performance recording guitar and vocals together. even though we will be adding more elements and timing can become an issue

Or try to get a great guitar performance and do the vocals separate?

[jmitchell1532]

Depends on the situation. If she can sing really tight, like, "spot-on" tight, she could do the gtr/vox, then overdub a vocal on top. This is pretty much how to get the "Elliot Smith" sound. Then, just do the backing production as well.

[micline]

Thanks for the reply,

That's what I'm thinking, but I'm wondering. After the vocal dub, would you treat the overdub as the lead vocal? or the gtr/vocal as the lead When it comes to mix time? even though the Vocal that was recorded with the guitar will have a bit of guitar bleed?

[jmitchell1532]

Well, you could do another guitar dub, too. And eq them both differently than the gtr/vocal track.

Or, if she wanted, just do the guitar separate, and the vocal separate.

[micline]

Right,

Seems I have a choice to make, I'm torn on how to do this. If I do the GTR and Vox separately I may (will )have timing issue to contend, and then risk the organic feel of the live performance, if I do the GTR/VOX at the same time it may be tough come mix time.... errr..this is a tough one.

[HD2]

I would record her as she is used to doing it. Vocals and guitar in one take. Then I would use that as a scratch track to build the other elements around. You may need to use elastic audio a bit to line that track up with a click. Then once the other tracks are done, I would then re-record her vocal and guitar on separate passes. At least then she would have something other than a click to play guitar along with that may help her timing. Do her vocal last so she has the complete song to sing to. Then delete scratch track unless it's REALLY good.

[getz76]

Originally Posted by HD2

I would record her as she is used to doing it. Vocals and guitar in one take. Then I would use that as a scratch track to build the other elements around. You may need to use elastic audio a bit to line that track up with a click. Then once the other tracks are done, I would then re-record her vocal and guitar on separate passes. At least then she would have something other than a click to play guitar along with that may help her timing. Do her vocal last so she has the complete song to sing to. Then delete scratch track unless it's REALLY good.

Sounds like great advice.

[micline]

That's a pretty damn good Idea!! THANKS!

[barlevy]

yep - i use the same tecnique