Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
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By ieism Tue Jan 14, 2003 9:05 am
Has anyone ever worked with real instruments, like live drums, guitars etc.
I've got a lot of friends who play in bands and stuff, and i was thinking about sampling some live things.
Is this worth trying, or will i never get it sounding right? I have mic pre-amps on my mixer, and i can probably borrow some mics from someone.
Some tips would be welcome![/color]

By thynctank Tue Jan 14, 2003 11:10 am
Hey hey.

I've recorded my friend's band (or parts of it) on numerous occasions, and gotten permission from them to use bits and pieces of anything they create in anything I create.

Out of this association I've gotten some sweet acoustic and electric guitar solos and loops I've made and laid drums over. At one point I had hours of material recorded from a digital drum kit played by another friend, but I lost this when my hard drive died. Nearly brought tears to my eyes, man. Crazy stuff on there, ambient to insane to groove-heavy. Dude plays it all. I never did get a chance to incorporate his drums into much of anything, though it would've been a simple matter.

What I eventually intend to do, once my financials are back in order, is buy myself a bunch of hand drums- bongos, congas, tabla, talking drums, whatever- and play these live over whatever tracks I make. Not sample them but layer them on top of my sampled beats. It'll add much more of a live and organic element than possible with my MIDI gear alone.

And ANYTHING is worth trying man. Well, maybe not removing your headphones at work while Cher is on the radio, but you get the idea.

Read up on basic micing techniques and so on, try recording to a specialized recorder and chopping things on a computer, it's much easier when dealing with loads of material and saves your MPC's screen from burn.

Good luck!

-thynctank[/color]
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By ieism Wed Jan 15, 2003 2:41 pm
Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to give it try as soon as i've got some more time.[/color]
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By turn Wed Jan 15, 2003 6:03 pm
yeah that some of the best stuff to work with.i wanted to get a drum kit complete with the metal trash can snare for my home studio.but my girl is not having it.[/color]
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By ieism Thu Jan 16, 2003 8:25 am
Teach her to drum, or get a minivan! My girl used to hate my turntables, untill i tought her how to scratch. Now she's rubbing vinyl more often than rubbing my back:)
Or get your local homeless people to bang drums in front of your house, and hang a mic out the window.
good luck[/color]