Ready to Record

1. Recording Space: We have our space and applied our treatment.
2. Microphone Placement: Our mics are set and we have taken consideration of what ambient noises may be present.
3. EQ settings and Processing: EQ settings are flat and we are recording a dry signal.
4. Levels: The volume levels are set not to record above -3 and if we have a compressor limiter this will help.
5. Signal path is set. Also we are recording in at least 24bit, or 32bit float better yet.

Ready to record...

So now we are ready to record. We have two channels one Stereo for Keyboard and one Mono for Vocal. The first thing we need to do is figure out how many measures we will need as well as how many bpm's (beats per minutes) or what tempo the song is. A lot of recording apps have a built-in metronome which you can hear in your headphones an will not record into the song. This will help as for setting a standard tempo you can follow along with. Doing this will enable you to help sync all the other tracks and even adding midi or drum loops at a later time. You can also play along to a drum machine or loops to help with keeping a steady tempo. One method I use with great success is to create a one measure midi drum beat. A simple rock beat may do. To create a midi drum part using your recording software, create a midi track and use the drum map as your editor. Now a simple rock 4/4 beat is a follows:

Kick Drum on beats 1 & 3
Snare Drum on beats 2 & 4
Closed High Hat on every eight beat or 1+, 2+, 3+, 4+
High Hat Pedal on beats 1 & 3

You can play around with the bass drum beats and Snare drum beats to change up the feel.
Also you can substitute a Cymbal Ride or edge sound for the Closed High Hat, as well as Side Stick for the Snare.

Once you make this beat copy the measure and fill the entire loop or event with it, lets say at least 100 measures @ 120 bpm. This will vary depending on your song tempo. As far as measures a good place to start is at 100 measures. You can adjust this after these first tracks to reflect the exact length of the song.
I like to use a drum part to play to rather a click track with a metronome. With Cubase the midi drum sequence can trip actual drum sounds Using a VSTi like LM9, LM4, Groove Agent, and other drum sampling instrument pluggins.

Usually this first attempt recording something I will use as a reference track. With this I can figure out the length of the song, get the right tempo, and nail down the song structure or form. Later on I can redo the keyboard and vocal tracks, edit the drums part to add fills and accentuals, after I have the other instruments where I want them. Remember that when recording you are under the microscope. The up side of this is that you can go back and re-record your parts, believe me when I say this can make for a long day. After doing all of this you will have a good reference track for all the other instruments to play with and follow. With volume levels, measures, tempo and metronome or drum part set we are ready to record enable some tracks.

If the metronome is set it will give you a 1 or 2 measure lead-in. If you are using a drum track make your own lead-in using the high-hat to count it out and start your song like in measure 3 or so (you can at a later time rework your intros easily if you do this). This will help to sync the tracks when you record the other Instruments and vocals. After you can remove or cut this out. You can also use and extend this method to have the drums come in well after the song has started for dynamic effect. However you choose to, this is your production. Later on you can add fills and other accents to the drum track to help with the dynamic quality of your recording.

Cool Tip! When programming midi drum parts you need to think like a real drummer. Remember that you only have two arms and two legs. When programming a ride cymbal occasionally hit the bell this will keep the part from becoming to monotonous. You also can buy professional midi drum files and use them in your project or buy an inexpensive electronic drum kit and connect it via midi to get that beat your looking for in your sequencer. You can even tap a measure or two of a drum part in using a midi capable keyboard then edit it.

After you completed your recording play it back and listen to what you have done. Remember this is just a reference track. If it sounds good enough to lay down more tracks to, meaning that the structure, tempo and timing are ok, you can add some EQ and processing to the tracks.

Use your headphones to adjust the EQ and Reverb parameters as well as the volume levels so that the recording sounds good to your ears. Remember that we are going to replace this part after we record the other instruments.

Follow the same procedures for all other instruments as above. After you get all the instrumental tracks recorded you can re-record the keyboard or lead instrument track, and then re-record the lead vocal part. When all this is done you can record backing vocals and any other part to help tweak your song into a good production.

One important thing to remember in the production phase is that sometimes less is more. Not all of the instruments have to play at the same time all the time. The same goes for your vocal parts. You want to add to not cover up. Balance is the key to a good production.