Pro Studio Live Active Rock Metal Recording Session Day 2 of 2

In this engaging and informative episode, Chris Baseford brings us through day 2 of tracking with band QUOR. You’ll watch and learn how Chris tracks, comps, and edits guitars, bass, and vocals. Chris also gives us advice throughout on topics such as tuning philosophy, the importance of paying attention what type of pick is used, and amp placement. He teaches us how and when he uses playlists, what he recommends while setting up for tracking these instruments, and some advice on microphone selection.

Throughout the tracking session, we diverge into discussions and experiments that will help the viewer improve their tracking, comping, and editing skills. For example, Chris even guides our audience through a blind vocal microphone shootout! This episode is great for anyone that’s interested in learning a bit more about the production and tracking process, so check it out!

In this episode:

How and why Chris prefers to track his doubles
The importance of tuning, and some philosophy on tuning, such as tuning the attack vs the sustain
Why and how Chris uses stereo tracks: his explanation of a less common tracking technique that he describes as creating a “multi-mono” track, and the plugin that he uses to do this
Some considerations to keep in mind while reading PT meters
Chris’ panning while tracking philosophy
Advice for comping and editing doubles
Loop recording: what Chris thinks of it, and how he uses it
Psychology of working with a musician, and tips for getting the best performance out of them
Amp placement
How and when Chris uses multiple doubles
How the pick influences the guitar sound, and a tip for quickly analyzing the sound of a pick
DI bass tracking
Advice and considerations when using a tuner
How Chris sculpts the bass sound during the tracking process: fingers vs pick with bass, and watch him tweak the bass sound
Latency concerns while tracking
Bass editing
Vocal tracking
Philosophy on shooting out gear to decide what to use: how and why
Chris’ vocal mic choices: his philosophy behind picking each mic, some details about each one
What engineers should consider setting up for a vocalist: pop filter philosophy, using modifier buttons on your mics, other things to set up
See how the audience reacted to our blind mic shootout - listen to it yourself and decide!
The importance of listening in the track
How and when Chris adds to the vocal signal chain: EQ and compression
Chris’ vocal editing process: how he uses playlists, comps, creates doubles, etc
Chris’ attitude about using tuning: how he likes to do it
How to edit drums, and work with drums that weren’t recorded to a click
An interesting trick that Chris uses to avoid bleed from the click track
Chris’ advice about using delays
A discussion of mid side technique: when he uses it for vocals
SPL and mic types philosophy

1) Improve Your Guitar Sound- Consider the Pick

In this clip, Chris Baseford talks pick philosophy. Tune in to learn how the pick influences the guitar sound, and for a tip on quickly analyzing the pick sound.

2) Improve Your Vocal Tracking Setup with Advice from Chris Baseford

In this clip, Chris Baseford walks us through a vocal mic setup. Watch this video to hear a discussion of the 3 mics he selected for our vocal mic shootout, what to expect from each, and some other details on what he set up for the vocalist.

3) Chris Baseford’s Multi-Mono Tracking Workflow

In this clip, Chris Baseford explains why and how he uses stereo tracks for his workflow. Check it out to learn how and why he does this, as well as which plugin he uses to do so.