Other Room Recording Tips That Will Work Like A Charm

By Mark Grove

With Dee Curtis

While reading an interview on recording with Daniel Lanois in a back issue of a major music publication, Daniel said something about recording amps and mics in another room while playing in another room. That made me think, I should do a small piece on that for Canadian Guitar Player online.


Next, I asked Dee Curtis who's a consultant to Canadian Guitar Player, and a Detroit based musician about recording amps and what Lanois was getting at. The interview in question had to do with recording a guitar track with one amp in the main room where you're playing, and having another amp set up in the hall or adjacent room.

Dee automatically knew why the second amp was being used. Dee said..."First of all, you use the amp that's in the room with you as a reference monitor only.

Now,in order to track the amp in the other room you need to split the signal. Me being the recording for dummies person I am--I asked Dee if you could just use a cable plugged into the amp going to a console,and record it separately from the one in the main room. Dee replied that you need a splitter box so you can split the signal.


Isolation amp: You use the amp in the other room to isolate the sound because there is no sound, and it prevents other instrumental or vocal sounds from bleeding through into other tracks. This also makes it easier to record a cleaner track without having to do major edits.

This is like having your own make-shift isolation booth. Make sure you have both amps miked and set up properly.You may have to experiment with Mic distance and placement. You can either have the mic set up to point straight to the center of the speaker or just off set a little.


You can also place the mic behind or in front of the amp. This a bare bones way to improvise when recording,without having to buy expensive boards or digital recording equipment.


Mark Grove :http://canadianguitarplayer.blogspot.com


Dee Curtis Music Consultant and Canadian Blues artist:deecurtis@rock.com

Why Your Band Should Record Your Rehearsals--Or Become The Bands Who Do Nothing

Why you should Record Your Practices

Mark Grove

Yeah, this is a re-post but very important. Or you can totally ignore it thinking it's total bullshit and go back to
being a do nothing musician.The best musicians, athletes, actors and painters are the best because they practice and record it for bloody posterity so they have something to refer back to.

Okay, pro athletes see how they're doing during game films and practice, why shouldn't Musicians?
Yeah, I know guys who don't practice but most of you need to. Hell, I need to practice writing everyday.
I even look at ads in magazines and re-engineer them and give them a new twist.

Most musicians, even the best ones can't get away without practicing.

Makes sense doesn't it. Yes it does.

Here's the reason. By recording your practices you get an idea not just of how you're doing, but how everyone else is as well. Make copies and have the others in your band follow suit. If you're the frontman and the rest of the band says no to doing this, I would think very hard about keeping people in your band who won't follow suit.

That's not to be a bad guy, but so your other players get better.

Don't just record your set list songs. Take some of the songs you just jam to as well and see how everyone is doing. I know some of you are thinking, forget that bull-shit! I don't have time to do all that.

Well, you won't be a musician for very long. Yeah, I'm a jerk. You're now saying, Shutttt Up!

You should do this on a regular basis. Not just when your band's playing like crap during shows. Dickie Betts the great guitarist for The Allman Brothers once said, and I'm paraphrasing, for every 5 shows we play it takes months of practice.

Along with recording your practices, you get an idea how well your own tone is and if your gear is being set up properly before playing.You'll also get an idea of whether or not you need to rehearse certain gig tracks, and if you're screwing up certain parts.

This takes a lot of time of very boring study and practice. It's not all fun and games just jamming and playing original tunes just good enough. Ask some of the best bands you know whether they record their practice sessions.

If they don't, they should. And so should you. Big industry people will know if you actually take the time to get better through practice, jams and playing with other players.

Yeah, you want to have fun being a musician, but you also need to have due diligence on certain things like being the best you can at your instrument. Also, take notes on what songs whether original or covers you need to work on.

Always keep notes you can refer back to, that way you know what you need to work on and when to just forge ahead on new material.

Peace and success to all players.

Mark G

Keith Richards Talks About The Stones And The Importance Of Touring in 1974

Interesting little interview with Keith talking about his work with the Stones and Sideman Ronnie Wood. Keith also talks about touring and how it becomes what a band is all about no matter if you're playing small clubs or giant stadiums.

Peace and Success to all Players.

Mark G