Research For The Recording Process:

Musical Elements of Composition and How I Will Record Them:

Song Structure

Song Structure is as follows

Intro: Muffled by radio static with a softly overdriven guitar on its own, representative of a large number of hardcore songs that start with rhythm guitar.

Beginning solo and verse: A clearer sound but still distinctive grain to give it an edge on the rhythm guitar track. A flanger lead guitar to give it definition and cut through the mix, rhythm guitar will be recorded first with it getting back to its more hidden tone by the time the dynamics shift after the mini solo. Bass will also be in this part and will cut through in the verse where it will play many fills and be very trebly, the verse will slowly get louder with mini crescendo with each repeat of the chord sequence, vocals with slight effects and hints of fry but overall a generally grainy sound and drums will come in as a pacer for all the instruments to follow and it will be a dragging slogging sound.

Chorus: Lead guitar will get a slightly twinkly tone and become higher in pitch and more melodic to juxtapose the harsher playing style I will introduce with the rhythm guitar having a drunken stumble as well as the bass being chugged with a pick and the drums amping up. Vocals will be generally chilled with terraced dynamics at the tail end.

Second verse: Repeat of all of the first verse with different licks on the lead guitar back to its original flangy tone.

Second chorus: Same as first chorus but with added build up for the 2 bar rest before the bridge.

Bridge: Drums very crash reliant with emphasis on the sudden quick dissonant chord changes from the rhythm guitar. Lead becomes very simple in this part to prepare for the solo. Bass plays chords to pair with the drums playing harder than ever before. Chilled vocals.

Solo: Instrumental same as the verse but with the lead taking front stage with effects to compliment the flange and no vocals.

Third chorus: Same as second with build up for climax.

Climax: Rhythm section going harder as ever, vocals screeching with slight effects and the lead takes a chromatic turn to move into the free for all noise outro.

Instrumentation

Instrumentation is as follows:

Rhythm Guitar: I will likely be using a dynamic mic such as the Shure SM-57. This will guarantee a more mysterious tone. The placement will be at the centre of the amp for a darker tone which will help the hardcore mix I will be doing. I will most likely be using an orange amp with a very muffled tone with high gain.

Lead Guitar: In contrary to the rhythm, I will be using a ribbon mic so the lead really cuts through with minimalist, yet important parts, part of this juxtaposition will be the mic placement being just off centre of the amplifier to get a warm and familiar sound and differentiate from the rhythm. Orange amp as well so the 2 guitars have slight similarities, high gain but different EQ and an abundance of effects either using pedals or add on sounds in logic.

Bass: See 'In a Jar' by Dinosaur Jr. I want this sound to cut through and give the timid verses (in comparison to the rest of the song) some real definition, the bass will be locked in with the kick as well so it gives the rhythm some extra punch. I will place a dynamic mic in the left or right centre of the amp to equalise the opposite recordings of both the guitars.

Drums: Dynamic mics for the whole kit but a ribbon mic for the room sound to give the song that 'Live feeling' and give the mix some breathing room if there is anything wrong with the mix regarding the rhythm section, especially drums. Reverb will also be added for atmosphere

Vocals: The vocals will not take front and centre to pass with the sleaze rock aesthetic, instead, like as with bands such as royal blood and the strokes, the vocals will be put through a sort of 'Loudspeaker' filter to add to the atmospheric nature of the song which is ever present for heavier indie rock vocals.

Tempo of the song is approxiametly 152 BPM.

Dynamics of the song is forte most of the time aside from the first verse where the rhythm guitar takes a break, fortisimo for the Asus2 and the Dmin noise moments.

Band:

Me - Bass, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, vox

Ashton - Drums

Barney - Producer

For the showcase:

Me - Rhythm guitar, vox

Jacob - Bass

Riley - Lead guitar

Ashton - Drums

Demo Track Display:

Unfortunately, as I was recording my demo track, I saved the logic file to the desktop of a Mac which no longer works anymore, this means it was unretrievable, however for the assignment i will list every single track and how I want to record each track which was the purpose of showing your demo work on this task.

Track 1: Rhythm Guitar

Mic to use: Shure SM-57 (or other dynamic mic).

Placed in the centre of the amp specifically an Orange guitar amp.

Possible tones and presets used will have high gain and be muffled.

Will be using a Squier Telecaster.

Track 2: Rhythm Guitar

Mic to use: Shure SM-57 (or other dynamic mic).

Placed in the centre of the amp specifically an Orange guitar amp.

Possible tones and presets used will have be a light overdrive, (I.E tube screamer).

Will be using a Squier Telecaster.

Track 3: Lead Guitar

Mic to use: Royer R10 (or other ribbon mic).

Placed just off centre of the amp specifically an Orange guitar amp.

Possible tones and presets used will have be a flanger, boost, reverb, chorus and distortion.

Will be using a Fender Jaguar or something similair.

Track 4: Bass Guitar

Will be using a Squier P-Bass or something similair.

Mic to use: Shure SM-57 (or other dynamic mic).

Placed in the left or right centre of the amp specifically an Orange bass amp.

Possible tones and presets used will have be a light overdrive, (I.E tube screamer) and fuzz.

Track 5: Drums

Tama Starclassic drum kit.

Mic to use: Shure SM-57 for individual drums (or other dynamic mic) and Royer R10 for room mic (or other ribbon mic).

Reverb and a dry sound will be used.

Track 6: Vox

Mic to use: Audio Technica 4033A.

Plugged straight into logic with no PA or amplifier

Overdriving the tube pre's on a TVLA valve desk will help get a masked and slightly distorted vocal sound.

Track 7: Backing Vox

Mic to use: Audio Technica 4033A.

Plugged straight into logic with no PA or amplifier

Overdriving the tube pre's on a TVLA valve desk will help get a masked and slightly distorted vocal sound.

Track 8: Miscellnous Vox

Mic to use: Audio Technica 4033A.

Plugged straight into logic with no PA or amplifier

Overdriving the tube pre's on a TVLA valve desk will help get a masked and slightly distorted vocal sound. However there my be multiple duplicates of this track which I don't want to be distorted therefore no manipulation needed from the mixing desk upon first recording.

Demo:

I managed last minute to find my scratch demo with only 3 tracks which gave a baseline of the tones needed for the guitar and helped me listen to how my structure has changed since I first recorded the song. With this basic guide and my plan for each track, recording should be made much easier.