Multi-track Recording

JPsuff

JPsuff

Blackstar Artist
I have Studio One 6 and I want to try doing some multi track recording starting with a basic backing track and then adding multiple guitars and such.

Any tips on how to go about that?
I'm sure there are several ways to do this and I have one way in mind and it may or may not be a good way to do it and so I'd like to hear about more (and most likely better) ways to do this.
Also, if I have multiple tracks, how can I play them back all at once so that I can mix everything properly?

These may seem like dumb questions but all I've ever done is mix one guitar with a VJR track and I'd like to venture into something more detailed and it was then that I realized how little I really know about this stuff.

Thanks in advance!
-JP
 
CaptainMoto

CaptainMoto

Blues Voyager
I’m certain we can give you some guidance but…..

From my perspective, if you can do a VJR track, building your own tracks won’t be much different.

Just begin with an existing backing track or something to set the tempo and start adding other parts until your happy.

I like to take a bottom up approach starting with drums then bass then rhythm guitars, keys and lead parts or vocals last.

I might be misinterpreting your ask here, I’ll shut up for now.

There are several YT vids out there that demonstrate recording a song start to finish .

If you give us a little bit more about your concerns , it will be easier to provide some useful recommendations

EDIT:
While was typing I see Tom provided a link , maybe that’s what you need
 
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PapaRaptor

PapaRaptor

Director of Curmudgeonry
Staff member
It really isn't much different from recording for the VJR.
If you have your backing track recorded and you have recorded one guitar, just add another track.
Click on the + sign at the top of the track timeline
AddATrack.jpg
That will open a new dialogue box. If you're going to record a guitar, select the Audio Button. Below that is information about the track. You can control all of that.
Name - (what will appear in the colored channel strip and also at the bottom of the mixer fader).
Count - Probably just one for now.
Color - Select whatever you want from the color pallette.
Below that is Format selection, mono or stereo (there are more, but not important here). Whether you use stereo or mono will depend on the gear you are recording with. If your guitar is only using one input or you are mic'ing your amp, you will likely use mono. If you are coming out of the processor, you might set it for stereo. (Processor, meaning Headrush, Helix, Tonex, or similar).
Input - will be the input on your interface you usually use.
Output will be main for 90% of uses.

A new track will appear on your screen. Arm the record button and if you use live monitoring while recording, enable it.
Set your playhead cursor to the beginning of the track or wherever you want to start recording, pickup your guitar and click the Record button.

That's it.
Lather, rinse, repeat until you have everything recorded you want.
 
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JPsuff

JPsuff

Blackstar Artist
PapaRaptor said:
In no time flat, you too can make a mess just like this!
View attachment 21870
Click to expand...
Oh I'm sure I can make that mess.
I have the basic track and I want to add two different rhythm guitars, two separate solos (each with different tonal characteristics) and one additional guitar with various accent sounds.
I have the tracks set up. They each have names and their own colors and I even made a page of notes reminding me what FX pedals I'm using on what guitar and when.
So I'm well on my way to creating the mess of which you speak.

My real problem is how to.mix that mess to make it sound like music.
I think the mixing part is more of a puzzle to me. I know from my limited experience back in the analog days that I need to have all of the sounds available and all playing at the same time so I can mix them together in a way that resembles music.
But I have no clue as to how to do that in a digital world. I hear all kinds of terms like layering and stems and stacking and a half-dozen other terms and they may as well be all in Klingon for all the sense they make to me.

I don't want to go off half-cocked with some nebulous idea of what I THINK I need to do that would end up taking weeks to figure out.
I want to learn this the right way but preferably without the doctoral program that often seems to accompany such things.
 
PapaRaptor

PapaRaptor

Director of Curmudgeonry
Staff member
JPsuff said:
Oh I'm sure I can make that mess.
I have the basic track and I want to add two different rhythm guitars, two separate solos (each with different tonal characteristics) and one additional guitar with various accent sounds.
I have the tracks set up. They each have names and their own colors and I even made a page of notes reminding me what FX pedals I'm using on what guitar and when.
So I'm well on my way to creating the mess of which you speak.

My real problem is how to.mix that mess to make it sound like music.
I think the mixing part is more of a puzzle to me. I know from my limited experience back in the analog days that I need to have all of the sounds available and all playing at the same time so I can mix them together in a way that resembles music.
But I have no clue as to how to do that in a digital world. I hear all kinds of terms like layering and stems and stacking and a half-dozen other terms and they may as well be all in Klingon for all the sense they make to me.

I don't want to go off half-cocked with some nebulous idea of what I THINK I need to do that would end up taking weeks to figure out.
I want to learn this the right way but preferably without the doctoral program that often seems to accompany such things.
Click to expand...
I highly recommend @CaptainMoto's book for some in-depth learning.

The quick and dirty answer is put the playhead at the beginning of the song, make sure that none of the tracks are set to mute or solo, open up the mixing window and mix the components to get the sound you want. As you do this more often and get more comfortable, there's a lot more to explore, but that's the best place to start. The only caution is to make sure you aren't mixing so loud that you run into peak clipping, which you can see in your Main Fader as a little red window with some numbers in it. If that lights up while you are playing the recording, you're too hot.

Remember, the Main Fader should be at or very near 0 when you are ready to render the mixdown.
 
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