new backing track online

new backing track is online

Recording at home [music production]

Recording at home

I've just finished a recording now. Any people asked me, how I record my backing tracks on my youtube channel. ok let's take a look.

1.step - find an idea

Find an idea for a new track. How do I do this you can read here.

2. step - drum recording

Often I record one or two guitar guide lines and go to our band room and record the drums. I'm not a really good drummer, so at home I edit and trigger the drums for a better sound and maybe a better drums play too ;-)

Cubase

 

 

3.step - guitar recording

I think I have my own stlye often in my backing tracks, a combination of clean and distortian guitar.
First I record the clean guitars to times...one left and one right side. When I finished the recording of the clean guitars it is time for the distortian guitars.
For the left side I always use a copy of a les paul with EMG60 and EMG81 and the right side I use a Jackson Randy Rhoads model with Seymour Duncan humbuckers - always for clean and distortian guitars.
Every side I record 3 tracks of distortian guitars and DI track like you can see on the picture. Left side 3 takes and a DI take and right side 3 takes and a DI take. So it sounds very sick, but with a good attack by the DI tracks.
But I had to practice long to play on click and excactly.

 

4.step - bass

The bass guitar: for recording I use an handmade 5 strings bass with handmade pickups. I only record a DI signal at a bass recording. I have no good bass amp, so I can modeling the DI signal later at home.

5.step - others

I often like to use noises that I recorded with a field recorder or strings. Strings I bought a little library of samples any years ago. That I play with a midi keyboard.

merry x-mas

Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Have any nice with your families and friends.

André

the right sequencer? [music production]

the right sequencer?

A lot of sequencer (DAWS) you can get these days. Pro Tools, Nuendo, Logic, Cubase, Fruity Loops, Audition, Reaper and a lot more sequencer on the market.

But what sequencer is the right for me?

First of all, there is no the right answer. With any sequencers is to find the right way to produce the best result.

I’ve tried some and decided by several factors for one. Workflow, features and the price were the aspects for me to make up my mind for Steinberg Cubase. But that’s my own view. I work many years with Cubase and have a good workflow with it. 
 

Nuendo, the “bigger version” of Cubase, also a product of Steinberg is more suitable for post-production for films, advertising spots etc. and costs a lot more money than Cubase. It’s good to handle for Cubase users and has some great features.

The two big player for a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) of a Mac are Logic and Pro Tools.

In my opinion Logic is a great tool for Recording and compose with a lot of Midi arrangements. But now I only have a PC, so Logic is out of the question for me.

Pro Tools is some of the biggest and famous sequencer. Any years ago I used it for editing audio tracks, The Tab to Transient feature was one of my favorite. And a lot I liked the summing in Pro Tools. But the pricing policy I didn’t like and the selection to use own hardware as limited this time. Today they changed a lot…but for me to late.

Any month ago I tryed Reaper. Reaper is a sequencer for little money. But it is a really good sequencer. The editing reminds me a little of the editing in samplitude ( a sequencer of the company Magix). Multitrack recording, editing etc. etc like in the other DAWs you can do. But the workflow is completely different what I know of Cubase. But you have 60 days to test it and if you like it, a licence doesn't cost much money. - Maybe a little insider tip.

I use Cubase for several years. My version is 5.5. The officiell current version of Steinberg is Cubase Pro 8. If I have enough money I will update. A many of really great feauters for editing and mixing (VCA fader etc.) updatet Steinberg with new versions. I think It's time.

I have a really fast and effective workflow Cubase. And important the systems runs without any crashs etc.

My dongle (the USB stick with the licence) now is very worn out, cause I used Cubase for a lot of recordings in live and studio sessions. So it's time for a new version for not losing the connection of the feaures and cause I need a new dongle.

conclusion

If you have the possibility, try out all you can. The most manufactures offer a testversion of over 30 days and more. Look at the features that you often need and if you can use it good. Every sequencer offers a lot of plug-ins (compressor, eq etc.) Look at this, if yo like it, the sound and the operation. 

Have fun to try out

new backing tracks

new backing tracks ?

Yesterday was the last rehearsal in this year with my band. And the next two weeks I've a little more time for new backing tracks. I got some requests from subribers of my channel and I hope I can fulfil one or two.
I will restring my guitars next days and want to record any new ideas. But I do not know if I'll publish a new track this year or in 2015. Often I have the problem that I have no good pictures for making a video for the backing tracks. And the terms for Youtube partners are very clearly that I have to be the owner of all rights for contents including all audio and video elements. Sometimes a backing track is finished, but a good picture is missing for a video. So I also have to take any new pictures for the next tracks. It's a lot to do the next weeks.

Have a nice day

André

youtube 2014

Again a succesful year on youtube draws to a close. 

Youtube got any new features this year. I like the real-time feature. The creator studio seems to be helpful. A lot of informations and other helpful services are worth a look.

My channels

About 360.000 views, more than 500 new subscibers, 1.200 thumbs up and a lot of new impressions and experienecs and new friends are a good success for me. 26 new backing tracks I published on my 2 channels. - Yes I opened a second channel this year. Sometimes I'm in mood to make songs that are not in line with my head channel.
My new channel has more backing tracks in pop / rock style, more tracks with piano and guitars, tracks like this:

So I have no trouble with my rock / metal backing track youtube channel. I think this channel will not successfull like my other, but I it's ok...I'm more a metalhead than a pop artist.

In 2013 I had have more success than this year, but I had have 2 month of this year, in wich I have published nothing. So I think that's the reason for. The analytic tool of youtube shows that very clearly (at these pics in german language). April and June where the month in wich I have published nothing and the curve (in the first picture) shows the reduction of the views.

2014

2013

So I have to publish more regular. But I only make the backing tracks on youtube only in passing and for fun. On this account it is enough success for me.

Untill now I had not the courage to be in front of camera. Maybe I will try it in 2015...we will see

pop rock backing tracks

metal and rock backing tracks

creating new song ideas

Sometimes it's so easy to find ideas for new songs.

While I was able to develop any ideas for new songs on monday, yesterday at our band rehearsal I played a few minutes guitar and booom a new song idea was born. The next days I will record this and hope I will still like it. So many guitar and bass lines I recorded and any hours later I deleted all, cause I didn't like the results.
The best way for me to get new ideas for tracks is playing, playing, playing.

The most songs I create on guitar and some on bass guitar. Often I play lines hat I like, but not convey the feeling that I have in this moment. So I discard many ideas again and again until I find the right.So I have in autumn and winter more ideas for ballads and melancholy music than in summer. And that's ok for me. Music is or me one of the most important way to express feelings.

my latest track on youtube

here is the latest track that I published on youtube.

no ctreative input today

I'm sitting here and practice any songs of Amon Amarth that we play in our band. Tomorrow we have our next rehearsal. But I like to be more creativ than cover any songs of other bands. And I've no ideas for new stuff today. I'm playing only the stuff that I know. Idon't like days like these but happens

My way to youtube

My way to youtube

 

I created my account on youtube in 2011. But I’ve only used it to consume. On 30. January 2012 I uploaded my first video. Today my channel has over 800.000 views and over 1.500 subscribers. Ok I know there are many channels with so much more views and subscribers but for me it is a great success.

Any years ago I began practice music scales to backing tracks on youtube. With a friend I had often a contest. We picked up a backing track on youtube and played our solos on these tracks. We have had 10 minutes for one solo and the best solo won.

Then I produced and recorded my own tracks to practice music scales on guitar. I collected any ideas and starded the first recordings for backing tracks.  So I might practice music scales to my own stuff – that was really cool for me. Still I practiced to backing tracks on youtube. So I thought why not I upload my backing tracks on youtube. Any friends of my said to me the tracks aren’t really good. But I wanted to try it out. What I got to lose? Maybe some people like these tracks and they help them like other tracks helped me.

The first tracks don’t get much feedback. But the feedback what I got, was really nice. And the first people said, these backing tracks are really helpful for them. Wow that was a really good feeling and I was motivated to go on this way. The first half year I produced 9 tracks for youtube and I had a few hundred clicks. And then comes track no 10, the epic metal ballad in E minor. I don’t know why, but this track is the most famous track on my youtube channel until now. Almost 500.000 views and 1800 thumbs up until now. No other track has handled this success even close on my channel. But after this track I got so much positive feedbacks that I never expected.

Although the newer tracks do not get as much attention, but there are enough people who are like and this is my motivation to go on untill now.

I'll be glad when I get the first million views. Maybe you are on of these :-)

Have a great day

André