How do I record music, multiple instruments, all by myself and still keep in sync?

Question

I am a solo musician and I write/record music usually for a full-band style setup (drums,bass,guitar,piano etc).

I am not exactly a beginner, have recorded before and study Production at university but as for solo recording I could not find anything that suggests any tips on solo recording for multiple instruments/multitracking.

Is it correct that I should be recording a Guide Track? What does a guide track usually consist of? In the past I have recorded Solo Piano track, then recorded everything else starting from the drums and redo-ing the piano track later on... although this method is good I sometimes miss cues, can't hear the piano loud enough, and end up missing a beat now and then, and I'm sick of having to edit it on the computer to get it in sync.

So basically, I need some tips on recording Guide Tracks and other methods...

thanks :)

Answer 1

Download a program... If you've got a mac computer use Garage Band it's awesome.. You could use Mixcraft, TweakHeadz, Audacity.. etc



When play the solo, I suggest you lower its pitch because then your computer wouldn't be able to comprehend the sound level, thus recording it as noise, just lower the sound of the amp while playing the solo and when on the computer/program adding all the recordings together, you can adjust the volume and pauses of each instrument's recording..





Get headphones and play in sync.. I think first you should record the bass and drums because, since you're a musician, you know that you should follow them for the beat.. or you could just record the bass as a start then "build" over it and do the rest..





"A guide track or ghost track is a recorded selection of music or song used as an aid in sound recording, filmmaking and performance. It is closely related to the click track, and the two are typically used in conjunction"..."they may contain simplified arrangements" - Wikipedia





You can also use:

http://www.mediawebsource.com/home_recording_tips.htm

Answer 2

I'm not sure if this will help you or not, but what the Hell? I do almost everything by myself these days. I am not a drummer and either use a metronome or online drum program.



I keep my rhythm guitar real tight with the snare drum, make the lead guitar fit that and then the bass. After that it's just making the vocals fit.



It's really easy to stay in time when it's just you and songs that you have written. It's a lot harder to get other people to play them the way that you wrote them.

Answer 3

If you really don't want to use an editor then about the only way to do it is to play in time to a metronome.