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Any help with this please?
I just did some very raw recording straight into the iphone mic using the voice recorder as I wanted to put myself on the spot and play some short riffs/licks etc as I have never played myself back. I don't have any other recording facilities yet, however the results from the guitar and amp were surprisingly clear.
It was incredibly difficult to get riffs/licks/Song Parts right that I've played a 10000000 times, it was like on the moment of pressing the button to record, I felt like I was on the Starting Blocks of the 100m Final.
As for the BREATHING, I noticed I sounded like a Nuisance Caller, my breathing was erratic taking deep breaths and sort of holding my breath.
It kind of put me off a bit to how I will react Live if I get into a Band as I can play the stuff I wanted to record very easily and I did it in the end but it was how nervous I was at recording it, it's not like someone was watching me.
:-(
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Playing live and recording are two very different beasts went it comes to nerves.
Playing live makes most musicians nervous but has two main differences to recording nerves which you are conscious of even if not aware -
Firstly you are usually not alone. If you're in a band not only have you got moral support, but you do not feel so exposed. We have worked with plenty of bands who come out with the stock 'We want to play together to capture our live vibe.'. Whilst that can be true, virtually all polished recordings require overdubs. It's when you come to the overdub stage you realise the desire to record as one unit was far more about being exposed. You isolate the guitarist from the band and suddenly his fluffing two note riffs. The singer just cannot get in the zone. The drummer is struggling because he conscious that my ears and eyes are only on him.
The second reason which is intertwined with the first is the knowledge that this will be played back. A lot of live performance nerves are tackled with a 'let's just get through this' push. When you get through a gig, good or bad, you get to the end and think 'Phew, we got through it.'. You may have dropped a note here but the chances are your band mates were busy in their own part and the crowd we just loving that atmosphere. In the studio you hit rewind and the band, and more so you, get to here every misplaced squeak and fart. It really is under the microscope time.
By and large I find solo performers take to recording far quicker that those used to being in a group as they are accustomed to being the absolute focus.
Like anything it takes practice. For some, playing live and recording become easier and for others you become more confident in your ability to cope with the nerves you feel.
With specific regards to breathing when recording, the key is do not rush yourself. When a lot of people record themselves they hit record then give themselves two bars to get comfortable before playing. Digital memory cost nothing so hit recording with a really good count in and give yourself plenty of time to not only get comfortable with your guitar, make sure your sat comfortably of you feet are positioned well if standing and the take a moment to get your breathing under control.
when you record something its there forever unless you edit it ...so you will probably find yourself more self critical ...any little things in your playing.. note choice ..tone ..timing..ect will become really obvious..because you will listen back and be more critical in what you hear, so thats got to be a good thing ...and thats for a player of any level
on playing live its not as critical cos when you play you dont have to listen back so any bad note choices...timing ..ect is gone a soon as you have played it but both things are as important as each other..
so its very healthy to be self critical because it makes you aware and makes you want to do better next time ....i think as far as being nervous when you record, you will get more comfortable the more you do it ...same as you will playing in the band...
@ChrisMusic
@monquixote
@randomhandclaps
@Barney
Thanks a lot for your help. I did read every word of your posts. I think I probably picked the worst way to record something even though it was just for curiosity more than anything.
I was involved in a Band back in 1994 and we did do 2 days recording a Demo Tape back then and I enjoyed it a great deal. It did make a hell of a difference having the tracks (Bass, Drums) to keep time with and I think I didn't have to do too many retakes ;-)
I know what you're saying about overdubs and stuff, you can just layer so many things in the Studio. If there is a Guitar fill your struggling to get right I suppose you could just keep the "Tape" rolling until you get it right then splice that bit out (bit of cheating etc).
Listening back, I realised I was playing the stuff too fast and Like Chris said, it's probably the Adrenaline doing that. I'll just have to overcome that through time. I'll have plenty of practice once I get my UX1 and stuff rolling.
Thanks again.
when recording, a good trick to get in the zone is loop record:
record through once, knowing that's not your only attempt, then the recorder starts again at the start without a pause, so you go straight back in without dwelling on it - run it through 2-5 times
Since you didn't think the first take was "the one", you will usually relax more during it, second take is usually nice and relaxed.
Eventually you need to listen to the takes.
This will need dedicated recording software, Reaper, Protools, Logic, etc
btw there are some 4 track and 8 track recording apps on the iphone & ipad worth trying - but they are limited
@ToneControl
Thanks, I will be getting a Line 6 ux1 soon so there maybe something similar on the recording software that comes with that? or I can try one of those instead if they are compatible.