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THE PROCESS OF TRACKING AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRACKING AND MIXING @ RELOAD STUDIOS
There is a big difference between tracking and mixing. The process of tracking is simply this....record a scratch track to a metronome, record drums to a metronome, edit drums with beat detective to make all drums perfectly on time, once drum editing is done...record bass in sections to get good takes, record guitar in sections to get good takes, then last but not least record vocals . I have a few different ways of doing vocals. If the singing is straight forward like rock or metal, then i just get good takes and have the singer double everything that they do. If im trying to capture a good performance, like a female voice, i will do numerous takes and comp the vocals by choosing the best takes and putting together a great performance. This is the process of tracking @ Reload Studios.
To do this process the right way and most professionally, i suggest 1 DAY to track 1 SONG. If more than 1 song is to be tracked in one day, then i need to cut corners, like drum editing, getting the best takes, vocal comping etc. I do not suggest tracking more than 1 song a day. If the band is paid up for tracking, then i will give the band a rough mix to leave with. What they hear on the rough mix is the tracking hours that they paid for. All other editing, drum replacing, mixing, automation, and mastering IS NOT INCLUDED IN TRACKING HOURS and will be done post, after the band has left the studio and after the band has paid for mixing days.
THE PROCESS OF MIXING @ RELOAD STUDIOS
The band must book the studio for Mixing. They do not have to be present for mixing but they still have to pay for studio time.
Mixing consists of drum replacing, all other editing, Compression, EQ, Levels, Automation (flying fader), Effects (reverb, delays) and Sound Design (reverse, 808 drops, telephone vocal effect).
To do all this and give the band a "National Record" quality mix, i suggest to book 1 DAY to mix 1 SONG. If more than 1 song is to be mixed in one day, then i have to cut corners, such as no automation, very little eq, no sound design, and just a mix with decent levels.
After the band is happy with their mixes that i have sent to them (via internet, post or in person) then i can master the tracks. I can usually master up to 10 songs in one 10 hour day. So i would say and average of 1 hour a song.
I am aware that not all bands/artists work to the same format, for instance, a seven piece band would take longer to track and mix than, say, a solo artist with just an acoustic guitar. My eye isn't just on the clock. I'm all about the tunes, the production, the song. The above is just a rule of thumb I work to to ensure that all my artists leave the studio, happy, and with a damn good master in their possession they can be proud of.
Pad @ Reload (April 2009)
