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How to Simulate Full Band Sound?

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jacksimmons:
This is another one for all you godly producers out there: Once I have put out my 80s-esque synth-pop album I will be working with my old writing partner and recording an album as our 'band'. The only rub is there is no band - just me and him - so most of the instruments will be MIDI. I really want to simulate a full band sound as much as possible and was wondering if anyone has any tips and tricks on how to do this? I want our album to sound like an indie band actually playing as opposed to something that's been chucked together in the bedroom studio.

pompeyjazz:
Hi Jack, I'm certainly no expert and I must say that I'm always impressed by your production.

For what it's worth I would try the following if possible....

I would try and keep the guitar and bass parts non-midi if you can, midi is fabulous, I use it a lot but for me there's something that you can't quite replicate especially with guitar.

As you're going for an Indie sound I would look at layering / duplicating your guitar parts. For example, I often have a guitar part panned at "ten to" and then re-record the same part and pan it to "ten past" I might use a Marshall amp sim on one guitar and a Vox amp sim on the other.

Beef up the guitar by playing a track of 5ths and / or some power chords. You can hide them slightly in the mix but it will beef up the overall sound.

Give your vocs some serious welly. You are a fantastic vocalist anyway. Try double tracking vocs as well.

Don't get hung up by quantizing - Sure, you need it more or less there but for me 100% quantizing seems to have a rather clinical feel !

Anyway, as I say, I'm no expert but just some of the tips I have learned along the way  :)

Skub:
Yo Jack.

Pomps speaks true on the guitar and bass. If you can use real instruments for those parts,you'll get away with murder on the others. The world is falling down with guitar players,so you shouldn't have bother getting one!

I use the same trick as John on the panning of guitars and I think it works best if you play both parts,rather than using the same track twice,it give a real live feel.

I was at a gig with Aussie rocker Jimmy Barnes last year and he had a guitar player on each side of the stage,both playing almost the same,but not exactly...it was devastatingly effective.

Sorry to use one of my own tracks as an example,but it was inspired by that gig and it's all I could think of.

You only need to listen to the first 20 seconds. The first 10 seconds has guitar playing a simple riff panned left,then joined by the second guitar panned right. Hopefully you'll see what John and I mean.

https://soundcloud.com/skub1955/pay-it-back

Cawproductions:
Hi Jack

As you know AtticVibes is just myself and Mikey,
We always go for that full band sound, Double tracked guitars, Realistic drums, although digital drums can work if layered and engineered correctly.

Layered vocals also help, harmonies panned and doubled. Most of our tracks have around 10 lanes of vocals takes..

We play all instruments except part drums and keys.

Arranging is important, try and imagine the parts actually being played..and the position of each player.

Also get a great mix, compression, EQ, mastering etc.

Hope this helps
Andy

AtticVibes

PaulAds:
Great advice from the boys...

A while back, I tried doing it from a different perspective. My logic was that my band is just 1 guitar/bass/drums and vocals, so that's all I'd use.

I wanted to try getting a live band feel for a few songs as I always prefer that kind of sound, rather than the safer and more sanitised versions I usually end up with. I basically just stripped out the other instruments, leaving only 1 guitar, bass and a no harmonies (unless there is another vocalist or you can do an impression of somebody else). I figured it was the drums that had the most impact on the overall "safe" sound, so I played the drums myself to get more of a live (shambolic) feel and used the "bluebird" kit in GarageBand which I think sounded most like a live drummer. I then probably ruined it with the iPhone "live tunes" app which adds too much reverb and audience racket. the results are here if you want to hear the error of my ways. Some songs worked better than others...I intended to do a whole album, but lost interest  :P To be honest, I think I just made this EP pastiche of the idea, as I couldn't do it properly!


You're a great writer and singer...and I'm sure you'll do a great job...although I think that it'll be strange to do it without folks playing yer actual guitars...

Good luck, though...I'll be looking forward to hearing it.

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