Recording of the metal band Elessar

Unusually when multi tracking recording of the guitars was undertaken first, due to the bands drummers work commitments and my availability. The recording was initially started in the biggest studio in Markeaton st with baffles used infront and behind the quitar cabinet, to reduce the chance of indirect reflected signals being recorded. The cab was a 4 X 12, so using multiple mics on either side of the cab was not an issue, which meant more room and more time could be taken setting them up. Initally the set up was a AKG 414 about 30 cms away from the centre of the driver on axis. A Neumman U87 next to the cab just off centre. A Shure SM57 off Axis on the driver and a Blue Baby Bottle off axis about 15 cms away from the driver. The desired tone was then found and the recording began.

For the purpose of continuity throughout the recordings the same tone and set up was used for both tracks. So the recording process meant that each guitar part was recording for one guitarist on both tracks.
Between these tracks Chris and I swapped seats as to who was at the control surface and recording each track so the work load was specific to the person.

After recording both tracks for one guitarist we then finished and moved rooms to a smaller room to continue recording the second guitarist, upon starting the recording, with only two mics the Rode NT3 and AKG we realised the tone we had and quality of recording was much better than that of the previous recording session. So we went about re recording both guitar parts and the extra guitar parts the band wanted changing the tone in between all of the different parts. By the end of this recording session all of the guitars were finished recording and edited to the different one channel parts, ready for mixing and the other Instruments.