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We threw down three takes of "Inner Circle" Friday night. Jeff's back has been killing him lately, so we told him we'd skip tonight if he wanted, but he insisted. Overall, it went pretty well, and we're quite happy with the takes.
The funny thing happened the next day. I distributed three rough mixdowns to D so he could tell me which one he liked best for the final bed track. His answer:
"I’m thinking that take 3 is actually the best performance. BUT it’s a difficult call because not only were the other takes really tasty, but the mix on takes 1 and 2 REALLY speak to me. I don’t know what you took away, mix-wise for track 3, but I need it back."
Of course, I changed nothing in the mix between takes 2 and 3. I dialed in a rough mix for take 1, and I didn't change the position of a single knob or fader for the subsequent bounces, nor did we change any settings during recording. The sole difference, what D hears as a mix difference, is the quality of the performance. That's it.
I heard it, too--the drums in take 2 are played with a hell of a lot more attitude and authority than take 3. The difference is not subtle. It's also not something you can really make up for at mixdown.
My guess is that Jeff's back pain was wearing him down by the time we did take 3. I'm glad for his sake we didn't need a take 4.
That was the last bed track! Now we have a shitload of overdubs to do and vocals to schedule.
The funny thing happened the next day. I distributed three rough mixdowns to D so he could tell me which one he liked best for the final bed track. His answer:
"I’m thinking that take 3 is actually the best performance. BUT it’s a difficult call because not only were the other takes really tasty, but the mix on takes 1 and 2 REALLY speak to me. I don’t know what you took away, mix-wise for track 3, but I need it back."
Of course, I changed nothing in the mix between takes 2 and 3. I dialed in a rough mix for take 1, and I didn't change the position of a single knob or fader for the subsequent bounces, nor did we change any settings during recording. The sole difference, what D hears as a mix difference, is the quality of the performance. That's it.
I heard it, too--the drums in take 2 are played with a hell of a lot more attitude and authority than take 3. The difference is not subtle. It's also not something you can really make up for at mixdown.
My guess is that Jeff's back pain was wearing him down by the time we did take 3. I'm glad for his sake we didn't need a take 4.
That was the last bed track! Now we have a shitload of overdubs to do and vocals to schedule.
