Tracking a band with shifting time signatures?
Tracking a band with shifting time signatures?
Hey guys,
So I'm tracking this band, and they want to record their performances as a full band. But they also want me to go back and nip, tuck, and edit. I figure it'll easier for me to do that if they record to a click. However, some of their songs shift time signature in the middle of the song. How would I account for that when tracking in Ableton, especially if the click needs to alter at a certain moment? Is there some automation I can record? Please let me know. I'm on Suite 7.
So I'm tracking this band, and they want to record their performances as a full band. But they also want me to go back and nip, tuck, and edit. I figure it'll easier for me to do that if they record to a click. However, some of their songs shift time signature in the middle of the song. How would I account for that when tracking in Ableton, especially if the click needs to alter at a certain moment? Is there some automation I can record? Please let me know. I'm on Suite 7.
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Re: Tracking a band with shifting time signatures?
You can define time signatures in Live (hover the mouse at the top of the arrangement window>'Insert Time Signature').
I like to ask the band for a rough diagram of the such changes so I can be ready ahead of time. You might have to futz with the Tempo at the point of the signature change to get an even transition - I was recording a song for a friend that went from 4/4 to 6/8 in the middle, and the tempo of the 6/8 section had to be raised quite a bit to get the right feel moving from the 4/4 section.
I like to ask the band for a rough diagram of the such changes so I can be ready ahead of time. You might have to futz with the Tempo at the point of the signature change to get an even transition - I was recording a song for a friend that went from 4/4 to 6/8 in the middle, and the tempo of the 6/8 section had to be raised quite a bit to get the right feel moving from the 4/4 section.
the_planet wrote:Trap music is not supported in the current version.
Re: Tracking a band with shifting time signatures?
Is the "insert time signature" thing something I can do in advance? Would I have to do it live? Can I automate it so it jumps up or down a certain number of BPM at the shift?
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Re: Tracking a band with shifting time signatures?
Punky921 wrote:Is the "insert time signature" thing something I can do in advance? Would I have to do it live? Can I automate it so it jumps up or down a certain number of BPM at the shift?
Yeah, you'd have to do the initial set up in advance. That's why I'd ask them for a rough idea of how the song is structured - 32 bar intro in 4/4 @ X bpm, 16 bar verses in 4/4 @ X bpm, 6/8 Chorus @ X bpm, etc. But once the time signature locators are set up, you can automate the tempo changes so it flows smoothly start to finish.
the_planet wrote:Trap music is not supported in the current version.
Re: Tracking a band with shifting time signatures?
Awesome. Thank you. I'll give this a shot.
When I ask them this question, they will literally shit their pants. They NEVER think about their songs that way.
When I ask them this question, they will literally shit their pants. They NEVER think about their songs that way.
Re: Tracking a band with shifting time signatures?
^ sounds familiar
"time signature?? what do you mean, help? all you're doing is hitting record and CDs and record sales should just happen automatically dammit!"
or...
"if i had a computer and all this software, i'd have that done by now"
i think you said in another thread (about this same band) something along the lines of... "i'm glad this isn't my full time job". uh huh.
"time signature?? what do you mean, help? all you're doing is hitting record and CDs and record sales should just happen automatically dammit!"
or...
"if i had a computer and all this software, i'd have that done by now"
i think you said in another thread (about this same band) something along the lines of... "i'm glad this isn't my full time job". uh huh.
Re: Tracking a band with shifting time signatures?
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. The process has been... interesting to say the least.
I could do with about 100% less bickering, and 100% more "Doing whatever the fuck I TELL YOU TO."
I could do with about 100% less bickering, and 100% more "Doing whatever the fuck I TELL YOU TO."
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Re: Tracking a band with shifting time signatures?
My old band had a song that shifted between 3/4, 4/4, and 5/4. I didn't know how to insert time signature changes into the programme I used to record it (or if it could), so I just tracked it to a 1/4 click.
That probably was the same tempo in a sense, just 4th note triplets so the same distance between the 1 and 3 beats but subdivided into three instead of two.Matt_Quinn wrote:I was recording a song for a friend that went from 4/4 to 6/8 in the middle, and the tempo of the 6/8 section had to be raised quite a bit to get the right feel moving from the 4/4 section.
Suit #1: I mean, have you got any insight as to why a bright boy like this would jeopardize the lives of millions?
Suit #2: No, sir, he says he does this sort of thing for fun.
Suit #2: No, sir, he says he does this sort of thing for fun.
Re: Tracking a band with shifting time signatures?
yeah, I would do what NTP says -> record to a 1/4 click and ignore the bars, then afterwards when every other bastard has gone away find the sig changes, insert them and drag them to position.
In fact I don't tend to use the actual metronome bleep-bloop , I use a custom drum hit sound on a dedicated track because it's easier to alter it for monitoring. Change the sound, etc.
In fact I don't tend to use the actual metronome bleep-bloop , I use a custom drum hit sound on a dedicated track because it's easier to alter it for monitoring. Change the sound, etc.