Recording Dillema

i like the look of this one. it seems to make the best use of your current strengths

If this fails, go with a professional recording, and you won't be out of anything other than time.

All analog bias aside, individually recording tracks to cubase is your best bet.

Another option, if your man has good ears and isn't afraid to research and mess around, is renting equipment. A good friend of mine rented a top notch Manley compressor when he mixed his home-recorded album, and he managed to make a great-sounding record just by taking his time, reading a lot about compression and using his ears. I'd definitely say he's got a natural talent in the ear department, but it sounds like you've got that covered too, so it's always an option to rent. Just be aware that if none of you know much about it, it will take you a little longer to dial in what you're looking for with a compressor. They are a little odd conceptually to get used to, and good ears help a ton. But no matter how you slice it, it's not like a compressor is a rocketship. You don't have to go to school for years to grasp the concept and turn the dials until you hear what you want.

Another friend's Cuban jazz band went in and cut basic tracks in a nice studio in a couple days, then took it home to take time mixing it and doing overdubs.

I prefer the former method 'cause I don't like high-pressure recording situations, but they both have their good points. I guess it depends how your band works best and whether or not you have someone that can mix.

i've done both. drums are the only instrument that absolutely MUST be tracked somewhere decent or you'll regret it later.

by somewhere decent i mean

1. a room with nice reflections - reflections that suit the track - this can be a shed if the sound's right

2. separate mics + desk + multitracker - ask around, beg borrow steal, couple of sm58's off matey, so and so got a tube condenser etc. hire a 16 channel desk in - you'll need 6 tracks min for drum parts plus you're gonna want to track bass/guide guitar with it even DI'd as a refernce.

gotta go - back later....

i'd think the only time you could ever record drums decently was with a superb drummer who didnt play loudly or dynamically.

so i would advise recording the drums at a studio, as well as some bass to go along with it (but dont waste time on the bass), go back and record everything else yourself, you should be able to get decent sounds if you have good mics and that bandmate with the ears, then try mixing it yourself, see how it works.

there, I said it.

sorry

(joek)

I have and recommend it. Having all the time you want to edit and mix tracks really counts. You can take advantage of your in-band engineer's compressors and stuff without having to worry about the learning curve. It's easier to do vocal overdubs outside of a "pro" studio than it is to do drums.

(these first two are both in the $5-1000 a day category)

if you've got some cash to work with, Bryce Goggin has his NICE Trout Recording in brooklyn: http://www.troutrecording.com/ - he wrote me back about mixing my record one time, and he's a nice guy, but budget wise, a little out of my league. he _has_ done huge records for like, Pavement and Phish. Vintage Neve desk.

another room that looks cool as hell is Cowboy Technical Services, also in brooklyn - http://www.ericambel.com/CTS-Home.htm - it's kinda like an open-loft studio layout, so theres a much more relaxed feel as you sit on a couch and do yr guitar overdubs. he's got a really good guitar collection, a really good amp collection, and nice vintage drums including a 26" 'bonham special' kick. nice selection of old recording stuff too, including a Fairchild limiter.

ok, the next three are in the 3-400 a day category.

a studio that i think i'm going to hit up for my next record is the Seaside Lounge, yet again in brooklyn- Park Slope. http://www.seasidelounge.com/ - a VERY homey feel but still with a big space vibe to it. some really solid gear as well, they have a 2" 16-track machine that used to belong to Eddie Van Halen, API/Tele preamps, a Vistalite drumkit, etc. i haven't emailed or whatever with these guys but i'm psyched to work there in the future.

probably one of the best deals in Manhattan is Tone Float - http://www.tonefloatrecording.com - a pretty small space i would think, but it seems to have some nice stuff- a 2" machine, vintage Neumann mic, RCA Ribbon, some 70s API pres, Tele tube pres, etc. nice assortment of offbeat vintage guitars and amps- 63 SG Jr, Univox 4001 bass copy with built in fuzz, Supro/Magnatone/Traynor/Sunn amps, etc.
they used to be around $250-300 a day, but that might be old news.

i've been working on my current 'record' at Chumbuckets Studio- http://www.chumbucketstudios.com/ - Brian, owner/engineer, knows his shit when it comes to Punk/Rock stuff. he's got a nice Otari 2" deck, nice Trident pres, a Fatso, Distressor, and I think he's completely mastered dynamic mics. he recently moved to New Brunswick, when I started recording there a good portion of my logic was that he can drum on my stuff, which he did excellently, and that it was like 15 mins from my house, which made all the different in the world. he's around $300-350 a day.

hope that helps!

http://www.cowboytechnical.com/

$750 per day incl engineer and use of house analog reel.

ugh, i just spent an hour recording drums and percussion for a track, but i haven't recorded live into cubase for awhile (mostly use samples and record keyboards & bass direct) and my buss setup was fucked up. so now i'm building up the motivation to redo it all. ;_;

(eh it didn't actually take very long to re-record, and it's always easier to do it the second time anyway)