This is a great opportunity to combine cut/paste with comping. For example if the chorus in one part of the song had a great drum/bass groove, copy that for the other chorus, then comp the vocals, guitars, or whatever to it. Even though there are two copied parts, they’ll sound different because of the comped overdubs. Comping takes the pressure off: Go ahead, try to hit that high note you normally miss, add an extra layer of emotion to the end of a phrase…take chances. You just might come up with some great, unexpected element that makes the track shine – but if you don’t, you have the security of knowing those other takes are available.
- You just recorded the best guitar solo since Eruption, but you bent the last note just a little bit too far, and your vibrato was rather weak. Play another take, focusing on your vibrato and perfecting that final bend. Blend the best parts of each take, then bask in your shredding glory.
Whatever your approach to music, comping is almost always going to be a part of your editing workflow, and you should never be intimidated by it. The ability to view Take Lanes side-by-side and perform edits with a single click of the mouse will provide you with the confidence and speed to do it, and do it right.
Comping Dos and Don’ts
DO listen to the edits you’ve made for continuity. If the singer sang right into the mic on one take but at an angle on another take, there may be a timbral mismatch.
DON’T overthink it. Remember, a song tells a story. If you chop it up into too many pieces, the story may be “perfect” but lose some of the emotional impact. Perfection isn’t everything, it’s one thing.
DO solo the final comped version and listen all the way through on headphones to catch any glitches, splice problems, or other gremlins that can creep into the process. Sometimes, edits can introduce noises, particularly where the clips intersect. A quick (~5ms) crossfade can usually tame these issues.
DON’T think you can comp a bad part into being a good one. If it takes a long time to do the comping, try re-recording the part. Hey, you have enough tracks!
DO try to do your comping in one session. It will be much easier to maintain a consistent tone and vibe among the various takes.
DON’T do a zillion takes–you’re just going to have to sort through them. Do a half-dozen takes or so. If you didn’t nail it with those parts, erase them and re-record new takes.
DO take notes when you’re recording (and don’t forget SONAR has multiple places where you can add notes). Writing it down now can save you from having to waste time searching for the right take later.
DON’T be afraid to commit. Once you’ve decided that you have a good comped part, bounce it and jettison the rest. You don’t need all that clutter and besides–if you played it once, you can play it again.