I CONJUR YE , 80s GURUs !

[Shredragrammaton]

Hey dudes




So ive been rocking away recording at home for a while now. I was hoping some of yous 80s legends on here, could give me some hint on how to get that 80s production sound.

Im running cakewalk sonar 8 preoducer edition , 2 alesis mk1 mk2s.

New charvel > ISP Decimator > ADA 3TM > G major > mesa 2:90 > Mesa rectifier 2x12

When recording i dropout the 2:90 and cab and use a ADA Microcab to go direct.

My question isssss , HOW DO I GET THAT RICH 80s SOUND !? With all this equipment , im getting some excellent sounds , ala www.myspace.com/esotericdawn - yet i still cant get that 80s sound.

I know a lot of it is down to you composing and playing technique, buit i dont find the problem coming from there, its getting the actual tones - For example , checkout the intro clip on this youtube vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H7Lb...eature=related that guitar sound i cannot get , and the general big reverbed sound , compression techniques etc. I use Addictive Drums , but in a way dont know what im looking for to get the 80s drumsound...

Anyone with ANY input is welcomed , if you suggest technoques i can use on my computer, or actual hardware compressors etc , i need to knowwwww

[IbanezFreak777]

As far as getting an 80's guitar sound, I suggest sticking to getting your tone right on your effects and amp. Once you do that, your recording will capture that..

Emulating a style can be difficult, and your sometimes better just trying to find your own sound and style, and if your influneced by the 80's hair metal days, that will just naturally shine through in your playing and recordings...

writing your own music, can be a real difficult experience and its all experimenting. Write one song, then write another and keep doing this each time trying to build on your last experience and always trying to reach for that elusive sound that your brain is after..

good luck

www.myspace.com/myguitarsalive

[Hub]

I think the guitars sound very 80s But the drumsound needs change, I don't know how addictive drums work, but you need to have the snare on a separate channel in order to get the right powerful 80s reverb sound out of it. And the bassdrum needs to be toned down, when the beat comes in, it mutes the rest... overall the mix just needs to be opened up a bit.

Don't know if any of my randomness here will help but, there you go

[racerevlon]

Hughes & Kettner Red Box DI--Was the standard back in the day. Plug your chain into that and then the DI into your recording interface.

[rty13ibz98]

tons of mids help, too.

sm57 into a neve styled preamp is good, too.

usually a hopped up marshall like a jcm800 or the ada mp-1 was pretty much a staple of the 80's.
really bad 80's tone? grab up on a crate excalibur head...


rich

[SilverEra]

Marshall amps. And Marshall cabs.
And Marshall Hairspray.

[jemaholic]

Grasshopper - you will need the following items to attain your 80's goal:

Ibanez,Charverl or Jackson guitar with graphics (must be pointy) into a MXR distortion-plus into a full JCM800 stack- mic'd with an SM57.

Simmons electronic double bass drum kit on a 24" riser.

3 Prophet 5 synthisizers and a Mini Moog.

Steinburger bass into a bi-amped rack with 15's and 10's -mic'd.

Terrycloth wristbands, purple snakeskin spandex leggings with chrome sneakers, tons of cheap necklaces, rouge, lipstick, 4 bottles of Aquanet hairspray and a Member's Only jacket....

With these exact items you will discover the secret which you seek.

[nwobhm]

Mad professor Mighty Red Distortion box....I've been playing with one for a bit, perfect for that 80's guitar tone, I've had some perfect Lynch, Jeff LaBar, Reb Beach sounds....

http://www.mpamp.com/pedal/pedals-mrd.html

[SilverEra]

Originally Posted by jemaholic

Ibanez,Charverl or Jackson guitar with graphics

If no graphics; White, Pink or Red are the solid colors of choice.

[racerevlon]

I believe you forgot the Yamaha DX7...

Originally Posted by jemaholic

Grasshopper - you will need the following items to attain your 80's goal:

Ibanez,Charverl or Jackson guitar with graphics (must be pointy) into a MXR distortion-plus into a full JCM800 stack- mic'd with an SM57.

Simmons electronic double bass drum kit on a 24" riser.

3 Prophet 5 synthisizers and a Mini Moog.

Steinburger bass into a bi-amped rack with 15's and 10's -mic'd.

Terrycloth wristbands, purple snakeskin spandex leggings with chrome sneakers, tons of cheap necklaces, rouge, lipstick, 4 bottles of Aquanet hairspray and a Member's Only jacket....

With these exact items you will discover the secret which you seek.

[rty13ibz98]

Originally Posted by jemaholic

Simmons electronic double bass drum kit on a 24" riser.

LOL!!!

make sure they are the octagon ones, those sound the best...

[LowYaw]

yeah, those were fun times
but i just can't stand those bleached chicks and tons of make up

[nickcoumbe]

Originally Posted by LowYaw

yeah, those were fun times
but i just can't stand those bleached chicks and tons of make up

Funnily enough that was what I enjoyed the most.

[DanMeagher]

Drown all your guitar parts (played on a colourful Kramer) in reverb

[DanMeagher]

Speaking of 80's production, anyone ever listen to the first couple of Slayer albums? It sounds like it was recorded in a cathedral. I don't mean that in a good way.