I’ve been experimenting with a new recording technique. Basically I’m trying to make the most of my gear. I’m sure I could eliminate giant chunks of time by using a better process, but this seems to be working at the moment.
I mic my harmonium using my brother’s bass drum mic. The mic is plugged into a mixer along with guitar. The guitar is not directly plugged into the mixer though. It is first plugged into my Boss BR 600 (for the effects) which is then connected to the mixer. Finally the mixer is plugged into my Loop Station.
I loop layers of harmonium at different volumes with different EQ to maximize richness. In a sense I use the mixer as an instrument by constantly moving faders and turning EQ knobs. Then I add in reverb-drenched guitar. I don’t play riffs. I just layer individual notes in hopes that an melody is eventually created by chance. Working this way keeps the guitar very abstract. I’m heavily inspired by Fennesz and Robert Fripp.
Once I’m satisfied with the loop, I disconnect it from the mixer and record it into my BR 600 using the guitar input. Then I plug my ipad into the BR 600 and “decorate” the loop with field recordings, granular noises, and glitchy synth stuff. Finally I export the loop and decorative tracks into Audition where it’s all polished up.
fahad baseer 