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TheCrimsonIdol View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: How to get the 80's sound
    Posted: June 22 2010 at 08:31

I don't know if this should be posted in this part of the forum, so feel free to move it.

I play electric guitar, bass and have a programme called "EZ Drummer" to do the drum parts for me, I have recorded a few songs in the past, but I can never get the right sound that I want, I love the production on KISS albums like Crazy Nights and Lick it up, and some Motley Crue like Girls, Girls, Girls, does anyone know any effects I can add to songs to make my songs sound a bit like this, although, I do this from home so I do not have any professional equipment, only a Microphone and the programme Sonar.

So does anyone know of any effects I can put on the songs to make it sound very "80's"?
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Triceratopsoil View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2010 at 11:21
Huge reverb on the drums, especially snare drum

With guitar sounds, you might find that if you use a little less distortion then you usually do, it will sound clearer and more fluid on the recordings

Also, quite essential to that era is a solidbody, humbucker-equipped guitar.  Use the bridge pickup, as a very large percentage of hair metal guitarists used instruments in this style:



Note the Fender Stratocaster -shaped body, the Floyd Rose trem, the single high-output humbucker



Edited by Captain Clutch - June 22 2010 at 11:22
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2010 at 20:12
Cry
"You must go beyond the limit of the limit of your limits!" - Mr. Doctor
"It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though the limits of our abilities do not exist." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 22 2010 at 20:47
Hey Thom, do you like progressive music?
Les mains, les pieds balancés
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Un marin mort,
Il dormira

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 02:15
Originally posted by Tsevir Leirbag Tsevir Leirbag wrote:

Hey Thom, do you like progressive music?
Why wouldn't he? What does this have to do with the topic at hand? Although I don't have any advice for you either. I don't play guitar.
if you own a sodastream i hate you
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 04:24
Have you tried jamming an ice pick in your ear? Tongue
Just a joke, more seriously having a drum machine of sorts is probably a good start.
Even more seriously, I recently got a pretty good multi-effects box for my guitar, experiment and have fun.  There are no magical formulas for what you are trying to accomplish, but through experimentation you may get there.
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 10:11
Yeah I like some prog, Genesis, Dream Theatre, Circus Maximus among others.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 10:48
Originally posted by Henry Plainview Henry Plainview wrote:

Originally posted by Tsevir Leirbag Tsevir Leirbag wrote:

Hey Thom, do you like progressive music?
Why wouldn't he? What does this have to do with the topic at hand? Although I don't have any advice for you either. I don't play guitar.
 
Right. That was unappropriate.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 13:12
I don't know.  Garbage digital keyboards, too much reverb on everything, cheesy artificial sounding distortion, and get a bunch of poor musicians?  
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 15:35
The thread starter was asking for technical tips on getting a particular sound. I dont think he asked to have the music he likes ridiculed. That isn't - or at least shouldn't be - in the spirit of these forums, regardless of what music is being discussed.

Anyway, Tom 'big drums' were often part of the 80's metal sound. I used to really love the album by this band. They were Zep copyists really, and got a lot of stick for it! It's a little over the top for me these days, and the Zep element is way too much!! But, check out the huge 80's drums on this track:

Kingdom Come

You do need a fair amount of reverb...

Edited by Blacksword - June 23 2010 at 15:39
Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 19:59
Get a Line-6 Pod for the guitar sounds. Lot's of 80's sounds. If that's too pricey they make a pocket pod too which you can probably pick up on Ebay for less than a hundred.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 20:25
Yeah, good tones aren't important for 80s sounds so you'll be fine with crappy digital modeling junk
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 20:28
Ah, that 80s sound... the last decade with a truly original flair. Beautiful stuff, but probably impossible to replicate unless you have the right mix of equipment (early digital processors, lovely digital synths and the magic formula used for gated drums).

Long live the 1980s!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 20:40
Oh that Walter, what a funny guy
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 20:45
Originally posted by Captain Clutch Captain Clutch wrote:

Oh that Walter, what a funny guy


You think I'm kidding, yet the 1980s are truly the last decade that even tried.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 21:01
I don't think you're kidding, I think you're utterly delusional
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 21:03
Listen to the 80s, then listen to the 90s and 00s. Forward-looking originality, followed by staid nothingness.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 21:09
Originally posted by Captain Clutch Captain Clutch wrote:

Yeah, good tones aren't important for 80s sounds so you'll be fine with crappy digital modeling junk


He's using a sound card and a microphone. You think any real amp is going to sound decent through that?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 21:12
Originally posted by Captain Clutch Captain Clutch wrote:

Huge reverb on the drums, especially snare drum

With guitar sounds, you might find that if you use a little less distortion then you usually do, it will sound clearer and more fluid on the recordings

Also, quite essential to that era is a solidbody, humbucker-equipped guitar.  Use the bridge pickup, as a very large percentage of hair metal guitarists used instruments in this style:



Note the Fender Stratocaster -shaped body, the Floyd Rose trem, the single high-output humbucker


OK, I only see one guitar and the only effect would appear to be the finish on the guitar surface. Tongue
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2010 at 22:15
^It was just a "title" sort of picture from some random website.  I was having trouble finding good pictures of Charvels and Kramers and didn't feel like looking for a while.  Is this better?


But, damn, that one doesn't have a Floyd or a Kahler, nobody would use that


Edited by Captain Clutch - June 24 2010 at 22:16
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