Guide Guitar Track
For the recording of both songs I started out with a rough guide guitar track so when I recorded the drums I knew when to transition from one section to another and also to help keep me in time as well as the metronome. I just recorded the guitar into a behringer audio interface because its quick and easy and it doesn’t really matter how it sound because its not the final guitar tracks.
Drums
After I recorded the rough guide guitar tracks I used a micro SD card to move them into the studio Mac so I could start recording drums. I used a fairly common micing technique using a AKG d112 for the bass drum. I placed the AKG d112 1″ away from the whole in the head which gives it a powerful and overall great sound personally. Then I used a Shure SM57 for the snare. I placed the Shure SM57 1.5″ above the head and 2″ inside the rim while aiming it around the centre of the snare which overall gives it a really nice warm sound which I love on a snare. The I used 3 low profile clip on AKG d440 for all the toms . I placed the AKG d440’s on the rim and aimed the to the centre of the toms which overall gave them good sound with some air with it which made them sound a bit tighter. Finally I used 2 AT4041SP’s for the overheads. I placed one AT4041SP’s around 4 feet away from the snare and another AT4041SP’s around 3 feet away from the floor tom making sure both microphones were equidistant from the snare to make sure they were not out of sync which overall gave the cymbals I nice brightness and a good amount of air so make them sound more theatrical and powerful. Once I miced up the drums I recorded the drums for the 2 songs doing a few takes on each one to get it as in time and tight as possible but due to the limited time I couldn’t get it perfect but for the time I’ve spent on it, it is good and I was happy with it.
Guitar
Once I recorded all of the drums for the 2 songs, I used a Shure SM57 to mic up a Fender Champion 100 guitar amp with a distortion tone. I placed the Shure SM57 3″ away from the end of the cone which gave the quite sensitive and harsh distortion sound some low-end. Then I used a Groove Tube GT55 to mic up a Fender Champion 100 guitar amp with a distortion tone. I placed the Groove Tube GT55 3″ away from the centre of the speaker which gave it its main volume sound and gave all mids and his-end and overall with combination and chemistry of both mics it gave the guitar a great tone which I was happy with. Then I recorded all of the rhythm tracks for both songs then I did a solo for one of the songs which took longer than expected because I wanted to get it as tight and in time as possible but eventually I did it. Then I finished doing all the lead parts and then I was done with all the guitar parts.
Bass
Once I recorded my guitar tracks, I used a AKG d112 to mic up a Fender rumble 100 with a contoured clean bass tone. I placed the AKG d112 3″ away from he centre of the speaker which gave the bass a great sound and took all the advantages of the great tones from the Fender rumble 100. Then I did all my 2 bass tracks for both songs in a few takes which I was happy with then I was done with all my bass parts.
Brass
Finally when I did all of my instruments in the studio, I recorded my MIDI trumpets in the Mac room since I don’t know how to play brass and it was quick and easy and still sounds great.
Vocals
Once I recorded all of my instrumentation, I used a s’Es Titan and a pop shield to reduce or eliminate popping sounds and capture the vocals me and Ashton recorded. Ashton did his verse takes one line at a time so it was clearer and cleaner. Then he did his chorus take all in one so all the runs tranistioned smoothly between each line. Then Ashton did his scremo parts which meant I had to redo levels so it wouldn’t clip as he would be a lot louder and using my hand I guided him during his take so he would know when to go lower, higher or gradually build up. After he did all of his takes for both songs I set levels again which worked with my voice then I did all my backing vocals for the songs I needed to do backing vocals for.
Lyrics for Zombie Attack and New Day
Zombie Attack
Verse 1
When the dead rises
You better fucking hide
There’s no time to die
No time at all
Chorus
There’s a zombie attack (There’s a zombie attack)
There’s no running back (There’s no running back)
No time to die
You’ve got to kill to survive
Verse 2
The children hide away
In the world they used to play
In this zombie invested land
You’ve got to nut up or shut up
Chorus
There’s a zombie attack (There’s a zombie attack)
There’s no running back (There’s no running back)
No time to die
You’ve got to kill to survive
Build up
Zom
Bie
Ahh
Tack
Zom
Bie
Ahh
Tack
1 2 3 4
Outro
Zom
Bie
Ahh
Tack
New Day
Verse 1
When I was young
I had to follow
The world I was born into
I had no choice
But to obey
Everything I was told to do
Seasons changing
Years go on and on
Under these written rules
Now I stand up
To what I believe
And do whatever the fuck I want
Chorus
It’s a new day
It’s a new day
It’s a new day I live it my way
It a new day
It’s a new day
It’s a new day I live it my way
It’s a new day
It’s a new day
It’s a new day I live it my way
It’s a new day
It’s a new day
It’s a new day I live it my way
Verse 2
Now ive moved on
From this wretched world
And ive let go of everything
Now I am free
From society
And I am never going back
To that black hole
Full of orders
That I was forced to do
Now ive escaped
And I am not trapped
Im living my life
Chorus
It’s a new day
It’s a new day
It’s a new day I live it my way
It a new day
It’s a new day
It’s a new day I live it my way
It’s a new day
It’s a new day
It’s a new day I live it my way
It’s a new day
It’s a new day
It’s a new day I live it my way