Recreating "Don't Look Back" By Boston

[REO Speedweasel]

(This will be in parts as I work on it)

Latest version: 17

DLB Redux Test 17verb

Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-liz ... est-17verb

Google Drive
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fVBU ... sp=sharing

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I decided to do a complete redux of my earlier attempt at Don't Look Back found here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fVBU ... sp=sharing

...utilizing some different studio tricks and tweaking the drums & bass.


For starters, I now have a pickup that is very similar to the DiM SD that Scholz had... the SD SH-5 (there it is again!).

Rig-wise, everything else is the same (slaved Marshall rig) including the MXR 6 Band EQ set to the honky mids setting.

Some people don't dig the honk, but a very beneficial side effect of this is the harmonics are really accentuated (for lack of a better
explanation - an example of this is where you hold/vibrato a note/chord and it goes from the fundamental to the harmonic over time).

...

First off, you gotta have a rhythm section. And if you don't have a readily-accessible drummer and bass player, that means
you gotta do it yourself. I make it easy by siphoning the drums & bass from a Guitar Pro (guitar tab software) track.

The problem with this is the drums and bass are... cheap Casio-keyboard/MIDI sounding. Well, you can massage them
in the DAW by adding compression, etc... . They won't be perfect, but they will sound damn better than the source.

Alright, so you're Tom Scholz. You recorded the starting/main rhythm, but it sounds weak. What do you do?
Well, if you're Tom Scholz, you double-track it. Then double-track it some more. Hell, triple-track it. Even quadruple-track it!

For the record, the famous starting rhythm of this tune is actually 2 different guitar parts; both doubled. So yeah,
that's 4 (count 'em - FOUR) guitar tracks. The vast majority of the guitars in this tune are at the very least doubled, and
in some cases, quadrupled. This adds a sweet thickening as well as a slight chorusing effect (due to miniscule differences
in pitch changes and timing changes).

Needless to say, this adds up to a ton of tracks and a ton of clips.

I haven't counted all the tracks yet, but prolly around 14... and I'm not even close to done yet.

Clip count so far (including flubs and redo's): 222
That's 222 times I've hit the record button.

Anyways, back to the doubling... so you record the same part twice, then pan each out left/right.
The sound is huuuuuge.

So, go through the entire tune recording all the distorted rhythm guitar parts; doubling and sometimes quadrupling each.
In some cases, I had to make a quick "scratch" track so I knew where I was timing-wise (the middle part of the tune especially).


Here's where we're at now:

- drums added & massaged
- bass guitar added & massaged
- all (or most; don't remember) distorted rhythm guitars tracked & panned (no EQ)
- channel volumes roughed in

Master

- just a touch of Sunset Studios Echo Chamber for ambiance (for demo purposes only)
- old school RIAA-ish EQ (47Hz-12KHz)
- Limiter
- Kramer Master Tape

...and here's what we've got so far:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fVBU ... sp=sharing

Next up: Not sure - maybe the solo guitars, maybe the clean stuff. And don't forget the pick scrapes and feedback!

[rbc]

Very nicely done. Thanks for putting that together.

[REO Speedweasel]

Alright, added the chorus leads, harmonized leads, main solo and a test intro solo.

Also touched up a few items.

Still have to add the 12 string acoustic, pick scrapes, remaining solos, slide guitar, guitar noises, etc...
...and eq, compress, fx and other studio magic.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fVBU ... sp=sharing

[REO Speedweasel]

Touched up a few more bits, added more bits, futzed with overall EQing...

need to redo the slide bits

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fVBU ... sp=sharing

[REO Speedweasel]

Spent some time getting "intimate" with the EQing... getting real close EQ-wise on the rhythm side of things.

Added numerous extras (some pulled from my older version)... end solo, end divebomb, faux 12-string, screaming harmonics, other bits n pieces.

Tested delay on solos.

DLB Redux Test 11

Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-liz ... ux-test-11

Google Drive
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fVBU ... sp=sharing

[REO Speedweasel]

More EQ tweaking... more touches... compression... and insanity ensues...

DLB Redux Test 14

Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-liz ... ux-test-14

Google Drive
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fVBU ... sp=sharing

[rbc]

It's sounding pretty fantastic. Nice refinements.

[REO Speedweasel]

More fine tuning... sounding pretty good now.

Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-liz ... est-17verb

Google Drive
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fVBU ... sp=sharing

[GuitarBuilder]

Great job!

[jugalo]

Absolutely amazing!!