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Queen in studio: how did they record the songs, takes and demos

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Yeah, I know. I just felt like mentioning that because it had happened the previous day. That Neve desk and Studer tape machine is damned nice.

Peace,
Adam.
FreidChicken, what do you mean when say 'backing track'? I still don't believe they recorded 4 instruments at once. Why, because they already had good equipment and much time (compared to Queen I).

....But yeah - they could feel IT IS BETTER FOR NAMELY THIS SONG. So all they needed to do next was to add lead and back vocals?
Take this letter that I give you Take it sonny hold it high You won't understand a word that's in it But you'll write it all again before you die
This is indeed an attempt (the 5th) to the backing track. I guess you are confusing things: They recorded it at once, but different channels were used to record each instrument. This same basic method was also used to record QUEEN.
Wilki We must all HEAR to believe
Exactly, channels could be recorded simultaneously. As far as I know, between 8 and 12 tracks were used just for the backing layer.
John hated Hot Space. Frederick's favourite singer was not Paul Rodgers. Roger didn't compose 'Innuendo.' 'Bohemian Rhapsody' hasn't got 180 vocal overdubs.
Yes, separated tracks done in a live take can go like this:

Bass direct into channel 1 - routed to multitrack Input 1

Drumkit miked up with 8 mics in channels 2-9 - routed to multi-track inputs 2-9

And so on and on... That's how they can bring up levels of specific instruments during parts of a song and then put them back down.

Peace,
Adam.
In the mid-60s Brian Wilson recorded the instrumental parts of Pet Sounds with a 4 track machine, so many different instruments had to share a track. Then they copied that mixdown on one track of one of those new 8 track machines and had 7 empty tracks for vocals, which meant that the instruments could only be heard in mono. You had to plan a lot in those days... And they needed many session musicians.

But I guess that punch in and out was already used in the early Queen times. The way I record drums is to have 2 stereo tracks, and I play one verse or so on one of those and then the next section on the other track, because I screw up so often that I couldn't record it from beginning to end in one piece.
If you need free tracks for additional Galileos, you can copy those pieces down to a single track.
http://tinyurl.com/y5jnjy
I'm a musian but never have gone to professional sudio yet. I use Cakewalk last version. I always thought about how Queen did their recordings, all their steps. Now I'm confused much... or a little...

OK. Let's look at this "Funny How..." take5 as an example. "BACKING TRACK" - what exactly is it? How I see it:

Freddie got a finished structure of the song. They played it to feel it for a while. And... - they record 4-instruments track at once (live): bass-piano-drums-acousticguitar as a backing track. Each of four instruments is recording to a single track - they have 4 of 24 channels busy with 4 instruments. It is backing track. Then a-single-track-recording starts (5-24 channels): they record lead vocal, backing vocals, other instruments. If they don't like any of first 4 instruments on take5 they could re-record this single instrument (and, of course, the same for other 5-24 channel's tracks).

How is this scenario, guys? :-)
Take this letter that I give you Take it sonny hold it high You won't understand a word that's in it But you'll write it all again before you die
Recording 4 instruments at the same time doesn't have to do anything with technology. Probably 95% of the studio recording bands still do it like this. Recording multitrack as people above me already explained means you get every microphone and input on one channel. So you have, let say, 6 channels for the drums instead of just 1. You can mix everything afterwards. Ofcourse you can do it piece by piece. But recording and playing drums is pretty difficult when you don't hear any other instrument or guide vocal. Since you don't have a reference of chords or tune. And also playing together in a big room is much more fun than recording your parts after each other. And more fun also adds a bit to the playing quality.

When recording in a studio I always put the drummer on a riser, so he gets the feeling he's playing on stage. It really helps getting a little bit of extra feel!

The backing track is the first part of the recording process. The recording process is 1) Recording the backing tracks. 2) recording overdubs 3) mixing/mastering etc.

Lets say the backing track is the dough bottom, and the overdubs are the cheese and pepperoni of the pizza.
the dough is the stuff everything else comes on top off.. Most of the time the ingredients of the dough are Bass, Guitar/Piano and Drums.
Overdubs are most of the time vocals and extra guitar and drum bits.
"On the first day Pim & Niek created a heavenly occupation. Pim & Niek blessed it and named it 'Loosch'." (Genesis 1:1)
Yes, of course we have several mics for drums. I forgot. But when you record backing track live, could it be possible to re-record one of the instruments of backing track (for example, bass) then in the end - after overdubs? Could it happen?
Take this letter that I give you Take it sonny hold it high You won't understand a word that's in it But you'll write it all again before you die
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]FriedChicken<br><font size=1>The Almighty</font> wrote: [/QUOTENAME]When recording in a studio I always put the drummer on a riser, so he gets the feeling he's playing on stage. It really helps getting a little bit of extra feel!
[/QUOTE]

Nice tip!

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]FriedChicken<br><font size=1>The Almighty</font> wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Lets say the backing track is the dough bottom...[/QUOTE]

Mmm... dough.

[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]FriedChicken<br><font size=1>The Almighty</font> wrote: [/QUOTENAME]...and the overdubs are the cheese and pepperoni of the pizza.[/QUOTE]

Mmm... pizza.

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Peace,
Adam.
> Yes, of course we have several mics for drums.

Roy's approach as producer included recording three separate bass channels as well.

> But when you record backing track live, could it be possible to re-record one of the instruments of backing track (for example, bass) then in the end - after overdubs? Could it happen?

It all depends on the way you did it. It's highly possible that bits from the (original) bass line or drum part can be heard (albeit quite low) in the piano mics etc. So it's according to the crosstalk levels.
John hated Hot Space. Frederick's favourite singer was not Paul Rodgers. Roger didn't compose 'Innuendo.' 'Bohemian Rhapsody' hasn't got 180 vocal overdubs.
[QUOTE] It's highly possible that bits from the (original) bass line or drum part can be heard (albeit quite low) in the piano mics etc. So it's according to the crosstalk levels.[/QUOTE]

Yes! It's the thing I always keep in mind - you actually cannot change any of instruments on backing track cause they all are "bonded" - there is an "echo" in each other tracks.
Take this letter that I give you Take it sonny hold it high You won't understand a word that's in it But you'll write it all again before you die
Seb, will your site ever be as it was several years ago - with analysis of EACH SONG from the albums? Or there is no time for this...
Take this letter that I give you Take it sonny hold it high You won't understand a word that's in it But you'll write it all again before you die
[QUOTE]
Roy's approach as producer included recording three separate bass channels as well.
[/QUOTE]

For bass-guitar? You mean he "broke" John's bass-line to three parts? Or he recorded 3 the same tracks and chose the best moments from them?
Take this letter that I give you Take it sonny hold it high You won't understand a word that's in it But you'll write it all again before you die
One signal through DI (so straight from the guitar. One signal from the amp, and one signal from the microphone in front of the bass amp
"On the first day Pim & Niek created a heavenly occupation. Pim & Niek blessed it and named it 'Loosch'." (Genesis 1:1)