I am using firestudio in a garage and want to make a demo for our band. generally, what would be the order of recording instruments( drums , click or not...ect). as cleanly as possible. any info would be appreciated. jimmy

If your drummer is comfortable with a click, use it as long as the perfect tempo doesn't affect the emotion in the song.

Usually people will record drums first, but of course there needs to be another rhythm instrument playing along with the drums just so the drummer knows where he's at in the song. You may or may not want to record that other rhythm instrument at that time. After that, layer the other instruments in.

The way I do it (since I'm a solo songwriter) is after I write a song, I'll usually record rhythm guitar to a click first. Then bass, vocals, lead instruments, and usually drums last. But this is just my personal process for "building" a song.

what is the professional sequence, generally?

Generally, you start with rhythm instruments. After that record whatever makes sense to follow. There aren't any rules. Just try to be organized about it.

Our band records a click track first, then scratch guitar/vox. Then we start the actual final recordings, drums first, then bass. After that, it depends on the song structure, sometime we have keys record then guitar, other times we record guitar then keys. After that, if we have any effects tracks (key effects, samples, etc...) that goes in next. Then vox go in. As a rule of thumb, we do drums/bass first, and vox last. Everything else is based on the song. If you use a click track, make sure only the drums go to the click (or the scratch and drums if you use a scratch). If you have the click going after drums are recorded, if the drums aren't right on you will end up with slop as the rest of the musicians will try and fine the middle ground between drums and the click. Make sure after the drums are recorded (or whatever you decide to record first) that the click is then turned off (not deleted, you may want it later for editing). Anyway, that is my two and a half cents.....
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Bob Seifert, SEIT
LiveSine Productions
Drummer of 3up3down

a rough or 'scratch track' played with a click of the fundamental instrument (ie gtr.) makes it easy to follow along for the drummer, bassist, vocalist etc.

generally....1) scratch track. 2) drums 3) bass 4) guitar 5) additional instruments 6) vocals etc.

i find leaving the vocals for last allows you to focus more on your recording technique unless the vocalist is busy and interferes with certain instrumentation of the rest of the parts.

something to take into consideration.