Flair

It’s so nice to hear people’s thoughts regarding music with an open mind. It really is like a movie; what time period, what is the settings, what clothes would they be wearing, what were the cars like? You can record in color and or Black and white. i.e. no effects on the vocals, ” could be B&W.

Song content

Everyone needs to review their own songs. Make sure there is a hook, Ask” what is this story about” does it tell it? Can I use fewer words with stronger effect. Powerful words can set up the image in our minds. I don’t care which type of music you like. It is the song the song the song. (guitar player as well) ?

Pete Seeger

Did anybody see the 90th birthday at MSG. Great show and well recorded

Recording vocals

Even as a recording starts with a rough or guide vocal, the content will have changed muliple times. Many overdubs and sometimes too many, can make it hard to fit the voacl in. So when starting out you have to try out many different mics, sometimes using a different one for different songs. First way to record is have the singer sing the whole song and record it maybe 3-5 times. Then along with the singer you put together one vocal using the best performances. Another way is start recording and as either the singer or the producer doesn’t like something stop and drop in, It can be annoying to all having to stop in the middle of singing the song. It is rare to have someone sing it down once and that’s the keeper. Many vocal tricks, double tracking, triple tracking, reverb or dry. Harmonies in sections. In many recordings the chorus in size can be 10 times larger. In the mix I like to have short and longer delays, sometimes hardly hearing them but they add to the overall sound. To take any pressure off the singer , I like them to sing the song down on different days. You can’t record all the backing tracks, then do all the over dubs and leave the singer to sing all the songs in a couple of days.

Bands

I believe the time of the bands is coming. Get ready.

Guitar Sounds

I believe that 90% of the great sounds have been and will be created in the Studio by the guitar player. The player is everything and he will know what sound to go for. I like to record with all the effects on and printed. I like effects and I know guitar players like to play with them. If its a solo and you are using delays, well print them. Then its simple “what you hear is what you get”. I have worked with many players who want certain mics used and or never go close to my amp with a mic. In the end all the time and effort put into the recording process, leads you to a better recording in the end. I don’t want to save ideas for the mix if I can have it reated and printed at the time. Always try to come up with something, some sound that noone has heard or used before(or can remember they did) Placement in the mix is very important. There are no rules. Come up with some sound and paint a picture that tells the story.

Recording bass

Recording bass is always a challenge. I take a direct feed from the bass and always mic the amp. Then I record these on seperate tracks. While starting to record please make sure the guitar is fine tuned and balanced. With the bass you don’t want one string louder than another. The player must play with fingers or a pick, whatever he is used to. The mids and top end are boasted at the recording stage as they are covered up with the more over dubs you do. Plan ahead. When recording a band live in the studio the bass player will need to be close to the drummer and his feed louder in his headphones.

Drums sounds

Many ways to record drums. A good old classic one is only use 4 mics, one in the kick drum. One close to the snareand picking up the hi- hat. The third above the front toms and picking up the left side cymbals. The last mic behind the floor toms and picking up the right cymabal. In the monitor path put mics 1 and 2 in the middle and #3 to hard left and #4 hard right. You will have t adjust the placements according to the drummer. Some drummer like this as they are in control of balance and it has a very real feel to it. Also works well with not alot of overdubs.

new ideas

We all love Myspace etc etc. But there are some great new ways to break a new artists

Crazy drum fill

What about that crazy drum fill. Fantastic for having the guts to leave it. I love it. Hats off to the Kings.