August 15, 2003

Studio Random-ness

Kevin and I changing the things we can change, accepting the things we can't, etc.:

frankevin.jpg

All the amp talk has alarmed at least one correspondent, who is a bit concerned that the guitar sound is going to be "all Alcatrazed-out."

In fact, it's not going to sound like any of our previous records-- that's the intention, anyway. We did use a couple of Vox AC30s quite a lot (it's one of the best-sounding amps there is, and Ted's is one of the best of them I've heard); a Silvertone; an improvised Fender-AC30 "Frankenstein" hybrid; no Fender Bassman or Matchless this time, but some of the home-recorded tracks that may end up in the mix were played through a Mesa Boogie Mark IV. Yet, in the interests of helping little Tommy sleep a little easier, allow me to demonstrate that quite a bit of it was done with my beat up old JCM 800:

marsh.jpg

Posted by Dr. Frank at August 15, 2003 07:16 PM | TrackBack
Comments

But... but...

Why's the cabinet on its side?

Is that a common mic'ing 'trick,' or did I miss sumthin'?

Posted by: geoff at August 15, 2003 08:41 PM

Geoff, the cabinet is on its side because it's missing a wheel, and if you put it right side up the head keeps sliding off.

Posted by: Dr. Frank at August 15, 2003 08:45 PM


Aw... How endearing. It looks like a little three legged doggy. I want to pet it. Good boy!

Posted by: David at August 15, 2003 09:16 PM

Dr. Frank,

Thanks for all the wonderful insights into the heretofore mysterious and sexy world of recording. When the Gretchens enter the recording studio in October, you can count on 2 things: 1) We will recite the Prayer of Serenity (hey, we are products of our Catholic upbringing and superstitious to boot); 2) I will turn my cabinet on it's side.

Seriously, I heard somewhere that you should pop the wheels off the cabinet (in the upright position) before playing. I don't know if it's for good luck or if a cabinet at rest somehow performs better than one on casters. I'm sure some sonically inclined physicist would be able to support or refute this notion.

Kyrie Eleison (repeat 3 times and strike your breast – for good luck).

Posted by: J. Francis Gretchen at August 15, 2003 09:39 PM

Ah, okay. My brain was aflutter with possible explanations-- that since the the top two speakers are angled up when the cab is right-side-up, maybe turning it on its side will make them project at a wall so the sound will bounce back to precicely where the mic is placed to create a natural .00002 second reverb, or maybe...

Gotcha. Missing wheel. Ockham's Razor, and all that. =)

Posted by: geoff at August 15, 2003 10:08 PM

You can see my ever-so-beloved, favourite Teekiee dude's mask in the background of the first picture! ^.^ that is all

Posted by: Allyson at August 15, 2003 11:40 PM

I just pop in here every so often to say that this stuff is very interesting...and that you're looking hot. Just call me your personal sexual harassment squad.

Keep up the good work!

Posted by: Jackie D at August 16, 2003 05:20 AM

What would I do without you, Jackie? I'm a big fan of the hostile pretend work environment.

Posted by: Dr. Frank at August 16, 2003 02:38 PM

I see something happening on the Macintosh there -- does that mean that this album is recorded on ProTools, or is this primarily a tape affair? I can't imagine Kevin going digital, but it seems to be the order of the day. My feelings would be a little hurt if the album were digitally recorded, because you've got to compress the stew out of drums to make them have any "umph" in ProTools, and that sounds, umm, bad.

Posted by: Brent Elliott at August 17, 2003 03:00 AM

I hear you, Brent. In fact, we reluctantly decided we couldn't afford tape this time around. Ideally, I would have liked to do the drums on tape at least. But the cost of the tape alone would have been the equivalent of more than two whole days of tracking or mixing time, that is, 10% of the whole budget. We decided we needed the time more than the into-the-red sounds, though, like you, I cry on the inside every time I think about it.

The drums sound pretty great, though. It's the best kick drum sound we've ever got.

Posted by: Dr. Frank at August 17, 2003 03:24 PM