http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/tags/studio Bongiovi Acoustics DPS Community en-US Tue, 22 May 2012 01:56:36 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/search.php http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/avalon-session-log-032310#post-222 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:32:58 +0000 Rob Roy 222@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>Ya know, maybe a post about how the room your in "effects" (spelling intentional) your signal... You made the comment about "hiding" your room. Explain how mic-ing works in a room that may not be completely conducive to getting the best sound to tape. (Or for you younger recording guys, "to your computer..." Sorry, after working with analog tape, you call 'em both tape...) Check with XAQ (Joe) as I know he was putting some "home recording" topics here on the forum... Monkey-Boy strikes again!!!!!! </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/avalon-session-log-032310#post-219 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:32:46 +0000 Paul Kronk 219@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>Yup, I remember those Jive Records sessions, good times, I learned alot during that production.</p> <p>And I thought about using the earthworks, but our main live room Avalon isn't all that big, certainly nowhere near the size of Power Station NYC Studio A or the like, I wanted to be careful about introducing too much "room" into the vocals so I could leave Ryan some space to manufacture something more fitting I'm the mix. Sometimes it's best to take full advantage of your room size, for instance I love how tight and punchy drums sound in our room, or how well horns seem to "sing" in it. But sometimes you wanna "hide" your room for the sake of manufacturing something with modern reberbs. It all depends on your vision, and the artist's vision, for the final product. </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/nonpoint-at-power-station#post-211 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:56:39 +0000 Joseph Beaty 211@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>Tribute was off the album, Statement. 2000 release. </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/avalon-session-log-032310#post-209 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:23:53 +0000 Rob Roy 209@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>Hey Monkey, Great Post!!!! (For those of you who don't know, Paul's studio nickname is "Monkey Boy!" I'm not sure where is actually originated, but I think it had something to do with the 72 days straight he spent on a Jive Records production down at our Power Station Facility?????)<br /> Nevertheless, he mentions using the Shure SM 7 on his session. This is a really cool mic and an industry secret for all types of vocals. I'll write a blog referring to this mic and let you all in on a few secrets. Check in on Monday afternoon &amp; I'll post it for you!!!!<br /> Nevertheless, for the "gang vocal" those omni-directional "Earthworks" you guys have up there may have been an interesting choice. Although the AKG 414 is without a doubt a go-to workhorse.</p> <p>If you think about it, post "Fist Fight's" web site or Myspace - Facebook page when the track is done so our DPS community can check it out!!!! </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/avalon-session-log-032310#post-207 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:51:57 +0000 Paul Kronk 207@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>Last night I had the opportunity to work with a very talented metal-inspired hardcore band from right here in south Florida named Fist Fight. Engineer Ryan did the original drum and guitar tracking last week and I was super impressed with the performances. These guys can play! </p> <p>So last night we got around to vocal tracking and it went really well, and of course it helps when the artists you're working with are easy going and have a sense of humor. With most of the vocals being screaming, as is mainly the case in the hardcore genre, I wanted to try a few different mics to see what would work best. Surprisingly to some, screams aren't as easy to track as classic singing vocals, as the SPL's (sound pressure levels) can get pretty high and it's important not to distort the microphone, but you still want to get plenty of growl and definition without it sounding "screechy" or "harsh". </p> <p>The first mic i tried was the AKG C414, a classic go-to of mine that works on pretty much everything. It comes with a variable pad, so I knew distortion wouldn't be an issue. But upon listening back, it gave a little too much of that "harsh" sound that I was trying to avoid. So on to the Shure SM7.</p> <p>Now this mic did the trick! Exactly what I was looking for: plenty of growl, no screech. So I pumped it into the Summit Audio DCL-200 compressor to tame the dynamic range and fatten it up a little bit, then on to the Motown for some final EQ tweaking, suck out a little 50hz, then a little 320 to "clean the mud", then bump a little 5k for some added definition, and it was golden. For those of you who don't know about our beloved Motown EQs, they were custom built by Motown's engineering department way back in the day when dinosaurs still roamed the earth and Tony was lucky enough to keep a couple beside him throughout his career, and now they rest quite happily between Avalon and Power Station Studios here in Florida. We send just about everything through these marvelous pieces of electrical engineering, and it always sounds better on the other side. Can't argue with results, right?</p> <p>Lead vocals went rather smoothly and it was time for the classic hardcore "gang-shout" vocals. I knew I was going to need a different recipe for this, so it was back to the AKG set in omni-directional mode for the band to crowd around and shout. With multiple vocalists going at once in a large room, the AKG provided the definition and sensitivity needed to make sure the lyrics themselves didn't get lost in the wall of voices, and I knew screech and harshness wouldn't be a problem as all the vocalists would be a couple feet back from the mic. Again through the magic Motown EQ and it worked like a charm.</p> <p>Overall the vocals came out solid and the guys were a lot of fun to work with. I'm excited to hear Ryan's mix on it next week. I'll post more info on the band as they kick into high gear, as they're planning a tour along with the album release this summer. Make sure to keep an eye out for them! </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/nonpoint-at-power-station#post-204 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:18:52 +0000 Rob Roy 204@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>Which record was that off of? </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/finished-up-mark-stein-mixes-a-de-briefing#post-203 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:05:16 +0000 Joseph Beaty 203@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>it was a video from joeys phone...he has it to post I am imagining... </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/finished-up-mark-stein-mixes-a-de-briefing#post-202 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:51:06 +0000 Rob Roy 202@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>How about posting this in the DPS YouTube? </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/finished-up-mark-stein-mixes-a-de-briefing#post-201 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:16:24 +0000 Joseph Beaty 201@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>That video clip is really cool...please share more! </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/finished-up-mark-stein-mixes-a-de-briefing#post-200 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:11:01 +0000 DavidL 200@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>Judging from the mix I heard on Friday, you really succeeded in capturing that huge "70's rock sound"....<br /> That ain't easy...lol...<br /> Good job!!!</p> <p>Dave </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/finished-up-mark-stein-mixes-a-de-briefing#post-199 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:30:44 +0000 Joey Butera 199@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>On Friday I finished up Mark Stein's (of 60's group Vanilla Fudge) 4 song project for the documentary, "Rockin' the Wall". If you read my last post about the tracking sessions you know I got some really incredible signals on tape (meaning ProTools). As part of the mix process I sent the inside kick drum mic, the snare mic, all of the toms, the bass guitar, the B3, synth and lead vocals to out Otari 2" analog tape machine at 15ips. Wow! What a difference! The tape really glued the performances together and tamed the dynamics of the drums nicely. Also, 15ips (inches per second on tape) while noisier, delivers a nicer, fatter bottom for rock music.</p> <p>During the actual mixdown, I really only had to concentrate on the blend to make the mix pop. I gated the room mics (keyed by the snare and toms) and processed the voice with the SSL Duende channel. I ran the guitars (I kept those digital along with the overhead drum mics to keep a modern sound) through the Motown eqs and a Yamaha compressor so they could keep up with the huge tracks that went to analog tape. Any other eq's were on the Amek Recall that we just re-commissioned in Studio A. That console was originally used for live sound situations and has headroom for days! It's easy to get a loud, open and brilliant mix with that board.</p> <p>I hope Mark will allow us to post one of his songs on the Bongiovi Acoustics Myspace music page for all of us to listen to. We may have to wait until the movie is finished though, of course. Until then, I have a tiny video clip on my Facebook page of the tape transfer: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/joseph.butera?ref=profile" rel="nofollow">http://www.facebook.com/joseph.butera?ref=profile</a> </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/working-with-vanilla-fudge-organist-mark-stein#post-186 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:24:44 +0000 Joseph Beaty 186@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>I cannot wait to hear it. I am loving their old music for sure. I have been digging a lot of music from this era in general. Sounds like the approach in the studio is exciting too. Can't wait to hear it. </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/working-with-vanilla-fudge-organist-mark-stein#post-185 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:33:06 +0000 Joey Butera 185@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>For the past week I've had the honor of working with one of music's greats, Mark Stein. His group, Vanilla Fudge, made history with their version of the Supremes song "You Keep Me Hanging On". <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla_Fudge" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla_Fudge</a></p> <p>Recoding Mark and his group in the studio makes me realize how folks like him became music icons: Every note that comes out of his body is pure rock and roll dynamite! Energy, optimism and professionalism are ever present during the sessions and that has translated into a truly great recording. </p> <p>The band played live in the studio with Mark playing a 1960's era B3 with the leslie tone cabinet in the vocal booth. I recorded it with two Shure Beta 56's at 90 degrees for the top rotor and a AKG D12 for the bottom speaker. The two top microphones went through our new Amek Recall's preamps while the D12 went through our DW Fern mic pre with the Motown eq for a huge tone.<br /> The guitarist, Jimi, recorded through our souped up 50 watt Marshall JCM 800 with the cabinet (4x12 vintage greenback speakers) in an isolation booth. The cabinet was recorded with a Shure SM57 through a Neve 1085 module.<br /> The bass player, Steve, recorded direct through our Avalon direct box directly into ProTools (we use Apogee DA/AD 16Xs for our TDM system).<br /> The drummer, Jimmyjack, brought in his beautiful maple DW kit that we set up in our big live room. I used the AKG D112 he had mounted inside his bass drum for the close sound (through the Fern and Motown eq) and a Blue Dragonfly for the far mic (console). His Ludwig snare was recorded with a Shure SM7 through another Neve 1085 module. For the toms I chose Shure Beta 56's (the hyper cardioid pattern works well with our room) with a AKG D112 for the floor tom. The cymbals were captured with a pair of AKG 414's (silver face) and the room with our AEA stereo ribbon mic.</p> <p>I'll post the contact info for the musicians as soon as I get back to the studio where I have their cards. These guys are top notch and a pleasure to work with...they deserve the props. As soon as I have something to listen to, I'll post it here. </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/nonpoint-at-power-station#post-102 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:28:21 +0000 HitWizard 102@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>Tell them it's time for another "Tribute." Love that song!! </p> http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/topic/nonpoint-at-power-station#post-65 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:05:59 +0000 Rob Roy 65@http://www.dpsinsider.com/forums/ <p>Nonpoint is coming into Power Station to kick some rockin' ass!!!!! Keep posted for blurbs, tweets, and pics of the mayhem!!!!! </p>