Bye Week

The "Audio Farm" is closed this week cuz Big Ed's outta town, so DP is taking some time to think about what we've done... and what we're going to do. We have a gig in February so we're gonna have to rehearse. Recording of the album will be put on hold while we learn a few covers (our choice, not by request) and dust off some chestnuts for the kids. It's our first proper gig in quite some time as we've been concentrating on teaching ourselves the fine art of studio wizardry. Since we purchased the Tascam 388, we've added microphones, a new (to me) drum kit, a guitar pedal which allows Michael to play out of 2 amplifiers simultaneously, a small reverb unit (with many knobs!) and most recently a "Meequalizer" (aka the "Kompressor") which has helped greatly in evening out the vocals.

What little I've read about home recording has led me to believe that the most important part of the whole process is equalization. Each track (we've got 8!) has it's own set of EQ knobs, and each knob has it's own frequency. The key is to make sure those frequencies aren't cancelling each other out. It takes patience, and thanks to Big Ed and his hospitality, we've got nothing but time.

There's a cliche in recording: "We'll fix it in the mix". DP jokes about it, but with technology being what it is, polishing the proverbial turd is easier than ever. Not that what we've done so far has been anything close to "shit", but there are limitations to the Tascam 388 (there are also limitations to our "skills" at this point, but we're learning).

"Stars Of Mendocino" is the most recent song recorded and mixed and it's our best yet. It's the first song we've finished that I didn't say "I'll put this up on the website right away". Why? Cuz it's too good to give away. I honestly think it should be held back until the release of the record so listeners can experience it in context. It's gonna stand out, both style-wise and sonically.

I know we're getting the hang of this recording thing because I usually bring mixes home and end up EQing them some more, removing hiss (yay analog!) and boosting the level so it's a little closer to the music usually coming out of my 3 inch computer speakers. I didn't have to EQ "Stars..." anymore than it had already been, and the hiss and volume were minor adjustments. Good job all around.

I don't know how I ended up being the "post" guy. Maybe it's cuz I'm a borderline insomniac, and since I'm gonna be up anyway... Maybe it's cuz I've wanted to work in or own a recording studio from the first time I was in one back in 1988 ('89?). Maybe it's cuz I'm obsessive/compulsive when it comes to anything I've had a part in creating. Whatever the reason, I'm happy to do it cuz, as the saying goes, "I know it's being done right". Taking it to a "real" studio for tweaking would mean a fifth pair of ears and another assho- I mean opinion. We've got well over a hundred years of music-listening experience between the 4 of us. That's a lot of tunes. We know what we like, we like what we know, and we know if we don't like it, we can fix it. We're beyond the days of someone from "the outside" telling us something is "good" or "no good". Complete control. It's a nice thing.

Lately, I find myself listening to music differently. I'm picking out how parts may have been recorded, how they're mixed, how they're panned ("left" or "right") and how they've been mastered. I compare it to what we're doing and wonder how we may be able to achieve a similar result. I have faith in us. The recording of "Stars..." has convinced me that we can create something that won't end up sounding like it came out of somebody's basement (which in some cases fits the music, but that's not DP).



For anyone interested (who may not check our website), here's the skinny on that gig I mentioned:

Saturday February 19th
The Boca
415 18th Avenue
Lake Como (fka South Belmar)
New Jersey
with
FRANKENSTEIN 3000
TICK NON STOP

DIGGER PHELPS goes on 2nd at 11:00pm