AE240: Analog Recording Technology = Tape Recorders and Phun fer All!
    Fall 2010: Tuesday Evenings

    Week-9: Liminal Phase Live Session
    We'll be recording this rather large band in the Studio.  In addition to Guitar, Drums, Bass and Keys, instrumentation will include Harmonium, Oboe, Bassoon and Laptop.  Follow this link to hear samples from the Spring 2010 Liminal Phase Session, recorded in the Lounge...

    Hear are the tracks from the session.  More details to come...

 wk-9/fratricide-R1_trk-1_proc.mp3  wk-9/scorpion-R2-trk-1_proc.mp3
 wk-9/jam-R-1-trk-2_proc.mp3  wk-9/quantum-entanglement-R2-trk-2_proc.mp3
 wk-9/LooseChange_R1-trk3_proc.mp3 Dan Z's 5-12-11 remix of QT
     
    Week-8: Me and My Arrow Remix

    Email your contributions and comments.

    The RAW mix is what we did in class.  The BLENDED Mix includes bits of 'tape start' and 'echo guitar track,' plus a minor level fix at the last edit - during the Trumpet / Bone solo.

Arrow: Raw Mix
Arrow: Blended  Mix
 
Arrow: Blended and ML-4000 processed
tape start
echo guitar track


    Week-7: Deep Soul Deities - A completely live 24 track session.  The table below has been updated to detail mics, preamps and processing.
Reel-1
Reel-2
 
 wk-7/DSD_R-1_trk-1_PC_tk1.mp3
 wk-7/DSD_R-2_trk-2_GIT-tk1.mp3
 wk-7/DSD_R-1_trk-2_PC-tk2.mp3
 wk-7/DSD_R-2_trk-3_GIT-tk2.mp3
 wk-7/DSD_R-1_trk-3_GITB_tk1.mp3
 wk-7/DSD_R-2_trk-4_LC-tk1.mp3
 
 wk-7/DSD_R-2_trk-5_TG_tk1.mp3
Reel-2
 wk-7/DSD_R-2_trk-6_RU_tk1.mp3
 wk-7/DSD_R-2_trk-1.mp3
 
      instrument
      mic
      preamp
      tape track
      bass amp
      shure SM58
       
      16
      crotch
      nady TCM-1150
      Altec 1612
      1
      snare
      bent 57
      Vari-fi simple
      2
             
      Tom-1 
      EV-664 
      LA-4
      3
      Tom-2 
      EV-664
      LA-4
      4
      'OH' - if stereo
      AKGc61 stereo pair
      behind drummer's head
       
      5 & 6
      guitar amp
      sennheiser e609
      Altec 438
      11
      spare
           
      saxes - 
      pair of cascade fatheads 
      (will also capture stereo room)
       Great River Transformerless
      9 & 10
      vox
      shure SM-7
      Pultec MB-1  & LA-4
      13
             
      hallway 
      MXL faux 87 stereo pair
      dbx
      7 & 8

    Basic Setup 'ideas' for week-7 Deep Soul Deity session.

    WEEK-6: Me and My Arrow 

    This was an introductory 24 track machine lesson.  We learned how to use the Studer A-820 and modify a guitar part with some clever fader moves and bounce-echo...

    • Song written and originally recorded by Harry Nilsson. 
    • Performance by Hookers and Blow, February 2008.
    • Echo Retracked guitar by Bennet Aube and Class 23 november 2010
    • Rough mix and edits by ec
     Me and My Arrow (raw mix) 
    Me and My Arrow (proc mix)

    WEEK-5:  Molly Dean and Dan Zamzow
    A remarkable session by two amazing performers!  Molly Dean's voice and acoutic guitar accompanied by Dan Zamzow's Cello.

    Vocal chain:  Shure SM-7 > Pultec MB-1 > UA LA-3 to track-3
    Acoustic Guitar: Cascasde Fathead > Vari-Fi JFET preamp with built-in optical limiter > API 560 EQ to track-4
    Cello Mic: AKG / Norelco C-61 > Neve 1272 w/JLM preamp > LA-4 limiter @ 20:1 to track-2
    Cello Amp via DI: Shure SM-58 > Vari-Fi JFET preamp with built-in optical limiter to track-1

    Mixed on a Mackie to UREI octave graphic EQ (modified) to Crane Song STC-8 to Amped 499 via OTARI MTR-10 1/4-inch 2-track @ 15ips +3dB over 250 nanowebers, IEC EQ.  Mix was then burned to CD and 'kissed-in-the-box by an ML-4000 mostly for D-essing.
     
    Sunshine
     Misgivings-tk-3_trk-16
    embrace me
     Weight of the World_condensed 
     Radio-3_trk3
    Sweet Line of clarity-trk-18
    porto

    WEEK-4:  Echo / Flanging lesson plus Jabber, Listen to IPR Faux Beatles and Actual Beatle Four Track Bounces

    WEEK-3
    Two students shy left us a bit more control room space to do some serious listening.  We had the monumental task of mixing 4 tracks to mono to allow three more tracks of overdubs.  I felt that the guitar part, in particular, needed a 'dynamic sensitivity' relative to the vocal, two acoustic guitars - nashville tuned - were OD'd plus a lead electric for 'obbligato.'

    We achieved a more balanced mix with just a hint of 'verb and got to play with the graphic EQ on the mix buss.  Below is the raw and the processed mix.  Listen closely and detail what you hear.  And thanks to all - you're patience and participation were very much appreciated.
     
     
     Me and BobbyMcGee (raw mix)
    Me and BobbyMcGee (multiband & mid-side processed)

    WEEK-2
    Geneva Lerner and Band will record as they rehearsed UNLESS we see fit to move them to the hallway.  We will mic the one KRK  used for keys.  Nothing will be taken direct.  No click,and no headphones.

    Please listen to all jams plus both the live, rough and processed versions.  I think you'll find things that work in each  - sometimes the accidents and the jams 'suggest' that we take similar chances when mixing.

    One question I have is whether the rough mixes were done on the Polks or the Altecs...  I'm guessing the Polks, which is why the vocal is so hot.
     
    RAW Session
    from 7 1/2 IPS logging
    Rough Mixes
       
     wk-2/jam-1.mp3
     wk-2/Mix-1_tk-2_raw.mp3
     wk-2/jam-2.mp3
     wk-2/Mix-2_tk-3_raw.mp3
     wk-2/jam-3.mp3
     
     
    Multiband Processed Version
     wk-2/1-bobby7.5.mp3
     
     wk-2/2-bobby7.5.mp3
     wk-2/Mix-1_tk-2_proc.mp3
     wk-2/3-bobby7.5.mp3
     wk-2/Mix-2_tk-3_proc.mp3
       

    GEAR LIST: Tape Track Assignment 

    DRUMS: James Andrew Meadows
    A single mic in the 'crotch' position: Nady TCM-1150 > Altec 1612 > Tape Track-1

    BASS: Caleb Hollenback 
    Shure SM-58 > Altec 1612 > Tape Track-1

    VOCALS:  Geneva Lerner
    EV-664 > Pultec MB-1 > UREI LA-3 > API 560 > Tape Track-2

    KEYS:  Derek Linzy
    RESLO Ribbon > Neve Preamp > Track-3

    ELECTRIC GUITAR: Andy Lowe
    Fathead Ribbon > Altec 438 > Track-4

    FOLDBACK
    Genevea had commented that she had a little difficulty singing on top of the band during rehearsal.  While we will strive to find a better balance by getting the band to play to her, we will set up a small pair of monitors with her vocals plus reverb.

    EFFECTS
    The other KRK will be in the hallway as a reverb send.  The Chain will be: Mackie FX Send > Fostex (for tape delay) > KRK.  The Return will be via MXL U-87 clones > Great River mic preamp > Mackie (not printed to tape).

    WEEK-1
    Intro and basic editing according to plan.  After class, Eddie solved the hum problem on the turntable / Tascam 3340 and Fostex E22 chain by switching from unbalanced to balanced.

    Weeks 1 thru 5: Two Track and Four Track experience

    On SESSION days, Four students with have defined jobs in the control room as detailed below and will then rotate throuh the jobs so everyone gets a shot. Anyone in the control room should be listening and avoid distracting talk as the engineers (and musicians) will want your feedback and observations.

    RECORDING ENGINEER: operates the preamps in the tall rack

    MULTI-TRACK TAPE OPERATOR: Keeps track sheets and session log on the 4-track or 24-track.  Get song titles, learn the band members names, etc...  Machine operates at 15 IPS, the tape will last 30 minutes max.

    MIXER / Communicator: Responsible for the rough mix in the Control Room, FX sends / returns and Foldback / Cue (when aplicable).  It is very important to comunicate with the band, get song titles, learn the band members names, etc., amd EVEN MORE IMPORTANT to slate each song via Talkback.

    Stereo Tape-op: This is a 'logging' job.  Unlike the multi-track, which will likely be stopped between takes, the logging machine will operate at 7 1/2 IPS and not be stopped unless nothing it happening.

    STUDIO REPRESENTATIVE: At least one person will be in the studio to make sure the band is comfortable and that they are on mic.  Other students are welome and encouraged to listen. 

    Below the calendar is the weekly plan...
     
    week-1
    week-2
    week-3
    week-4
    week-5
    19 oct
    26 oct
    2 nov
    9 nov
    16 nov
    intro / listen /editing
    Geneva Lerner & co
    session
    VOTE
    guitar overdubs
    echo and flanging
    Molly Dean
    session
    What's supposed to happen is in BOLD
    What's might happen is not in BOLD

    Weeks 6 thru 10: 24 track
    week-6
    week-7
    week-8
    week-9
    week-10
    23 nov
    30 nov
    7 dec
    14 dec
    21 dec
    intro to 24 track
    DSD
    session
    mix
    Liminal Phase
    session
     mix and sequence


    What's supposed to happen is in BOLD
    What's might happen is not in BOLD