Showing Off

Ok, so this may be totally whore-esque, but recently, A.R. and I have been kicking ass and taking names in our respective field-of-current-choice (Please note that we both kick ass in many of the same, as well as differing, fields).

Analogue Razor.- This is completely unadulterated by any plug-in or mixing (sans a L2007 on the master fader, because, you know, it's the equivalent of Pro Tools crack, once you start using it there is no end)... there will be a more polished version published later, but if anyone wants to hear the concept of sexy personified aurally (sorry to be unprofessional... but holy shit!), you should listen to this, like now.

He played the drums, bass, and guitar... so talented!!!!



BlytheRocks- A very lesser version of awesome, since it's only mixing, but I'm mixing some fantastic talent, so it makes it a lot better:



So, coming soon, the session details of Analogue Razor's recording, and maybe a concert review of the best night my existence (read: Of Montreal. In SF... ecstasy.)

Also, if anyone is curious, Pro Tools 8 is on pre-order on Sweetwater for only $149.99... only $50 less than I had verbally speculated... sweet!.. water.

In The Studio: Vocal Mic Shootout

So in addition to being slightly obsessed with Pro Tools 8, I have now added another irrational inanimate object into my constant-thought-rotation: RIBBON MICROPHONES.




See the skinny mic that looks like it has ears? That is our Royer R-121... sigh. (From Left to Right: CADGXL3000; Royer R-121, M-Audio Nova, and Neumann U87)

If I elaborate it's probably going to sound like a porn script, but seriously: Warm. Supple. Soothing.

Ok, think of a person who you love, and how you feel when they hug you really close... if you could make that a filter and add it to audio, that is exactly what a ribbon microphone sounds like.

Well, I guess we used some other microphones too, the Neumann, the CAD, and an M-Audio mic. The M-Audio I'll post only for comparison, because it definitely has it's own flavor. Since this isn't a post about an album review, I won't tell you what to think, you should decide for yourself:

(Also, I should say that unless noted otherwise, any audio clips posted will have NO effects added to them, sans an EQ3 that cuts everything below 125Hz... just to make sure that these MP3's don't sound shittier than they already do.)
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Neumann U87


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CAD GXL3000


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M-Audio Nova


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Royer R-121


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It should also be noted that we found a fantastic set-up to capture vocals:



Will faced the carpeted walls (there is an official, and less concise, name for these that escapes me at the moment) and sang into them while standing on the green board... it captured a full and lush sound while eliminating a good portion of the room.
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*** Coming Soon on We-Verb: ***

- More electrical engineering geekiness in all of it's glory! We have moved on to several modifications of a Dunlap Crybaby wah pedal. It's going to kick ass!
- Maybe an entry about miking drums? Maybe.
- Will has lunch with Colin McDowell from McDSP on Friday!!! This is probably the pinnacle of awesome.

In The Studio: Guitar Mic Shootout

So recently we booked some studio time at Foothill College, for an intimate 1-on-1 with Pro Tools HD (and a Control 24) and a decent mic cabinet... which includes a NeumannU87, an AKG414, and a RoyerR121 (a ribbon mic!).

First on the agenda was a mic shootout for the guitar. We went a little overboard with this one:


Seven mics at once, the two pencils are a Neumann KM184 (black) and Will's CAD something (I forgot the model number, but it's the silver pencil mic). From back row left to right, starting with the boxy looking mic is the AKG414, NeumannU87, CADGXL300, Rode NT-1A... then kind of in front (the black boxy looking mic below the Neumann) is the Audio-Technica AT4050.

Call us overzealous, call us ambitious... but a more accurate description to call us would be "really fucking excited". Here are some highlights, with comments to a minimum so you can hear for yourself:

(Note, I know MP3 is definitely not the ideal format for critical listening, I will figure out how to embed a .wav file soon!)
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Neumann U87
A classic mic! Sounded very vintage on the guitar, with a great transient response.

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CAD GXL3000
Very clear and bright. Hardly any artifacts.

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AKG 414
Warm. Awesome. Not that I had a favorite or anything...

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A.R. in action:


When it's vintage, you totally have to show off:



*** Coming soon: In The Studio: Vocal Mic Shootout... also known as 'How Blythe Fell In Love With Ribbon Microphones' ***

Green Ring Oscillator Guitar Pedal

Our first DIY audio project, for your aural pleasure:

First part is the clean guitar signal, then it decrescendos and the next part you hear is our pedal in all of its' glory! (at 27 seconds, for anyone who is counting)

Enjoy.

(Also, I figured out the audio >> blog thing, so definitely more coming soon!)