Today I was pretty much on my own. Started up with the harp client, finishing tracks and then mixing.
The chick’s harp sounded a little different. I started to wonder if my trims were the same as yesterday and while f’ing around with them I accidentally padded one half. The Euphonix console can be so deep with menus and hot keys I couldn’t figure out what the hell I did. The harp player and producer didn’t notice but I was in some trouble… One of two of the mics were working and if this chick nailed a take I’d have to figure out a way to compensate in the mix to make it sound like the other tracks.
Fortunately the harp player was struggling and I finally figured it out and got it working right. Later she did the another take of that tune which was much better… Other than that the session went perfect and the client left happy.
So I’m close to being able to run full sessions with no help. As I find a snag with ProTools (prodrools) or the studio setup, I figure it out. I only like to make mistakes once.
mediaguru Recording
Like I said before, I’ve been a bit frustrated with getting in the rotation and actually “working” gigs in the studio. I’ve been sitting in a lot but not working or making any dough. The owner just works his ass off and doesn’t really offer me gigs. But I’m finding if I just show up he’s more than willing to just turn them over to me. That’s what happened today. It was a harp project, recording for the Suzuki instructional CD’s. He threw me on the console and went in the other room and did paperwork.
I worked that gig with only a couple of hiccups which require me to get help. Once I don’t need any help I’ll be able to do more gigs. That’s very soon. I’m finishing off that project tomorrow, on my own. I should be fine. Just doing some more tracking and mixing down. It will be my first gig in the big studio without my training wheels.
mediaguru Recording
I’ve been pretty frustrated with the new studio. I need time in there to observe and learn the ropes. I also need time to get solid on ProToos (ProDrools) and some of the ways the place works.
I’m having a bugger of a time getting replies to my calls and/or emails from the owner on when I can come in. It can take several days for a reply.
Fortunately he did get back to me today so I’ll have a chance to sit in this week. The quicker I can get this stuff learned the quicker I can start doing real gigs.
This experience has reminded me of what I’d tried to forget, how unpredictable and tough to schedule or budget your time working in the studio really is.
mediaguru Recording
Remember that new engineering gig I landed? Well there are two studios. He’s the first pic I have of the “other” studio. During this session we were recording a small orchestra (percussion and woodwinds in the back sound rooms). The music was for a movie which will be coming out in a while.
mediaguru Recording
My first session at the big studio went pretty well. It was a baptism by fire. It was a relatively easy project though, mic up the grand piano and record about 10 tracks of piano.
The toughest part for me was trying to navigate around Pro Tools. I haven’t used that system for a long time and the keyboard shortcuts I don’t remember. I’ve gotten used to the way Nuendo/Cubase/Logic and a zillion other DAW’s work, you know sensibly. Pro Tools may be the industry standard but there are some really lame ways things have to be done. I may end up with a whole new category here: “Pro Tools sucks because.”
Anyway I finished up with the guy and only needed help from the owner with a couple of issues or I would have been fine on my own.
I sit in on a few sessions for training next week. There are some orchestra setups which will be good for me to learn. Also I hope to get more time on the board so I can continue my crash course in Pro Drools.
mediaguru Recording
I pretty big studio around here has contacted me. They may be the 2nd or 3rd biggest studio around here. It seems the studio’s “manager” was in a band I recorded a few times and likes my engineering skills. They want to hire me. Since I shut my studio down in 2003 I’ve done a few recording gigs here and there but nothing much.
Why this sounds good
The good thing about working for a bigger studio would be that I’d be an “engineer” and not the all-encompassing “owner.” I’d be able to just work the board and not worry about bookings, billing, cleaning the toilets, clients who bounce checks etc.
Why it may be a trying gig
This is a pretty “conservative” place. I’d have to bite my tongue. Much of the material I’d be working with would not be my cup of tea. But then again I wouldn’t have to be gagging down on gangsta rappers saying “motha fucka” so that’s not all that bad.
The place is also a bit of a drive.
But, it’s a gig and I could use one right now.
mediaguru Recording
Man there are times when you just need to bail. This is one of them. This client is the pickiest pain in the ass I’ve had all year and for what? So I can try to make this junk play? You gotta be kidding.
I should have bailed when she brought in the 8 track with BUILT IN SPEAKERS and no line outs.
Gig description
Fix 8 track tapes. Break open the shells and then splice together tape more frail than Karen Carpenter’s remains in the hopes it doesn’t just fall apart again.
Transfer fixed 8 track tapes via player with no outputs to CD. Oh what just put a mic in front of the speakers on the 8 track? Oh man.
For good measure transfer an old 78 from 1963 which has creases in it and only plays about 3 seconds before it goes haywire.
All this while the picky client is asking millions of stupid questions…
Kill me.
mediaguru Random, Rants, Recording
Every year I do a neat recording gig of a youth symphony in the one of the best halls west of the Mississippi: Abravanel Hall. This is a pretty easy gig, as all the gear is in place and I just tap in my laptop to their high quality mics and hit record.
The first pic below is of rehearsal. Look up on the wall and you’ll see two small windows. That’s where the sound room is.
The pic below here is shooting out of the sound room window during the performance.
mediaguru Recording
I wrapped up the big death metal project last week. Glad to have that one in the can so my weeknights are free again. That was one of the things I really didn’t like about running a studio was having no free nights or staying up till all hours of the night listening to boneheads who can’t sing or play their instruments…
You’re going to have to leave
On one of the last sessions I had to kick some drunk ass out of the studio. The band had some “friends” there and they were being drunken idiots. I couldn’t concentrate or hear what I was doing because these guys were jabbering. I hit stop on the playback and sat there. After about 10 seconds all the people in the studio looked at me. I then said I’m not hitting play until this guy is out of here. Thankfully, the band agreed and he was gone.
Don’t bring your damn friends into the studio if you are recording. All you do is end up trying to keep them entertained rather than concentrating on the task at hand.
mediaguru Musicians, Random, Rants, Recording
