Hearing Yourself / Speedbump
For the first time in the history of me, I put down vocals that I think sound really good, and felt good to put down while putting down. Down puts downy downathan putter. Having gotten pretty disappointing results yesterday when trying to track vocals for Africa/Welcome home, using our spiffy new Studio Projects B3, RNP & RNC, we all took some time to think about what kind of vocals we want, and how to get them. I was thinking yesterday that, with my general listening emphasis geared towards instrumentation, I couldn't ever really pick between takes A, B & C of any given song. I just didn't think I had a good sense of what makes one vocal take - assuming more or less accurate pitch - better than another. All the more when the takes are my own. I hear my own voice all the goddamned time. How am I supposed to have an opinion? It's like picking your favorite tooth-brushing experience. Or your favorite television station if your reception only picks up one.
But that changed today, I'm happy to say. Buoyed by the example of Bjork, we decided to not be so audiophile. We dropped the condenser for a good ol' SM57, and tossed aside Will and my perennial complaint - HEADPHONES - and turned up the divine monitors we're borrowing from Jon Cohrs, who will also be mastering our record (www.spleenlessmastering.com). Even with how terrific the room sounds are we've been getting at Gregory Heights, and all of the other exciting developments, tracking vocals without headphones was probably the most revelatory and exciting aspect of this process for me so far. I could tell what my breath support was like, I could hear my own volume, and my pitch was unfettered by a piece of plastic between my ears and the world. It was terrifically exciting, and if Africa is any indication, we're heading towards a record we're going to be very, very happy with.
And Chris know his mixing, for sure!
Forgot to eat. Ate. Watched the West Wing. And now there's a cat sleeping in my bedroom with Meri. His name is speedbump. He belongs to the people who run a recording studi down the street. Is this a declaration of support for our DIY endeavor? Or was he just cold, wet and incredibly affectionate...
But that changed today, I'm happy to say. Buoyed by the example of Bjork, we decided to not be so audiophile. We dropped the condenser for a good ol' SM57, and tossed aside Will and my perennial complaint - HEADPHONES - and turned up the divine monitors we're borrowing from Jon Cohrs, who will also be mastering our record (www.spleenlessmastering.com). Even with how terrific the room sounds are we've been getting at Gregory Heights, and all of the other exciting developments, tracking vocals without headphones was probably the most revelatory and exciting aspect of this process for me so far. I could tell what my breath support was like, I could hear my own volume, and my pitch was unfettered by a piece of plastic between my ears and the world. It was terrifically exciting, and if Africa is any indication, we're heading towards a record we're going to be very, very happy with.
And Chris know his mixing, for sure!
Forgot to eat. Ate. Watched the West Wing. And now there's a cat sleeping in my bedroom with Meri. His name is speedbump. He belongs to the people who run a recording studi down the street. Is this a declaration of support for our DIY endeavor? Or was he just cold, wet and incredibly affectionate...
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