So… Philly’s Audible invited me to help out recording an EP this summer.  We started tracking in late August at Audible’s garage practice space in Philadelphia’s Fishtown.  Tracking was done over a few days and nights and consisted of the basics…guitar, bass, and drums.  However, we tracked Mike, Kris, and Steve [...]]]> A history lesson…

So… Philly’s Audible invited me to help out recording an EP this summer.  We started tracking in late August at Audible’s garage practice space in Philadelphia’s Fishtown.  Tracking was done over a few days and nights and consisted of the basics…guitar, bass, and drums.  However, we tracked Mike, Kris, and Steve live, focusing on capturing a more cohesive sound from the start. After the basics were done, we spent some time on guitar overdubs with Mike, Jim, and Ed and then finished up at the garage by reamping Kris’ bass tracks for a more vibey tone.  Double-miked bass cab.  When you can’t decide between an SM7b and an RE20 for something, well…use ‘em both.

Mike and Kris then spent the Fall adjusting to parenthood and tracking overdubs at home.  Guitars, keys, vocals, baby sounds.  We’ve been mixing since late December over here at The Laundromat (my basement project studio), and Mike has been checking these mixes at his day gig over at NFL Films (you know, at a real world-class recording studio…yes kids, those places still exist!)

Which brings us to this evening (am I long-winded or what?).

Slightly tweaked two songs’ mixes, tracked Mike and Mary’s vocals for “14 Weeks”, and then finished up by mixing it.

The Isolette EP is now finished and ready for mastering!

First time using PSP’s Lexicon 42 delay for various [...]]]> Spent the better part of the day with Mike Kennedy mixing three new Audible songs.  “All Alarms”, “Isolette”, and “Last Thing I Remember”.  We had two prior mixing days, but today things really came together.  A few more tweaks and these new gems are ready for mastering.

First time using PSP’s Lexicon 42 delay for various tracks, and we both love this thing.  Using it on the vocal bus, some guitars, other things.  Really great delay plug-in.  Not much reverb is getting used on individual instruments; some plate stuff here and there, and of course the room is showing up in the drum overheads and the guitars have their own spring reverb stuff going on.  We’re planning on using a little bit of reverb on each of the mixes during mastering, which I think is definitely a new thing for both of us.  Things may change but this is the game plan as of right now.

Another night of mixing tomorrow with one more song.  After that, maybe another night tightening some stuff up before mastering.  And we’re recording one more song for the record this week.  Just acoustic guitar with Mike and Mary singing.  Planing on using the nice acoustics in the middle bedroom over here on Indiana Avenue for that one.  Stay tuned!