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Release date announced!!!

Plan and deadlines. Six track EP to be complete by 8th March, mastered the following week, hopefully available to purchase by March 17th. It will then be touted around while trying to get in some rehearsals for gigs starting beginning April. Will be taking advantage of the Radio One "One Music" page where you can upload demos, worth checking out since there are some quite good tracks on there (if you don't mind downloading RealOne Audio .. despite warnings I gave into it, now it flashes up all this shit while I'm on-line).

This is a Real Record!

The sophistication of real drums!!! All a bit overwhelming when RedWave drums previously revolved around a 4 bar loop or two. Frustration one: all guitars had to be re-recorded on account of inconsistent stereo image and too much need for editing - one of the problems of very precise mics and very in-precise player! Sound much better now, changed the position so that they were both below the sound hole, spaced about 8 inches apart pointing in towards it ...and added some picked harmony overdubs. Frustration two: the drums have been challenging; they are great (especially after RickStar spent an evening getting the basic sound right), but am used to more consistent sound, everything being at predictable level and no overspills. Striving for this effect destroys the character, so aiming for a middle ground, a lot of tweeking etc ... tomorrow I'll juggle the wiring and bring them down seperate channels on the mixing desk with just the bass (dub style) to get precisely what I want.

January distractions...

A few too many, but all good experience - session singing on boy band pop pitch for Universal Publishing (about a million harmonies, all double tracked) ... singing for acid jazz band at Jazz Cafe (Tito Lopez combo), which was fun and they even gave us free beer and chicken. Very nice. Also, the RickStar has been called upon to perform with his funky sticks at the Brits for Avril Lavigne! Lets hope he doesn't get swiped for her world tour or anything ...
posted by K at 1:50 PM

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posted by K at 9:16 AM

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The Drums 1

Wicked session over NYE and NYD. Helped by the loan of three brand new DPA mics - two omnis on overheads (ORTF) and a cardiod on the snare - used Neumann TLM 103 on highhat, AKG 414s on two top toms and apart from the reliable D112 on (newly re-headed) kick, the poor-but-wicked relation was an electrovoice for the bass tom. With just the two of us in the studio, we managed to focus and put down six tracks over the two days, with a 10 minute break to watch the fireworks from studio roof (sky was a cauldron) and glug some shit fizzy wine at midnight.

Tracked through analogue desk (no compression/EQ) to 24-bit protools mix system, ended up sounding big and phat, especially since NS10s had been replaced temporarily by KRK active monitors. And of course the playing, nice one RickStar! Best I heard from him yet - especially considering the range of styles and emotions that were demanded. During one song (Lastnight), I was looking at him and thought he looked really upset and he was looking at me thinking the same and we ended up in a looking upset feedback loop but nobody cried! Noticed that he definitely performed better when being watched, so its not true what they say about kettles. Only downside is that now the standard has been set a few million feet higher and half the backing tracks will have to be re-done.

The Guitar 1

Spent Friday night trying out DPA mini-mics for stereo imaging on the acoustic guitar, sound quality superb considering the diaphram is 5.4mm - stuck on to the guitar body parallel above and below the hole, top one further back than the other - but I think it needs mixing in with a mono track recorded away from the guitar for a bit of depth. Experimented with vocals being sung between the two mini-mics as stereo track, quite like the wandering sound, and want to mix it in with final vocal take.

Nuff tekkiness, on to the next stage, editing and getting the rest of the tracks together. We have set date for first gig to be second week of April. Will be setting date for demo release next week, when I have better idea of what is to be done!
posted by K at 8:07 AM

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Testing!
posted by K at 3:15 PM

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RickStar, the man with the drums, currently driving through hail and rain from South Shields, his North Sea Soul refreshed, belly full of christmas cheer, drums in boot. Sacrificing New Year's celebrations to get downtime in ace studio. Have spent last two months doing pre-pro with dodgy loops, can't wait to get behind that desk to lay it down live ... big up the Rick and his Funky Sticks!
posted by K at 12:53 PM