SalvoBlog Ola’

Good Guys....

Tue, 27 May 2008 08:37:36 -0400

Its tough to write about a writer, especially a friend, so don’t be too critical of my literary skills, I’m a recording engineer. Sometimes a bit too specialized for the free world, but I am expanding as a blogger...
Its a funny story, a sad story, an angry story, but a good story. It wasn’t more than a few months ago Regie and I were sitting in the studio complaining, yes, complaining. Somehow making music isn’t enough, you got to pay the bills, dress your kids right, put gas in the car... yada.. yada.. We both have Grammys, tons of great records, great songs, what is it that WE need?? HHmm.
The whole story is probably a little too long to tell. Regie first hired me back in the mid-90’s. Yep, we’re that old. Actually, mid-90’s is probably mid-career for both of us. Well, apparently it went well and he called again. At this moment I can not recall the 1st session we had together. Sorry Reg. Anyways, I have really enjoyed the years working on and off for Regie. He’s the real deal. A writer/producer/Artist/piano player and yeah drums too..
So at the end of our little chat last year, we decided all we needed was a “HIT”. Yup, someone would certainly take notice if we had a hit! Money would roll in and we could get back to making records the old fashioned way... Everybody in the room at the same time. :)
The point of this little blog today is to say, here’s to the good guys. Regie chalked one up for us by winning the American Idol Songwriting Contest last week. Buy some of his other music and you will not be disappointed. Help the good guys out!

4 Eyes, 2 Ears

Tue, 13 May 2008 22:24:27 -0400

So I got my first pair of glasses a couple weeks ago. I had no idea what I was missing! When I put them on, everything had edges again. I can see in HD now... Reminds of me of a speaker shoot out I just attended.
Recently I went to a demonstration of the Digidesign RM2’s. Honestly, I wasn’t that excited to go. Just wanted to see a bud who I knew was going to be there, so my expectations weren’t that high. I mean God Bless Digidesign, but speakers?
So I got there a little late and sat on the sofa with the 5 or 6 other people there. The PMC rep was explaining the logic behind the making of RM’s and the philosophy of the co-brand... yada yada.. Then, he started playing tunes. There were 2 other pairs of speakers that he went back and forth with, I would mention the names but many people would be upset because the RM2’s made them sound like expensive trash.
I was stunned! Being a Genelec man I am not easily impressed. After a few songs, I pushed a couple people out of the way and sat dead center at the board. They had my attention. Another couple of snippets of songs and I got up and looked behind the board to make sure there was no shannigans. Nope, a clean shoot-out, crap! So I grabbed the keyboard and logged onto to my site to play some mixes I had just finished, also apologizing to the other people for being a bully in the process. Wow, I thought to myself, could I actually buy a pair of speakers that said Digidesign on them? I left dismayed. I immediately went back to the studio where I was working at and fixed a few things in the mixes I had just played on the RM2’s.
I’m not sure what the moral of the story is, but I may start using 3 pairs of monitors to mix. Just like my glasses, the RM2’s gave me a more precise image on some things. If you are looking to upgrade, give them a shot. AND no I am not getting a kick back.
Check back in a couple days there will be a 2nd part to this. I demo-ed them in one of my favorite studios... Secrets revealed....

Blog, Just To Blog

Sat, 10 May 2008 08:18:41 -0400

Ok, I’m a few months into trying to blog recording info and fun stories and I have realized something. Its tough to write... How do these people do it? New blog every day? I have a new respect for bloggers. I always have ideas swimming in my head, but sitting down and forming them into pithy little blogs is a tough thing to do. So the cats out of the bag on me, be patient, I will get around to the questions you are all asking!

BTW, if you need to search for something you can use this page to look for cool audio stuff... All Things Audio

Mix, When Is It Done?

Sat, 2 Feb 2008 07:25:17 -0500

Wow! Here’s a whopper! A buddy asked me this the other day. How’s that for a giant can of big beefy worms? Well, I can give you the short answer....

When you run out of Time or Money!

Yeah, giggle, but you know what, a huge chunk of records are done because of time, its call a deadline. Most of the rest are done because the budget is gone. Its not all gloom and doom though, usually its for the best. Mixes shouldn’t take forever, and they should be enjoyable, not stressful.
Now, for the long answer. With the advent of technology, mixes can be recalled within minutes and a lot of you are now mixing your own stuff. I am going to give you some thoughts on how to wrap your mix before you start collecting you pension. Also, you will be able to sleep better at night.
Traditionally, a mix takes about a day. That’s if you throw out a couple handfuls of high end artists and throw out a bunch of bargain basement records. The happy median is roughly a day a mix. So for a major/independent record a whole album could take 10-14 days. A couple days extra for good measure. Also, another key point I want to point out is that I always like to make final decisions on a mix in the morning fresh, not late at night. This adds at least a day to the mix, because the first day we never get a mix done. We come back fresh and then close.
I give you that little stat to help you determine what length of time is going to be appropriate for you. I suggest you work in 2-3 hour blocks and take breaks. When mixing, you are concentrating very hard and you mind needs a break so get up and walk away. I work tons faster when I am fresh than when I am tired. Things flow a whole lot better when rested, so don’t discount breaks. Also, remember to breathe, a massage therapist once told me that when people concentrate they hold their breathe. This causes you to tense up and become fatigue, so breathe. Think about it next time you listen intently to something..
So here’s a few guidelines:

1- Check your mix on 3-4 trusted speakers. Make sure you have several listening routines that you know real well. For me, its my Genelecs, HD-600 headphones, my car, and my laptop.

2- Ask 2 or 3 trusted and objective people how they like it. Don’t lead them with a specific question though, like “how’s the vocal? Is it too loud?” Let them comment without a lead in.

3- Walk the freak away! I’ve had guys listen to the song all day and then jump in the car and listen to it another 4 hours.
Not smart. Remember, people listening to your song will get a “first impression” and then determine from that to listen again. You want to always consider the first impression, not the 2 guitar notes that fly by in a half second underneath the vocal.

4- Don’t be afraid to make a decision. Its done when you say its done. People warm up to a mix no matter what if they like the song. You ever hear of demo love? Its a constant battle, so don’t take your mix too seriously, its the song. I’m not saying to be sloppy, I am saying there is a point when you are just making the mix different, not better.

Alright, so I didn’t answer my buddies’ question, but at least I gave you some insight on how to finish your mix. Maybe you should give yourself a budget and a deadline.
It may save your sanity....

Small Room Acoustic

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:47:33 -0500

It has come up over the last few weeks people asking what should they do if they have a small room they are going to be recording and listening in. I want to address that with some practical advice. I have personally owned or been personally responsible for 5 or 6 studios over the last decade or two and I am currently consulting on a large studio build. There are things you can do for little or no money that will help you out. My comments will be specifically geared to someone who has a studio at home, in a basement, or dorm ... etc.
Now these are just some guidelines, you are going to have to do some listening to make them work. First of all, please don’t kill the room so that it is so dead that nothing sounds natural. Your goal is to make the room close to even as far as high end/low end with a little ambience, but not enough to affect your listening. Also, you should already have something on the floor if not carpeted. A floor rug, something, bare hardwood floors are tough to deal with...
First thing you should consider is the wall behind you as you listen. Your speakers are shooting right at it. Depending how live the room is at first, you may want to put something absorptive on it or diffuse it. If the room is really live, try foam, tapestry, or curtains. If the room is fairly natural already try something to diffuse, bookcase, cd shelves, or one of those fancy diffusers you can order. Of the smaller rooms I have been involved in, I have done one or the other.
You don’t necessarily have to do the whole wall. Just the area the speakers are aimed at.
Next, the wall behind your speakers. If you are having trouble with too much low end or your listening sweet spot doesn’t seem to be defined, you should probably deaden this wall a fair amount. You are concerned about what comes out the front of you speakers not so much what comes out the back. Using foam, carpet, or what have you can really make a difference for you!