Elk
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Attention Screen CD
ohfourohnine
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Am I wrong, or did the guy who engineered that recording play bass in another life?

Elk
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He did indeed!

Thus, I am particularly curious as to his decision as to how he recorded the instrument. As an amateur recording engineer I enjoy learning.

Editor
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I received my copy a day or so ago and seriously listened to it last night. The sound is spectacular and the performances intriguing. I am very pleased a bought it. You did a wonderful job!

Thank you, Elk. It's easier when you have musicians to work with who can get a good live sound balance, as with Attention Screen.


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Given that you recorded most of the instruments in a "classical way", including using Metric Halo gear, I was surprised that you used DI for the bass. The bass sound is great and it lays well in the mix so I am not in any way criticizing - but why not record the bass amp as you did the guitar?

The bass guitar is my own instrument and I have been recording it since the 1960s. As a result of that experience, I do like the impact a DI signal gives you, though I also like to mix in a bit of the more distant-miked sound of the bass amp, as in this recording.

The situation is somewhat different with the regular electric guitar, as the sound of the instrument depends on the amplifier characteristics to a much greater extent than with the bass.


Quote:
DI is very standard for recording electric bass but it seems antithetical for what you were setting out to accomplish; to record an electric band using acoustic recording techniques. Was there a challenge to recording the bass amp?

Not really. I felt that using a DI feed was an acceptable artistic decision. The sound of the bass you hear in the mix comprises the direct signal from the instrument

JasonVSerinus
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I have also been approached about making this and other Stereophile recordings available as hi-rez downloads, but there are contractual and other matters to be worked out first.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

Oh boy, would that be fabulous! Not only would it present multiple delicious opportunities for audiophiles, but it would also make a strong statement about the viability of those formats.

jason victor serinus

Elk
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Thank you, John!

This is exactly the kind of information I was interested in obtaining.

I like your approach of using the best techniques to obtain the musical result you want.

I was kidding about the SM57. A wonderful workhouse dynamic mic that is in every studio. It is great for recording an electric guitar amp - there probably is nothing better. You almost certainly already know this, but a ribbon mic - at a carefully chosen distance so as to not overload and damage it - can also sound incredible on an electric guitar amp. Another neat thing about ribbon mics is that the resulting recording seems to put up with a bit more EQ without sounding strained than recordings made with other mics.

I would love even one track at 24/88.2! Burning these one by one on DiskWelder would get pretty old however!

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Amateur "engineer". What school gives out degrees at the amateur level? Did you know the use of teh the term "engineer" attached to oneself is a LEGAL issue. Check it out. In one state I know of, the state can and will fine users in business that apply that term to their credentials, business cards, leterheads without the degree etc or paperwork to support the title. $1,000 day in some cases. amazing how everyone is an engineer, if they dont have a degree or other supporting documents. Like "support" engineer or customer service "engineer"...no such thang. Sales "engineer"...use so loosley such misuse. Ver are yur PAPERS?!!!??

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John, are you gonna start recording in DSD? Make the stuff then in hybrid SACD stuff. DSD smokes all.

Elk
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Amateur "engineer". What school gives out degrees at the amateur level?

Oh please . . .

(Where did they put that roll-eyes icon anyway?)

lionelag
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Metric Halo makes great sounding stuff, but I wouldn't think of them as classical simply because they're used in classical studio recording-- I went to college with Joe Buchalter, the president of MH, and he's actually one hell of a good electric guitar player (rock and jazz)...

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(Where did they put that roll-eyes icon anyway?)

We could sure use one around here!

RG

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Metric Halo makes great sounding stuff, but I wouldn't think of them as classical simply because they're used in classical studio recording-- I went to college with Joe Buchalter, the president of MH, and he's actually one hell of a good electric guitar player (rock and jazz)...


This is great to know!

I refer to Metric Halo as "classical" only because the expressed goal of Mr. Atkinson was to present "an amplified ensemble as honestly as his classical recordings". As it sounds like you know, Metric Halo equipment is one of the manufacturers favored by those that want to make uncolored recordings - such as classical recording engineers*. Thus the teasing reference.

In my opinion, there is no types of music other than good and bad, even though I am primarily a classical musician and listener. There is a lot of great music out there of all genres.

Thanks for the info!

*For DUP - substitute the phrase "classical recordists" for the phrase "classical recording engineers" to avoid being offended. Also stop ignoring the definition of engineer as one who plans, manage, and puts through by skillful acts. You will be upset less often. Maybe.

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Why are there no samples of the new and past cd's available? In this internet age I've grown accustomed to being able to sample anything and everything prior to purchasing and have held off ordering this new release because of this. I can understand those interested in recording techniques perhaps jumping on this, but it's suppose to be about the music. Just curious.

RG

Elk
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This is a great idea. Samples of the music would be very helpful for determining if the music is of interest to a potential purchaser.

Also, even a low-bit rate MP3 can demonstrate how much better some recordings are than others. Thus, samples would also help for those just interested in the sound itself.

Then again, samples of sweep tones as presented on the test CDs probably wouldn't be interesting to anyone.

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