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Post by wiz on Jan 2, 2018 16:11:04 GMT -6
After we left Nashville at the RGO get together in 2015, we drove to Memphis and I did the tour of Sun, and stayed on after to record.
In a 4 1/2 hour session, I tracked over 40 songs back to back, with a 10 minute break... The action was so high on the rented J200 I could hardly move my
fretting hand at the end... 8)
This is one of my original songs, probably my favourite I have written, from that session.
Was incredibly moving, to sit in that place, and record there... and I remember thinking I was a bit like "Dorothy" a long long way from home (Bundaberg Australia) and you never know where you are going to end up.
That was an incredible trip, meeting some amazing people from RGO and visiting all the places I had only dreamed of.
Cheers
Wiz
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Post by bradd on Jan 2, 2018 17:09:23 GMT -6
Wow! That sounds awesome! That RCA is perfect for your vocals. What was the chain for each mic?
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Post by wiz on Jan 2, 2018 17:20:58 GMT -6
Wow! That sounds awesome! That RCA is perfect for your vocals. What was the chain for each mic? My wallet really wishes you hadn't said that......8) I was the first session with the new engineer who took over the studio...Curry. I was hoping to use his rebuilt version of the original type of console at sun...but it wasn't ready. He used Sytek preamps on the 77 and 44 He tracked the whole thing in pro tools....all four and a half hours then gave me the original tracks and a mixed version This is his mix....I couldn't better it. IIRC it had just digi eq and the bomb factory 76 that comes with pro tools and the verb is pro tools as well cheers Wiz |
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Post by bradd on Jan 2, 2018 17:25:23 GMT -6
That shows how much of this is all about the room. I think you'd also sound great on a 47 type mic. What is your go to vocal mic currently?
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Post by wiz on Jan 2, 2018 19:07:25 GMT -6
That shows how much of this is all about the room. I think you'd also sound great on a 47 type mic. What is your go to vocal mic currently? U87i which I love... I have a pre order on a Stam 47 so we will see how that goes. When I have sung into real U47s I have just loved the experience. Cheers Wiz |
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Post by drbill on Jan 2, 2018 19:49:27 GMT -6
Peter - sounds great, but as I would have expected - very RCA retro. Really great for this tune.
It's interesting that you mentioned your usual mic is an 87. You should try using both an RCA and 87 simultaneously. I have done that with a few vocalists and it gives an amazing sound. I have no doubts it would sound super killer for you. The 87 would give you a touch more edge, dynamic vibeyness and allow you to pop out over a more band oriented mix / arrangement - while still capturing that smoky mojo.
You might have to monitor one mic only during vocals unless you can get the ribbon perfectly aligned with the 87 capsule. I don't usually try that because the vocalist doesn't know where to "point", and the sweet spot gets confusing. I actually put the ribbon behind the 87, and monitor the 87, pulling up the ribbon track(s) after comping is done to get the phase back in the zone. In many ways, I like this approach BETTER than a 47, as it has a little more smokiness, and authenticity, while still getting that neumann cut.
Thanks for sharing. Really cool that you got to do that.
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Post by bradd on Jan 2, 2018 20:43:36 GMT -6
One of these days I need to hear a 87. It sounds great on your songs.
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Post by EmRR on Jan 2, 2018 23:09:49 GMT -6
Sounds great, good song.
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Post by wiz on Jan 2, 2018 23:14:52 GMT -6
One of these days I need to hear a 87. It sounds great on your songs. Thanks, I think I lucked out with my 87 Cheers Wiz |
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Post by wiz on Jan 2, 2018 23:15:09 GMT -6
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Post by donr on Jan 3, 2018 0:17:59 GMT -6
Peter, great to see and hear that, I didn't realize you could actually still record in the "attraction" of Sun Studios. The RCA mics remind me of a session I did at Bell Sound in NYC years after BOC became something. All the mics the other NY studios put up for us where either Neumann's or dynamics.
It was wonderful to have met and spent time with you and your wife (and all other RGO peeps) in Nashville prior to that session.
As creative as your current song videos are, it's good to see you doing the audio creating. You oughta make key appearances in your online videos, like a sort of Obi Wan Kenobi narrator, in your video imagery.
40 songs? Holy Cow.
Hope you can use some of the tracks record to generate future content.
Gotta say, as cool as it is to see and hear this clip, what's coming out of your own studio for quite a while now is sonically smoking this precious artifact. Think of all the audio non-linearity between your Sun session and the iconic hits of Elvis, Jerry Lee, etc.
Thinking about the old days when the job was getting the vibe of a performance out to AM radio and crappy phonographs via an imperfect medium.
They got it loud and euphonic, but there was still air and space at the top of the loudness spectrum. The floor of the dynamic range was where it was really tight and socking.
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Post by ragan on Jan 3, 2018 0:21:35 GMT -6
One of these days I need to hear a 87. It sounds great on your songs. Wiz’s U87 and his voice are a perfect match in my opinion (and I am a big fan of both). |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 3, 2018 0:22:08 GMT -6
Damn! Fantastic, Wiz! (I know you as Wiz, not Peter lol) Man, I admire the ability to go in and say - I'm gonna lay it down like real artists do (did)...I think Bob talks a lot about how the industry is screwed by the fact that we don't have people (kids) growing up with live performance experience....and I soooo get that. Learning how to play, control your nerves, vocals, learn what you can do and what you can't - basically learning who you really are as an "artist" is so important.
All that to say - you seem to have that. You know who you are. You sound great and have a sound - a great sound. Keep doing what you're doing my friend! It sounds great.
So - as far as sonic imprint from the room - I've only listened on my laptop, and it sounds really great. But I wonder if we had this blind - listening to what Peter does in his own studio and an example of this - if we'd think "OMG, Memphis!" What Peter does at home is just as fantastic (OK, again, I reserve the right to completely disagree with myself once I listen on monitors)...but the video of him in that famous room makes us like it even more. Does that make any sense?
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 3, 2018 0:24:11 GMT -6
Gotta say, as cool as it is to see and hear this clip, what's coming out of your own studio for quite a while now is sonically smoking this precious artifact. Think of all the audio non-linearity between your Sun session and the iconic hits of Elvis, Jerry Lee, etc. Like I said, I haven't listened on the monitors, but this really was my first thought too. |
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Post by bricejchandler on Jan 3, 2018 5:25:49 GMT -6
Sounds beautiful!! The song is awesome as well congrats!
Nothing beats unedited live takes. I've been trying to record like this whenever I can. Get everybody in the room and just make it happen.
Congrats!
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,943 
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Post by ericn on Jan 3, 2018 7:24:10 GMT -6
As usual great stuff Peter as much as the 87 is perfect for your voice that RCA brings a great vibe as well!
Well done sir!
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Post by maq3396 on Jan 3, 2018 7:35:42 GMT -6
Absolutely awesome performance! Very moving song...made so by your passion. Thanks for sharing this
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Post by matt@IAA on Jan 3, 2018 7:57:51 GMT -6
I love the texture and character in your voice. I don't think I've ever had a chance to record someone with that level of complexity. I agree with the others here -- I think that vocal track is lacking some of the nuance you got in, say, Tiny Moments.
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Post by geoff738 on Jan 3, 2018 16:35:49 GMT -6
Very nice.
I was in that room in I wanna say 87? IIRC they had a 12 track Otari digital? recorder in there at the time. I didn’t record anything, just walked around. Still have and wear the t-shirt I bought there.
Glad you got to add to the great music that’s been recorded in that room.
Cheers,
Geoff
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Post by wiz on Jan 3, 2018 16:38:18 GMT -6
Peter, great to see and hear that, I didn't realize you could actually still record in the "attraction" of Sun Studios. The RCA mics remind me of a session I did at Bell Sound in NYC years after BOC became something. All the mics the other NY studios put up for us where either Neumann's or dynamics. It was wonderful to have met and spent time with you and your wife (and all other RGO peeps) in Nashville prior to that session. As creative as your current song videos are, it's good to see you doing the audio creating. You oughta make key appearances in your online videos, like a sort of Obi Wan Kenobi narrator, in your video imagery. 40 songs? Holy Cow. Hope you can use some of the tracks record to generate future content. Gotta say, as cool as it is to see and hear this clip, what's coming out of your own studio for quite a while now is sonically smoking this precious artifact. Think of all the audio non-linearity between your Sun session and the iconic hits of Elvis, Jerry Lee, etc. Thinking about the old days when the job was getting the vibe of a performance out to AM radio and crappy phonographs via an imperfect medium. They got it loud and euphonic, but there was still air and space at the top of the loudness spectrum. The floor of the dynamic range was where it was really tight and socking. That time meeting you and the other guys for the RGO get together is a top 10 night for me... Yeah, I was pretty spent at the end of the session, I was pretty excited being in that room though... 8) I know what you are saying about the videos, and I agree with you.. its just really really difficult when you do ALL of this stuff on your own... though I take your suggestion to heart and perhaps there is a way I can incorporate it in the future. There is massive vibe in that room, and where I was sitting, I could see the X on the floor where elvis stood with his back to the control room window...The room is not super soundproof, I heard a harley go by....8) Thanks donrI really appreciate the comments Cheers Wiz |
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Post by wiz on Jan 3, 2018 16:39:23 GMT -6
One of these days I need to hear a 87. It sounds great on your songs. Wiz’s U87 and his voice are a perfect match in my opinion (and I am a big fan of both). Thanks raganThe feeling is more than mutual dude Cheers Wiz |
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Post by wiz on Jan 3, 2018 16:41:55 GMT -6
Damn! Fantastic, Wiz! (I know you as Wiz, not Peter lol) Man, I admire the ability to go in and say - I'm gonna lay it down like real artists do (did)...I think Bob talks a lot about how the industry is screwed by the fact that we don't have people (kids) growing up with live performance experience....and I soooo get that. Learning how to play, control your nerves, vocals, learn what you can do and what you can't - basically learning who you really are as an "artist" is so important. All that to say - you seem to have that. You know who you are. You sound great and have a sound - a great sound. Keep doing what you're doing my friend! It sounds great. So - as far as sonic imprint from the room - I've only listened on my laptop, and it sounds really great. But I wonder if we had this blind - listening to what Peter does in his own studio and an example of this - if we'd think "OMG, Memphis!" What Peter does at home is just as fantastic (OK, again, I reserve the right to completely disagree with myself once I listen on monitors)...but the video of him in that famous room makes us like it even more. Does that make any sense? remember when we basically bumped into each other getting on and off the Vintage King bus...8) ha ha ha... Thanks for the really nice comments, coming from you, super high praise indeed, extremely humbled. There is something to just being the player and singer, instead of every thing .. for sure.... I reckon there is a lot of truth to what you say, about knowing that the room is Sun ups the ante for sure. Cheers Wiz |
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Post by wiz on Jan 3, 2018 16:43:19 GMT -6
Sounds beautiful!! The song is awesome as well congrats! Nothing beats unedited live takes. I've been trying to record like this whenever I can. Get everybody in the room and just make it happen. Congrats! Hi bricejchandlerThanks so much, I really appreciate the comments.... My wife (Jo) always is at me that I should just record me singing and playing on acoustic guitar and forget all the overdubbing stuff.... 8) Wheres the fun in that though? 8) cheers Wiz |
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Post by wiz on Jan 3, 2018 16:45:01 GMT -6
As usual great stuff Peter as much as the 87 is perfect for your voice that RCA brings a great vibe as well! Well done sir! Hi ericnand it does a fantastic job of covering up my noggin! 8) Of all the places I had to put that camera.....8) I would like a RCA 44, even just to look at... how cool would it be with a WSM Radio badge on it!!!!!!!! thanks mate Cheers Wiz |
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Post by wiz on Jan 3, 2018 16:45:39 GMT -6
Absolutely awesome performance! Very moving song...made so by your passion. Thanks for sharing this Thank you so much maq3396appreciate it Cheers Wiz |
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