1st Recording Session Plan...

So we've managed to book our first recording session for next week so we can get a start on recording the first few songs for our album. Our aim for this recording session is to record at least 3 songs however, if we were to reach this target well within good time we've prepared another song in case so we can get as many songs done in the time we have avaliable. The four songs we've picked to record are:

1. Dido - White Flag
2. We The Kings - Check Yes Juliet
3. Avril Lavigne - Don't Tell Me
4. Simple Plan - Everytime

For these four songs we'll be recording just the vocals and piano, at a later date we may decide to add a string section in on pro-tools.
For this recording session we'll be using various equipment in which we think is suitable for the instruments we'll be recording.

Equipment List:

2 x C1000s Microphones
3 x Microphone Clips
3 x Microphone Stands
3 x X.L.R Leads
1 x C414 Microphone
1 x Pop Shield
1 x Music Stand
1 x Headphones
1 x 3.5mm Jack

For this equipment we're planning on using the 2 C1000s microphones in the X,Y technique for the piano, this will capture both the high and the low end of the piano which will ensure we will pick up the full range of the piano. The C414 microphone is being used to mic up the vocals with a pop shield over the top, this will ensure a reasonably clear recording with no 'popping' from the vocals as the pop shield will make sure the microphone doesn't pick any of that up.

Floor plan for 1st recording session. 

This is all we have so far for this recording session, there will be another blog up shortly after the session to say how it went and how far we got.

Thanks for reading,

Chazzy!

Financial Planning...

Recently me and Alie got in touch with a studio to see how much it'd cost to get our EP recorded and mixed. They had a good industry standard equipment list in which we thought was very good as seen as it was fairly cheap to record there, the equipment list was provided on the website and consists of:

Equipment List:

Monitoring Systems:

• Genelec's 1030a's
• Auratones 5C's

Microphones:

• Audix D6
• Audix D4
• Audix i5
• AKG D112
• AKG C3000b
• Heil PR20
• PEARLMAN TM-1
• RODE NT1A
• RODE NT2A x2
• Shure SM7B
• Shure SM57 x4
• Shure SM58 
• Sennheiser MD421 x2
• SE Electronics SE1A x2
• Telefunken M81

Outboard:

• API 3123+
• Chandler Germanium Pre 
• Chandler Tg Channel 
• Manley All Tube Mic Pre
• Avalon 737sp
• Focusrite OctoPre
• GREAT RIVER MP2-NV
• Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor 
• PURPLE AUDIO MC-77 (1176 x2)
• Yamaha SPX90 

Amps/Guitars:

• Framus Cobra 
• Peavy 6505
• Bogner Uberschall Twin Jet
• Orange Dark Terror
• Marshall JCM 2000 DSL
• Kemper Profiling Amp
• Crate GFX 1200H 
• Bogner 4x12 Uberkab with V30's and G12T75's
• Marshall 4x12
• 72' Fender Telecaster Limited Edition
• PRS
• Schecter Diamond Series
• Schecter Blackjack ATX Solo 6
• Musicman Bass
• Fender Jazz Geddy Lee Custom x2

Drums 

• Gretsch USA Custom in Sky Blue Pearl 
• 8x12 Rack Tom
• 16x16 Floor Tom
• 16x24 Kick Drum
• Single Iron Cobra HP900
• Custom Pearl Vinnie Paul Snare 8x14
• 14x6.5 Snare 
• Tama 5,5x14 StarClassic Performer Snare
• Meinl 14" Byzance Traditional Thin Hi Hats 
• Meinl 22" Byzance Custom Crash

Pedals/Other:

• Sans Amp Tech 21 Programmable Bass Driver
• Boss GEB-7
• Boss Noise Suppressor 
• Ibanex Tube Screamer
• Radial X-Amp

Plugins (A list of just a few):

• Waves Mercury Bundle 
• Waves SSL 4000 Collection
• Melodyne 
• Auto-Tune
• Miroslav Philarmonik 
• Mcdsp Complete Bundle 
• Native Instruments Massive 
• Sound Toys Effects
• Eleven
• PEAVEY REVALVER MK III
• LePou LeCto
• LePou LeGion
• LePou LeXTAC
• Amplitube Fender
• Amplitube 2
• Ampeg
• T-Racks 3
• Izotope 

So above you can see the long list of industry standard equipment that is available in this studio. The price rates of using this studio for recording would be £350 a day for a full band recording however, as we're doing an acoustic EP instead it would only cost us £200 a day. We also worked out how long it would take us roughly, we came to the conclusion that it would take us around 4-5 days at the most if we went there fully prepared. We found that this was the best studio out of all of the ones we looked at.

Thanks for reading!

Chazzy!

Update...

So from my previous post we had two recording sessions planned at the very least. The first recording session consisted of recording 'original' songs that me and Alie was planning on writing during our week off. However, this never happened due to unforseen circumstances on the other hand, me and Alie are now in the process of discussing ideas for three replacement songs which will be covers. We have discussed a few ideas that we're currently trying out to see how well we get on with them.

So to clarify the tracklist for our EP so far (Not in order):

1. Kate Voegele - All I See
2. Evanscence - My Immortal
3. Kate Voegele - Kindly Unspoken
4. Avril Lavigne - Don't Tell Me (Maybe)
5. Simple Plan - Everytime (Maybe)
6. Dido - White Flag (Maybe)
7. We The Kings - Check Yes Juliet (Maybe)

The above list hasn't been fully confirmed yet by me and Alie as we're just still trying out the songs to see how well we get on with them and to see if we're happy with them before confirming anything. Changes shall be made to our recording session plans in terms with the songs we're going to be recording but everything else will be staying as it was originally. More updates will be coming soon...

Thanks for reading,

Chazzy.