1st recording session...

So finally me and Alie managed to get into the studio to record some songs for our album. For our first recording session as just me and Alie it went pretty well.

We began the session by grabbing all the equipment we'd reserved for the session and headed back to the live room to begin setting up. Overall, the setting up part went well with it taking us only 15 minutes to get ready. Although the set-up was basic it was just the way we wanted it. The two C1000s microphones were placed in the 'X,Y' position over the top of the piano faced inside of the body of the piano to capture as much sound as we could. The C414 was used for the vocals and was set-up at the front of the live room. We plugged the C414 microphone was plugged into channel 4 and the two C1000s microphones were plugged into channels 5 and 6.

Piano set-up with the two C1000s Microphones!

Vocals all miced up with C414 mic!

Following the set-up of the live room, me and Alie went into the control room to set-up the mixing desk and the mac ready for recording. This didn't take us an overly long time however, we did come across a few small issues with getting the sound through the speakers which was fixed with the press of a button. Before the recording session we both decided that we would record the vocals and then the piano afterwards, so I set up two channels in Pro-Tools, one for the vocals and two for the piano.

All the tracks set-up on Pro-Tools ready to go!

Mixing desk all set-up and ready to go!

After the set-up of the control room I went into the live room to practice my pieces before the actual recording to warm myself up ready to go. Whilst I was practicing Alie used this opportunity to adjust the levels on the desk for the piano. After the piano was ready, Alie went into the Live room to have a little practice whilst I adjusted the levels for the vocals, before this we plugged headphones in so we could communicate with each other with having to keep coming in and out of one room. However, we had a little trouble with sorting out the headphones so they'd work properly but that problem was quickly solved when we switched the pair of headphones for another pair. As well as the problem with the headphones we also had problems getting Alie's phone to play the music through the desk into the headphones so we could play along to the songs to ensure we were in time, this was solved by pressing down the Aux buttons on channels 1 and 2 on the desk.

Channels 1 & 2 Aux inputs for Alie's phone!

Aux input for Alie's phone!

After everything was completely ready to go me and Alie got started right away with recording the vocals. As we did one practice of each song before 'officially' recording, we came up with the idea of recording the practice as well as the 'official' in case it comes out better.

Alie's vocals being recorded!

Vocals & Aux channels!

Once we'd recorded the vocals for the first song which was 'White Flag' by Dido, we got straight on with it to record the piano part for the song. I went in and had one practice run through and then went on to record the official track. I messed up many times and it took me a while to get a decent recording of the song. As well as this we also found that we didn't like the sound of the piano, the sound was muffled and was pretty poor all together due to the fact there was felt covering the strings. We found out after the session that this can be changed and the felt can be removed, this is one thing that we would change for our next recording session.

By the time the end of the session came we had managed to record vocal tracks for Dido - White Flag, Simple Plan - Every time and We the Kings - Check Yes Juliet. We only managed to get piano tracks recorded for Dido - White Flag and a half decent recording of the piano for Simple Plan - Every time that I'm not particularly happy with.

Overall, I learnt a lot during this process as it was a chance for me to really get to know the equipment and the way it works. I was pleased with how well the recordings of the vocals went as they sounded clear and just the way we expected. On the other hand, I wasn't as impressed with the piano tracks and am going to be re-doing them at a later date.

Thanks for reading,

Charlotte.

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.

Recording Session Plans...

So continuing on from our previous group me and Alie have planned out two recording sessions so far which should give us enough time to record the best part of six songs. We still have a lot of planning to do for another possible two recording sessions but this is what we've come up with so far.

Recording Session One:

Recording: Three original songs.
Instruments: Piano and Vocals.
Equipment:

• 2 x C1000s Microphones
• 1 x C414 Microphone
• 3 x Stands
• 3 x Mic Clips
• 2 x X.L.R Cables
• 1 x Music Stand
• 1 x Headphones

Recording Session Two:

Recording:

• Kate Voegele - All I See
• Evanescence - My Immortal
• Third song is yet to be confirmed

Instruments: Piano and Vocals.
Equipment:

• 2 x C1000s Microphones
• 1 x C414 Microphone
• 3 x Stands
• 3 x Mic Clips
• 3 x X.L.R Cables
• 1 x Music Stand
• 1 x Headphones

Floor plan for the above recording sessions. 

Recording Session Notes: For this recording session we may be having drums and guitar being recorded for these songs as well however, in this recording session we'll just be recording the piano and vocals for these three songs.

Thanks for reading,

Chazzy!

So we've taken the hint...

So we've got the idea that the others have left our group even though they still haven't told us. They made it pretty clear they had left our group by joining in with other groups recording sessions and planning their own thing so we've taken the hint and planned on ahead with our project. Although it puts a spanner in the works by having only me and Alie as a group we're working as hard as we can to make this work and to get the best grade possible. It's annoying that they've decided to just leave us half way through the project as this means that me and Alie have to record a whole new set of songs in half the time we've originally had so i'm pretty annoyed about that.

Despite all of the above me and Alie have planned out recording sessions (read following post) and have agreed on some designs for an album cover. So we're getting things done it's just a matter of being able to get it all done well and how we want in the time we have left. I have hope we'll get there though!

Thanks for reading,

Chazzy.

So there's talk...

Earlier this week me and Alie heard that there's talk of the other three members of our group wanting to form their own group which would leave me and Alie on our own. As we haven't actually been told this by the other members of our group we've sat down and worked out our back up plan if this does happen.

Our plan consists of similar ideas that we had in mind in the first place, an acoustic EP consisting of six tracks. We've chosen six new songs and are going to use the other tracks that have been recorded for personal use instead. 

Tracklisting (not in order):

• Kate Voegele - Kindly Unspoken
• Kate Voegele - All I See 
• Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight, Tonight
• Elliot Minor - The Liar Is You
• Evanescence - My Immortal
• The Mitch Hansen Band - Lullaby

We also chose a back up song (The All American Rejects - It Ends Tonight) in case we couldn't do the last one (The Mitch Hansen Band - Lullaby) and we may include an original song as a bonus track that we're both going to write but we're still deciding whether to do this. As well as this we have a pretty good idea for a possible album artwork which Alie is in the process of designing. So we have a pretty full proof plan and are quite happy with it. 

Although it's been pretty full on with re-deciding and changing everything we've done so far, it's been a big step forward from all the mess we were in. Lets hope things go to plan, we'll see.

Thanks for reading,

Chazzy.