How do you do this?
Equipment:
Microtech Gefell M940 Microphone. My pride and joy, used on the last two tunes of “Over the Edge of Innocence” and the upcoming Transitions release. It’s a hypercardioid to reduce echos, and has a beautiful bronze finish.
Studio Projects C1 Microphone. A great general purpose mic.
Powerbook G4, then MacBook Pro, now iMac. Great machines, all!!
RME Fireface UCX pre-amp and digitizer.
Logic 7.2 -> Logic Studio 8 -> Logic Studio 9. The only audio workstation I’ve ever used, but I can’t imagine anything more powerful! Thanks to of AllDigital in New York City for the initial recommendation and Barry Sanders (formerly of Professional Audio Solutions) in Nashville, TN for spending a day with me configuring my system.
Waves Platinum Native Bundle. Great quality Logic plug-ins!
BFD. Thanks to Matt Gibbs for the recommendation!
ART Tube MP pre-amp . I use this primarily for amplification of a magnetic pickup on my 6 string guitar. The tube provides an interesting coloration of vocals as well that I used on a few background parts. This was purchased from Christy Beard formerly of AB Stephens Music in Huntsville, AL. Christy is lead guitarist for the Love Apples.
Grace Design Model 101 Microphone Pre-amplifier . I needed a pre-amp suited to the M940. I’m using it on the second CD, and I purchased it through Sweetwater.
That’s it! The recording hardware and software in a nutshell.
Location, location, location:
My apartment. I finally have acoustic treatment from Auralex. Wow, what a difference that makes! I've also incorporated room compensation from IK Multimedia, which helps overcome other deficiencies that I can't so far correct.
Instruments:
George Washburn D-29S-12 12 string guitar. Nothing fancy. I finger pick with just my bare pinkies. I never learned to use a pick; I feel a lack of control with them and the pick sound is too harsh for my taste. Three fingers and a thumb. When I strum, I use a pick so thin you can see through it, ‘cause I like that sound to be gentle, too. The strings are whatever Christy recommends, because she knows more about guitars than I do. (Coated with Gortex, she says.)
Yamaha FG-160 6 string guitar. Purchased in Memphis, TN on 15 December, 1976 at Berl Olswanger Music for $109.50, plus tax (Yes, I have the receipt). My Junior year high school X-mas present. I play this one the same style as the 12 string.
Fender Squier Strat. 2007, S/N CY07011210. Signed by Bruce Springsteen!
I’ve replaced the pickups with EMG D20 David Gilmour Signature series per Christy’s recommendation.
Viola, E. R. Bfrehschner (sp?). Manufactured 1987. A rental from The Fret Shop, Huntsville, AL. Used on the first CD, but returned now.
Viola, 16” Ivan Dunov Superior, number 2/7389 (? difficult to read). Manufactured in 2004 and purchased from The Fret Shop in Huntsville, AL.
Conn Director trombone. Circa 1969, purchased used during my 6th grade elementary schooling. For use in the Wildcat marching band of Calhoun City, MS, directed by Mr. Christ himself. (Really!)
Treble Native American cedar flute. Circa 2004. Handmade by Jim Smith of Cortez, CO.
Contrabass Native American cedar flute. Handmade by David Nighteagle, Mancos, CO, 2005.
Folk Master G Harmonica.
Marine Band D Harmonica.
Vocals. Just me. From July of 2006 until January, 2009, I received vocal instruction from Musicology in Madison, AL. I think it helped, but you can decide for yourself when the sophomore CD is completed.
Album artwork:
Thanks to Tania Dickson of Huntsville, AL for the beautiful watercolor artwork for “Over the Edge of Innocence!” She took the time to listen to the CD, and created a piece of art that I think perfectly captures the mood of those tunes. Great work, and thanks, Tania!
Critics, fans, and fellows:
Thanks to Christy Beard for always being so supportive, complimentary, and for providing broad suggestions on things such as “direction” for the music. Christy writes tunes with her sister in the group Love Apples, performs vocals, and plays a totally rockin’ guitar!
Thanks also to Ted Roberts for his scrupulous attention and commentary on my lyrics and tunes, and helping me to get the word out. Ted, I tried to follow your advice, and even when I didn’t I was listening! BTW, I’m trying to add more notes.
A special thanks to Russ Patten, for enjoying my music enough to play selections from “Over the Edge of Innocence” on his radio program in Delores, CO.
I greatly appreciate the mixing advice of Matt Gibbs and his tremendous knowledge of Logic. As a user since Logic v3 and a vast array of plugins, he’s been able to show me tricks I’ve never thought of.