Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Pompeii
I think it would be safe to describe Pompeii as a moderately famous indie rock band in Texas. Anyway they were our band for today. I had forgotten how loud these shows can be, so after about an hour in monitor world I decided to grab my ear plugs so I could keep my hands free and wasn't doing this number the whole time:
His name is Jeff. He DJ's sweet strawberry jams. We call him Most Jeffinitely.
But it was cool to see one of the bands that had been doing the indie music circuit in Texas actually branching out after so long. Brought back memories. I had seen them once or twice with my old band. They are touring Europe in September.
I have a new appreciation for monitor guys dealing with loud rock bands. It's so difficult to get anything up above the stage volume. You really almost need a system as loud as the FOH for the singer to hear himself. I think I got everything pushed up enough for them, but still I understand it is tough to sing on pitch when you are working your voice so hard to get it above 105-110 dB of amps and drums. Still I think monitors are kind of fun. My teacher thinks monitor guys are crazy.
On a side note, I really like how these pictures turned out after throwing them in PSP. I like those nasty oranges and blues from the 60's and 70's that are kind of fighting each other. They are absolutely disgusting colors, but for some reason you love it. Reminds me of the Beatles, or Motown.
Ciao.
Monday, August 17, 2009
On Kindness
Showing kindness makes people smile, even in the little things, because for one second they have faith in something greater than themselves, and kindness can change a person's heart. - Yours truly
Ciao.
Ciao.
mmmMMMmmm
*smacks lips* analog goodness . . .
. . . you tell 'em Paul. Pan it hard left and right.
Ciao.
Ciao.
The D-19, the 635a, and the SM57.
I've really been into vintage dynamic mics lately for the same reasons that I enjoy a dirty 1950 Silvertone guitar or an early 1900's piano: they have character. Not only were they constructed completely differently from how they are made today, but they have age and wear, which make them unpredictable from one mic to the next. I have two EV 635a mics. They are only a few years apart in age but the newer one gives a much hotter level than it's younger brother.
I've noticed that in a number of old studio photos of the Beatles you see them using AKG D-19s.
It almost seems like they used that mic much like we use a Shure SM57 today. For them it was the kind of microphone that worked on everything. The D-19 was also rebranded and sold by Telefunken. This pair happens to be in pristine condition, not to mention it has very sexy casing.
Get them here on eBay. They're $480 for the pair.
While looking around for cool vintage mics I picked up two EV 635a's, which as I said before tend to vary in sound from year to year.
I love these mics for their unique midrange character and like to pair one of these with a condenser for acoustic guitar. Again, there are a ton of these old dynamic microphones that often tend to work on any instrument, or at least give that instrument its own voice in the recording. And if you're smart, you can pick these up for cheap on eBay or, if you want to go through the hassle, at TV stations in their back closets that nobody's stepped foot into since 1970.
Everybody has seen an SM57. Everybody has used an SM57. Everybody probably owns an SM57 actually.
Anyway, as I have been saying this whole time, they work on everything. Save the "air" for the condensers. Personally, just so I can achieve a sound that others wouldn't be able to get with an SM57, I like to try and find an old mic that is slightly varied from an SM57, but still similar enough in sonic character that it sounds familiar. The Unidyne 545 is the SM57's predecessor. It's also kind of cool.
(Stripped down SM7. You can buy the newer SM7b here)
Anyway, condensers can be overrated. Pair a funky dynamic with a good pre and you'll get a sound that's different from all the overly bright Chinese mics (even though I am guilty of having a pair). And do your ears a favor and quit killing them with super bright recordings that need high shelving out the wazoo. The only downside I see to using a dynamic over a condenser is the general lack of detail a dynamic produces. Then again there are many dynamic mics that can get just as detailed as a condenser, you just have to find them.
Ciao.
I've noticed that in a number of old studio photos of the Beatles you see them using AKG D-19s.
It almost seems like they used that mic much like we use a Shure SM57 today. For them it was the kind of microphone that worked on everything. The D-19 was also rebranded and sold by Telefunken. This pair happens to be in pristine condition, not to mention it has very sexy casing.
Get them here on eBay. They're $480 for the pair.While looking around for cool vintage mics I picked up two EV 635a's, which as I said before tend to vary in sound from year to year.
I love these mics for their unique midrange character and like to pair one of these with a condenser for acoustic guitar. Again, there are a ton of these old dynamic microphones that often tend to work on any instrument, or at least give that instrument its own voice in the recording. And if you're smart, you can pick these up for cheap on eBay or, if you want to go through the hassle, at TV stations in their back closets that nobody's stepped foot into since 1970.
Everybody has seen an SM57. Everybody has used an SM57. Everybody probably owns an SM57 actually.
Anyway, as I have been saying this whole time, they work on everything. Save the "air" for the condensers. Personally, just so I can achieve a sound that others wouldn't be able to get with an SM57, I like to try and find an old mic that is slightly varied from an SM57, but still similar enough in sonic character that it sounds familiar. The Unidyne 545 is the SM57's predecessor. It's also kind of cool.
Rip the transformer out of an SM57 and you can turn it into this:
(Stripped down SM7. You can buy the newer SM7b here)Anyway, condensers can be overrated. Pair a funky dynamic with a good pre and you'll get a sound that's different from all the overly bright Chinese mics (even though I am guilty of having a pair). And do your ears a favor and quit killing them with super bright recordings that need high shelving out the wazoo. The only downside I see to using a dynamic over a condenser is the general lack of detail a dynamic produces. Then again there are many dynamic mics that can get just as detailed as a condenser, you just have to find them.
Ciao.
Midas Siena
This is what I do in class every day right now. Twist knobs and get my ears blown out.
Today a guy named Eric was making some sweet SRVesque jams. It's nice working with people who know how to play their instruments.
Ciao.
Today a guy named Eric was making some sweet SRVesque jams. It's nice working with people who know how to play their instruments.
Ciao.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
On Family
Lately I've been thinking about family and how so much of this life revolves around people. It seems the older I get, the more I care about just being close to the people I have experienced my (now going on 22 year old) life with. Every time I go home I find it a little bit harder to return to the cute and trendy city that I now live in. It seems I dislike it for the same reasons I like it.
But my family just celebrated my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary, and in the spirit of that celebration I can't help but feel even more drawn towards to that humid, flat, conservative town that I call home. It's where a lot of my family is, as well as my friends (most of which I would consider family anyway). I think Dave Matthews has it right: turns out not where, but who you're with that really matters. And people, among very few other things, are what matter. Think like Audrey Hepburn.
Easier said than done. But it's wild to think that two people can function together for sixty years (especially considering how extremely differently men and women operate), and it's a blessing to have witnessed some of it. I have learned so much within the past year about how relationships of all kinds work, and having put that into perspective I am beginning to understand my parents and grandparents more. Go figure. Right when I leave home I start wanting to hang out with them. Oh well. It's just really cool to see all my family and what each person is doing now.
Some are growing up, some are getting married, a few have kids, grandparents are becoming great-grandparents, and all the while I pray that my parents will get to experience grandparent/great-grandparentdom some day. My parents had four sons. One of us is bound to get married and have a kid at some point :) Anyway, love your family. Cherish your friends. Take some time to tell them so.
Ciao.
But my family just celebrated my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary, and in the spirit of that celebration I can't help but feel even more drawn towards to that humid, flat, conservative town that I call home. It's where a lot of my family is, as well as my friends (most of which I would consider family anyway). I think Dave Matthews has it right: turns out not where, but who you're with that really matters. And people, among very few other things, are what matter. Think like Audrey Hepburn.
"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone. People, even more than things have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw out anyone."
Easier said than done. But it's wild to think that two people can function together for sixty years (especially considering how extremely differently men and women operate), and it's a blessing to have witnessed some of it. I have learned so much within the past year about how relationships of all kinds work, and having put that into perspective I am beginning to understand my parents and grandparents more. Go figure. Right when I leave home I start wanting to hang out with them. Oh well. It's just really cool to see all my family and what each person is doing now.
Some are growing up, some are getting married, a few have kids, grandparents are becoming great-grandparents, and all the while I pray that my parents will get to experience grandparent/great-grandparentdom some day. My parents had four sons. One of us is bound to get married and have a kid at some point :) Anyway, love your family. Cherish your friends. Take some time to tell them so.
Ciao.
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