Damon Renaissance Studios offers new recording course
Posted on | February 1, 2010 | No Comments
Here’s some info for a recording course that I’ll be teaching at Damon.
Damon Renaissance Studios new recording course will teach you how to produce and record in both a professional studio environment and your home studio. We will cover the process of recording; mixing, mastering and editing techniques that will help you create a quality product. You’ll learn how to operate the industry standard software – Digidesign Pro Tools, learn how proper acoustics can aid in a recording and develop critical listening skills. By the end of the course, you will know the basics of how to set up your own studio and how to complete your own recording projects. This is a part-time evening course. For more information, contact Garry MacDonall 780-465-0133 damonproductionsltd(at)shaw.ca
Happy New Year!
Posted on | January 29, 2010 | No Comments
Kinda late, but Happy New Year!
I’ve been busy working on a bunch of new stuff. In the process of writing and preproduction for a bunch of brand new artists that I’m very excited about. Details as things unfold…
Was recently in the studio working on a song for Mieke Maligne with the Younger Band (Matt Grier, Keith Rempel & Brennan Cameron) backing her up. Track turned out great! Matt Grier bought a new drum kit an hour before the session and Mieke dubbed it the pineapple kit for it’s yellow color. Good times!
Also working on a track called “So Done With You” sung by R&B/Pop artist Mackenzie Dayle feat. Ryan McGale. Track was written & produced by the talented Ryan McGale.
This year’s focus is on Mastering and Songwriting. Lots on the go. Stay tuned…
Minus Frickin’ Cold!
Posted on | December 14, 2009 | No Comments
Apparently yesterday Edmonton was the coldest place in North America. I’m staying warm bundled up in the studio this season. My heaters are blowing the breakers. Must make sure I constantly save my work.
Just finished mastering the new Mass Choir album – Life On The Backbeat. The Matthew Skopyk produced non-stop album is a fusion of early 90’s house music with gospel style vocals. I had a great time working on it and can’t wait for it to get out there.
This past weekend I covered for Stew at Sound Extractor as he was out on his regular weekend December gig at the Jasper Park Lodge. We had Mike Roste in laying beds for a couple tunes. Chris and Cam from Five Years Further helped provide some beats and guitar licks while Moni Matthews laid down some bottom end.
Tracked some bass for Damien Heck produced tracks that he’s doing for the Pure Artists group. Steve Vincent from Tupelo Honey came in to play bass. The Pure Artists also had a Christmas concert this past weekend at the Premiere Entertainment Centre. These young artists are really amazing. Props to Wes Inaba for coaching the talent out of these kids.
Taking it easy this next week before Xmas hits. Just trying to stay warm. It’s suppose to be get warmer later this week.
November
Posted on | December 1, 2009 | No Comments
It’s been a busy season and I’ve been having a hard time keeping up with writing blogs. So here’s a catch up blog.
The Audio Department is having its busiest year ever. We’ve had the luxury of helping out a lot of stellar local bands by providing gear for the recording of their upcoming records. These bands include Whitsundays, Wet Secrets, Jay Sparrow, and The Provincial
Archive. Let’s hope next year is even crazier.
Busy times at different studios working on a variety of projects. I got to work on an African drumming group called Asante at Damon Renaissance Studio the other week. The session went quick with vocals, hand drums and percussion all-live off the floor. Even had one of the singers dancing in the room to provide energy for the performances. We’re currently in the mixing phase. Things should wrap up shortly. Also, completed a couple things at Sound Extractor. The first is an album for Chris Friesen and his family. We’ve been working on it for the past year. Sessions have been sporadic and these last couple months we’ve buckled down to get the last of the tracking down and mix. I believe Stew Kirkwood is mastering it as I write this. The second is a cool project with Ian and Laura of Instant Places. They’ve been trekking across the country for the past 3 months gathering photos and audio for an installation that is part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. This was a cool project – I set up a bunch of mics on all the instruments and for over an hour they improvised and created their own soundscapes. They took the files and in a few weeks will set up a studio somewhere in BC to compile their ideas into an installation. Later this week I’m working with Splenderbog again. We’ve got some final tracking and will be rerecording a tune. Then it’s mix time.
At my Audio Department Mix & Master room, I’ve been working on a handful of Randor Lin produced stuff for Country artist Thea Neumann and Ponoka rock band, Neverfall. I’ve also been mixing my friend Darcy Golden’s untitled band (we’ll call them DRMCK). It’s been a busy November.
Early Xmas?
Posted on | November 2, 2009 | No Comments
Just picked up a used Manley Massive Passive for a great price. I was in need of a stereo EQ for mastering, since I’ve been doing so much of that lately. But I also wanted something I could use for vocal and bass duties. The MP is perfect for all of the above. Awesome!
In the studio with Jessica Heine
Posted on | October 19, 2009 | No Comments
Jessica Heine & her band were in the studio yesterday to track a couple quick tunes. We recorded a new version of the song “That’s All” from her Songteller Storywriter album and a new song called “Effie the Blues Singer Sings the Blues”. Her band for the session included Matt Grier (Drums), Keith Rempel (Bass) & Brennan Cameron (Keys). We tracked live off the floor with Jess playing guitar and singing along with the band. My favorite way to track! The session was at Sound Extractor and my good friend Scott Greene came to assist. I brought along a few of my favorite mics, a Martech preamp for vox and Avalon pre for bass. It was also my first session recording at 96KHz and I definitely notice the difference. The top end seems to be slightly more open and generally the details came out a bit more. The tracks sound great and it was a pleasure recording Jess again. I’ll try and post the tracks up here on the site once I finish the mixes.
NYC & AES
Posted on | October 14, 2009 | No Comments
Back from NYC. Had a great time there. Scott Greene and Dave Hesse came along and we got to catch most of the major sites. Ate at Gordon Ramsay’s Maze at the London and Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles. Street vendor food was okay. I prefer the Fat Franks we have here in Edmonton. Got to check out a taping of Late night with Jimmy Fallon show, which was pretty funny. It’s always nice to see the Roots crew in action too. One of my highlights was the MoMA. It’s pretty inspiring seeing work by Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Salvador Dali, Mark Rothko and more. We were just in time for some special exhibits featuring Water Lillies by Monet and some amazing industrial design work by Ron Arad. On Friday Oct 9th, I went to Strawberry Fields across from the Dakota Apartments and celebrated John Lennon’s 69th Birthday with the locals. But the main reason for going, of course, was for work. For 4 days I attended the Audio Engineering Society 127th Annual Convention. It was pretty amazing and my favorite of all the conventions I’ve attended. I got to hear some of my recording heroes speak including Bob Power, Bassy Bob Brockman, Tony Maserati, Bruce Swedien, Greg Calbi, Tony Visconti and more. Even got to take a pic with the legend Rupert Neve! Caught a sneak peek at a ton of new gear coming up in the next little bit and saw some familiar faces. Next year the 128th AES convention is in London, UK. How cool is that!?
Stuff…
Posted on | October 4, 2009 | No Comments
Putting together the racks for the Audio Department control room. It’s looking hot!
Recently finished some mixing for A.M.O.R.E., touched up a Columbus track on a record we finished a couple years ago (hoping for a release) and mixed an album for U22 artist Tanner Gordon with Stew Kirkwood producing.
I’m off to New York tomorrow. Got a few days to check out the town and then attending the AES convention next weekend. It’s gonna be a good one.
Amek CIB
Posted on | September 27, 2009 | No Comments
Just picked up this little badboy. It’s an Amek CIB (Channel In a Box) designed by Rupert Neve and part of the Purepath line. I believe it was derived from the 9098i console that Rupert Neve designed when he worked for Amek. The box contains a pre amp, really nice equalizer section and compressor. So far I’ve tried it out on a feel sources for mixing and it blew me away with what it could do for bass guitars. The pre amp is nice too and will replace the vintech for vocal duties. It’s just a bit more open sounding and makes the vocal stand up and out a little more. However it is much cleaner than my other pre amps, but in a good way. It will be coming with me on tracking dates. I love trying out new gear!
Projects Update
Posted on | August 24, 2009 | No Comments
The storm is settling after my Europe trip and now work is coming in like something fierce. I’ve just sat down to start a 64-hour workweek. Currently recording a record for U22 artist Tanner Gordon with Stew Kirkwood producing over at Sound Extractor. We’re in the last week of tracking and then next week I start the mix process. This week will be fun with miscellaneous overdubs and a string quartet! Been mastering some projects at my Audio Department home studio lately. Last week I finalized the new Greater Than Giants record that Randor Lin produced over at Turnkey and this week I’m working on a Thom Bennett recorded project. Over the next couple months I’ll be working on a new Audio Department mixing/mastering room. This room will house all the rental gear from the Audio Department rentals and act as my sonic playground. I have my friend Ellen Buchan helping with the acoustics again. Also want to mention that a punk record I recorded for over 2 years ago for The Mange is back from pressing and is available around town. Lots on the go and I better get at it, if I want to keep up.
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