In Studio – hours 18-21

on
Engineer’s console at The Mohawk Studio located inside HALO Live facility in downtown Sandusky, Ohio. Shawn Daley and I created the studio on the second floor of the old stone church at 805 Wayne Street.
Shawn uses a combination of digital and analog recording equipment with an impressive array of microphones arranged to get incredible sound from clients with varying degrees of experience in-studio.
Notice at the very bottom left of the screen that this is a track to be added to the album’s title track, “Gone Too Far”. It represents the recording of the acoustic 6-string guitar that will be added to the band’s bass, lead guitar, and drums. For this album, I am using my 1964 Martin D-28 guitar that I purchased from my best friend and former USAF pilot, Eddie Yewell. We were young and crazy jet instructor pilots together…he was killed when his jet hit trees during a low-level training mission.

Last night was my 6th session working on the album, “Gone Too Far”. I try to get in at least 3 hours during every session. My goal last night was to complete the 7 tracks using the 6-string acoustic guitar. I used my 1964 Martin D-28. Last session I laid down 7 tracks with my Guild 12-string acoustic guitar…I still have one song yet to re-record in a different key with the 12-string. The new key will fit better with the cellist (and fellow Island Song Trio band member and good friend), Timothy Barrett, who will be adding cello tracks to 3 of these songs. I elected to work on guitar because I have a bug in my throat and the vocals would have suffered. I always try to have a plan (and a backup plan) before I enter the studio so that my time there is well spent.
We recorded 3 takes of each of the 6 songs so that Shawn Daley, the engineer, could overlay them and “cut and paste” (my terms not his) any errors he might find. As seen in my previous post, each song had its own recording notes that I followed while listening to the band tracks in my headphones. Also in my headphones was the sound from my guitar so that I could add emphasis when needed and not overplay the instrument.
I finger-picked the music for the song “Last Day of My Life” way too loudly during the first take. The strings were buzzing and it sounded harsh (I call them studio nerves) so we re-recorded the song with my guitar louder in the headset so that I could play more softly and with more emotion.
Before leaving the studio, we put a plan together for next week’s session. Next week I will record the last track using the 12-string acoustic and begin work on vocals. We also discussed the album art issue. Each album requires album art that can fit the emotions that the artist tries to evoke. Shawn came up with an old diver’s helmet…gone too far? I said that his air hose could be cut. I sent the concept to my son who is the lead concept artist for Gear Box (any Borderlands gaming fans?) and he has some great ideas.

On Monday, March 15, my good friend, Tina, will be in-studio to tape a Facebook Live event that can be downloaded, documenting a bit of the recording process. She has been helping this old guy with social media enhancements. Until next week, bye.