If this video doesn’t make you want to own your own analogue synthesiser, nothing will !
David Vorhaus will forever be part of my own musical history for creating the album “An Electric Storm” as part of legendary band The White Noise – along with Delia Derbyshire, of “Doctor Who Theme” fame. This mad, tuneful collage of tape loops, analogue synths and sound effects was released in 1969, and provides proof, if you needed it, that the Beatles weren’t nearly as cutting edge as they thought they were.
“Ellipse” by Imogen Heap is released on 24th August – if you’re like me you can’t wait.
Well, you don’t have to – here is the full album, streaming on Soundcloud ! (At the bottom of this post.) And, you can pre-order the CD here.
Why have I posted this ? Firstly because it’s a superb album, secondly because Imogen is an outstanding musician, for whom production is clearly inseparable from the writing process itself. In fact, she’s a perfect example of “21st century DIY punk“. And, she is certainly making the utmost of the possibilities of social media and Web 2.0 for musicians. (More about that in my post Why Musicians Should Be On Twitter)
But if you still need more persuading, check out her v-blog channel on YouTube – 40 or so video diary entries about the entire writing, recording, mixing and production process of Ellipse. (Anyone who plays music on the lighting panels in her studio’s ceiling is cool by me!).
Reverberation is a subtle but crucial part of any mix. The wrong choice can make everything sound harsh, messy, muddy or distant. The right choice can bind a mix together, add depth, space, and air, and enhance detail. The trick is knowing the difference.
Once upon a time, things were simple. You either had an SPX-90 or a Lexicon, and you got on with the job. Now, the range of choice is bewildering. In the 21st century there are hardware and plugin reverbs, modelling reverbs, sampling reverbs, convolution reverbs, emulating reverbs… the list goes on.
This post will completely ignore all that confusion, and attempt to cut right to the chase. Later I’ll offer some ideas, hints and tips for getting the best results with reverb, but first we’ll look at:
I’ve already labelledGeorge Martin as a “god-like-genius” amongst producers – although, after watching Elizabeth Gilbert’s inspiring TED talk on nurturing creativity, perhaps I should use different terminology !
Either way, his work with the Beatles means that over 30 years later he is still regarded by many as the ultimate record producer. A musician, engineer and inspirational collaborator, without whom the Beatles’ music would have been unrecognisable, and – in my opinion – nowhere near as fascinating, important or influential.
Would you like experienced, affordable, professional feedback for your recordings?
Production Advice offers positive production insights - analysis, techniques and improvements to transform every kind of music, from the most intimate acoustic performance to full-on rock or a symphony orchestra.
You only pay for the advice you need, and there's a special introductory price for the initial consultation.
.gif "Dynamic Range Foundation - Active Member")
