Week 1 Januari 2002

 Sun 20th

Today is the setup day. I’m off to the studio to meet Chuck and set everything up for tomorrow’s sessions. I’ll start posting pics later today when I’ve taken some and of course I’ll natter on some more.

Lots of new gear to try out…lots of new mics….new tape formats…new HD recorders, details on these later in the week.

Chuck spent today getting drum sounds, moving us around the studio, checking sightlines etc.There is also the usual wonderful selection of guitars which Mark and Richard will have at their disposal for tomorrow when the red light will be ‘on’.

Chuck having “a bad hair day”

Mon 21st

Day one in the studio went smoothly. We cut a new tune…very cool. Here’s a shot of the layout on the studio floor. That’s the Hammond B3 we have in the foreground plus a Wurlitzer and Fender Rhodes.

Tue 22nd

Here’s Mark and Richard setting up to do a Ukelele overdub.

As it’s Jim’s Uke……we decided he should play it on the actual record.

I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait till the record is out to hear the result.

Wed 23rd

Chuck Ainlay in the control room. He’s sitting in front of the new Steinberg Nuendo HD system.

As a proud sponsor, Chuck is keen to show off it’s delights. I must say as a long-term lover of Pro Tools, at the moment, I’m ready to switch.

We’re predominantly recording to two Studer A800’s fitted with 16track headblocks locked to the Nuendo system recording at 96khz.

 Here’s an awful pic of Chuck in the control room at the Nintendo…. pretendo….er. I mean Nuendo.

Mark and the band running through a new one around the piano.

Fri 25th

Here’s Mark at work in his little booth with his Martin.

That’s a Telefunken M251 on Mark’s vocal.

The choice of vocal mic will change regularly….it all depends on what sounds good for the song.

Richard in his iso booth with his Hagstrom guitar.

Sat 26th

Chad Cromwell

Guest 96er Paul Franklin seen here in his stone room enclosure. (it’s the only room with locks on the door!)

That’s LOUD in there! Being stone and very reflective, it’s a really nice room for ‘livelyness’.

Paul’s dad designs and builds all his steels

The live room 

Sun 27th

Today we’re having a day off