Recording Engineer/Producer Part II

Looking through the August and October 1983 issues of RE/P today.

What has changed since 1982?  There is an even bigger focus on digital recording – primarily new 2-channel Digital Mastering platforms.  There is also more discussion of Dolby noise-reduction.  This is certainly the direction that the 1980s were heading.

Today I will be going to a local studio to (attempt) to service the 1983 NEVE console installed there.  I don’t think it has been switched on for 10 years.  Wish me luck.  Expect a full report soon….

Audioarts appears again.  CT.

Speaking of Connecticut:  when I was growing up, ‘Eastcoast Sound’ was the local guitar store.  It was a gigantic cavernous former roller-rink (or so i heard…) steps from Candlewood Lake in Danbury CT.  Where FOREIGNER songs will blast from small-power boats until the end of time.  Anyhow, I had pretty mixed experience with Eastcoast.    Some good deals on used guitars and amps; not always the most professional salespeople.   A couple of years ago I came across this little gem on Youtube.  Incredible but true:

OK.  We’ve got Anaheim CA in 1983.  We’ve got a studio employee named Les Claypool.  He has a mustache.  Draw your own conclusions.

I would certainly buy a new Echoplate 3 for $1700.  Kinda miss 1983 right now.

Epcot Center: a true American icon on the 1980’s.  Here we get an in-depth study of the sound system installed there.

OK this is going to go on for a while…  So follow the link below to READ ON…

…And on to another American icon of the 80’s : Return Of The Jedi.  Here we get a very in-depth study of the sound design of the film.  What a creative assignment for a sound designer!

The Roland rack-mount processors from the early 1980s are highly collectible, especially in the dance/ electronic music world.  I have never used this particular model of vocoder, but it enjoys a good reputation.  The vocoder is a great tool, a great creative springboard, especially for sound design.  It’s basically a very dynamic filter, and the uses are endless.  For a while I was treating drum loops by vocoding them against slowed-down animal cries (EG., a lion roar).  Very visceral sounds.

A great book about the history of the vocoder was recently published. It offers a very thorough treatment of the subject, offering more of a social-history than ‘gear books’ usually get into.  I hope that more and more writing-about-audio-equipment follows this model.

I used some Schoeps SDC mics on a live rock-band session several years ago.  They are truly beautiful sounding mics that are generally only found in the classical and film-sound world.   I have not come across their PZM though!  Very interesting…

Speaking of classical recording…  Here is a very detailed study of various stereo-mic’ing techniques.  The author covers 15 different styles of stereo-mic’ing, tracing their lineage and offer pro’s and con’s.  Fascinating.  I have a pretty limited vocabulary of stereo techniques – I am only versed in X/Y, M/S, and spaced omni.  If you are a ‘classical’ recordist, though, I can understand why you would need a bigger toolbox though!   Lots to explore here.