Studio blog
Category: Music

Monday, September 24.  We have finally started recording our CD!  Most of today was involved with setting up the gear then getting the right sounds through the mics.  We ended the day with a run through of a song, pretty much to see how the over sound was sounding - so tomorrow will be a full day recording.

Tuesday, September 25.  We worked on bass and drum tracks for two songs today; '59 Cadillac and Crazy World.  The sound we are capturing sounds great and has the promise to make a really great CD.  Tomorrow, our plan is to nail another three songs (bass and drum tracks only).

Wednesday, September 26.  Today, we worked on Invisible, Roller Coaster and Sat on a Mountain.  Quite an intense day in many ways...  The tracks are sounding great at this stage!

Thursday, September 27.  A great day today!  We got six songs down (still just working on bass and drum tracks).  We did  Love Lost Times, Greedy Men, Offline, When You Dance, Summer Wine and  Lonely Star.  Just have The Spirit to go tomorrow - then one other track in a differnt studio, probably sometime next week.

Friday, September 28.  Did a couple of versions of The Spirit then a quick one take demo of something new and finally packed up.  Some editing over the next few days or so.

Friday, November 2.  Over the past month, the drum and bass tracks have been edited and acoustic guitar tracks done.  This week, we are doing electric rythem tracks and that should be complete mid next week.

Monday, November 19.  Main vocal tracks down and being edited now.  Next is keyboards, backing vocals, harmonies etc.

Saturday, December 15.  Ron is in the studio this weekend doing Hammond organ and synth tracks.  Bv's after Christmas! :-)

Saturday, January 12, 2008.  We have had a break over Christmas and New Year from studio work.  We expect to be working on backing vocal and harmony vocals this coming week and also recording the guitar solos. 

More soon.

cheers
Stuart.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008.  We have been recording backing vocal tracks this week.  Those tracks are pretty much complete.  Still some editing to do and also work on The Spirit and Goodbye.

Wednesday, March 11, 2008.  All vocal tracks are complete and most guitar solos.  Still have a couple of bits n peices to do recording wise and starting to work on the other stuff -  cover layout, printers, distrubution, etc etc....

Thursday, March 20, 2008.  Just waiting for the first 6 tracks to be pre-mixed so we can now show them to various people we have been talking to.  Hoping the project will be completed soon.. alreadt developing ideas for the next CD!

Tuesday, April 15, 2008.  We got 5 pre-mixed tracks to listen to on CD and have great feedback from various people we have given a listen.  There is still 2 bass tracks to do and hopefully that will be done this week - then that will be all track laying done and dusted!  The cover art is shaping up nicely and we are aiming for a release date somewhere around mid-June!  Still lots of lose ends to tie up but that is all part of the learning experience.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008.  We got the remaining 8 pre-mixed tracks to listen to listen to prior to final mixing.  We also had Midge Marsden pop over to the studio to play a harmonica break for the outro of 'Sat on a Mountain' which was absolutely fantastic!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008.  We're listening to ALL 13 tracks now and getting ready to start the mix down on Friday.  We're almost there!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008.  All tracks have been mixed down now and we have pretty decided on the running order.  Next stop, the mastering studio which will get started toward the end of this week!

Friday, June 6, 2008.  Been quite a bit going on since the last post.  We sent the tracks away for mastering and got a disc back last weekend and went to listen to it at the studio on Monday (June 2).  We weren't happy with the result and exploring other options.  We expect a 'finished disc' by Monday and then it is off to the printers for mass duplication and cover assembly.

More soon.

cheers
Stuart

The DeSotos to hit the studio 

Auckland based band The DeSotos are heading into the studio in September to record their self funded debut CD.

The DeSotos have been gigging around the Auckland region for the last 18 months and building a solid following at their live performances.

The band uses an interesting array of retro gear including a 30 year old Hammond organ & Leslie, vintage Gretsch drums and guitars, and some early Fender stuff.

Influences range from rock through to alt country and Americana. The sound is built around strong melodies and vocal harmonies over a solid rhythm section - they describe the sound as “100% distilled music”.

For the recording, The DeSotos are working with Steve Garden as the producer / engineer and the CD is due for release pre-Christmas.

It will feature 11 songs written by the band, and anyone wanting a sneak preview can catch them live at the Grey Lynn Tavern, 9pm, 29th September.