It's been awhile and I figgered I'd tell you how exciting it is to be in the studio.

Mixing.

And remixing.

And then mixing again.

And then mixing some more.

And then, maybe, a couple more, just to mix.

Yep. It's been what, two weeks since I posted anything about the studio. And no, I haven't NOT been in there, I've been there, but it's been a slow slow uphill climb. NOW I understand why bands take a year to do a record. Hell, the performing the song in the studio, that's just a teensy tiny part of the process. Mixing. Fixing tiny errors that no one will ever hear, much less CARE that they were there, but they'll drive you crazy if you keep hearing them - fixing crap like that - that's what I've been doing.

Again - let's compare. In the home studio, it's me myself and my tools. I perform and record the stuff and then mix it down right then and bam, it's done. I laugh at the flubs and wince at the weak notes but hey, wow, I did all this myself in my basement on $300 equipment. (okay, not $300 really, but, you know, some cheap crap). But now, here in the studio with the big money and the bigger expectations, there's room for the flubs and the weak notes to keep it sounding rough, but, well, you maybe polish up that ONE flub there. And then, oh heck, as long as you're in there playing guitar, let's clean up that sloppy rhythm guitar that wasn't clean enough. And then, shoot, as long as the mics are out, hey, let's knock out two more harmonies on there that you keep hearing in your head when you listen to last week's mixes...

and then, POW, you've turned an awesome diamond-in-the-rough into a really pretty piece of coal. It's got glitter on it! But the diamond is gone, replaced with something that's just been re-done so many times, the spark of excitement has been mixed out of the song.

So. That's where I am. I'm no longer second-guessing myself. No way. I'm somewhere around quadruple-guessing or mabye sextuple-guessing myself. "louder bass? less bass? cuz you know people have those stereos with extra bass added, and your mixes are always too damn bass heavy, so mix it light on the bass, knowing that it'll even out later. or, no, maybe, no, put the bass in there good and loud and then it'll be super cool. but what if that makes it muddy, and, maybe nobody really likes a lot of bass except you, and you're half deaf cuz you're a musician? oh what the hell do you know?"

I'm telling you, it's getting just NUTTY.

So with all this crazy micro-micro-production going on, I'm guessing that my CD drop-date of August 23rd is probably vapor now. Maybe I'll have this damn thing ready by Christmas. Oh well. At least there's not a whole band involved in this. I swear - I can totally see how this would kill a band in no time.

Okay. it's 2 am and I just got home, so, I spose I'll go to sleep now. I'll check out some of these new whippersnappers and their new songs later this week. It's good to see some new blood up in this board.

Great writing!


I have never been into a studio to record anything, though I have tried very briefly to get something down on tape with a four track a couple of times, and I can SO understand what it must be like.

I am the kind of guy who is forever trying to fine-tune my guitar sound so it has more treble, less treble, more mid-range, more gain, less gain, a more natural sound, more compression etc etc etc etc , so I reckon if I was mixing a whole album...well, I'd be insane within a week


Looking forward to hearing the finished thing, although what does "finished" mean? Bands make albums that they spend literally years recording, then they go on the road and the songs take on a new life, a new shape, structure, sound....

So, draw an imaginary line, a dealine, a cut-off point in your head and try and stick to it. You'll never "finish" an album, you'll just stop working on it

Here's the thing, change your perspective.

I was thinking about these songs recently and what you really have going is memorable phrases that get stuck in your head (I remember that thing about your little one singing a line of your song) and that is more important than the mix.

People actually remembering your stuff and singing along has a lifelong impact where as a wrong little note or a mix with not enough bass is temporary.
When the songs are as strong as they are it'll be like "my favorite version is the "Live at The House of Blues" version or the DJ Smith remix with the fat bass.

You just dont understand.

I have drawn lines in the sand and declared certain dates as "last day" and agreed to let things go and not get caught up in the minutae.

That said.

When you're on your way to the studio, listening to the previous night's mix, and you're singing along and hear that you missed... some missed notes are doable. Some are bad... I mean, ouch that wont make the final cut bad.

That said, I NOW see why there are a million different bootleg demo versions of various songs.

beauhall said:

I understand completely and it is all about perception/perspective.

Here's another, ask somebody who is an average music listener (not ANYONE here) if they've ever heard the alternate take of "Cream" by Prince. The answer will be "no" because they don't care, they're happy with the version that came out. Generally speaking, if your audience is a group of musicans, keep tweaking the mixes but if it's everyone, let some songs stand on their own, they can do it, they're good.

Good point. Thanks for your input Chris, it's very helpful.

Dude, we all like bass. Pump it up!

o.k. Funkmaster B, take it down a thousand. Let us be the judge if it is finished or not. Post it and let us critique. Naw, scratch that. You are doing great work and the only thing u gotta do is trust your judgement. The stuff u did on your Zoom was great and fat sounding. I would have stopped there. It had a raw fire to it. I don't mean raw as unpolished but more like dirty south stanky funkabilly zydeco. That is what brings your songs to life. Don't clean up the funk too much. But don't be like dad either (George Clinton) by being so loose it doesn't hold water. I have been pleased thus far and would be floored IF those songs could be improved at all. They are already off da chainizzle...

Well Beau, I can't speak for everyone, but I have been digging basically every track of yours I've heard, including the live Blind Slim stuff you had...

.. so I say, just give yourself second and third chances to get the vocals right, then wrap that stuff up and send it out the door.

But then again.. what will I check the org for once you're done? Not like Prince is doing anything these days.

Check my signature. There's 5 songs up there now. Since it's MY site, I'll probably add the Prince covers to the player as well. I'm like that.