Legendary Engineer/Producer Andy Johns drops some knowledge…

This is a must watch video.  Any time a legendary Engineer/Producer sits down and gives you mixing/recording tips, you listen!

“Before his nineteenth birthday, Andy Johns was working as Eddie Kramer‘s second engineer on classic recordings by Jimi Hendrix and many others.  In a career spanning more than thirty years, he has engineered or produced records by artists ranging from Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones to Van Halen and Rod Stewart, whose sales total in excess of 160 millions copies.”

I’ve watched this a million times.  There are a whole bunch of good tips in there for you to improve your drum sounds.  He even tells you how be got the drum sound for the Led Zeppelin drum break classic “When The Levee Breaks”.

This video was included with the Platinum Samples Andy Johns Classic Drums expansion for the BFD software sampler, which I highly recommend.

Manipulating music through Photosounder, amazing…

… Continue Reading

Track Anatomy “What’s Going On”: Happy Birthday to Marvin Gaye, R.I.P.!!!!!!

If he were still physically alive, Marvin Gaye would have turned 70 years old today… R.I.P. Marvin…  Here is some info on the creation of one of his many classic tracks “What’s Going On”…

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“The rhythm section in the Snakepit was a departure: the atmosphere was loose; there was whiskey for the musicians and marijuana for Marvin (Listen to the loud toke into the microphone at 3:12). Marvin played piano and percussion.  Bassist James Jamerson by all accounts came in hung over and had to play his part laying down (on his back) on the floor. Yet Jamerson’s wife, who normally heard little about his sessions, remembered James the next day telling her he had just cut a classic…

For the Lead vocal Marvin overdubbed several parts.  When he couldn’t decide which one to use, he asked Hitsville engineer Ken Sands to put one on the left  channel and one on the right.  When the reference mix was played back in mono, Marvin heard both leads in harmony-a happy accident he embraced…

Marvin delivered a mix to a quality control meeting.  Berry Gordy refused to release it (:/), and needing a new Marvin Gaye record,  instead released a greatest hits compilation.  “My attitude had to be firm,” Marvin said.  “Basically I [told Motown], ‘Put it out or I’ll never record for you again.’  That was my ace in the hole, and I had to play it.”  The record was eventually released.  The move angered Gordy until he heard the sales orders: 100,000 pieces in one day. “

& here is a ridiculously great live performance of “What’s Going On”…

Bass Drum Mixing Lesson From Mike Chav

Here is a very interesting tutorial video from Engineer Mike Chav.  He explains a technique that he uses to mix kick drums and other stuff too.  I heard from a couple sources this is how Dre mixes his drums as well  & Mike Chav has worked with Dre… So take that as you will…