In the past few month our new band ‘magpie’ got busy in the studio recording materials for our new album. We are doing the album in three separate studios. Most of the tracks are recorded in Pink Noise Studio in Quezon City. The keyboard tracks are done in samsmidi studio and I will do the bass tracks in my own home studio.
On the left is a picture of wayne guiding drummer mon at Pink Noise studio 3. Sitting on that sofa watching the takes brings back memories on how I got involved in studio recording. It is amazing how the digital age dramatically changed the way the studio looks. Gone are all those bulky reel tapes and tons of rackmounts. With a mac on board and a monitor, it is so much easier to map out recording tracks especially on punch ins as you can visually see the waveforms and where the parts of the song is located.
When I was young I had tons and tons of songs in my head that I wanted to record. So I did the demotep 1(click here to view the complete demotep series listing). I couldnt get all the elements I wanted on a simple acoustic guitar and vocals. So I used a keyboard(Yamaha PSR 200) with a simple rhythm composer and the result was the demotep 2. But I couldnt get what I really wanted with each song. Since I didnt have a band yet, I decided to record every instrument on two cassette recorder. First I record the guitar guide on the first cassette recorder. Then I play it on a player while playing another instrument while recording it on another cassette recorder thru the built in mic (I didnt have a mixer yet). Then again I play the result and played the next instrument while recording. And so on. It was really crude but it created what I almost wanted on a song. The result was the demotep 3 and 4.
Then I bought a Fostex cassette based multitracker. This one had full sized faders, two auxiliary sends and returns, 12 channels and 4 tracks of recording using typeB magnetic cassette tape. With the drums from my band I borrowed (a taiwan made yema music set), my old bass amp from raon (RS3000), a Roland D5 keyboard, a Boss SE50 halfrack signal processor unit and an old reliable sony cassette recorder, I converted my living room into a recording studio. During this time the band thing was brewing as LA105 has started opening its doors to play on the air demos of unsigned bands. The Nolit’s Studio is about to hit big!
With a few recording clients, I was able to buy my own Premier ATK drum set with Sabian cymbals (including a splash). I got a 3-tier keyboard stand and some mic stands. I also converted my living room into a full studio. Set up cartoon eggtrays from ceiling to walls, glassed all the windows and padded the doors. My favourite equiptment was the vocal mic – a cheap transducer type powered mic with home made pop filter (wire hanger and an old used stockings). I was even able to buy a stereo transducer mic (with two individual plugs) which I got cheaply since the saleslady was puzzled how to plug in the two plugs. It was at this point when really a lot of recording clients poured in. Thankts to Miyo Arellano of Aroin studio, Raymund Kutch (who now owns Jamtraxxx Studios), Hazel (who now runs SoundKitchen Digital Recording Studio in Fairview) and a lot of nice friends who strongly recommended my recording studio to their clients. I recall Angel In Disguise with ney (of 6cycleminds) did a demo in my studio.
When I got into a band called gladys and the boxers under backroom inc I made a partnership with our guitarist Julius Esteban and Yamaha Instructor Lyndon Aguilar to form the Purple Music Studio in D Tuazon, Quezon City. It was a downgrade for me as I was already running a complete studio alone then now I have to deal with partners but it was a big help since I couldnt handle the surge of recording clients alone anymore. We acquired two Fender Princeton 112 guitar amps, A Fender KXR 100 keyboard amp and a Marshall Bass State bass amp (which I hated until now). A set of crown power amps and monitors, a yamaha 16channel mixer and a new acoustically sound room. I pitched in my drumset, multitracker, keyboards, effects processors and other stuff.
Purple Music studio didnt took off as expected. With a new venue and new owners (and new price), not all clients of mine opted to move in. But I have recorded a few I know including – – Lalaine Edson, Cookie Chua, Dream Kitchen, Painted Skies, Bisqit Factory, and a lot more. I had enough time and equiptment to really explore deeply the techniques in recording. And I was able to train my ear further in mastering the art of recording.
After a year of Purple Music, the partnership went sour and the studio shut down. I felt I was alone in managing the studio without any pay while we are recieving equal amount of profits. I was totally devastated with the loss of my favourite work. Out of disgust I sold my Premier drum set along with all the peripherals, the keyboard and its stand, and all the other equiptment. I only maintained the fostex multitracker.
I bought a Fostex DE-1 20bit dual effects processor. It was a perfect match for my 2 aux send fostex multitracker. I also bought a yamaha DR-550 mk2 drum machine. This was now a personal studio where I recorded some of my own songs for my solo album project “Early Reflections, Late Night Decisions”. I was able to record a few projects for some of my friends a well. Including an unfinished album of a young female singer which included a lot of potential hits.
Then the digital age was coming. Programs which used to be midi only sequencer are now accepting multiple tracks of audio. So I experimented and started working on my PC using cubase. I am not much of a midi programmer and audio was really my cup of tea. I also tried on the program called Sonic Fondry Acid which is a loops based sequencer. I tried learning Reason and am impressed with the interface where you press tab and get the back of a rackmount complete with interactive virtual wires which you can rearrange. With this development my old fostex multitracker was shelved for a long time. Checking on it a few months back, I found that the belts melted down and a few knobs are missing. But basically it can still be repaired. However, a lot of power can be brought up with a PC with more capabilities than the old analog multitracker. So I sold my Dr Rhythm drum machine since I now can use a program with similar or better results. I am using Reason for the drums and percussion.
Now recording with Magpie, I am gathering all my knowledge in recording to do my own thing at home using a line6 toneport UX2, to get a 24bit/96khz recording resolution matching the drum tracks done in Pink Noise on Protools. It is amazing that a production quality recording can be achieved from home recording. Except of course for the voice, drums and guitars which needs acoustics (although guitars can be done with modellers for the non purists and drums can be loops sequenced). Everything is now computer based. And it is very much easier having a visual map.
I may not be setting up my old nolits studio again even though I have the resources to do it. Recording can now be done at home on a simple set of equiptment. I was lucky to have experienced to have the resources when access to it was scarce and was able to share it with a lot of aspiring musicians to realize their dream of recording their song. I was able to witness their firsts in the recording process. And I am happy to have helped them. But as times has changed they dont need me anymore as they can do a demo on their own PC. All I could contribute right now is the wisdom I have earned in the recording industry.
To all those who I have served in the recording of their songs, thanks a lot for giving me the knowledge I have gained from experience. And thanks a lot for making me a part of the history of their songs.
I hope our first album for Magpie will hit big in the commercial market. Although we have vowed to continue on recording songs in a regular habit to make a lot of albums of our songs may it be commercial or not. As long as we express ourselves, and will continue to learn the recording process…….It wil never end.
