Recording Day 2 (BYs debut E.P.)

Another full 8 hour studio day; Individual tracking including Hayley putting down a djembe track and re-taking a symbol track, on a non-full-kit song due to the tone of the previous symbol she used clashing (is that a pun?) with the sound of the song it was used on. I was also thinking about what to use for the treatment on a “dreamy” middle 8 section when Dan suggested what I was already thinking about;  i.e. utilizing the studio 12 string. Simon recorded his bass through a mixture of a miked-up amp and his DI’ed sound, I did some lead guitar and Emma worked on some keyboard sounds. Radley, who finished early last time due to feeling ill (something he ate we suspect) did a full shift this time and helped to keep everyone feeling cozy and amused! We’re due back again for more keyboards, vocals and backing vocals. Can’t wait!

Radley

Me on the 12 string

Emma with Dan at mission control

There's always a lot of waiting around in the studio (unless you're Dan!)

The 12 string

I used both of these amps on day 2

Listening back to some tracks

Recording Day 1 (BYs debut E.P.)

We clocked in a full 8 hour recording day to lay down the basics of the tracks we want to get down, drums being the focus with a guide vocal in each case, and a guitar, bass and keys. We have one track with a subtle but significant tempo change for the middle 8 for which plan A is recording "perfectly" in sections with a plan B in reserve, which will be to do a more organic live version. Everything is sounding good though and we can't wait to go back on Friday.

The main mixing desk looking into the band room, Hayley at the drums, Emma talking to Dan while he mics up

No idea what this does (something to do with sound is my guess).

Radley, the studio dog, adds to the homely feel!

The guitar room (though it says "Admin" outside the double doors!)

"Bring everything"...

Pre-recording preparation.

It's not just a matter of turning up and playing (like anything else to do with making music). "Bring EVERYTHING" the man said, the man being Dan Logan our man at the console for our upcoming recording sessions at Orchard Studios in Cheshire. With this in mind I've been prepariing some guitars, by which I mean, among other things, changing the machine heads on "Rosie" the main classical I've been using lately (the previous ones had picked up some road-damage and weren't particularly high quality) and I've been re-stringing the Firebird and, last night my lovely new (old - early 80s) Tokai Strat.

We had a final recording preparation session yesterday which meant going through some further songs for possible selection, working out ideal tempos and getting used to playing to click tracks. We also came up with some new backing vocal ideas which we're really excited about to bring new dimensions and sub-melodies to our music. We're in the studio on Wednesday. See you soon!

The old machine heads from Rosie, pretty, but crappy.