May 10, 2010 - Moving Still Sucks!

Half-way into our move, my woman and I both came down with a flu of sorts. Uhg. Nothing like feeling half dead while picking up, and puting down half-a-million boxes. Needless to say, it put everything on hold enough that we're still moving today, and wont be done for quite some time.(two homes worth of stuff into one)

I will admit the garage looks promising. This is the first studio I'll have the privledge of assembling from the 'ground up', so to say, and I do believe it will be the best yet.

This is going to be one busy-ass summer!

Mar 26, 2010 - WoW What an intuitive universe we have...

I really have missed you guys! It's been so long since I was able to 'hang out' here, read, comment, and listen to everyones music... and WOW! There sure is a lot of new tunes up! You guys have been busy!!! (: 3=

I recieved my eviction letter last Monday... I have until the 19th of April. hahaha We were going to move this May, so it appears that we'll have to step-up the process a bit. Basically, the guy who owns the home that I rent is a hatefull, and bitter old man, who needs people to be as miserable as himself, for him to feel worthwhile. (a fact that was well-hidden at the start of our residential-relationship.)pfffffft... nice, huh? Soooo... just like I ordered it to happen, a much bigger, nicer home falls out of the sky for us to rent. It has a couple of acres of land for the dog, and a garage for the band to jam/record in. I really couldn't have asked for better timing, or location, or anything! I am truly amazed at the intuitiveness of our universe. ; p

The band is doing quite well, too...

Just last night we traded one of our acoustic drum kits for a Simmons SD9K|(something)... veddy nice indeed! Since the last move placed us in a facility that didn't allow us to play loudly, we have resorted to doing everything direct, including the percussion, which meant that our drummer became a 'typist', utilizing a DR770 drum machine as his means to express himself. What a guy, huh?! I mean, damn... that's some dedication! He even managed to make it sound pretty good! lol Needless to say, this new kit is going to open a few new doors, and add alot more feeling to everything we record. Craigs List rocks!

Speaking of Craigs List... A couple of years ago, I managed to find m'self a Line-6 FlextoneIIIxl, with a shortboard, which I purchased and found to be one of the best amps I've had the pleasure of owning. The years go buy, and I come accross some hard times, and decide to sell the amp. I find that it really held it's value... I also find out how much I miss the tones that amp made possible. I tried replacing it with another Line-6 product... a FloorPOD-plus, which is essentially an expanded Spider3 in floor-board-form, and it did not cut it. I find that the digital-modeling-engine that the Spiders, and POD 2.0s use are not the same as the XT, X3, Vetta, or Flextone engines. Interesting... So, tax-return time comes around, and I break-down, find and buy another FlextoneIIIxl w/Shortboard. Get this... not even three days later, I find a guy on Craigs List that is willing to trade me his Vetta-2(actually a Vetta-1 that has had its hardware, and firmware upgraded) for my Gibson The Paul-II(the one I got from trading a MIM Strat for), which I found myself playing less and less. So, I am now the proud owner of more Line-6 products than you can shake a stick at. haha I keep the Flextone at work to play with, and use the (incredible) Vetta head for the studio, and live performances. Sick tones!

I just wanted to acknowledge our awesomely-intuitive universe, and be thankfull for my little place in it. This seemed like a good place for that. Thanks for not evicting me guys! HRC Rocks!!1!

Mar 06, 2009 - Mic'd vs. DI'd

Well, I've been tracking the guitars for the LOG demo for the last few weeks, and things have been going swimmingly, however...

I never knew what a big difference it would make to the mix by using my PODxt to DI all of the bass/guitar tracks. By difference, I mean that the tracks have little, if any, degree of 'softness', for lack of a better term. I guess, what I'm trying to say is that, even with the "AIR" and cabinet emulation that the POD offers, these tracks are more defined, and crisper than I'm used to. As a result, I'm finding it somewhat difficult to mix them in without making other tracks that are incorporated for the sole purpose of softening the guitar mix. I find this odd, as I've never had this issue from recording guitar tracks the 'old fashioned' way.

Feb 09, 2009 - Falling into place...

Such strange schedules I have...

~Record drum tracks done before we have to move.
~Record bass tracks done before bassist gets surgery.
~Record guitar tracks before...

... before I go nuts with this crazy-ass band of mine! 8 p

Yup, I got all the backline recorded, and we're now working on the guitar tracks for the demo. We're looking at having six songs on it, and hoping that it will be good enough to pass around at shows, and perhaps send out to a few labels.
Over the weekend I was able to put some new strings on my Floyd Rose equiped Epi LPS, and play enough to get them seated, and stretched for the upcoming sessions. I'll tell y'a guys, I REALLY am loving this guirar. It truly is everything I ever wanted in an axe... amd the D'Marzio Evolution that's in the bridge-position sets this beast right-off. A real metal tone-monster, she is! It's getting used on about 90% of the guitar tracks of this album, with a Strat covering the few clean passages that there are. I wouldn't mind owning a few of these Epis with Roses on 'em... kind'a hard to find, though. I guess I'll try to keep this one intact as much as possible. I think I'd cry if something ever happened to her. : (
Wish me luck guys... tracking the guitars, starting tonight! WooT!!!

Jan 23, 2009 - "I like surgery..."

A couple of months ago the bass player(Drew) fell off a ladder at work, and shattered his elbow. Well, he was just getting back to where he could play again, and now they're sending him to get reconstructive surgery done on it. Basically, taking a tendon from his wrist, and using it to reconstruct his elbow. Sheesh! Poor bastard. In cany case, as a result I'm going to try to get his bass lines for the demo done this weekend, and pray that the results don't sound too rushed. As far as the gigs that we had planned for the next few weeks... well, it looks as though theWent is going to have to step up to the plate, and play bass/keys/sing instead of guitar/keys/sing. Whataguy! It is nice to have the tallent available from your bandmates to fill spots like that... wouldn;t want to use him on the album, though. heh Hopefully Drews rehab will go well, and we'll be hearing his brand of thump sometime this summer.

Cheers guys.

Nov 06, 2008 - Struggle...

Struggle, struggle, struggle...


That is one f'd word.


Not as f'd as the word 'bump', though.

Oct 08, 2008 - Moving SUCKS !

Man, is my back killin' me ! We've got most everything moved, with exception to a load or two, but with what we have in place, it's pretty obvious there's just not enough room for half of my crap in there . bah!

I can't wait to start recording again ! I recorded all the drums for the demo at the last site before leaving, so I've got guitar, bass, and vox to track at the new place . I'm going to have to use my bedroom to mix in, and the living room for tracking .(I feel like a teenager again... working in the bedroom .) Still have yet to set up the rig, and find the right location for the monitors . Hoping to have a grip on all of that by the end of the month . Goamph .

Sep 17, 2008 - Tisk, tisk, tisk...

Well, if you've looked at any of the pics of my studio, you may have come to the conclusion that I do my recordings in a pretty nice place... and it is . Unfortunately, it is not 'my' place, and the owner of(bassist) it has lost it by means of loosing his 30+$/hr.-union job that made his monstous house payment possible . So, we have to be out by mid-Octoberish, and I'm not looking forward to picking up all the housewares, and studio equipment, and setting it down in a new residence . I'll be going from a 1200 sq. ft. house with a full basement, to a 12'x50' trailer on the 'other' side of town . My recording area will be maintaned in the living room, and being a trailer there'll be no drum recording, or sessions to all hours of the night that would've otherwise gone unheard by the nieghbors . I've been here before... in my nightmares . Fortunately, we have the drum tracks recorded for the album, and are recording more day by day, so that when we do find ourselves in the next shithole, we'll have plenty to work with .(sigh)

Wish me luck guys... I'm gon'na need it !