A limitation or an opportunity for creativity?

I love limitations being imposed on me and my work flow. In essence, it is why the Mashup Session happened. A desire to push myself with a new challenge. This has got me thinking recently about some records and the limitations they had imposed on them, for example Sgt Pepper recorded to only 4 tracks because 8 wasn't invented yet. Jim Sutherland a few years back recorded an entire record on 1 mic and it sure as hell sounds like nothing else. Donna Maciocia recently turned me onto an artist called Tune-Yards who recorded her whole debut album on a Dictaphone and mixed it in Garageband and it sounds like nothing else I have ever heard.

This got me thinking about my own work flow and what sort of limitations I could impose on myself that would result in having to be more creative in how I record, mix and produce. Restricting the number of microphone I use is a good start. OK, so I now have 3 mics for the kit where I would ordinarily use between 7 and 16. What about the mics? I can only use dynamic or ribbon mics, no condensers. Alright. The backing vocals on the record need to be recorded on an inbuilt laptop mic rather than in a studio. NOW WE ARE TALKING! All effects used during this mix must come from guitar pedals. THE POSSIBILITIES HERE ARE ENDLESS!

Can you imagine how these little tweaks to work flow will change the sound of the record? The character that would start shining through? Do any of them sound like limitations now, or a chance to be super creative? I'll let you know how I get on!

What have you been up to, Garry?
Things have been busy recently with lots of cool stuff happening. Here is a quick run down:

• I have been working on a 3 track EP with Billy Liar. It is coming together very nicely and I mix it all this weekend. It is a big departure from what Billy is known for and I think an outstanding piece of work. More about this soon.
• The Horndog Brass Band album is starting to take shape with 3 or 4 of the songs now mixed. I am hoping to have this one totally done by the end of October. We will see how that pans out.
• In July I was in Castlesound Studio recording a couple projects for the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival in Stuarts place. Both sessions were amazing and featured some of Scotland's top Jazz musicians. I learned loads on these two session, as I always do at Castle. Cant wait to hear them both mixed.
• Euan Burton and myself produced Sean Gibbs first EP at Castlesound. Sean is an amazing upcoming talent so have a listen to his Bandcamp page.
• Kat Healy was in the studio filming this lovely intimate video of 'How Long' to help promote her record which is out next week. For more info check Kat's webpage.
• The Das Contras and Holy Ghosts albums are FINISHED! Should be out soon.
• I have been working with Creative Scotland for the third year helping young upcoming bands to produce and release their first single. Supported through the Cashback for Creativity program it is helping young musicians at the very start of their career. The Proclaimers popped into a session last month to celebrate the fantastic work the project is doing. Jack Hinks, Censor Thoughts, Frink Out and Blueprint Makeover are the bands to keep an eye on.

• I have been mixing some of the upcoming releases from new independent label Strange Fish Records. I mixed and mastered the upcoming Kill The Waves and Battery Face double a-side releases. Great bands and a great upcoming label. Check them all out.
• I produced a single for Soujourner who are a great acoustic / folk quartet. They are talking about supplementing this track with another few and turning it into an EP.

SSL Chris Lord-Alge Masterclass at Real World Studios
A few weeks ago I was invited down to Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios by Solid State Logic for an exclusive Masterclass with one of the top mix engineers in the world, Chris Lorg-Alge.

During the seminar Chris spoke about what drives him as a mixer, his career path and how he approaches his mixes. He mixed some Green Day tracks from American Idiot on the studio's SSL which just seemed to solidify how gifted he is. In less than the time it took for the whole song to play, CLA had the mix close to down and sounding MASSIVE. The funny thing is, he uses less than half the compression people seem to think. Real World is such a stunning studio and the 'Big Room' is truly monstrous! Lots of fantastic tips, tricks and an amazing human to meet in the flesh. Chris, you are a hero.

A very inspiring day and a huge thank you to Mike at RecordProduction.com for the invite.

New Studio Toys
Well, we continue to upgrade the studio at The Depot. The monitoring has just been changed over from my trusty Dynaudios to PMC TB2s. They are sounding amazing! The depth, stereo imaging and detail these speakers provide is just outstanding. Worth checking out the website alone to see the technology that does into a speaker like this. Very impressed.

I also just got a Neve 8803 Eq which, again, is sounding just outstanding. Dual channel EQ from the 88 series with total recall. So far I have used this on every session and it flexibility is just blowing me away. Every mix has had this thing strapped across the mix bus in a classic top and bottom shelf (+3db @ 80hz +3db @12khz) sort of thing.

You should drop by The Depot Studio, have a cup of tea and check it all out. Especially if you have not been in and read this.

There are a couple more gadgets on the way but more about them when they are here.

Anyway, September is super busy with three records I am SUPER EXCITED about, but for now, I must keep them quiet. But, I am SUPER EXCITED about them.

Over and out

Garry Boyle

2012 Part 1.... Where has the year gone?

I remember when I started this blog. Once a month I thought. Aye. Anyway, here is a run down of the last 6 months. I have had the opportunity to work on some outstanding material in what has been a very busy start to the year. The studio at The Depot continues to build a reputation as one of the best studios to record in the East of Scotland. Here is why:

January

• Finished up the Project DSB album. It is sounding good! 
• Finished Kat Healy's album due for release end of July.
• A little for-fun jam session with some buddies brought life to this track by the aptly named Wolfpack.
• I produced an EP for Backlash and two singles for The Industry both of whom continue to go from strength to strength.
• Live recording with Stanley Odd at the 02 ABC for Celtic Connections. Check out the videos here.

February

• Started work on the Holy Ghosts debut album. 6 tracks recorded and mixed in three days (you read that right) which will make up the first half of their album. A 3 track taster EP is available here.
• Mixing for the Cairn String Quartet promo CD.
• 4 track EP with Toy Machene at the studio. This ended up being the first half of their debut album.
• I also had the opportunity to stand in and help record vocals for two songs for the Pixar film Brave with Jim Sutherland and Julie Fowlis at Castlesound in late Feb. Working on such a big film was a real pleasure and a huge eye opener. The songs are now online here and here. Stuart and Jim did an amazing job on these two songs and am very proud to have done my wee bit.

March

• The Broken Records were in studio doing the first 2 (of 5) weeks on their third album. The band wanted to self produce this record in a more stripped out/wired way then their previous record. Over the next 2 months I tracked 11 songs with the band before it was handed over to Tony Doogan for mixing. Keep an eye out for this record when it is out next year.
• The Firebugs were in the studio producing their first 3 track EP.
• I mastered the Whiteheath Single produced and mixed by Graeme Steel. Grab it for free here.
• Homework back in working on the second half of their album. This one was great fun and the band really pushed it to the next level. I can't wait for it to be out there. Check out the single they released from the album here. 

April

• The lovely Echo Arcadia were in for a weekend working a their new EP 'High Hopes and Low Expectations'. The lineup has been augmented by a trumpet player and new keyboard player. 
• Finalisation of mixes for the Homework album.
• Continuation of the Broken Records album including a day at Castlesound to track the strings.

May

• A final week of sessions for the Broken Records album.
• Second half of The Holy Ghosts album. It is away being mastered and due out in the next month.
• I produced two tracks for the BBC Songs of Praise TV show. I did a similar series of tracks a few years back however this time round the band was augmented by a string quartet, flute, oboe and horn section. This went out on BBC 1 on the 1st of July and is available to watch here for the next few days (16 minutes 10 seconds in).

June

• I went on a lovely holiday to Italy with my girlfriend. It was deserved after those 5 months! I didn't listen to any music for the whole week!
• I was invited to speak on a Producer Seminar at GoNorth 2012 in Inverness. The panel included producer John McLaughlin, manager Francis MacDonald, mastering Engineer Mandy Parnell and myself and it was a great experience to be part of.

• The Das Contras record which has been ongoing for the last year was mixed. It should be finalised very soon and off to be mastered.
• Greg Pearson was in for a day working on his single 'Coming Home'. Greg had started this at another studio however the final product was not up to standard so we re-tracked the vocals, piano and bass and reworked the track to give it plenty of life. Look out for it soon.
• The Glitch were in for a day working on their new single 'Fireworks' due out soon.
• I mixed two tracks for Strange Fish Records latest signing Kill The Waves. This will make up a double A-side due out shortly.
• Toy Machene were back in for a weekend working on 4 new tracks to augment the 4 done in January. The whole lot is being mixed later this week.
• Billy Liar was in for a day making a start on his new EP. Billy has been on the scene for a few years developing his style of acoustic punk but is taking this new material down a more folk orientated route. The first day was a huge success and I look forward to continuing the project with him later next month.
• I mixed a track for Scrum as a tester for their next upcoming record. 

Other Stuff

• We started work on this years Creative Scotland YMI Demo and Rehearsal Project. This is my third year running the program so we are getting very good at delivering an outstanding experience. Keep an eye out for more.
• Plans are unwinding for the next series of Mashup Sessions. I am sure it will be bigger and sillier than ever.
• Other projects down at the studio that Craig has been working on include a mixture projects with Wee See Lights, The Little Kicks and Jack Rowbery. He has also been a busy bee.

Techy Geek Corner
The last 6 months have seen some very serious investment and upgrades to the studio at The Depot. For the tech heads these new additions are:

• A new Avid OMNI and HD Native system. This thing sounds amazing and has upped the studios channel count along side the 96io.
• Brauner Phantom Vocal Mic. This is stunning. The focus and clarity make this out favorite mic.
• A vintage Neumann KM84i from 1974
• A stunning DW Collectors Series Birch drum kit with matching maple snare. Considered to be the flagship DW line, this kick is free to use at the studio on your next session.
• A Vintech 573 Mic amp. That classic Neve sound.

So, as you can tell we are not standing still. The studio is busier than it has ever been and the consistently high standard of work is the most important thing to us. 

Onwards and upwards!

Garry Boyle