Spent most of Saturday setting up drums and laying down bass and drums, by the end of the day we'd finished five songs. Recording all takes "live" with the whole band playing, guitar amp in an isolation booth, bass direct input (DI) and vocals, watching Leigh (drums) through the glass. We decided not to use a timing tick and just went with the live feel, so a few songs speed up and slow down but it's sounding good. Play a song, come and listen, comment on mistakes, replay. One or two patches. NEXT SONG!
Day two saw us finishing off drums and bass for the last two songs by around lunch. Sunday was insanely busy with Ackland street packed wall to wall with people. Nice to walk out onto the balcony at Hothouse and hear bands playing on the wind.
I started guitars around 2:30 and finished the last song off about 7:30 with a few breaks in the middle. On fire. Very very happy with myself, with huge thanks to Craig for use of his fantastic amp, guitar pedals and guitars.
I was a little worried about my RSI but after a few warm ups it was fine and didn't effect me at all. I'm beginning to edge toward the lack of exersise and amp-lifting theory on the pains in my arms. The arm hurt on Saturday, but on Saturday I brought all my gear including my amp lifting up stairs. On Sunday, no amp or guitars, no pain. Although I'm hurting a bit today.
Interesting for me is that we're not "doubling" the guitars. Usually (almost always) you play your guitar part twice, sticking one in the left ear and one in the right ear and delayed a little. This gives the song a nice stereo feel and the guitars a fuller, huger sound, but for the moment it's not sounding necessary. The amps and extra room mic we're using is having the guitars sounding massive. It's something that can easily be done later if required (hopefully). The drums are covering the stereo field pretty well.
Around 8 we went off to watch Finn's (from Hothouse) band and on the way caught the end of Regurgitator's set. The crowd out the front of the stage was massive, but we walked along the beach and had an excellent view (and sound) from just behind the stage with about 30 other people and lots of confused walkers. Quan looked like he was having a ball, as were the drunk roadies on stage left. A few stage trespasses provided further entertainment as did a couple of girls grabbed from the crowd for backing vocals on "I Like Your Old Stuff". At the end of the gig, after a quick encore, saw us wander up the back and shake hands with an insanely happy looking Quan and Ben with a quick "Welcome Back!". No new songs, but definitely looking like a band. Peter (drums) is looking like a real member instead of a drum machine.
Headed back to the studio around 9 to bang out the vocals to one track and an attempt at another, with the rest to follow next Sunday. Guest musicians are in next Sunday too for Blue Sky and [...]. Should be fun. We can be in late next Sunday as Hothouse will spend the morning editing drums.
We're well on the way to finishing off all seven songs for the EP.
The final weekend will most likely be taken up with mixing, extra percussion (tamb, shakers etc.) and maybe some backing vocals, although they should be finished next by Sunday. Depends how well Heath's voice holds up doing six songs in one day.
Meanwhile, officies of Kaaza and related ISPs raided in Australia.