Insider Essay on L.A. Recording Session

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 8 Aug 2002 12:55 pm

Here's a diary that I've found very interesting. It's an on-going daily report of a Major Label recording session, now in it's second week. It's usually updated daily.

The author is the Engineer, and a moderator on a well respected Recording Forum. He calls himself "mixerman". All names are changed, to protect everyone involved.

I find the internal politics and the bumbleing of the label entertaining.

Here's some warnings:
<UL>
[*]This is not about Country Music or Steel Guitar.
[*]There is profanity.
[*]It's an addictive read.
[/list]

So if the warnings don't scare you off, here's the link: http://www.prosoundweb.com/recpit/viewtopic.php?t=2176

BTW, when he refers to "Alsahad" he means "Pro Tools". I don't know why.
[This message was edited by Joey Ace on 08 August 2002 at 05:18 PM.]

Greg Vincent · Post by **Greg Vincent** » 8 Aug 2002 2:33 pm

This is a great example of why (hopefully) the major labels will go the way of the dinosaur.

-GV

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 8 Aug 2002 3:37 pm

What a tale

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 8 Aug 2002 3:58 pm

That is hilarious! Mixerman writes pretty well. I just finished Week I and will begin Week II tomorrow.

Everyone should be reading this!

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 8 Aug 2002 4:13 pm

I suspect the band will be paying for all that unused studio time.

Most contracts are written so the label gets the expenses back from album sales.

This story is developing at an interesting pace.

Imagine how happy the band was to get signed by a Major two years ago, only to be discouraged for the next two years.

Sad really.

Rich Weiss · Post by **Rich Weiss** » 8 Aug 2002 6:14 pm

i read this on another forum and I agree with what someone commented, that the only person with an attitude was this guy. I would hate to work with him.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 8 Aug 2002 9:55 pm

Where is week 3?
And where is Dumbass?

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 9 Aug 2002 4:54 am

"Where is week 3?"

This is Real-Time. We're still in week two.
The dates on the posts tell the timeline.

Week 3 is next week (Aug 12).

Marty Pollard · Post by **Marty Pollard** » 9 Aug 2002 8:33 pm

After reading the latest installment, I made a lateral move and was reading other threads on this board.
Holy Cow!
I mean, I knew/know there are a lot of tweaks going on in the studio.
I'm always amazed at the knobs and dials these guys have to know and more amazed watching the engineer blast through these boards at light speed.
But, I guess my question/comment is: where are the musicians? Yes, I've required an embarrassing number of punch-ins at times (usually a mental block on the simplest part of the tune)

. That's not usually the case, though. Of course, I'm not recording w/big-timers either.
Still, it's disconcerting to realize that almost all of what we hear in commercial music is SO manufactured.

even though I really knew it anyway

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 10 Aug 2002 3:50 am

"where are the musicians?

I gotta agee with ya on this one Marty.

Here's a quote from Mixerman's post today:
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>"Labels don’t give a s**t anymore if there’s a weak player in the band. Everyone just assumes you either fix it with a computer, or get a session player on the project. The only thing that labels are interested in is a song that they can break to radio. That’s it, nothing more, nothing less. Everything else could be fixed."
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I guess that sums it up.

Wayne Brown · Post by **Wayne Brown** » 10 Aug 2002 4:49 am

i have been in mixerman's shoes .... been there.... done that.... got out of that NOW .... to much of a headeache

[This message was edited by Wayne Brown on 10 August 2002 at 05:50 AM.][This message was edited by Wayne Brown on 10 August 2002 at 05:50 AM.]

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 Aug 2002 7:24 am

Week 3 has appeared!
http://www.prosoundweb.com/recpit/viewtopic.php?t=2291

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 Aug 2002 7:52 am

Closer inspection reveals that today's new post is not all of week 3, but rather only one more day, day 11.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 13 Aug 2002 7:56 am

Thanks for posting this. What an amazing story.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 13 Aug 2002 8:25 am

This stuff is priceless.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 13 Aug 2002 10:48 am

I'm wondering now what will happen when the cat is let out of the bag, so to speak. After all, this session is playing out on the public forum of the Internet. All it would take is for someone in the industry who is following this, and knows the band (it shouldn't be too hard for someone in the industry in LA to figure out who they are), to tell them to check out the commentary on their recording session on the web.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 14 Aug 2002 6:48 am

Here's another interesting article on the
inner workings of the BIG MUSIC INDUSTRY, located on the same website, written by Peter Spellman [maybe Mike Idhe knows him],
Director, Career Development Center, Berklee School of Music.
www.prosoundweb.com/recording/books/berklee/biz.php

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 14 Aug 2002 7:31 am

Day 12 is up....

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Home Page

Bobby Snell · Post by **Bobby Snell** » 26 Aug 2002 1:31 pm

Week 4, and now there are pages especially devoted to Mixerman's tribulations. Go to prosoundweb.com and follow the link from main page.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 26 Aug 2002 2:21 pm

I'm still following it. It's getting interesting. I thought the label would cancel the project. Now the label's Pres. is saying the exact opposite!

My guess is the Pres will be fired and the project dropped before it's finished.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 26 Aug 2002 4:32 pm

I want to read Mixerman's take on the pedal steel guitar overdubs.

erik · Post by **erik** » 26 Aug 2002 9:29 pm

There is now speculation that this story is fanciful and perhaps a compilation of past experiences. A literary work, if you will.

Bob Anderson · Post by **Bob Anderson** » 27 Aug 2002 2:21 am

Erik I think you are right. Notice how the equipment commericals flow right along in the story of this Soap Opera. Well Soap Opera or not Dang Im hooked LOL

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 27 Aug 2002 1:57 pm

It might be a compliation, but it might not be.

Still it's a great read. I've also learned a lot about recording techniques and studio procedures from it.

The daily updates make it easily digestable.

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 28 Aug 2002 8:02 am

Everything sounds a little far fetched to be completely true. You don't shoot a documentary film with a film crew , lighting rig and a remote truck. I'm sure a lot of it is true though .My guess is that Mixerman is actually recording engineer, analog guy, David Leonard. The writing looks very much like interviews I've read with this guy.