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I met Matt Ross-Sprang thanks to Mark Rubel. Mark was an amazing knowledge and super generous chap who sadly died not so long ago. RIP to that legend. I'll never forget that trip to visit some of America's most amazing studios. We toured most of the iconic rooms in Memphis which is the city where Matt Ross-Sprang has always resided. We went to Sun where Elvis, Johnny Cash, Howlin' Wolf all recorded and then on to Sam Philips recording service which Matt helped restore to its former glory. What a place! Just full of history and so beautiful both aesthetically and sonically. Matt has had quite the journey. He started interning at Sun Studios as a teen and now he has been awarded the key to the city of Memphis! Somewhere in the middle of this wild ride is what we spend of our time chatting about in this pod. From humble beginnings to mixing Elvis, getting those Grammy's and the key to the city of Memphis, Matt has seen and heard an awful lot of good stuff! ________________________ Music for this episode comes courtesy of Indy500 check it here: https://indy500.bandcamp.com/ ________________________ This episode is sponsored by the MLC or The Mechanical Licensing Collective. They're a nonprofit organization that's revolutionizing how creators get paid their mechanical streaming royalties from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music in the U.S. Every month, The MLC collects the streaming data and royalties from those platforms, matches the money to the creator who has earned it, and then pays out the royalties due. With over $2.5 billion in royalties distributed and more than 50,000 Members worldwide, The MLC is already making a huge impact. And the best part? Membership is completely free! Don't leave money on the table — visit TheMLC.com today to sign up!
His resume is as stellar as he is humble and pragmatic: Toto, Don Henley, Neil Young, The Mavericks, Miles Davis, and so many more. He's also one of the funniest guys in the biz. We got together at his Surf Shack studio to talk about pretty much whatever came up.
"1000 burritos, tacos, and Bud Lights came flying at me like the arrows in 300!" Andy talked about recording Andrew WK from a mobile truck, doubling vocals like Mahler, learning to listen, recording Cuban music, guitars, vocals, and tuning drums. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Andy Freeman who got his hands on a console at age 12 and at age 21 got his first job in audio, recording and editing voice over artists in Atlanta. In 2002, after a friend asked if he produced bands, Andy said yes. This was a lie. But he hasn't stopped producing and mixing bands since then, so I guess it was a good lie. Learning on the job at his own studio in Atlanta, he and his wife Malie [“Molly”] moved to San Francisco in 2008, then to Los Angeles in 2015, then to Nashville in 2017 where he works out of a full tracking and mixing space in his house. Andy doesn't hear music in genre, preferring the idea that there are only two kinds of music: good and bad. Consequently he's been able to work with just about anyone. Jason Hawk Harris, Ace Monroe, Leeann Skoda, Eisley, and lots of fun San Francisco bands you have never heard of. He also made a lot of live recordings in his time rambling around the country in a mobile recording truck with Bay Area Tone. They include Andrew WK, Carney, The Bravery, The Sounds, Niko Case… Anyway, if there's passion and determination, he wants to be involved. Oh, and he likes real stuff. Like real people in a real room playing real instruments while being really inspired by each other's presence. If you work with him, he will spend an awful lot of time talking about energy and flow and stuff like that. Because he wants to know who you are as an artist, he'll use words like “identity” and “impact” and “deliberate” and he will frequently ask you why you're doing what you're doing when you could be doing something else. He believes in tube amps, consoles, tape machines, analog hardware, and doing it the hard way. He will make a record in Pro Tools but he doesn't like it, and he refuses to learn how to program because let's face it, everybody else can already do better than he could anyway. He also doesn't like writing in the third person. He thinks it's weird. Importantly to me Andy teamed up with Mark Rubel in 2020 to create a GoFundMe page to help me save home studios in Music City, which we did. It was probably the greatest honor I've ever received in music. So thanks Andy! https://www.gofundme.com/f/nashville-says-039thank-you039-lij-shaw THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://gracedesign.com/ https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Get your MBSI plug-in here! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Xdwuuxil9TNDbnWErSZgW?si=c49306f760904440 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/468
Sometimes you feel like a Nutt... Jimmy talked about Fame Studios, Jason Isbell, how to get $1000 for recording your music, miking up a bluegrass band, miking upright bass, the secret to great drums, large versus small mics, and setting up monitors. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Jimmy Nutt a GRAMMY Award winning Engineer, Jimmy Nutt, grew up in Shreveport Louisiana surrounded by musicians steeped in blues and rock. He joined his first band at age 13. Early on, Jimmy was interested in recording and sound. He acquired a Tascam 4-track cassette recorder while still in his teens and started learning how to record a band. In 2000, Jimmy moved his family to Muscle Shoals, AL. to work as a staff-recording engineer at FAME Recording Studios. During his time at FAME, he recorded sessions for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Clarence Carter, Heartland, Russell Smith, The Drive-by-Truckers and many more. He worked at FAME for almost 3 years before becoming an independent recording engineer and producer. He was also a staff writer for FAME's publishing company during this time. Jimmy is now the owner of The NuttHouse Recording Studio, Inc. located in downtown Sheffield, Alabama. He transformed a bank built in 1955 into a recording studio and has hosted numerous recording sessions in the last 14 years including well-known artists; Percy Sledge, The Dead South, Blind Boys of Alabama, Dylan LeBlanc, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jason Isbell, John Paul White, Donna Jean Godchaux, and The SteelDrivers. In 2016, Jimmy won a GRAMMY award for engineering and mixing the “Bluegrass Album of the Year”, The SteelDrivers, “The Muscle Shoals Recordings”. And In 2020, Jimmy won the Canadian Juno award for producing and mixing the “Traditional Roots Album of the Year” for The Dead South album “Sugar & Joy”. Thank you so much to Jake Kiser, Mark Rubel, Craig Alvin, suggesting Jimmy come on the show and Kyle Lenhing for making our introduction! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.adam-audio.com https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://gracedesign.com/ https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Check out the MBSI on sale now for $80 off! https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Wo9DKqojKpzf9ocdxbFG2?si=356832708b5046f2 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/464
Local bassist and music producer Mark Rubel passes away, UIUC students voted to maintain the campus ice arena, an Illinois Senate bill proposes ending mandatory political or religious meetings at work, and the Illinois High School Association's Basketball Championships might leave Champaign.Stories by Adelyn Mui, Stephanie Orellana, Nick Roacho, and Peter DerrahHosted by Peter DerrahMusic by Boxout
Don't let the gear eclipse the performance! Jacquire talked about creating 1+1 Management, the five tiers of an artist's professional team, mixing in UAD Luna, making music for META, why social media is important, and how to mix with delay & reverb. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Jacquire King, a Grammy-winning music producer, mixer, and engineer with over 13 billion streams and more than 35 Grammy nominations. His extensive credits include: Tom Waits, Kings of Leon, James Bay, Shania Twain, Modest Mouse, Smash Mouth, Norah Jones, Buddy Guy, Zach Bryan, Punch Brothers, Ingrid Michelson, Cold War Kids, City and Colour and many many more. And I'm going to quote from his great website bio: “Jacquire has just one gold record hanging in his studio. It's Mule Variations by Tom Waits, a personal favorite in the mile-long list of critically acclaimed albums, multiple GRAMMY Awards, and national accolades he's earned in more than 30 years as a sought-after recording engineer and producer.” He grew up in the Washington, DC area, absorbing a rich mix of influences from reggae to punk rock. While his friends were forming hardcore bands, Jacquire was studying the noise, making cassette mixes, and learning to transform raw live music into a complex listening experience. If he maintains one constant aesthetic in his work, it's blending traditional recording artistry with emerging tools and technology. “Curiosity moves an art form forward, so I incorporate whatever gives the artist the freedom to create. I always want to be part of that evolution.” Jacquire is committed to playing an active role in the recording industry's next chapter, serving as an ambassador for new technology and acting as a frequent mentor to up-and-coming professionals. “I don't have any studio secrets,” he said. “If I can help someone figure out their own combination of talent and technology, I want to do that. If I can give an artist a new tool to make something great, count me in.” He has his own studio, The LBT, just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Thank you to Matt Boudreau and Mark Rubel for connecting us - and for API putting us on the same golf team for the The Annual AudioMasters Benefit Golf Tournament for the Engineers Relief Fund. If deals really do get made on the golf course then this interview might be one of them! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://gracedesign.com/ https://www.native-instruments.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://iZotope.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5UoWocMmVdpSlAbDDi0i8K?si=6b016c9b4c5b4d21 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/435
The Jay Franze Show: Your backstage pass to the entertainment industry
Join us on an inspiring episode of The Jay Franze Show as we sit down with a true luminary in music education and recording, Mark Rubel. With a career spanning decades and a passion for sound that knows no bounds, Mark has shaped the musical landscape through his teaching, production work, and unyielding dedication to preserving the art of sound.As the Director of Education for The Blackbird Academy and a former Audio and Recording Director at Eastern Illinois University's Doudna Arts Center, Mark has imparted his wisdom to countless students, fostering the next generation of audio engineers and music enthusiasts. Throughout his journey, he's shared his expertise in audio, music technology, the music business, and rock history, leaving an indelible mark on his students' lives.Beyond the classroom, Mark's influence resonates through the music he's produced at his famed Pogo Studio, with an impressive client list including Hum, Alison Krauss, Rascal Flatts, and many more. His recording prowess extends to capturing unforgettable performances at events like the Wall to Wall/Ellnora Guitar Festival, where he's worked with musical icons like Los Lobos, Calexico, and Ani DiFranco.Mark's dynamic presence is not confined to the studio. He's a sought-after panelist, moderator, lecturer, and workshop leader at renowned audio conferences like the Audio Engineering Society Conferences and SXSW. His expertise extends to the legal realm, where he serves as a consultant and expert witness in audio and copyright cases.In this episode, Mark shares captivating stories from his journey, the evolution of recording studios from the '60s to the '70s, and the pivotal role of education in shaping the music industry's future. We delve into his experiences with legendary artists, insights into the art of production, and his work as a writer for esteemed publications like Tape Op and Mix Magazine.Tune in to The Jay Franze Show as we explore Mark Rubel's multifaceted career, his unbreakable bond with music, and his mission to inspire the next generation of sound enthusiasts. Whether you're an audio aficionado, a music history buff, or simply someone who appreciates the magic of sonic storytelling, this episode promises to resonate with you on every wavelength.Show InformationHost: Jay FranzeGuest: Mark RubelRecorded: August 14, 2023LinksJay Franze: https://JayFranze.comBlackbird Academy: https://theblackbirdacademy.com/mark-rubel/ Support the show
Welcome to Season 3, Episode 1 of Song Chronicles. Our guest is producer, engineer, and educator Mark Rubel. Mark has produced thousands of recordings for artists including Alison Krauss, Rascal Flatts, Fall Out Boy, Ludacris, and many more. Mark sees humans as storytelling machines, with production and mixing as a unified field of sonic storytelling. Mark placing microphones to record Roy "Futureman" Wooten at The Blackbird Academy in Nashville Mark has taught audio technology, the music business, and the history of rock to thousands of students. Previously the Audio and Recording Director and Instructor at Eastern Illinois University, he is now the Director of Education at The Blackbird Academy in Nashville, where he and Louise met, when she was one of his students. He shares the parallels between pacing a lesson and pacing a set list and how teachers are, in a sense, performers when they hold their students' attention. Mark teaching students at Blackbird Academy He's currently working on a book on the great American recording studios of the '60s and '70s many of which had their own unique setups with obscure pieces of equipment before the studio revolution moved recordings from live tracking to mono to 24 tracks synched up. Describing himself as a "inveterate rabbit hole diver", the task of finishing the book has been monumental. We talk about how Mark finds the motivation and energy to get everything done, what kinds of people make art no matter what, and how his parents influenced him. HIs mother was a journalist and his father was a scientist and mathematician. “You know" he says, "...if you take science, but high level science, where it's not, it's not just equations, it's philosophical leaps of problem solving and finding creative ways to get from one place to another -so that kind of science -and you combine it with what my mother did, which was portraiture in words, and you put them together, you get a record producer, engineer who's making a kind of a technical portrait of someone's essence, and you're trying to portray their personality and, and who they are through sound. So it's, it's a nice combination of those two things.” Enjoy this conversation about making audio technology accessible to everyone.
He's an acclaimed engineer with a love for not just the technology, but for the creative process behind the artistry. And he's dedicated to passing that wisdom on to the next generation. We caught up with Mark Rubel at his home away from home, the legendary Blackbird Studios and Blackbird Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.
My guest today is Matthew Ross-Spang a twice Grammy winning Memphis record producer and engineer, who started out at the Legendary Sun Studio as a teenager working his way up from intern to the Chief Engineer. He has since moved on to restore back to its original glory the also legendary Sam Phillips Recording studio across town originally built in 1960 to accommodate the ever growing catalog of music under Sam's production and label. The City of Memphis even nominated him one of its “30 under 30” Memphians and in 2016 awarded him a key to the city while proclaiming April 25,2016 as “Matt Ross-Spang Day” in Germantown,TN. Matt has worked with many great artists and producers including: Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Chris Isaak, The Rival Sons, Dave Cobb, and John Prine to name just a few. Matt has been an early guest on the podcast previously on episode RSR040 when I visited Memphis for the podcast so you can catch hi background story there. Today we are going to see what's new and hear about the beautiful restoration of Sam Phillips Recording. Thanks again to Mark Rubel at Blackbird Academy for making our introduction. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: http://MixMasterBundle.com THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy Use code ROCKSTAR to get 10% https://samplyaudio.com Use code RSR20 to get 20% off for the first 3 months https://www.Spectra1964.com http://MacSales.com/Rockstars http://iZotope.com/Rockstars use code ROCK10 for 10% off http://www.thetoyboxstudio.com http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com Hear guests discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7vsPHFW59uWbBMQ4H0clNM?si=c243592c11494922 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/356
Fantastic interview with the incredible Mark Rubel. Mark talked about Audio Education as he is the Co-Director of Education, and Instructor at the infamous Blackbird Academy in Nashville, Tn. He was the Owner of Pogo Studios in Champaign - Urbana, IL and plays in the band "Captain Rat and The Blind Rivets" for over 20 years! Mark is living his dream in every way and on top of all that is writing a book he hopes to be published in 2023. https://www.facebook.com/TheBlackbirdAcademyhttps://theblackbirdacademy.comhttp://www.captainratandtheblindrivets.comCo-Director of Education and Instructor at The Blackbird Academy Bass/Vocals/Zany Antics at Captain Rat and the Blind Rivets Archdruid at Pogo StudioWorked at Blackbird StudioFormer Audio Instructor at Parkland College Former Instructor and Audio Director at Eastern Illinois University Worked at Expert Audio Witness/Consultant Former Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Business/Commercial Music at Millikin UniversityStudied at University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignSupport the show
My guest today is Brian Charles a producer, engineer, plugin designer for Rare Signals from Boston Massachusetts. Brian has been a fantastic guest on the podcast before on episode RSR174 to talk about working with indie rock bands. He's worked with thousands of artists over the years and has made albums in almost every genre imaginable. Some of Brian's many credits include The Vatican Commandos featuring a young “Moby” as the lead singer, Dispatch, pop artist Marina and the Diamonds, Weakened Friends, and his longtime work as a producer and touring member of the band “The Sheila Divine”. Brian is also an educator working with Berklee College of Music, Emerson College, The Walnut Hill School for The Arts, and The Recording Workshop. And he is the creator of the “Transatlantic Plate Reverb” at his plugin company Rare Signals where he digitally recreated the iconic plate reverbs of Zippah studio. Tragically in December 2021 His Home base studio, Zippah Recording (of 33 years), was destroyed in an 8-alarm fire. Incredibly the music community has come together to fundraise in support of Brian's studio and family recovery after the devastating loss of many decades of instruments, recording equipment, and musical history. Thanks so much to Mark Rubel at Blackbird Academy for making our original introduction. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: http://MixMasterBundle.com THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy Use code ROCKSTAR to get 10% https://samplyaudio.com Use code RSR20 to get 20% off for the first 3 months https://www.Spectra1964.com http://MacSales.com/Rockstars http://iZotope.com/Rockstars use code ROCK10 for 10% off http://www.thetoyboxstudio.com https://www.sonarworks.com https://apiaudio.com http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com Hear guests discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1HPEubCvawOhqGMGNN3Mw4?si=427cce7f91464f67 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/343
On episode 143 the hosts are joined by Mark Rubel from The Blackbird Acadamy. Mark has taught audio, music technology, music business, and The History of Rock tothousands of students at various colleges and universities since 1985. They discuss his work in audio forensics used for legal cases determining if music was sampled or not. Mark talks about his passion for teaching, the difference between live and recording engineers, how the teaching process has evolved, and more.Mark is also in the process of writing a book called " Great American Recording Studios of the 1970' & 60's" This episode is sponsored by Audix and Allen & Heath.Join our Discord Server and our Facebook GroupMark Rubel has taught audio, music technology, music business, and the history of rock to thousands of students since 1985 at various colleges and universities. Before becoming the Director of Education for The Blackbird Academy, he served as Audio and Recording Director and Instructor at Eastern Illinois University's $70 million Doudna Arts Center.Since 1980, Mark has produced thousands of recordings at his Pogo Studio in Champaign, IL (now located in Nashville) and elsewhere, for such clients as Hum, Alison Krauss, Rascal Flatts, Jeff Coffin, Henry Kaiser, Fall Out Boy, Ludacris, Adrian Belew, Luther Allison, Jay Bennett, Melanie, Ian Hobson, Henry Butler, and many more. For the Wall to Wall/Ellnora Guitar Festival, he recorded Los Lobos, Calexico, Ani DiFranco, The National, Junior Brown, Derek Trucks, Taj Mahal, Bill Frisell, and many others.Mark has been in the same rock and roll band since 1980. He serves as a panelist, moderator, lecturer, workshop leader, and recording judge at numerous audio conferences, including national and regional Audio Engineering Society Conferences, the Tape Op, Potluck, and Welcome to 1979 Conferences, SXSW, and many more. He is a frequent guest on recording shows, podcasts, and in documentaries. Mark is on the national board of SPARS (the Society of Professional Recording Services) and belongs to NARAS, AES, ASCAP, and EARS.Mark Rubel also works as a consultant and legal expert witness in the fields of audio and copyright. He writes for such publications as Tape Op and Mix Magazine, interviewing Dave Cobb, Terry Manning, and the legendary Les Paul. Mark is currently writing a history of recording studios of the 1960s–70s for Rowman and Littlefield: “The Great American Recording Studios.”The Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb is hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrence and pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside , Chris Leonard, and Sam Boone
NEWS YouTube payed a massive amount of royalty's to the music industry over the last 12 months Is microtime audio the next audio horizon? GUEST Producer / engineer / educator Mark Rubel Mark Rubel has produced thousands of recordings from his Pogo Studio for clients like Alison Krauss, Rascal Flatts, Fall Out Boy, Ludacris, Adrian Belew, Luther Allison, and many more. Mark also works as a consultant and legal expert witness in the fields of audio and copyright. He has taught audio, music technology, music business, and the history of rock to thousands of students since 1985 at various colleges and universities before becoming the Director of Education for The Blackbird Academy in Nashville. During the interview, we spoke about how to make the most with the least amount of gear, the learning experience of working with acoustic music, the affect of being around excellence, and much more. On the intro I'll take a look at YouTube's massive royalty payout, and microtime audio. var podscribeEmbedVars = { epGuid: 'https://bobbyoinnercircle.com/?p=2860', rssUrl: 'https://bobbyoinnercircle.com/feed/podcast/', backgroundColor: 'white', font: undefined, fontColor: undefined, speakerFontColor: undefined, height: '600px', showEditButton: false, showSpeakers: true, showTimestamps: true };
Welcome to Tape Op's DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ producer and engineer Mark Rubel about The Band's 1969 Release The Band. Enjoy!
Welcome to Tape Op’s DISCussion, where we call our friends and music community notables to talk about their favorite records. This week we chat w/ producer and engineer Mark Rubel about The Band’s 1969 Release The Band. Enjoy!
What is it we do here at InObscuria? Every show Kevin opens the crypt to exhume and dissect from his personal collection; an artist, album, or grouping of tunes from the broad spectrum of rock, punk, and metal. This week we look back on a tumultuous year that we’d mostly rather forget. In celebration of the New Year, we wanted to find some nuggets of joy from the last 12-months. We hope everyone’s families are safe, and that you are able to take some time to kick back and rock with us! Happy New Year everyone!Songs this week include:Thundermother - “Free Ourselves” from Heat Wave (2020)MUCC - “Aku – JUSTICE-” from Aku (2020)Vandenberg - “Hell and High Water” from 2020 (2020)The Swear - “Ike Turner” from The Clinic And The Sane (2020)Lovebites - “Raise Some Hell” from Electric Pentagram (2020)Death By Unga Bunga - “Live Until I Die” from Heavy Male Insecurity (2020)Black Swan - “Long Road To Nowhere” from Shake The World (2020)Ours - “Slipping Away” from Media Age EP (2020)Hazzerd - “Call Of The Void” from Delirium (2020)Hum - “Step Into You” from Inlet (2020) If you’d like to check out Kevin’s band THE SWEAR, take a listen on all streaming services or pick up a digital copy of their latest release here: https://theswear.bandcamp.com/Please subscribe everywhere that you listen to podcasts!Visit us: https://inobscuria.com/https://www.facebook.com/InObscuriahttps://twitter.com/inobscuriahttps://www.instagram.com/inobscuria/Buy cool stuff with our logo on it!: https://www.redbubble.com/people/InObscuria?asc=uIf you want to hear Robert and Kevin’s band from the late 90s – early 00s BIG JACK PNEUMATIC, check it out here: https://bigjackpnuematic.bandcamp.com/Check out Robert’s amazing fire sculptures and metal workings here: http://flamewerx.com/
Episode 8 Al SchmittPart 1 Song Chronicles is proud to present the first of a two-part interview with Al Schmitt. These episodes offer a unique behind-the-scenes look - from a master of his craft – on what happens on the other side of the glass when musicians go into a recording studio. Al Schmitt is the definition of a living legend. During his unparalleled career, the 90-year-old engineer/producer has worked with an incredible list of musical giants: Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Sam Cooke, Barbra Streisand, Henry Mancini, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Steely Dan, Celine Dion, Queen Latifah, and more are names that only scratch the surface of a career of the highest excellence: his knowledge and work ethic makes the greatest of greats want him at the helm. The arc spans far and wide with Frank Sinatra to Bob Dylan singing Sinatra, as well as Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable”. Al Schmitt with Niko Bolas Now in his seventh decade at the board, Al has hardly slowed down. He has just finished mixing a new album from Diana Krall, with whom he already has earned three Grammys. In fact, Al has won more Grammys – 20 – than any other engineer and ranks among the top 15 of all-time Grammy winners. During Neil Young sessions at Capitol (Neil Young and Niko Bolas pictured) I met Al when he came to speak to the members of the Blackbird Academy’s audio engineering program that I enrolled myself in last year in Nashville. He came in with his good friend, and fellow producer/engineer, Niko Bolas, who I've been fortunate to know since I was 18, when I was recording at Record One in Sherman Oaks (a studio once owned by Allen Sides as part of Ocean Way), where Niko was working alongside producer/engineer, Val Garay. I spoke with Al recently, August 4, 2020, during the quarantine. We spoke via video on Zoom, talking about his illustrious career, innovative recording techniques, and the musicians who he’s worked with. Al Schmitt and Steve Genewick Al developed his love for the studio very early in his life. As a child, the New York City native hung out at the recording studio owned by his uncle, Harry Smith. Not the folklorist Harry Smith but the Harry Smith (née Schmitt) who ran the first independent recording studio on the east coast. He was starry-eyed with his uncle’s work and life. Les Paul was his “Uncle Les,” who took young Al to hockey games, boxing matches, and bar. Smith instilled in Al some valuable lessons about studio work, such as: “You’ve got to treat your equipment like a Swiss watch and it’ll take care of you”. Al says that’s why you’ll never see him putting coffee and stuff like that on his console. His uncle also lined up an apprenticeship for him, then 19 and just out of the Navy, at Apex Recording Studios, where he received tutelage from another of his mentors, the fabled engineer/producer Tom Dowd, who Al describes as “one of the great engineers of all time.” It was at Apex too that Al ran, quite by accident, his first recording session for none other than Duke Ellington – and a very kind Duke, who told the novice engineer: “Don’t worry son, we’re gonna get through this. It’s gonna be fine.” Al has become known for his clean, unembellished sound, which he developed early on when he only had a few microphones to work with. This taught him the importance of mic placement to get the sound right for a take, particularly because there wasn’t the technology yet to go back and fix a take. “I've always been an experimenter with microphones and how to set up things,” he reveals. “I set up a big band one day and the next day I'd set them up exactly the opposite and I'd move them around the room until I got the best place.” Al Schmitt & Niko Bolas with John McBride, visiting the students in Mark Rubel's class at The Blackbird Academy (we all wore ties in their honor) After close to a decade in New York (where he also worked at Atlantic Records and Fulton Recordings) in 1958, Al moved to Los Angeles. He was an engineer first at the highly popular Radio Recorders studio before moving over to RCA in 1963. A few years later, Al convinced RCA to promote him to a producer, but there was one downside of a dream job: because of union rules, he could no longer work the board. “I could reach over and do something like on the echo or whatever, and (then they would) call me up on the carpet for touching the board.” It was also time-consuming. “Eddie (Fisher) would be 2-5 (pm) and then Jefferson Airplane would be 8 ‘til 3, 4 in the morning. And by the time I got home, I'd get a little sleep. And, I'd have to come back to work because I had 11 artists that I was taking care of. So I had to do budgets. I had to hire arrangers for artists.” He quit this RCA job, but the Jefferson Airplane hired him back as their producer, persuading him to finish the album because they loved his work so much. Al went on to produce several more albums for the band and for others; however, by the early 70s, he realized how much he missed engineering. So while he has continued to be a producer (on albums for Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Al Jarreau, George Benson, to name a few), the bulk of Al’s massive, and impressive, body of work has been doing what he loves best – being an engineer. Not only has Al achieved great success in his prolific career – he has worked on over 150 gold and platinum albums – but he has achieved in an amazing range of genres: jazz, rock, pop, country, soundtracks, holiday music, Latin, rap, and blues. Capitol Recording Studios, Al's second home
My guest today is Doug Sarrett a Nashville-based Independent Audio Engineer. He came to Nashville to attend Belmont University and has worked steadily in Nashville Recording Studios for over 30 years. Doug is also the owner of Uno Mas Studio in Brentwood, TN. A brief list of some of the artists Doug has worked with: U2, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, One Republic, Vince Gill, Micheal McDonald, Amy Grant, Switchfoot, Glen Campbell, Micheal W. Smith, CeCe Winans, Shirley Jones (Mom Partidge), Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman), The Oak Ridge Boys, and tons of others! I met Doug recently at a Nashville engineers lunch event (thanks again Mark Rubel!) and when I checked out Doug’s website and work I was really blown away. So here we are :-) Thanks to our sponsors! OWC: Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com WhisperRoom: https://whisperroom.com Get 10% off the 4x4 or 4x6 booths now when you mention Recording Studio Rockstars. JZ Microphones: https://usashop.jzmic.com Spectra1964: https://www.spectra1964.com Presonus Studio One: https://www.presonus.com RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear more on Youtube If you love the podcast, then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/241
New to InObscuria? It’s all about digging up obscure Rock n' Punk n' Metal from one of 3 categories: the Lost, the Forgotten, or the Should Have Beens. In this episode we talk about the forgotten years of gothic rock from the 80s, and the relatively unknown impressively aggro 90s bands from the state of Illinois. Be sure to also check out what Elizabeth and Kent have to offer!https://www.facebook.com/theswear/https://www.pastemagazine.com/noisetrade/music/theswearSongs this week include:The Damned – “Sanctum Sanctorum” from Phantasmagoria (1985)Fragile Porcelain Mice – “Accolades” from All This Baggage (1998)Peter Murphy – “Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem” from Deep (1989)NIL8 – “Northwest Incenerator” from Hallelujah, I’m Gonna Kill Myself (1996)Concrete Blonde – “Still In Hollywood” from Concrete Blonde (1986)HUM – “Iron Clad Lou” from Electra2000 (1993)Please subscribe everywhere that you listen to podcasts!T-SHIRTS ON SALE THIS MONTH!: https://www.redbubble.com/people/inobscuria/og-shopVisit us: https://inobscuria.com/https://www.facebook.com/InObscuriahttps://twitter.com/inobscuriahttps://www.instagram.com/inobscuria/
My guest today is Tim Dolbear who cut his musical teeth playing live with people such as Sammy Hagar, and in the studio with his mentor, producer Keith Olsen. Currently, he works with both labels and independent artists, and receives projects from all over the world. Since 1999, He has owned and operated Eclectica Studios, originally located in Los Angeles, operations were moved to Austin TX in 2006. In 2019 Eclectica Studios moved to its current location in Nashville. Tim is a guest lecturer for audio production at many colleges throughout N America including Blackbird Academy, NYU and SAE. Tim is also a published writer who writes for MIX, Sound on Sound, and Professional Sound Magazine. I met Tim recently through Mark Rubel at Blackbird Academy. So thanks again Mark! Thanks to our sponsors! OWC - Other World Computing: https://www.OWC.com JZ Microphones - https://usashop.jzmic.com/ use coupon: ROCKSTAR at checkout for 50% off JZ vintage series microphones. RSR Academy: http://RSRockstars.com/Academy Want to learn more about mixing? Get Free mix training with Lij at: http://MixMasterBundle.com Hear more on Youtube If you love the podcast then please Leave a review on iTunes here CLICK HERE FOR SHOW NOTES AT: http://RSRockstars.com/207
Bassist, producer en muziek historicus Mark Rubel werkte als geluidstechnicus mee aan de opnames van duizenden liedjes. Hij is co-directeur van en geeft les aan The Blackbird Academy in Nashville, een top opleiding voor een nieuwe generatie studio technici.
Bassist, producer en muziek historicus Mark Rubel werkte als geluidstechnicus mee aan de opnames van duizenden liedjes. Hij is co-directeur van en geeft les aan The Blackbird Academy in Nashville, een top opleiding voor een nieuwe generatie studio technici.
MARK RUBEL has taught audio, music technology, music business, and the history of rock to thousands of students since 1985. He has taught at various colleges and universities, and served as the Audio and Recording Director at Eastern Illinois University’s $70 million Doudna Arts Center.Mark has recorded and produced extensively since 1980, both at his Pogo Studio in Champaign, Illinois and elsewhere. His list of clients includes Hum, Alison Krauss, Rascal Flatts, Fall Out Boy, Ludacris, Adrian Belew, Luther Allison, Jay Bennett, Melanie, Ian Hobson, Henry Butler and many more. For the Wall to Wall/Ellnora Guitar Festival, he has recorded Los Lobos, Calexico, Ani DiFranco, The National, Junior Brown, Derek Trucks, Taj Mahal and many others.He serves as panelist, moderator, lecturer, workshop leader and recording judge at numerous audio conferences, including national and regional Audio Engineering Society Conferences, the Tape Op and Potluck Conferences, SXSW, and many more. He is on the national board of SPARS (the Society of Professional Recording Services) and also belongs to NARAS, AES, ASCAP, MEIEA and EARS.Mark is a musician, recording engineer and producer, and also works as a consultant and legal expert witness in the fields of audio and copyright. He has written occasionally in such publications as Mix Magazine and for Tape Op Magazine, for whom he interviewed Les Paul.
MARK RUBEL has taught audio, music technology, music business, and the history of rock to thousands of students since 1985. He has taught at various colleges and universities, and served as the Audio and Recording Director at Eastern Illinois University’s $70 million Doudna Arts Center.Mark has recorded and produced extensively since 1980, both at his Pogo Studio in Champaign, Illinois and elsewhere. His list of clients includes Hum, Alison Krauss, Rascal Flatts, Fall Out Boy, Ludacris, Adrian Belew, Luther Allison, Jay Bennett, Melanie, Ian Hobson, Henry Butler and many more. For the Wall to Wall/Ellnora Guitar Festival, he has recorded Los Lobos, Calexico, Ani DiFranco, The National, Junior Brown, Derek Trucks, Taj Mahal and many others.He serves as panelist, moderator, lecturer, workshop leader and recording judge at numerous audio conferences, including national and regional Audio Engineering Society Conferences, the Tape Op and Potluck Conferences, SXSW, and many more. He is on the national board of SPARS (the Society of Professional Recording Services) and also belongs to NARAS, AES, ASCAP, MEIEA and EARS.Mark is a musician, recording engineer and producer, and also works as a consultant and legal expert witness in the fields of audio and copyright. He has written occasionally in such publications as Mix Magazine and for Tape Op Magazine, for whom he interviewed Les Paul.
Get FREE mix training videos, eBook and multi tracks at MixMasterBundle.com My guest is Mark Rubel, the Co-Director of Education and Instructor at The Blackbird Academy, which is an intensive recording school at famed Blackbird Studios in Nashville, TN. Since 1980, Mark has made about a zillion recordings at his Pogo Studio in Champaign IL (currently reopening in Nashville), including such artists as Alison Krauss, Jay Bennett, Ludacris, Hum, Adrian Belew, Melanie, Fall Out Boy, Duke Special, and many others. Get full show notes at RecordingStudioRockstars.com/17 LEAVE A REVIEW
Working Class Audio Session #034 Mark Rubel!!! Mark Rubel is Co-Director of Education and Instructor at The Blackbird Academy, an intensive recording school at famed Blackbird Studios in Nashville, TN. Since 1980, Mark has made about a zillion recordings at his Pogo Studio in Champaign, IL (currently reopening in Nashville), including such artists as Allison Krauss, Jay Bennett, […] The post WCA #034 with Mark Rubel appeared first on Working Class Audio.