New Chess Club CD - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

vanblah · 02-17-2006, 09:46 AM

Wow. That's all I can say. I just heard the final recalls on our CD and it's amazing. I have to keep asking myself, "Is that really us?"

I know it sounds like I'm bragging or whatever. I'm not. Usually, I am very self-depracating and modest; but this is the first recording of a band of mine that I can actually say that I WANT people to hear. Don't get me wrong, I've always wanted to share my music, but this recording is simply amazing.

It's not that the playing is the best in the world or anything like that. It's just that something happened during this process that created something that I'd never have imagined.

I've recorded with several bands over the last 20 years. In studios that are professional as well as amateur. Some sounded good; others ... not so much.

This is the first time that I've ever worked with a "real" producer in a "world class" studio. We spent three weeks of 12-hour days tracking and mixing. It doesn't sound like much considering bigger bands can spend months doing the same thing. We didn't have that kind of budget. Budget?

For anyone here who has heard our other songs, this is going to blow you away. We re-recorded three of the songs on our (self-produced) EP; which has been available on Myspace forever. I was comparing the quality of the EP and this one and it's just amazing.

I can't wait for other people to hear it. Of course, we'll see if I'm still saying that after the reviews are in.

Would it be worth another post to outline what the band went through over the last year? We've been together for a little over 3 years now and the past year has been the most tumultuous.

Fly · 02-17-2006, 05:31 PM

dude............bring on the stories.........i have a million session stories.

i need some more input......what did you use?

what did you play?

blah,blah........tell me about it..........gimme some more man.

and to go with.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanblah

Usually, I am very self-depracating and modest; but this is the first recording of a band of mine that I can actually say that I WANT people to hear. Don't get me wrong, I've always wanted to share my music, but this recording is simply amazing.

all the music that we've put forth,whether it be rough cuts or finished products.....i want to share with everyone........you guys have good stuff...........maybe there is a jewel in the *Rough* that is just awesome the way it was first written.

not sure if you know what i'm tryin' to say but.........just put ALL your guys' music out.........let the peeps here it.

rough cuts.......polished cuts........half cuts.......it's all good man.

can't wait to hear it.

hey!!!!

is it up on myspace yet?

.........and keep on making music brother.

vanblah · 02-21-2006, 12:48 PM

As far as what we used to record the songs I think this link is still pretty accurate:

http://www.memphisrecordsonline.com/...t.php?key=gear

Jeff Powell, the producer/engineer, replaced the NS-10s with his own monitors. I wish I could tell you what they were.

I think he sub'ed the drums out to the API and I know the piano went to the API. The Neve handled everything else.

As for microphones, there were lots of them. I think we used a Neumann U67 for most of the vocals. We also used a U67 for the room mic on the piano. There were two other mics he used on the piano over the hammers in an XY pattern.

I'll post more about the individual sessions. There were lots of little things that Jeff did ... using an ancient micro-cassette recorder to get a particular sound ... putting the drums in the lobby for a couple of songs ... etc.

K-Wise · 02-22-2006, 06:15 AM

Have you put any of the new stuff on your myspace profile yet? Cause if so I'll go check it out ASAP.

Thats great to hear though man! Congratulations. I liked yer old stuff can't wait to hear the new

Asta!!

vanblah · 02-22-2006, 07:53 AM

It's not on Myspace yet. It hasn't been mastered yet. We'll get a couple of the songs up there as soon as we get it back from mastering.

vanblah · 02-22-2006, 07:54 AM

<b>Keyboards:</b>

The piano is a Yamaha C-7. I've played a LOT of different pianos (including C-7s and C-9s). I can say that without a doubt this is the nicest piano I have every played. It is slightly darker than most Yamaha's. It helps that it's in a nice sounding live room.

I ended up using a Hammond M-3 and Leslie for the organ parts. Prices on B3 rentals are pretty high. I'm actually glad that we used the M-3; it's got a totally different sound than the B ... it's more sinusy and cut through the wall of guitars much better. One interesting bit of trivia is that the Leslie is the same cabinet used by Bobby Whitlock in Layla (I'd have got the B3 too if I wasn't sold on the M3).

I also used a Wurlitzer Model 200 amped through a little Danelectro practice amp so we could really get some nice natural overdrive. We disconnected the Wurly's internal speakers and at one point the wires slipped down and made contact with the soundboard. It sounded like it blew up. We liked the sound so much that we left it in one of the songs.

Since one of our songs uses accordian and I don't play accordian very well we got a guest musician. He came in and listened to the song once. Then listened again and asked me for chords and structure. Then he went out into the live room and listened to the song a third time playing little bit through it. On the fourth time he ever heard the song he nailed it. Frickin' studio musicians.

The only time we used a "fake" instrument was on a song that needed Vox Continental (or Farfisa Combo in a pinch). I couldn't find one locally for rent. Nashville would have been way too expensive. So I used my NI Colossus sample and ran it through another little amp. It sounds passable.

All the synth stuff is done on my Oberheim OB-12 through various effects pedals.

Since I'm the keyboard player I don't know if I'll be able to tell you much about the other instruments; but I'll get as much information as possible from the other guys.

K-Wise · 02-22-2006, 03:59 PM

Cool mind dropping me a message when ya do so I know to check it?

Asta!!

vanblah · 04-08-2006, 07:47 PM

Ressurecting this thread to let ya'll know that 4 songs from the new Chess Club CD are up at myspace.com/chessclub.

Give me some feedback.

Still no date set for the official release.

CSflim · 04-11-2006, 09:50 AM

I listened to the four tracks on myspace. I'm impressed - I really like it. Good work!

02-17-2006, 09:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	New Chess Club CD Wow. That's all I can say. I just heard the final recalls on our CD and it's amazing. I have to keep asking myself, "Is that really us?" I know it sounds like I'm bragging or whatever. I'm not. Usually, I am very self-depracating and modest; but this is the first recording of a band of mine that I can actually say that I WANT people to hear. Don't get me wrong, I've always wanted to share my music, but this recording is simply amazing. It's not that the playing is the best in the world or anything like that. It's just that something happened during this process that created something that I'd never have imagined. I've recorded with several bands over the last 20 years. In studios that are professional as well as amateur. Some sounded good; others ... not so much. This is the first time that I've ever worked with a "real" producer in a "world class" studio. We spent three weeks of 12-hour days tracking and mixing. It doesn't sound like much considering bigger bands can spend months doing the same thing. We didn't have that kind of budget. Budget? For anyone here who has heard our other songs, this is going to blow you away. We re-recorded three of the songs on our (self-produced) EP; which has been available on Myspace forever. I was comparing the quality of the EP and this one and it's just amazing. I can't wait for other people to hear it. Of course, we'll see if I'm still saying that after the reviews are in. Would it be worth another post to outline what the band went through over the last year? We've been together for a little over 3 years now and the past year has been the most tumultuous.

02-22-2006, 06:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
K-Wise It's All About The Ass!! Location: In a pool of mayonnaise!!	Have you put any of the new stuff on your myspace profile yet? Cause if so I'll go check it out ASAP. Thats great to hear though man! Congratulations. I liked yer old stuff can't wait to hear the new Asta!! __________________ "I love music and it's my parents fault (closing statement)." - Me..quoting myself...from when I said that...On TFP..thats here...Tilted Forum Project *It ain't goodbye, it's see ya later! I'll miss you guys!* - Asta!!

02-22-2006, 03:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
K-Wise It's All About The Ass!! Location: In a pool of mayonnaise!!	Cool mind dropping me a message when ya do so I know to check it? Asta!! __________________ "I love music and it's my parents fault (closing statement)." - Me..quoting myself...from when I said that...On TFP..thats here...Tilted Forum Project *It ain't goodbye, it's see ya later! I'll miss you guys!* - Asta!!

04-11-2006, 09:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	I listened to the four tracks on myspace. I'm impressed - I really like it. Good work! __________________

02-21-2006, 12:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	As far as what we used to record the songs I think this link is still pretty accurate: http://www.memphisrecordsonline.com/...t.php?key=gear Jeff Powell, the producer/engineer, replaced the NS-10s with his own monitors. I wish I could tell you what they were. I think he sub'ed the drums out to the API and I know the piano went to the API. The Neve handled everything else. As for microphones, there were lots of them. I think we used a Neumann U67 for most of the vocals. We also used a U67 for the room mic on the piano. There were two other mics he used on the piano over the hammers in an XY pattern. I'll post more about the individual sessions. There were lots of little things that Jeff did ... using an ancient micro-cassette recorder to get a particular sound ... putting the drums in the lobby for a couple of songs ... etc.

02-22-2006, 07:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	It's not on Myspace yet. It hasn't been mastered yet. We'll get a couple of the songs up there as soon as we get it back from mastering.

02-22-2006, 07:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	<b>Keyboards:</b> The piano is a Yamaha C-7. I've played a LOT of different pianos (including C-7s and C-9s). I can say that without a doubt this is the nicest piano I have every played. It is slightly darker than most Yamaha's. It helps that it's in a nice sounding live room. I ended up using a Hammond M-3 and Leslie for the organ parts. Prices on B3 rentals are pretty high. I'm actually glad that we used the M-3; it's got a totally different sound than the B ... it's more sinusy and cut through the wall of guitars much better. One interesting bit of trivia is that the Leslie is the same cabinet used by Bobby Whitlock in Layla (I'd have got the B3 too if I wasn't sold on the M3). I also used a Wurlitzer Model 200 amped through a little Danelectro practice amp so we could really get some nice natural overdrive. We disconnected the Wurly's internal speakers and at one point the wires slipped down and made contact with the soundboard. It sounded like it blew up. We liked the sound so much that we left it in one of the songs. Since one of our songs uses accordian and I don't play accordian very well we got a guest musician. He came in and listened to the song once. Then listened again and asked me for chords and structure. Then he went out into the live room and listened to the song a third time playing little bit through it. On the fourth time he ever heard the song he nailed it. Frickin' studio musicians. The only time we used a "fake" instrument was on a song that needed Vox Continental (or Farfisa Combo in a pinch). I couldn't find one locally for rent. Nashville would have been way too expensive. So I used my NI Colossus sample and ran it through another little amp. It sounds passable. All the synth stuff is done on my Oberheim OB-12 through various effects pedals. Since I'm the keyboard player I don't know if I'll be able to tell you much about the other instruments; but I'll get as much information as possible from the other guys.

04-08-2006, 07:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	Ressurecting this thread to let ya'll know that 4 songs from the new Chess Club CD are up at myspace.com/chessclub. Give me some feedback. Still no date set for the official release.