Message Board

I've been patiently waiting for TapeOp to interview one of my favorite engineers/producers of my formative years, Roger Bechirian. I first spotted his name as the engineer on Nick Lowe's great productions for Elvis Costello, then I realized he was producing the Undertones albums, the one Squeeze alb...

Spotting an article on the father and son team who recorded the first Pere Ubu albums is what got me to buy my first copy of TapeOp!

Jim

Beside the fact that I think the whole concept is pointless and a crock, I was surprised at how "faux vintage" it sounded. I have not yet read the article that someone posted a link to, but it sounds to me like they ran the masters through a bunch of digital processing, in turn losing the warmth and...

I have this old Orban spring reverb unit I sometimes use to add a little spark to the drums. Once I was mixing a fun pastiche of '60s psychedelia, and the reverb on the overhead mic somehow led the ring of the cymbals feedbacking. It ended up being very appropriate to the track.

Jim

For years I used the since-discontinued MXR box that someone else mentioned. I still own mine, but it needs some work. I've since switched to a Danelectro box called a Daddy-O, if memory serves. I've been real happy with its nice range of "vintage" overdrive and fuzztones. Plus it looks cool.

Jim

I'm not familiar with that Guster song, but if you want to check out another great use of typewriter percussion, check out the solo in the middle of Brian Eno's "China My China" (from Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy). Between the typewriter and Phil Manzanera's solo from Pluto, you'll think you're...

I have no problem with the incredible amount of high end on Mass Romantic. I find it appropriate for the songs and, in fact, stimulating.

Jim

Hope it's OK to ask a quick post-recording question: I'm always interested in finding manufacturers who offer creative packaging options for CDs, such as all-paper gatefold covers, textured covers, diecut covers, etc. Feel free to write me offlist if my question is out of line for the group: jim@gro...

Two best musical dreams I can remember: 1) I "saw" Pere Ubu's David Thomas shakin' his hips in a gold lamee suit leading a band through a young Elvis Presley-styled version of Pere Ubu, or would that be a Pere Ubu-styled take on The King? 2) Once I awoke to the "sound" of Fripp and Eno playing a No ...

Yikes! Maybe this is the time to get my 20-year-old 8-track completely refurbished. Anyone know of a person who might be able to help me in the Philadelphia area? (Feel free to contact me offlist: jim@groovedisques.com.)

Jim

Ah, there's nothing like Doors griping. I've come to think that if Morrison were still alive and a little, ugly gnome like Eric Burdon we'd laugh at the appropriate parts and better appreciate the strengths of that band and, yes, even Mr. Mojo Risin'. Personally, I find him easier to tolerate as he ...

Did Ray Manzarek ever produce any rock albums beside the first three or four X albums? I've been listening to the first 3 a lot recently, and - granted, the band is at its peak - they contain some of my favorite, meat and potatoes production jobs, ranking right up there with the simple production of...

When all else fails (and all the responses to this point are the place to start), I've been able to minimize a really annoying ring on an otherwise great snare sound by reducing the appropriate spot on the EQ as the signal goes to tape. A tiny bit less midrange, for instance, can do the trick withou...

Although I like it, I find Unknown Pleasures really hard to listen to. On the other hand, I think Closer works great. Someone pointed out his work for A Certain Ratio (Sextet is excellent) and ESG (I'm pretty sure he did that first ep - also excellent) as being further evidence of his odd yet effect...

Your tips are helping. We changed around some cymbals last night, got some good results with our latest overhead mic placement, and our drummer did something that I never knew drummers could do:) he tightened the crash cymbals on the felt a little bit. What a difference that made! Just goes to show ...