Bob Weston's sound

[Glory_Morris]

Anyone know where I could find a good interview somewhere or something on Bob Weston's technique? I've been listening to Menergy by the White Octave for a long time now trying to figure it out. All the instruments have so much breathing room without sounding like an Albini record. Its amazing. It also sounds amazing no matter where you listen to it-- even on blown-out car speakers that have no low-end.

Among other things, I'm opening a studio Febuary 1st here in San Antonio and I'm really worried about whether or not the room will sound ok. How do you get a live sound in a room without running into phase problems? Is there some sort of box I can get that will align phase?

[colinandrew12]

How do you get a live sound in a room without running into phase problems?

phase problems are not dependent on how live the room is or isn't.

Is there some sort of box I can get that will align phase?

mac g4 or better and pro tools.

[Max]

There is a good interview with Bob in Tapeop No.18. At the end of the article there's Bob's email adress. Write to him if you have a specific question.

If you're already really worried if your room sounds good or not, than you might have a problem.
You can avoid phase problems with non parallel walls or diffusers. What you describe as a phase problem might be a flutter echo or prominent resonaces at certain frequencies.
There are some really good books on acoustics and studio construction.
I have the "Master Handbook of Acoustics" and "How to Build a Small Budget Recording Studio from Scratch" both by F.Alton Everst. I've learned a lot from these.
Good luck with you studio,
Max

[BrianK]

Wow - I thought this was a thread on the 5th lead guitar player for Fleetwood Mac!

[Glory_Morris]

I have a spectrum analyzer on my imac and once Feb 1 rolls around, I plan to go in there and run some tests. Thanks for the info on Tapeop #18. I wasn't a subscriber way back then.

[thecongostudio]

I actually met Bob Weston last Thursday doing the sound and tape loops for Mission of Burma. I spoke with him after the show about the future of analog tape since I was curious about his take on the situation. Really nice guy.

I love his Six Finger Satellite records, it sounded completely new, and the new MOB sounds absolutely mind-blowing. He has a really lifey quality about his productions that are really hard to replicate.

[radiantbrian]

bob posts on the electrical audio board occasionally. go read 'em and you'll probably find some tidbits about his 'sound'.

i like his recordings for shipping news, consonant, polvo, shiner (splay), arcwelder, and new brutalism a lot. one interesting thing about his recordings is he doesn't pan guitars to the sides..

[vvv]

I like the Consonant stuff, also.

And his bass on the Shellac recordings.

[Glory_Morris]

At least with the white octave, there was definately some guitar panning. But, for all I know that could have been done in the mixing phase which I think was done by someone else. Still, I've really only given a few of his recordings a listen and I already know he's my favorite. There's a temperance to everything he does-- nothing is overdone. Its just excellent. Makes me wanna switch over to tape, but god knows I don't have the money for that.

[mjau]

Is there some sort of box I can get that will align phase?

There's the Little Labs phase align box, but I'm not sure how much it costs.

[takeout]

I like the Consonant stuff, also.

And his bass on the Shellac recordings.

"Bass" being a figure of speech, right? Of the little I've heard, the first and last thing I noticed was a dearth of low end.

[Glory_Morris]

For the price of these IBP boxes I think I'll just do the extra work. Besides, I can align the phase by hand, digitally in Audiodesk and have done it before its just taxing at times.

[Coco]

He did the June of 44 record "Four Great Points" Sounds damn amazing IMO. All that old Polvo stuff he did is very cool sounding too.