Now a sound (or unsound) engineer

Robert Jadah · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 2627

As I live in a burgh of only 1,200 souls and quite a few pubs removed from the big city, it occured to me that I ran the only recording studio within 1,000 square miles.
It ain't much, mind you; my studio looks much like Marconi's first set-up.

But I offered it up, and local karioke stars are paying (too little) to come in and record while I man the dials and pretend to know what I'm doing.
"No, no, no," I shout, "I'm not feeling it. Be there. BE THERE. LET IT RIP. You sound like a busker. And stop slurring the end of that chorus!"

We recorded and I mixed this yesterday. I'm marrying it as the soundtrack to a video tribute to the singer's mother, with his various siblings featured in each verse.

Am I the next Phil Spector? Or just an awful spectre?

Control Room On!

Allison Scussel · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 928

Robert,

Marconi would be proud. I'm not a tech geek, but the quality sounded just fine in my cans.

I love your comments, BTW. "Let it ripp!" Simon Cowell could learn a few things from you.

Claire Dodin · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 400

It's a very good idea! You're soon going to have a nice business here. I'm sure the guy is very happy!
If you start doing this often, you might want to invest in a software to put the voice back in tune, you'll be amazed how much difference it makes. And soon the whole town will want to record something....you won't have time for vo anymore! Laughing

Todd Schick · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 63

Wow....

Nice job Robert....you nailed the vocal nicely, the "sweet spot".....is spot on....

The guy sounded like he was welling up there a couple of times; a testament to your emphatic direction.

If I were to comment I'd say this:

During a rehersal of a play (Ideal Husband, I was performing an 8 minute monologue playing the role of Sir Robert Chiltern) I went a touch over the top. Long story short, I was going through some pretty serious personal stuff and I lost it during the performance, I had to leave the stage......people were coming up to me saying,

"Are you OK there, buddy?"

Afterwards the director, Katherine Turner, noted that sometimes during a performance an actor can bring "too much" of their own personal baggage to a performance. In doing so, this can make the audience feel uncomfortable during the scene...

She was correct, of course. While the performance here was sublimely heartfelt, there were some moments where I felt uncomfortable listening to his emotion....indeed, I couldn't listen to the entire track for that very reason.

Of course, that's my take on it....and I can be a pretty sensitive guy insofar that I can keenly sense emotions in others. Everybody is going to hear and feel differently....

My 2 bits.....

Nice work, though Robert......really well done.

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Absolutely beautiful, musically and emotionally. Tears and beers all around, man.

Todd Schick · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 63

See what I mean.....? Everyone is gonna hear differently....

Wink

!

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Yes, Todd. Very true.

To elaborate, being a song of a mother and son (to which I can completely relate), I think if it were sung with any less emotion than this, it would not be effective, especially with the repetitiveness of the lyrics. Each nuance in the singing, even the time it strays off pitch or gets raspy here and there as it builds, just adds that element to the piece that makes it real. I always felt he was in control. I have sung in musical theater, and there, of course, you need a little more control over the emotion, more distance to make it play bigger -- but here the intimacy is totally appropriate.

Now, I'm no sound engineer -- others can comment on that part, but I thought it sounded like a good "live" recording -- not what I'd expect from a studio version.

Todd Schick · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 63

Yes....

Live recording, for sure, given the "spacial" aspect of the recording - almost like the guy is there in his Mom's bedroom....

Thing is....I was freakin' welling up....had to hit the spacebar and start typing....thus, my comment - too strong or not, his emotion really "struck a chord" to coin a phrase.

There won't be a dry eye in the place when those folks see the video, that's my call.......

Crying or Very sad

J.S. Gilbert · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008, 16:39 (GMT) Post subject: Karioke

Here's an idea. Many of the studios here are converting into meth labs. Apparently the money is better and the clientelle a step up.

Todd Schick · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 63

Yes....

And, I hear the chemicals used are a great source of heat, you can save boatloads on your power bill.... Neutral