Almanac
Answer to Yourself
Googie & The Imaginary Band - Creative Production
In undertaking this project - inquiry has explored the production paradigms given by Geoffrey Hull, in “Malcolm Chisholm: An Evaluation of Traditional Audio Engineering” by Linden P. S. (2013). Hull details the distinction across eras of audio production with the separation between each being technologically defined by the advent and subsequent departure of tape as a recording medium. Set out as : pre-industrial (1897-1925), industrial (1925-1985), post-industrial (>1985). These each contain differing traditional & modern methods to studio productions, notably : single microphone / input source record productions (pre-industrial), live to tape record production (industrial), and in-the-box record production (post-industrial).
The Kites “Just Say When” - Studio Production
Being a developmental continuation from the PDS project The Basement Tapes, Jacaranda Records (2024) - I have carried on working with the merseybeat band “The Kites” who I’d brought onto that. In aiming to develop their repertoire with a debut single release, we arranged to work together again in a studio production, for which I planned and produced their debut record as detailed here. Spanning the full scope of production, I was the sole recording / mixing / mastering engineer - and supported them in the afterwork effort of the release stage. This has been a milestone for myself, as it is the production which I would most qualify as a professional undertaking - being that I was hired to work for this client, fully engineering & producing their track.
Production Project Scopes & Planning - Research Inquiry
Embarking on this research inquiry - into the professional standards required of the role of engineer & producer for working in tandem with artist service record labels - it is reflectively apparent that my interpersonal view on this endeavour has altered since it’s initial proposal.
Production Project Ideations
For a production project I aim to produce a number of tracks for an LP working with Googie and his Imaginary Band, as a part of a collective of artists - Sociodelic. In this role I will undertake the responsibilities of production including recording & mix engineering, as well the responsibilities of a producer and project management. This project has come around following the introduction to our collective of an artist and their album concept / demo material, working under their moniker Googie and his Imaginary Band.
Basement Tapes Audio & Video Recording Production Project
As a part of The Campus Label’s output, the Jacaranda’s basement tapes is a recurring production undertaken by a team of audio / film personnel from SAE Liverpool’s student base. Being an AV production, there were numerous roles to fill across production crews including detailed above. More specifically, the audio crew consisted of stage hands assisting in setup followed by recording operator roles during filming.
Vocal Artist Production Project
Following a short brief of working with a client to record vocals over backing tracks for a performance showreel - a studio recording session was arranged through liaison with the studio owner and client. In preparation for this recording session, the recording setup was familiarised along with the choice of backing tracks for contextual consideration when recording.
Organisation of Artist Label Onboarding & Release Project
From the inception of working within an artist’s service record label context, there is the expectation that artist onboarding / client acquisition is undertaken through AnR roles. As given in NOS CCSMB15 (2015) - This is about being able to spot artists with commercial potential and being able to develop that potential. Requiring a good knowledge and understanding of genre distinctions, crucial trend spotting of what is popular & well received by audiences, and the ability or resources to develop their repertoire.
Betterment & Adaptation in Audio Production
The following is a short itemisation of some recommendations & considerations that have been drawn from the above series of events, across broad areas of practical work.
Volatility & Transparency - Encountering Complications In Audio Production
In the spirit of transparency, this journal entry will detail a series of events that have taken place on the 5-day run up to the conference on April 17th. From this I aim to present encountered complications & perspectives related to the situation I find myself in. These circumstances will be presented chronologically, and culminate in recommendations & considerations for myself going forward.
Rationale & Pilot Production
Following a pilot practical project of 3-days of recording sessions with additional mixing sessions and revision, rationale behind the project has become clearer to express with context. Undertaking studio recording sessions, the cyclical iterations of reflection and adaptation until a final consensus / implementation is reached is an inherent aspect of the creative production process. With aiming to ensure best practice in a production context, the cyclical process highlights areas of production work that need improving to maintain consistent professional standards.
MA - Pilot Production Project
As the current landscape of the record label industry is shifting from traditional business models, understanding how best to organise personnel structure / services offered / finances and client acquisition will be significantly beneficial to both label scenarios. Additionally, outlining professional standards should not only prove beneficial for myself, improving the quality of my practice, but should also serve useful to others involved with each label.
VA Mixing Session - What Will Happen ?
In this session some novel placements of audio sources will be utilised to split single stems of instrumentation up into varying positions around the stereo field. For this I will be first using a piano stem from an in-progress production remix track - What Will Happen? - there is the aim to discover some distinct placements working off of new experimentation informed by previous implementation research sessions.
VA Mixing Session - Record Store
Going into this iteration of implementation with the aim of utilising tested setups of VA rendering to incorporate into the mixing process, the session began with the 6-Ch source arrangement utilised in the Session 6 audio project. Again working with Logic Pro and Unity Engine bridged via Blackhole software for on the fly rendering during the mixing process, this project differs with the context of the track itself being a VA remix therefore allowing for more creative flexibility.
CD / Mastering Production
During the ASP project I have aimed to produce CDs for promotional material. These have been planned with consideration of presenting an aesthetic branding which reflects our style and flavour as artists. For the production of the CDs, I first had to source the discs themselves [CD-R 52x 700MB] and cases.
Magic Satin Recording Sessions
For our project we have undertaken a number of recording sessions to track the various aspects of each arrangement for the final full productions. Going into the project we had scratch outlines of the compositions to each track, and a general concept for the sounds tonality and aesthetic as well as it’s genre influences. During the recording sessions we then worked to instil these ideas of what we’re aiming for into the instrumentation with regard to the style of the albums content and concept.
Magic Satin Production Project Plan & Presentation
For the advanced specialised project module, I will be working with partner Das as our production group and collective name Sociodelic. For the project we will be undertaking the production of two EP releases, along with the business and marketing materials provided for following through with the release process and promotion. As we’re producing two together, I will take on producing Magic Satin, and Das will produce Silhouettes. For clarification all references to EP in these pages will refer to Magic Satin.
The Stamp - Studio Production Reflective - How we Livin’
In our modules covering recording / mixing / mastering, we have been undertaking a production project with local band, The Stamp, with whom we have produced a track for called How we Livin’. This production has been a great success for ourselves in our production team as it has brought around exciting prospects of a full album production with the band after the success of this first production.
Live Lounge Session Plan
Our production team has arranged an acoustic live lounge recording session with local folk artist Euan, taking place in the Neve studio on saturday we will be recording a live set of his track Brilliant Mistake Machine as promotional material for Euan to market his new release, as well as for ourselves to promote the start of our Sociodelic Live Lounge Sessions
The Stamp Mixing Session Planning and Preparation
After our successful recording session last week with The Stamp, next we are to go forward with the mixing session alongside the band to finalise the track we recorded. During the recording session we did a fresh take on their previously released track How we Livin, this was an indie rock reggae influenced track with drums, bass, acoustic guitar and electric lead.
The Stamp Recording Plan
Before our recording session takes place, there are important aspects of the production to first consider to ensure that the workflow and process within the session is smooth and maintains a high level of professionalism for ourselves as the production team and for our client, The Stamp.