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Sunday at the peanut butter...i mean pyrmont bridge hotel 3-6pm

Bah. Some technical problems, I was pitchy, I kinda rushed at the end of the drum session tryna get a vocal done and don't know how I missed it. ARGH. I don't like my takes. ARGHH!!

Also i think i liked the microphone we used to record the guide track better than the large diaphragm mic. Bah part 2.

Also? Cymbals. I've been trying to get Theo to play the cymbals separately for mixing purposes, we've done it before and it works well but Theo doesn't like the less-than-live vibe so yesterday that suggestion was not well received (i.e: Nope).

Problem is, I have 6 tracks of room/overhead and smash mics that are overwhelmed by cymbals, so they're unusable. I am cutting out all the extras between hits on the snare/kick and tom mics. It's a fair bit of work. I have had to trim, gate, eq and then use a frequency analyser to find and remove the extra SHHHHH noise.

Theo's response was the Ben knows how to get a great sound. Of course, Ben isn't mixing this...

For 'by myself', Paul S. sent me compressed files with some very loud amp noises so I am filtering and processing like crazy. Because Paul's out of commission, if I want to release this thing in a timely manner I gotta go with what's there.

When I add the extra SHHH to some parts of the track where the guitars are already a little low fi, it starts to get messy.

My online mate Mix Engineer explained how the Pro's are using MIDI and samples to keep the frequencies clear, where the drummer plays but the actually sound is replaced by a clean sample mapped to each hit.

I am kinda tempted....

But really? I am mostly miffed at myself for flunking the vocal takes. The drums were the main objective and the vox were an add on after we got the drums done but I did not do a job I am happy with and I think i'm gonna have to try again.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/recording-mixed-116722930?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

I am kinda enjoying sharing the inside scoop on the internal churning of the stormcellar fellas.

I actually just had the robot read my last post to Paul. It was easier.

Anyway we reviewed and I Got Told. LOL.

Theo: what's with all the side projects, why aren't they all Stormcellar releases.
Mr Wizard: he's 'exploring' himself.

Ok now I have been called a wanker before but that is some class A snark. Beatle-esque. Cough (wanker)

me: well we've been doing blues and roots related stuff I figured going fully pop synth was outrageous. (ignores collaboration with Skypta Vind and remix of sail away)

Theo: (begins citing the Stones and the Beatles)
Mr Wizard: You just put rough power chords underneath all the fruity stuff.

Ok so it was me that said some of these tunes are as fruity as Carmen Miranda's salad bowl. I was kinda aiming for that.

I dunno. I guess I'll get away with the two side project releases but I think I know when I got told.

Thus, i'm opting to finish the tracks and then we'll see where they wind up.

Same time, if this is simply a folly, well, fair enough. I kinda liked the idea of the different incarnations. It's sort of freeing to be someone else now and again yeah? but still yourself. A zorro mask, a luchadors lunch, a little musical cosplay.

It works conceptually. Knowing when to quit is also a thing.

On the productive side we're now ready to do a studio session. I'd expect a bit of a flurry of work for the next few months as the years work finally comes together.

Expect guide tracks coming soon.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/exploring-myself-116362234?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

We've made good headway this year.

In the way of these things, there's aims and then there's ends.

Our ends are whatever comes out organically. Our aims are to honour what we are able to do by doing it.

When we started the greenhouse project a few years ago, we made a conscious curation of the ideas we have had to hand.

Stuff written in the 'now' has still turned up, as it ought to. And given some more resources, I guess we'd do more. But that would once again to be failing to learn the lessons known since the masters started working.

Work with what you got, while you can, and do the best you can.

Philosophising aside, here's where we are at:

1. I have moved on.

Yep. Bored. Haven't even finished the other songs but my head's in more stuff from the greenhouse. I am sure that's completely OK.

I am interpreting it as 'writing part moves on' and that's fine.

Production part would like a word though.

2. Ups and Downs.

Paul S. being sidelined has frozen guitar work. So I can either work with what I got or wait.

We're fortunate that Chris W. is stepping in as a deputy for the next gigs cos omfg.

I know this is all out of our control, but it really has been a number of Yikes moments for several years. Probably sounds familiar to everyone right now..

3. Song Development Update

3.1 Psych Surfer - i cant sing the solo. I tried masking and fudging the fact that there's not a cohesive melody. That's why i haven't released it yet.

I approached the tiktokker i wanted to dance in the clip but no dice yet...

I gotta get it out as a single, cos then it takes a bit for the wheels to turn.

3.2 By Myself Without You - this thing has taken off into work mode, I think I have got it going as far as I can without drums. Now I am second guessing myself.

There are some frequency issues with my sources but you know what? that's the sound cos that's what I got. Lo-Fi is a thing. Mr Wizard doesn't like it but I kinda do. Tobacco (the artist) for example makes some stuff I dig.

I am just not quite sure amount some of the choices I am making and wonder if somehow i need to relearn everything and redo everything.

I think I am starting to realise why they painted so many versions of sunflowers.

Back to the song. In a complete surprise to me, Mr Wizard digs this song and wants me to hustle it out cos it's a 'now' sound. I pointed out that due to the way social media art and culture intersect people may hear the song at any point, so who are we rushing for?

On the other hand, it reaallly helps to git-r-done and unload it so I can...well already have...move on to the next one.

3.3 Other Songs

This is really a fascinating process. I may even do a Producer Video Stream on it.

Broadly, let's look at what we got:

Sturmkeller - liquidator - out as a single, could be part of an ep or album. I've got 4 more suitables for it.

Michael James Band - By myself without you and maybe a couple of the other flowery ones that didn't sit right for a Stormcellar album.

Stormcellar - Instrumental Album - all i gotta do is art, rename the files and submit. dunno why i haven't. It's been ready for months now. I think all the ups and downs have kinda rattled me a little.

Stormcellar - Current release candidates

This is like mixing a flavour profile.

I think I counted 15 in the release folder - those are songs I expect will be available for release on an album.

So far I guess the 'unplugged' stuff becomes an EP, but maybe The Duke goes on the album?

Right now:

the fix is in - (released as a single)

2 week millionaire - (released as a single)

Morning flame - (released as a single) have i mentioned how much i like that freakin recording?

Waiting on a message from bob - - (released as a single) Paul doesn't like the ending. Theo thinks it goes on too long. I expect a trim for album usage.

The Fix is In - (released as a single) - nothing more to do than a videoclip. I think it's sort of a B-side myself but who knows what is what these days.

Ok that's 5.

Then we get into the still-in-production

Psych Surfer - sooo close.
The Yearning - drums done, paul S. gtr done, temp vocals done. Really just needs attention and completion.
Heavens on my shoulder - On the desk, arrangement and ideas sort of fleshed out, but nowhere near cooked. Crunchy Rice. Magic 8 ball says 'cook until soft'.
For the big chorus i wanna go ask the sea shanty lads to sing along. Yeah I haven't shared it yet. Lyrics required.
The Duke - - (released as a video) The boys asked for strings. We got'em. I didn't like'em. Oh well. So could be as is or mixing...likely mixing.
TEMPORARILY TITLED song 1 & 2 - another two that is so close to done but were never finished cos I could never get a handle on it. Now that I am doing the editing and mixing I have different options.
I think these were recorded before I had a handle on the lyric/vocal and melody and so far I have sucked at these ones sp they wait until I work it out. I kind think I have got it though so...
Big Time in Newtown - from the greenhouse, it's really appealing to me right now so it may move rapidly and possibly bump the temp titles.
Other Greenhouse Material - Mr Wizard did a new Robin Trower style epic, but I think I have either found the last song for this album or maybe the keystone for the next.

4. Multimedia Production

I'm tryna get some new stuff into the live show. Long story there in itself.

5. Videos

Once i get a little less disrupted I'll do some more. Friend of the band Tommy hipped me to another tech to try.

6. Mini tour Dec 14

Last for this year, 2nd for the year. Hope will see more of them.

That's enough for now. Sharing it with you helps me to keep a track of what we're up to. Expect more mixes this week.

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