Returning to the Asylum: Pre-Production

[Ernest Buckley]

Been working on Pre-Production for a couple of new songs. Between projects I decided to go in the box and get rid of the console and outboard sound mods.

 

So now I`m running everything with DP and REASON.

 

However, I am so used to working in the studio with real musicians that I am having difficulty getting used to working the way I used to: alone and with some gear.

 

I miss the fact that I can tell my bass player and drummer to just play something and boom I can hear it. Yeah, part of its laziness but a lot of its frustration over how slow it is to work with a machine.

 

I also miss coffee breaks where you just BS about anything.

 

Pre-Production is a must but I would love to be able to do this as a band instead. Then theres the part of me that knows this is the best way to work: Get the ideas where I want them and then share them.

[Lee Flier]

I don't think there's anything wrong with insisting on working with a band. It's just much more inspiring. Before my current band got together I would sit in my studio and bang my head against the wall trying to finish songs, come up with arrangements and so on... I'd work for weeks to get something done, and still not be happy with the results, when all I needed was a couple of other human beings with instruments to stare in the eyeballs.

 

I don't think it's laziness, I just think music is naturally a communal art form. Certain aspects of songwriting are better done alone, but I will usually pull out unfinished song ideas for my band at rehearsals... we'll flesh out as much as I have and it will usually give me some idea what direction to go from there... we'll record the rehearsal on a boom box and then I can sit at home with it and continue writing. It just works a lot better that way for me... sounds like for you too. So why not continue working that way?

[Ernest Buckley]

Yes Lee. I agree.

 

Due to the location of everyone, one over 50 miles away, the other constantly on tour as a soundman, rehearsals are difficult. The way we work is for me to get the songs up to where they are presentable and then send out MP3s or CDs to everyone with charts. Then when we meet its to record.

 

This time around for the next record, we are looking to actually meet up several times to work out the songs a bit more. Now that I`m performin to push the 1st CD, we are also playing new songs to "work them" as well. Thanks.

 

An ISDN line looks really good right about now.

[bp]

Advancing somg ideas is great but I strongly recommend playing songs out before recording them. The input from the audience is as valuable the time working the tunes up in the studio.

[Ernest Buckley]

Thanks Tinder, thats the plan.

[Anderton]

 

I just think music is naturally a communal art form.

 

 

Bingo! Composition is often a solo effort, but when it needs to turn into something real, nothing beats working with humans...except working with humans in front of an enthusiastic audience!