Fundamental Elements

in the studio (3.3.2008)

fundamental elements March 3rd, 2008
6 comments

We’re back in the studio for a full week of recording fun. We’re going to live blog our progress as we go, so check back several times a day to see what we’ve been up to.

• 9:30am Loading into the studio
• 10:28am We’re sitting in the control room listening to demos of the remaining songs that might make it onto the album and trying to decide which ones to record.
• 11:44am After much internal debate, we’ve chosen the songs and Dustin is setting up to lay down some keyboard parts…we’re also talking about lunch…which makes us hungry.
• 12:51pm Stephen and Dustin have been working on keys parts. We’re breaking for lunch.
• 2:15pm We’re back from lunch (Mexican…in case you were curious). Russ is writing an email, Mark is watching old UFC fights, Dustin is recording. Luke isn’t doing anything.
• 2:58pm Dustin and Joe are fighting over whose tracks sound crappier and we officially got our first in-studio blog comment.
• 3:14pm ok…not really an update, but when we get a little down time (like when Stephen’s editing MIDI parts) we like to browse random websites. Right now we’re enjoying garfield minus garfield.
• 3:25pm Some of Dustin’s keyboard sounds prompted a heated debate about when slap bracelets were popular. The correct answer according to wikipedia is the early 90’s (not the 80’s) which means that Joe was right. Ha.
• 4:21pm As I type, strings sounds are swirling in the background and horn arrangements are being discussed.
• 5:00pm Most people are going home from work but we’re just getting started. Dustin’s keyboard parts are wrapped for the day and Russ has just started tracking vocals on Askin’ Myself.
• 5:56pm Russ and Stephen are comparing vocal takes and taking the best phrases from each one to make a final vocal for the song…a process we call “comping.”
• 7:09pm Russ’ vocal is done and we’re getting ready to record harmonies.
• 7:30pm Joe learns the real lyric to the song so he can sing the right words on the BGV’s.
• 7:47pm Joe knocks out the BGV’s. Beautiful performance and correct lyrics. Next up: Russ, Joe and Dustin will lay down a “group vocal” track.
• 8:15pm One final background vocal to go and this song is almost in the bag. Gorgeous!
• 8:43pm Stephen points out that Russ’ horn line sounds a lot like a McDonald’s commercial.
• 10:13pm Sorry for the long delay (you crazy browser refreshers). Some fresh guitar tracks have been laid down and we’ve all spent time interviewing in the confession booth (which you’ll be sure to see later).
• 10:43pm Dinner break.
• 11:03pm Russ is recording vocals on the song that will eventually be the last track on the album. It also happens to be the last song that was written (Dustin just brought it in a week ago).
• 11:13pm Changed our mind…gonna go get some sleep and come back in the morning. See you tomorrow.