tag:liftupmusic.org,2005:/blogs/blogBlog2020-01-21T21:52:07-06:00Lift Up Musicfalsetag:liftupmusic.org,2005:Post/61417942017-02-13T18:00:00-06:002017-02-14T14:42:25-06:00Recording a Single - Talking Local Music Podcast Interview
<p>Happy Valentine's Day!</p>
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<span class="_247o" data-offset-key="7jds6-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7jds6-0-0"><span data-text="true">Ben Janzow</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="7jds6-1-0"><span data-text="true"> is an amazing local guitar instructor and musician! He was kind enough to interview me on his podcast "Talking Local Music" on the topic of recording a single. Check it out here: </span></span>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1f3ge-0-0"><span data-offset-key="1f3ge-0-0"><span data-text="true"><a href="http://en-ie.radioline.co/podcast-spreaker-ben-janzow-s-tracks#chapters/spreaker-ben-janzow-s-tracks.talking-local-music-s-2-ep-16-recording-a-single-w-kenny-maciejewski-20170205204713-585adf34430976ed5ae00a1c305eed90" data-imported="1">http://en-ie.radioline.co/podcast-spreaker-ben-janzow-s-tracks#chapters/spreaker-ben-janzow-s-tracks.talking-local-music-s-2-ep-16-recording-a-single-w-kenny-maciejewski-20170205204713-585adf34430976ed5ae00a1c305eed90</a> </span></span></div>
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Lift Up Musictag:liftupmusic.org,2005:Post/61417932016-10-18T19:00:00-05:002016-10-19T15:16:21-05:00Sing It With a Smile
<p>Did you ever start recording a new song and when you hit playback things just didn't sound the way you wanted? I've been working on a new song called "Avery" that I was really excited about recording. I've been trying for several weeks to cut the vocal for the track and every time I played back my take, it just didn't sound right, kind of flat, boring and lifeless. </p>
<p>Have you been there? Like me, you might have tried to switch mics, route to other preamps, add compression or different reverbs, hoping the gear would fix it, but still the track remained lifeless. Then it dawned on me, the gear wasn't the problem it was me. This particular track is an upbeat, medium tempo, feel-good song which literally uses the word "good" about 15 times. My problem was, that I was thinking really hard about singing. My face was way too serious, and as a result, that's how my voice came out sounding. I did the next take with a big smile on my face and "BOOM", there it was, a wining take with all of the life my track needed! </p>
<p>As a producer for other people, the goal is to get the vocalist mood to match the mood of the song, but when you work alone, recording yourself, it can be easy to forget something so basic since you're not observing yourself. The thing to remember is that you can hear a smile, on the phone, in conversation, or in a song. It's so simple that there's a "For Dummies" about it <a href="http://www.dummies.com/careers/business-communication/communication-business-skills/improving-your-inflection-on-the-phone/" data-imported="1">http://www.dummies.com/careers/business-communication/communication-business-skills/improving-your-inflection-on-the-phone/</a>. You can apply this concept to your music just as easily as you can phone conversation. The next time you're recording, ask yourself if your mood and expression match the mood and expression of your song to ensure the proper performance delivery. If you need a little help, practice your singing in front of a mirror so you can monitor your facial expressions.</p>
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Lift Up Musictag:liftupmusic.org,2005:Post/61417922015-08-15T19:00:00-05:002015-08-16T12:48:22-05:00Go LIVE to warm up for the studio
<p>I've spent the last few months of my musical life on a solo mission recording and writing in the studio. A month ago, my old band called me up to do a fill in gig in Chicago. I only sang one song and did some back up vocals at the show. The next day, I was expecting a rough vocal session when I returned to my studio in Milwaukee. To my delight, my vocals came out warm, full and at my best for pitch. This reminded me that sometimes, not always, pushing yourself through a PA to the energy of a live crowd can be just the thing that's needed to get a great vocal take. I'm not calling this absolute truth, but give it a try sometime and see how you feel about the results.</p>
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Lift Up Musictag:liftupmusic.org,2005:Post/61417912015-05-27T19:00:00-05:002015-05-28T11:38:17-05:00Recording in a Cave
<p>Have you ever recorded in a Cave? While I've scrolled through some interesting reverb pre-sets likely created by audio engineers with a fondness for spelunking, I've never done so myself. In any case, our subject today is not a literal cave, but Cave Studios in the Milwaukee area. Long time Milwaukee musician and business-man Tony Goff opened the facility in the back of an old candy factory now owned by his family business. As far as studios with a "cool-factor" in the Milwaukee area, this one stands out. It features a tracking room with iso booth, control room, arcade, live performance area (with bar) and basketball court. The facility itself is large, the actual studio isn't huge, but what studio is these days. I was able to meet engineer/producer Brett Schimke and Joe Hite who showed me some of their high-end gear collection. Cave Studios is another great highlight of the Milwaukee music scene. Check them out at: <a href="http://www.cavestudiosmke.com/" data-imported="1">www.cavestudiosmke.com/</a> </p>
Lift Up Musictag:liftupmusic.org,2005:Post/61417902015-01-11T18:00:00-06:002015-01-12T14:08:49-06:00Want to improve your musical skills this year?
<p>Happy New Year! Hopefully you feel that you grew as a musician in 2014. I know I grew in ways I can't even begin to explain, and I attribute it to all of the opportunities that I had to collaborate with other musicians, songwriters, engineers and producers this year. Lessons can teach you a lot, but there's nothing like getting in a room with a group of people with different musical experiences and letting the energy and excitement of a group of people meld with a diverse pallet of diverging musical paths. So think back to 2014 and be grateful for all of your musical collaborations. Even if you have a group that you regularly work with, plan... write time into your calendar right now, to collaborate with other musicians at least 2-3 times in the coming year!</p>
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Lift Up Musictag:liftupmusic.org,2005:Post/61417892014-07-06T19:00:00-05:002014-07-07T15:13:42-05:00Great song, Great performance, Great instruments = Great Recording
<p>Compare any sleek 21st Century recording to a song recorded in the 1950's or earlier and you will notice a distinct difference in the production quality when you pay attention. However, that song from the 50's that you've been singing along to since you first heard it on your grandpa's radio was, and still is, a classic hit for a reason; it was a great song in the first place, performed by great players, using likely some of the better instruments available at the time. In my humble opinion, the last ingredient is a little bit off magic of interaction between the players, recording engineer, producer and environment. <br> <br>I've learned over the years that a less-than-interesting song, played on poor quality, poorly tuned instruments, performed by timid players will yield, at best, a mediocre final recording. An average song performed by players that don't execute well in the most expensive recording studio in the world, will still sound like average song. I am the first to advocate, however, that bands cut their teeth and write and record lots of songs, as it is the best way to learn and improve. All of this said, here are a few tips to hopefully help the learning curve.<br> <br>1. Step back from your songs and detach yourself from them. Don't be afraid to re-write parts to make them better, and open yourself up to improving your songs by soliciting feedback from others who may have more experience and success at songwriting than you do. So many songs I hear recorded in the studio are the first draft, imagine how successful any book on the NY Times best seller list would sell if the first draft was released.<br> <br>2. Go into the studio with the best instruments possible. You may really like your drum kit because it's sparkly blue and is fitted with your favorite heads that have been on the kit for 5 years, however, the microphone won't record sparkly blue, but it will replicate the dull sound of your 5 year old heads. Ask a friend who has better gear if you can borrow a piece for a session if you don't have the best gear, or record at a studio that has top gear on hand for you to use. Remember, change strings, change heads and tune, tune, tune!<br> <br>3. Practice your songs. Once you have great songs ready to go, practice them until they are as tight as possible. This will not only facilitate a better/confident sounding final recording, but it will cut down on time and save you money in the studio. My one caveat here is that sometimes a few minor changes in the studio due to a mistake can often lend themselves to the creative process.<br> <br>I was fortunate enough to visit and tour Jack White's "Third Man Records" recently where all music is recorded in one-take, in front of a live audience and cut directly to vinyl record...no Pro-Tools (DAW) edits or re-takes. Just pure magic of the moment. Jack's album, "Lazaretto" debuted at number on the Billboard 200, proof that preparation, great players and great instruments pay off. This great album was recorded and released to fans in a little over 3 hours, more support that hoping hours in the studio will make your songs a hit may not always be the case. </p>
Lift Up Musictag:liftupmusic.org,2005:Post/61417882014-05-15T19:00:00-05:002014-05-16T16:56:17-05:00Less is more in the studio
<p><strong>When it comes to recording, my philosophy is typically "less is more". Especially when it comes to choosing how many songs to record in the time your budget allows.</strong></p>
<p>I had the opportunity to record in a "real" studio for the first time in my life in the 1990's, but I remember it like it was yesterday. A local studio ran an add in one of the music rags offering a "Four Hour Demo DEAL!!" for $150. My band spent two hours trying to decide which songs to record, because of course, they were all potential hits. After much debate and two large pizza's, we decided that four songs in four hours sounded about right. </p>
<p>The engineer rolled his eye's when I explained the four song plan for that night as the band loaded in. At the time I didn't get it, but after running my own studio for several years, I finally understood the thoughts deep in his brain behind the whites of his eyeballs that night. Not only would he have to try to make our less-than-adequate instruments sound good, he now had to rush the recording process. The engineer had less time to capture the best sound possible and the band had less time to execute solid performances. The result....sub-mediocre recorded product. </p>
<p>The next time you record, go for quality, not quantity!!! Hits are not recorded in and hour. Looking back, my band would have been better off recording one or maybe two songs and allowing time for optimizing all apects of the recording process (see below). In almost all cases, a band will secure more gigs, impress more fans and sell more product with a couple well recorded song vs. multiple average songs. </p>
<p>Everyone gets excited to capture and share their creations with the world, but by recording fewer songs, the artist and engineer have more time to focus on the following key aspects of the recording process resulting in more professional sounding recordings:</p>
<p><strong>Tuning, Mic Selection/Placment, Tone, Musical Performance, Phase Coherence and Timing</strong></p>
<p>I recently had a band come in to record one song in eight hours and it proved to be music to everyone's ears!</p>
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Lift Up Musictag:liftupmusic.org,2005:Post/61417872013-12-15T18:00:00-06:002013-12-16T05:57:53-06:00TAXI Road Rally 2013
<p>The TAXI organization, billed as the largest, independent, online A&R company in the world, offers its members free admission to their annual Road Rally held in Los Angeles each November. The Road Rally taught in one weekend, most of the lessons I’ve learned over the last 15 years from my alma mater, the U of HK (the University of Hard Knocks) and then some. Michael Laskow, TAXI CEO, promised “A life changing experience in the marketing for the event, and he delivered a paradigm shift like no other. Below is a bullet point highlight list from the event. If you can’t step up your career after attending a Road Rally, you didn’t pay attention, spent too much time at the bar, or on the roof of the hotel (but that’s a topic for another day). View the Road Rally details at: <a href="http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/1310/the-TAXI-road-rally-2013.html" target="_blank" data-imported="1">http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/1310/the-TAXI-road-rally-2013.html</a></p>
<p><strong>TAXI Road Rally Highlights</strong></p>
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<li>Keynote Speaker – Geoff Emerick (Recording engineer for the Beatles) <a href="http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/geoff-emerick/" data-imported="1">http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/geoff-emerick/</a>
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<li> One- on-One mentoring sessions with Brett Anderson (Donnas lead singer), Prescott Niles (the Knack bassist) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Donnas" data-imported="1">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Donnas</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott_Niles" data-imported="1">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott_Niles</a>
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<li>Melody Writing Class with Jason Blume (Grammy nominated songwriter with 50,000,000 album sales) <a href="http://www.jasonblume.com/" data-imported="1">http://www.jasonblume.com/</a>
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<li>Demo to Done Class with Rob Chiarelli (Grammy award winning producer) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Chiarelli" data-imported="1">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Chiarelli</a>
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<li>Music Marketing Classes with Debra Russell (Career Coach), Bobby Borg (former Warrant Drummer/Author/Professor) <a href="http://artists-edge.com/" data-imported="1">http://artists-edge.com/</a> and <a href="http://www.bobbyborg.com/" data-imported="1">http://www.bobbyborg.com/</a>
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<li> Recording Classes with Fett (Nashville engineer and author), Ronan Chris Murphy (Worldwide producer and engineer) - <a href="http://azaleamusic.com/" data-imported="1">http://azaleamusic.com/</a> and <a href="http://www.recordingbootcamp.com/" data-imported="1">www.recordingbootcamp.com</a> </li>
<li>Live song reviews by film and television music supervisors</li>
<li>Multiple, nightly open mics</li>
<li>Random jam sessions in the hallways and around the bar</li>
<li>Abundant networking opportunities</li>
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<p>I have a collection of highly cherished backstage lanyards from performances opening for acts like the Offspring, the Beach Boys, the BoDeans and performances at festivals like the World’s Largest Music Festival, “Summerfest”. The TAXI Road Rally lanyard will join this collection as one of my top music career experiences. Look for interviews from some of the experts listed above in the coming year.</p>
<p> Never give up! – Kenny Maciejewski</p>
Lift Up Music