Recording Journal

We have decided to use a Sonic Foundry based studio this time around.  Paul used Vegas Pro to mix Media Virus last year, and was very pleased with the results.  

"Rather than export tracks to Sound Forge to edit and create effects, we can use the same plug-ins and functionality from within the program" says Paul.

"The editing capabilities of Vegas are much easier to deal with on the fly than those of Logic Audio.  We can be more flexible this way, without the steep learning curve.  It's been over a year since we used Logic, and the learning curve is like a big brick wall with the latest version.  With Vegas, it took 5 minutes to get going."

Sound Forge will still play a part in the digital delivery of the tracks, in creating the mp3's and Windows media files for streaming audio for listening to audio samples at the band's Online Store when it is activated.

As with last year's single release, the band is using the recording of this CD to learn the ins and outs of the program.

"We ran some tests on the interface to get the standard tracking process in place," say French. "The other tricks of the program will become part of the learning process when we begin mixing and editing the tracks."

The band has completed drum tracks for 5 songs:

• Zen HotDog
• Cold Turkey Sandwiches
• Caffeine Dreams
• Death & Taxes
• Punchbuggy

The current plan is to remix the Single versions of Bionic and Media Virus, but that could change at any time.  Next week, The Weasels will record drums for Mr. Karma, and then it's time to move on to Bill's bass parts.  The beauty of using a digital system, is that Bill is able to take a copy of the tracks and work on his parts at home!

Oct 12th

Wally recorded drum parts for Mr. Karma and Belly Button Lint.  Mr. Karma was nailed on the second take, while Belly Button Lint made it on the 5th take (you try shifting from 4/4 to 5/4 and back again with a 4/4 click track in your ear!).

With the drum tracks complete, the next step is to record bass parts.

More Next week!

Bill broke out the Squier P-Bass and started recording bass parts.  Zen HotDog, and Cold Turkey Sandwiches were recorded tonight.  Bill made a few passes at Punchbuggy, but wasn't happy with it.

Oct 26th

Bill finished Punchbuggy, and moved on to Mr. Karma.  The outro to Mr. Karma has one of the most incredible bass parts we've ever heard.  We can't wait to hear the whole song!

Paul started working on guitar parts for Zen HotDog.  It took a while to get the right sound. Finally, the right combination of Ibanez Tube Screamer and an Ibanez Compressor produced the right tone.

The next step was the addition of Acoustic Guitars.  Paul doubled his Ovation with a high strung guitar to produce a ringing tone.

Nov 16th

Paul added some clean electric guitars today.  These were recorded using the Rickenbacker 360 through Bill's Fender Amp Head driving a Mesa Boogie Cabinet.

Guitar parts and Vocal Parts have been recorded for Death & Taxes. This song has been through many changes over the last couple of years.  The guitar tracks include Paul's Ovation Acoustic Guitar, a track of Clean Rickenbacker as well as the dirtiest distorted guitar this side of Neil Young's Live Rust album (particularly "Hey Hey My My (Out of the Black)").  Vocals and Guitars for Mr. Karma are also complete. 

The band finished Belly Button Lint today.  From guitar tracks to vocals, the whole tune took 4 hours to complete.  That also includes recording and editing a voice over section by Wally's wife Rosanne.

Guitar tracks were fewer than on most songs, thanks to the power of the Rickenbacker 360 with a Zoom 1010 Effects Unit.