So I’ve just got started on the mix for the new St Liquor-ish EP which looks like it’s gonna be out on a 12″ as soon as it’s all finished. It’s really exciting for Jerry to get this on to vinyl, it was our goal for the first EP but it just didn’t happen in the end and I think the tracks for this one deserve to be on vinyl and blasted out.

I thought I’d go through a little run down of the mix process for the 2 key tracks for the EP and let you guys see whats involved. I’ve uploaded both tracks “pre mix” which come straight out of Jerry’s MV8000 sampler, gutter mixes as he likes to call em. Jerry bounces out each individual track from the sampler and I drop em in to Cubase for the mix, pretty standard process for most people. Here’s the tracks for ya…

100 Snakes

Sexxy

100 Snakes: I really like both these mixes but there are a few thing’s which i’ll be working on to just step the track’s up.

• the first thing is the stereo field on the track is mostly all mono because Jerry uses samples straight down the middle on most of his tracks, I’m not gonna go super wide but just moving things around will give me more room for the beat and vocal to hit harder.
• low mid definition needs some work as it’s a little messy down there
• the general EQ curve of the track also needs a little work

Sexxy: I think this one’s gonna need a little more work, here’s my first thought on it

• the synths and samples are hittin on the right so moving a few thing’s around and gettin some balance needs lookin at. I like to double tracks in cubase and then use the time slider to move them around in the  stereo mix
• it’s all very dry at the moment, I’m not a reverb fan but gettin a few short delays in should work
• bass needs some work and a little more weight to it

I’m sure that once I get in to it i’ll get more of a feel with where I’m going with the mix. Jerry likes to have the general levels the same as his gutter mix and as in the first EP, gettin the beats to really “krak” and just giving the  mixes some width is what I’ d like to achieve.

My question to you is what do you think needs doing to the tracks, what would you do, how might you approach it? I’m always trying new thing’s and learning more about mixing so it would be great to know what ya think. I’m also going to be sitting in with Chris Chetland up at Kog studio and goin through the mix with him, it’ll be great to learn from one of the best and get this runnin through some of the Manley and API gear up in the studio.

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Since launching the blog I’ve been getting more and more requests from people to come and record at the studio which has been great but I’ve now decided that I’ll only be working on my own projects and collaborations. I’ve been really busy finishing the new EP and working on new tracks with more collaborators and the commercial nature of the studio has taken a back seat. With that in mind I thought I’d put together a list of studio’s in Auckland for those of you who need to get some recording done. I’ll still be doing remixes and working on collaborations so get in touch if your feeling some of the Bluevibe tracks.

The first studio I’m going to recommend is Depot sound over on the shore in Devonport. This is a community studio which is part of The Depot Artspace and has an excellent sounding live recording room. The rates are very cheap and the staff are always excited to work with new artists. This studio has a basic level of kit based around a Digi002 protools system and is an ideal place to record if your on a tight budget. It’s also great for home producers who may want to track drums in a budget studio and mix the project at home. The other reason I’m recommending Depot sound is because I work in the same building as the studio and while I’m not personally involved I love the fact the studio focuses on offering a great service at a budget price to bands who would not be able to record anywhere else. I also love that Calum (studio manager) often uses connecting the art gallery as a reverb chamber with amazing results!

If you have more of a budget check out some of these other studios, check out their websites to get an idea of their kit list and the type of clients they work with. I like a studio with a bit of vibe to it so make sure you go and check the place out before booking anything, obvious I know but you’d be surprised how many people like to book studio time without seeing the place. If you’ve got any studio’s you’d like to add to the list just let me know and I’ll add them if they’ve got the right vibe!

Depot sound
Kog studios and mastering
Lab Recording Studio
Beaver Studios
Platform studios
York Street Recording Studios
Studio 203
The Rock factory
Earwig studios

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As a producer and musician I really like to work with a wide range of other artists. This approach for me keeps things fresh and exciting as I’m always learning about new music, new techniques and creating some long term relationships with talented artists. I also prefer to work on remix projects and e.p’s rather than longer album based projects. I guess at the moment I’m really too schizophrenic musically to write and finish 10 tracks all in a similar style.

I’m currently working with several exciting new artists on remix’s and a new “Bluevibe studio presents…” e.p.

These artists include:

• Lesley Paton – wicked vocalist who co wrote the track “Holdin on” which will be available soon through Baby Steps recordings.
• Lisa Preston – LP will be doing the guest vocals on the new “Bluevibe studio presents…” e.p which will be out in early 2008 also through Baby Steps recordings.
• Tech – long time production partner will be dropping a dubstep remix for the “Bluevibe studio presents…” e.p.
• magOwl – wicked beat merchant from Sweden who I’m doing a remix swap with. There’s gonna be an amazing hard funk remix of “Holdin on” coming out in the new year again on the “Bluevibe studio presents…” e.p.
• Soliloquy – another swedish producer who I’m doing a remix swap with for the “Bluevibe studio presents…” e.p. This guys got some mad skills and is working with some great vocalists, check out his myspace page for the tracks with Kissey Asplund, one to watch people.
• Skahlah – did a remix for one of Skahlah’s tracks and will be getting this smooth mc to grace one of the Bluevibe tracks real soon. Go check out his myspace page for some fresh Skahlah vibes.

I’ll be writing some blog posts about the different artists I’m working with in the future so check back for more info.

If you like what you here on the site and want to get involved either with a collaboration or a remix project then just get in touch. I only really work with artists who’s music I’m in to but that covers a huge range of genres and styles so hit me up. At the moment I get paid in in one of two ways for my skills:

1. cash!!
2. whatever form of “personal currency” you have which we can exchange

I do quite a few remix swaps which are always exciting, I do a remix for you, you do one for me, we both get a great new interpretation of our work out of it, all good.

I also do a few talent swaps were I maybe do a remix in return for an amazin vocal on one of my beats, this is what I’m doing with Skahlah and is worth much more to me than any cash he could give me.

Now don’t get me wrong, if you want to pay me for my services then I’ll happily do that but if our exchange of “personal currency” is going to build a new creative network then that’s gonna be more important to me.

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Welcome to the Bluevibe studio website and Blog. Take a look around, you’ll find information about the studio and the artists and projects we create here. You can listen to the tracks and read about how they were created and who was involved. I’ll be posting about the studio projects, remix’s, collaborations, basically the day to day operations of the studio and all the extra promotional/ web2 activities we all need to be doing to get our music out to people who actually want to here it. I’ll also be releasing some of the Bluevibe studio tracks exclusively on this site so subscribe to the newsletter to get the latest tracks and information.

You can also check out the mp3 blog in the “Highpass Filter” on the left hand sidebar for some of the music and podcasts which have been a source of inspiration here at the Bluevibe studio.

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