[Jon Erickson]

Im mixing a record that I am producing next week that I could use some advice on. This record is a rock record on the acoustic side with an outstanding lead male singer. Its all young folks but we were really hitting on the 70's AM radio Bread, America, Carol King "Tapestry" vibe. All killer singing and playing on this record using some of the best young session players in the Bay area.


We recorded the drums exteremly dry. Mics inside the rack and floor with gates to tape. RE20 inside on the kick and isolated. Hat mic, top Snare mic and a mono overhead. I realize that it is a real art doing dry drums so we went to great pains to acheive dryness AND good tone across the kit. Just light, utility compression was used during tracking. Our recording medium is 2" 16 track (ampex 1200), which we also used for light tape compression/sat. with certain instruments. Bass was recorded direct through an Evil Twin/Fender Jazz(with flatwounds). There is also acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric and 6 and twelve string guitars in addition to thick America style harmony vocals. No electric guitars were 'allowed' on this record. Very simple and consistent sonically.

Ive been working on a lot of records the past few years where the artists have really gone with the everything but the kitchen sink, "pet sounds" worship style of every song being an opus to itself. A lot of tracks, instruments, different styles, etc. On this one I really went the other direction. There were three different drummers, but they all played the exact same kit, a great sounding 70's Camco (Kinda like a DW but with more funk and character). If the drummers style varied much from the sound we were trying to capture, we would make changes to bring it back to the desired sound. It was a moon-gel party. Lots of session notes and digital pics. I know it sounds really uptight but everyone had a great time and really played their asses off.

Thats the backround. Ive had a few weeks off from the tracking and after listening to the roughs I am still happy, but have been considering how I can suck those dry drums together a bit more and give the dryness more character. I lean towards mono drums so that makes it a bit easier. I was thinking a renting a Smart compressor. That might have the suitable character. Ive got another day before I begin. I would really appreciate some advice on this one. I've got my own techniques but Im always into new(or old) ideas that i dont know about.

Thanks

Jon Erickson