E-que - New Anita Baker Record

[e-cue]

Very difficult session. She was very, very kind.

She brought her own Telefunkin 251, which we checked against several mic's and the U87 won out Card, no pad, no roll off. She used a Mackie digital 8 bus console for her cue mix, which kinda sucked because of the vocal booth she was in (the power supply has a somewhat nasty fan noise that we baffled and gobo'ed the best we could without making it a fire hazard). I took the dig out of the console and plugged into a Benchmark DAC-1 which sounded instantly way better. I've been using this often as a headphone amp for clients. She used the Amek pre and set her own levels. This killed me. She made us turn off or un plug EVERY compressor in the studio. Litterally. This made things difficult for me because she also refused to let me run her signal through any kind of line amp to adjust level. Basically, it took about 8 hours to get things where she was comfortable. After that, she nailed the chorus vocals take by take and sang the lead twice. The second take was a 'safety', but both takes sounded incredible. No autotune or VocAlign. She's still got it (once everything it set up the way she likes it).

The project itself was a long and winding road, and I sorta got thrown in toward the end. As I understand it, she attempted this record in the year 2000 and had to start over due to "defective recording equipment" (red flag, red flag, Danger Will Robinson, Danger!).

I need to pick up a copy myself. I heard Jon Gass did some amazing mixes on it.

[Meriphew]

Anita's awesome. Michael Jordan used her for inspiration. That should tell you something.

[Exmun]

I'd read of her 'particularness' a while back. I suppose on her level, you can afford to be a particular as you want to be. Thanks for the insight.

[lukejs]

Originally posted by e-cue
Very difficult session. She was very, very kind.

She brought her own Telefunkin 251, which we checked against several mic's and the U87 won out Card, no pad, no roll off. She used a Mackie digital 8 bus console for her cue mix, which kinda sucked because of the vocal booth she was in (the power supply has a somewhat nasty fan noise that we baffled and gobo'ed the best we could without making it a fire hazard). I took the dig out of the console and plugged into a Benchmark DAC-1 which sounded instantly way better. I've been using this often as a headphone amp for clients. She used the Amek pre and set her own levels. This killed me. She made us turn off or un plug EVERY compressor in the studio. Litterally. This made things difficult for me because she also refused to let me run her signal through any kind of line amp to adjust level. Basically, it took about 8 hours to get things where she was comfortable. After that, she nailed the chorus vocals take by take and sang the lead twice. The second take was a 'safety', but both takes sounded incredible. No autotune or VocAlign. She's still got it (once everything it set up the way she likes it).

The project itself was a long and winding road, and I sorta got thrown in toward the end. As I understand it, she attempted this record in the year 2000 and had to start over due to "defective recording equipment" (red flag, red flag, Danger Will Robinson, Danger!).

I need to pick up a copy myself. I heard Jon Gass did some amazing mixes on it.

**************************************************

If you think the Benchmark DAC-1 is good.... you should try the Apogee Mini DAC !!!!! Incredibly Clear Sound !!! PS>.I don't work for Apogee..... just an Apogee owner

[djui5]

Originally posted by e-cue
Very difficult session.

Haha...hahhhaha.............hahhahahahaa

[robmix]

I had the "pleasure" of sitting in on an Anita session when I was making the transition from runner to assistant. Luckily nothing was expected of me so I just sat in the back of the room and watched an incredible assistant and a great engineer get pummeled for hours by Anita. Nothing was ever right, in the middle of takes she accused people of changing things, they were swapping modules on the Neve all night, changing headphones, swapping patchcables - truly a nightmare. Couldn't pay me enough to work with her today.

[mr.gefell]

Originally posted by lukejs
**************************************************

If you think the Benchmark DAC-1 is good.... you should try the Apogee Mini DAC !!!!! Incredibly Clear Sound !!! PS>.I don't work for Apogee..... just an Apogee owner

tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt tutt

let's keep this interesting thread on topic shall we.

thanks in advance.

[David Herbert]

Not getting into the aspect of swapping out modules, and this is definitely not a dig, but I have found that working with "difficult" people can often be very informative (particularly in an indirect manner). Even just in sharpening the "difficult people skills"...
Not that I recommend a steady diet.
I am guessing the Amek went straight in to the AD- good way to avoid the swapping modules scenario.
Hey e-cue, good call on the DA converter.
David

[Curve Dominant]

Aye aye aye...

Good thing Anita didn't ask any baseball trivia questions.

[Renie]

Good points David H.

I wonder how she arrived at this style of controlling her space..has she always been this way since her early days in studios?

A bad studio experience?

Is she the same outside the studio?

It's amazing how she then transports herself into the song, with what must often be quite tense atmospheres in the room.

[e-cue]

Originally posted by lukejs
**************************************************

If you think the Benchmark DAC-1 is good.... you should try the Apogee Mini DAC !!!!! Incredibly Clear Sound !!! PS>.I don't work for Apogee..... just an Apogee owner

I bought my DAC1 for just over $600 (used). Last I heard the apogee was over a grand. I thought the latency might be an issue, but it's NEVER come up. I'll stick with the Benchmark which has done me well for now. Maybe later I'll check the apogee out, but not for a while. My AD1000 effed up a while back and I haven't looked at Apogee in the same light since. (anyone wanna buy a ****ed up AD1000?)

Originally posted by robmix
I had the "pleasure" of sitting in on an Anita session when I was making the transition from runner to assistant. Luckily nothing was expected of me so I just sat in the back of the room and watched an incredible assistant and a great engineer get pummeled for hours by Anita. Nothing was ever right, in the middle of takes she accused people of changing things, they were swapping modules on the Neve all night, changing headphones, swapping patchcables - truly a nightmare. Couldn't pay me enough to work with her today.

When I was called to do the gig, I was warned that there may be 'problems', and that I was called because I was reliable in those situations, and worth the extra cost I charge. That ego-stroke in itself was enough for me to feel up to the challenge. When I was called back to do MORE work, I was booked. I do take comfort knowing others have had similar difficulties.

Originally posted by Curve Dominant
Aye aye aye...

Good thing Anita didn't ask any baseball trivia questions.

And a good thing your clients don't expect you know jackshit about audio.

You aren't worthy enough to do a food run for me. If you are upset because I sent you crying into your pillowcase in the chatroom the other night, take a Midol and get over it.

This thread has absolutely NOTHING to do with you. I'm just trying to give people insight into a session they asked about, not to have some amateur hobbyist, like yourself, ride my nuts.

[barefoot]

Originally posted by e-cue
I'll stick with the Benchmark which has done me well for now. Maybe later I'll check the apogee out, but not for a while. My AD1000 effed up a while back and I haven't looked at Apogee in the same light since.....

Have you heard of anyone else having an Apogee fail? I'm considering them, along with a few other converter companies to build some OEM components for me. Reliability is big on list. Sound is an even a tougher call. Everyone has their own ideas about ADC/DCA's. I want go with a company that, despite individual preferences, most will agree it's a solid choice.

Any thoughts?

Thomas

[e-cue]

Originally posted by barefoot
Have you heard of anyone else having an Apogee fail? I'm considering them, along with a few other converter companies to build some OEM components for me. Reliability is big on list. Sound is an even a tougher call. Everyone has their own ideas about ADC/DCA's. I want go with a company that, despite individual preferences, most will agree it's a solid choice.

Any thoughts?

Thomas

I, myself, have had problems with the AD1000 I mentioned (which is a bit more complicated... pm me for the drawn out story), the PSX100SE (Missy Elliott's), and and AD8000's. My AD1000 has a high pitched oscilating whine that looks like DC offset to the fullest when recorded and almost has a 'threshold' before it passes a heavily distorted signal. The PSX100se sent the wrong clock to a system and basically clocked the rig incorrectly (while reading the CORRECT sample rate). I asked the tech at Hit Factory/Criteria about this, and he said he had seen it before. I power cycled the unit and it started working fine. So, I basically had to clock the song incorrectly from that point on to get it to play back at the correct pitch and tempo. And just about anyone I know that owned AD8000's had horror stories. The 1st time I tried them, I had all sorts of problems trying to get pro tools to see them. Kinda sucks, cause I really like the PSX-100SE soundwise. That's my experence.

[Levi]

Yeah, it's truly amazing that we also don't get paid as psychologists as well on these "difficult" sessions! Ahhhh.... if I'd only known that I should major in psychology in college..... alas...... Congrats e-que on your accomplishments and newly-added member (Anita) to your discography!

[Exmun]

E-cue, I'll apologize now for misspelling your username... just so I don't mislead anyone else in misspelling it...

Btw everone... it's e-Cue not e-Que. My bad.

[e-cue]

Exman,


No problem... happens all the time...

Ekkyou

(credit Mr. Blackwood for that one)

[kevinc]

Originally posted by e-cue
She used the Amek pre and set her own levels. This killed me. She made us turn off or un plug EVERY compressor in the studio. Litterally. This made things difficult for me because she also refused to let me run her signal through any kind of line amp to adjust level.

You gotta be kidding me. LOL ! That`s unreal. You must be a cool customer at some of these sessions Cue.


I remember you talking about some of the problems on the chat like the D8B but that one takes the cake !

[MichaelHammar]

Originally posted by barefoot
Have you heard of anyone else having an Apogee fail?

Thomas

My AD8000 used to go berzerk on me a few times a week. But as for failing, no. But the fact that it wasn't 100% reliable was enough for me to sell it off.

[Curve Dominant]

posted by e-cue:
quote:

And a good thing your clients don't expect you know jackshit about audio.

You aren't worthy enough to do a food run for me. If you are upset because I sent you crying into your pillowcase in the chatroom the other night, take a Midol and get over it.

This thread has absolutely NOTHING to do with you. I'm just trying to give people insight into a session they asked about, not to have some amateur hobbyist, like yourself, ride my nuts.

This unprovoked tantrum demonstrates a subtle self-deprecation which I find flattering, Dylan.

We learn as much by observing how people treat each other in this business, as by observing their gear choices. Probably much more, I imagine.