Recommend me a recording engineer!

[Blue May]

Hey,

I'm putting together my plans for who i want to record / engineer a Major label artist i am producing.

I've been thinking about possible studios.. almost certain i'll be using a residential outside of London.

The sound is a mixture of many things.. the songwriting is as strong as anything i've heard.. big songs with big melodies and choruses. quite anthemic.

There are so many influences to draw on. I'd say the most easy reference is Talking Heads specifically "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)" both the artist and i love the sonic of that record.. Obviously the playing is amazing and tight but the sonic of it is open and rich.. every instrument sounds full and has heaps of space..

I've also been listening to a lot of early Trevor Horn. specifically ABC "Lexicon Of Love"
The sound is so precise on that record. Also a lot of David Bowie "Young Americans" and there is definitely a big afro beat influence in some of the songs A-La Paul Simon "Graceland" and some Peter Gabriel stuff.

On a more modern note... A lot of the songs are quite anthemic. I guess you could say in a kind of Coldplay way.. especially more of their more experimental sound.


SO MY QUESTION

I need to find an engineer who has vast amounts of experience. Ideally i want someone who was there making records in the late 70s and 80s. Someone 'old school' who can bring that classic recording mind to a our young ambition.
I need someone who strives to get the absolute best recording quality... a lot of the instrumentation can be quite dense so i need everything to shine through.
They need to be able to use an SSL or a Neve etc.

so....

Any ideas.. Who is the best recording engineer in the world right now.. if they are in the UK all the better.. but we are open to traveling anywhere potentially.

(anyone know who engineered much of the talking heads stuff? I know Eno produced a lot of it)


thanks.

[Apemandan]

Phill Brown

[nickynicknick]

I don't know who the best in the world is...sounds like a project you feel very strong about...your influences are a bit of a contradiction...to me Talking Heads and Bowie would be less dense but vibey, powerful mixes where as Trevor Horn productions would be more dense with sounds sculpted very precisely and purposefully...he tends towards making pop masterpieces....it seems like two different worlds to me, however, I'm a huge fan of both as well...I think you may have to get more specific, because in the end, whether we like it or not, we all have tendencies and excel at different things...if you have a specific vibe in mind that should narrow the field considerably for you...just a little advice...a great engineer that knows how to do something specifically well and is hired to do that may get frustrated with a producer that doesn't know what they want.....

..I personally like to see where a project can take itself...this is not to say that there is no vision....just let the players the producer and the engineer take it somewhere...a good song and a good point of reference is the best starting point...everything after that is the beautiful unknown...maybe it'll end up sounding like something else maybe it won't who... cares just as long as it rocks....

BTW to me anthem music is AC/DC...sorry for blabbing I get excited when other people are excited about a project...good luck with your search!

Nick

[Football]

You might consider Bob St John. He is a fantastic engineer and is a pleasure to be around in the studio. Been doing it quite a long time. Collective Soul, Duran Duran, Extreme etc... a few Grammy awards...blah, blah, blah.

Lives in Florida. If interested in finding more about him, you can PM him here on Gearslutz or PM me if you want his number.

Good luck, sounds like a fun project.

[Blue May]

Originally Posted by nickynicknick

I don't know who the best in the world is...sounds like a project you feel very strong about...your influences are a bit of a contradiction...to me Talking Heads and Bowie would be less dense but vibey, powerful mixes where as Trevor Horn productions would be more dense with sounds sculpted very precisely and purposefully...he tends towards making pop masterpieces....it seems like two different worlds to me, however, I'm a huge fan of both as well...I think you may have to get more specific, because in the end, whether we like it or not, we all have tendencies and excel at different things...if you have a specific vibe in mind that should narrow the field considerably for you...just a little advice...a great engineer that knows how to do something specifically well and is hired to do that may get frustrated with a producer that doesn't know what they want.....

..I personally like to see where a project can take itself...this is not to say that there is no vision....just let the players the producer and the engineer take it somewhere...a good song and a good point of reference is the best starting point...everything after that is the beautiful unknown...maybe it'll end up sounding like something else maybe it won't who... cares just as long as it rocks....

BTW to me anthem music is AC/DC...sorry for blabbing I get excited when other people are excited about a project...good luck with your search!

Nick

Hey,

Thanks for your comments.

Yes i can see how the influences i have listed seem contradictory. However (at least in my head) they make perfect sense.. Don't get me wrong.. we are not trying to achieve a sound a like...

As for needing to find direction.. I'm certain on this project there is no lack of direction.. Both the artist and i have a very good idea of what we want to achieve..

What i am looking for is someone who can give me the fidelity and experience to capture the performances...
Put it this way.. I know how to make it sound right in the room and get the players playing how i want them... I need to someone to capture it for me like it sounds in my head.

thanks.

[Blue May]

Originally Posted by Apemandan

Phill Brown

Thank you.. this is exactly the type of guy i am looking for!! Great CV!!

muchos respect!

Keep Em' coming!

[Blue May]

Originally Posted by Football

You might consider Bob St John. He is a fantastic engineer and is a pleasure to be around in the studio. Been doing it quite a long time. Collective Soul, Duran Duran, Extreme etc... a few Grammy awards...blah, blah, blah.

Lives in Florida. If interested in finding more about him, you can PM him here on Gearslutz or PM me if you want his number.

Good luck, sounds like a fun project.

thank you!

will check him out!

B.

[nickynicknick]

Originally Posted by Blue May

Hey,

Thanks for your comments.

Yes i can see how the influences i have listed seem contradictory. However (at least in my head) they make perfect sense.. Don't get me wrong.. we are not trying to achieve a sound a like...

As for needing to find direction.. I'm certain on this project there is no lack of direction.. Both the artist and i have a very good idea of what we want to achieve..

What i am looking for is someone who can give me the fidelity and experience to capture the performances...
Put it this way.. I know how to make it sound right in the room and get the players playing how i want them... I need to someone to capture it for me like it sounds in my head.

thanks.

Sounds like you know what you want you need a good engineer not a specific one. BTW ....."I need someone to capture it for me like it sounds in my head"....that just sums up everything now doesn't it?!! Hillarious.

Nick

[Blue May]

Originally Posted by nickynicknick

Sounds like you know what you want you need a good engineer not a specific one. BTW ....."I need someone to capture it for me like it sounds in my head"....that just sums up everything now doesn't it?!! Hillarious.

Nick

Yeah... kind of a sweeping statement that!!!

thanks.

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by Blue May

Hey,

I'm putting together my plans for who i want to record / engineer a Major label artist i am producing.

I've been thinking about possible studios.. almost certain i'll be using a residential outside of London.

The sound is a mixture of many things.. the songwriting is as strong as anything i've heard.. big songs with big melodies and choruses. quite anthemic.

There are so many influences to draw on. I'd say the most easy reference is Talking Heads specifically "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)" both the artist and i love the sonic of that record.. Obviously the playing is amazing and tight but the sonic of it is open and rich.. every instrument sounds full and has heaps of space..

I've also been listening to a lot of early Trevor Horn. specifically ABC "Lexicon Of Love"
The sound is so precise on that record. Also a lot of David Bowie "Young Americans" and there is definitely a big afro beat influence in some of the songs A-La Paul Simon "Graceland" and some Peter Gabriel stuff.

On a more modern note... A lot of the songs are quite anthemic. I guess you could say in a kind of Coldplay way.. especially more of their more experimental sound.


SO MY QUESTION

I need to find an engineer who has vast amounts of experience. Ideally i want someone who was there making records in the late 70s and 80s. Someone 'old school' who can bring that classic recording mind to a our young ambition.
I need someone who strives to get the absolute best recording quality... a lot of the instrumentation can be quite dense so i need everything to shine through.
They need to be able to use an SSL or a Neve etc.

so....

Any ideas.. Who is the best recording engineer in the world right now.. if they are in the UK all the better.. but we are open to traveling anywhere potentially.

(anyone know who engineered much of the talking heads stuff? I know Eno produced a lot of it)


thanks.

Martin Birch

[dan alexander]

kevin killen...peter gabrial,etc....great guy,incredible engineer....

[Blue May]

Originally Posted by dan alexander

kevin killen...peter gabrial,etc....great guy,incredible engineer....

Kevin Killen could be great actually!!

thanks!

[Worlez]

Me.

Al

[Kore]

What? You're not doing it at your place?

(Sorry, just couldnt resist it)

[nickynicknick]

Originally Posted by Kore

What? You're not doing it at your place?

(Sorry, just couldnt resist it)

he kinda got ya there

[Jenz]

Andrew Scarth is very good; Tina Turner, Electric Boys, Skunk Anansie etc. Works in LA right now, but lives in the UK. I have his contact info if it would be interesting.

[Blue May]

Originally Posted by Kore

What? You're not doing it at your place?

(Sorry, just couldnt resist it)

Kore,

Though i really don't want to wonder too far off the topic of this tread. I Urge you to please PLEASE re read all my posts in that thread you are referring to. Maybe now some time has past and the dust has settled you might be able to see that I never once condemned working in large studios and am totally aware of all the benefits one can reap from working in that way. My only point was that, In my opinion, It is absolutely possible to write and record an album on ones own If one has the talent and dedication to make records on their own. Not once have I said that only believe there is only one way to record, In fact I think thats more akin to the position you took.

I am a professional producer, and this may surprise you to hear but i treat every project i work on in a completely individual way. Part of my job as a producer is working out what the best way of capturing the record.
Now on this particular project i think the best way to go is to use a commercial facility and to bring someone in with some 'old school wisdom'. I also have a couple of other projects where i think its absolutely appropriate to record everything at my place. these decisions have nothing to do with money, just what feels right and is going to heed the best results.



As always, thanks for your helpful and ever insightful contribution. You've really brought a lot to this thread.
I'm sure you wont be losing any sleep over hearing that, despite how well finished and equipped your facility seems to be and the fact that i really like some records that have been recorded there (laura marling especially), i probably wont be booking in any time in the near future. And i can guarantee you it has nothing to do with having any kind of vendetta against Commercial recording facilities.

[Blue May]

Originally Posted by Jenz

Andrew Scarth is very good; Tina Turner, Electric Boys, Skunk Anansie etc. Works in LA right now, but lives in the UK. I have his contact info if it would be interesting.

thank you another really great suggestion.

[Blue May]

I'm really seriously considering giving Phill Brown a call. I spoke to the label and they though he could be great too!
Am i right in thinking he mainly works from Rak studios??

thanks.

[Tonio Ruiz]

how about Mr Robin Black?? he's great, old school, such a gentleman at the studio, he's british and he has been around for a while, Pink Floyd, Paul Mcartney, Sabbath, and a lot of stuff

[Blue May]

Originally Posted by Tonio Ruiz

how about Mr Robin Black?? he's great, old school, such a gentleman at the studio, he's british and he has been around for a while, Pink Floyd, Paul Mcartney, Sabbath, and a lot of stuff

Nice, I'll check him out.

[casey_outlaw]

John Blanche. Lives in Florida as well (why is that?). Worked under Tommy Dowd for years. He has an SSL in his room, Grammy's, even an Oscar for mastering the Grease soundtrack. Great guy to be in the studio with, and lot's of old school vibe. If you're up for the travel this way instead, his room is amazing and surprisingly inexpensive.