Production workshop

[flexoffset]

I'd love to see more pics.

[K.C.]

By far the best $1500 I ever spent.

I'll second you on that one Richard.

After the worshop I feel so much more confident that I'll be able to get great sound in the studio.

To show pics of the players and a bunch of gear doesn't even begin to describe what Michael covers in the course of the week. The shootouts are very fun and you learn a lot, but that's just the begginning.

Clear you calendar for a week and get your butt to Nashville. You'll be glad you did!

[JB3]

Yep!

Please, more pix Michael.

Bringin a camera or two for this week...but love to see what everbody else was doin...

...J

[K.C.]

Here's the WireWorld guitar amps including the ENGL that we tracked with.



And of course if you're going to have 4 amps you have to have 4 cabinets.

[mwagener]

The next Workshop is in the works. The dates are from November 1st through November 9th. This is the last workshop at the old price. I am trying to get as many mic pres for comparison as I can for this workshop. AES will be helpful, I hope.

email me if you're interested.

[MMazurek]

I was at the 3rd workshop last week, and let me tell ya....

IT KICKED ASS!!!

Michael has a WEALTH of knowledge. I learned more in those 9 days than the last 5yrs on my own. My head's still spinning.

I don't know why I have such a long shopping list now for something that's 'not about the gear', but I guess that's why most of us hang here.

I will DEFINITELY attend again in the future.

It's worth it, just to listen to the mic comparison's on snare/kick/OH's/gtr's/etc... (Hell, it's worth it just for the food we ate every night)

FAVORITES OF THE WEEK:

Drum sub compression (TG-1 EMI comp)
SPIDER (Drum sub AND guitar tracking)
Massive Passive - just glorious sounding
Volcano Roll (nice 'n' spicy)
STC-8 (just got one myself)
Big Daddy roll (name says it all)
Groove Tubes condensers (picked up TWO at a used shop while down there)
ATC Tube Traps (VERY USEFUL)
Seared white tune (maybe the weeks favorite)
ADAM S3-A's (REALY going in to debt now)
IBP's (again - VERY useful)

Michael showing us how he/we use the above!


I'm sure I've forgotten some favorite gear (forgive me), but as I said before, my head's still spinning.

WORTH EVERY PENNY AND THEN SOME!!!

[Fuzzyfilm]

The workshops have been very cool, and, Michael is great to work with. He makes the artists feel totally comfortable and he is soo easy to work with. And, he likes to eat as much as I do. :-) Everyone who has attended the workshops have been good to work with as well. Michael, you rock!!

Brad
LOG

[laughingbear]

Originally posted by mwagener
The next Workshop is in the works. The dates are from November 1st through November 9th. This is the last workshop at the old price. I am trying to get as many mic pres for comparison as I can for this workshop. AES will be helpful, I hope.

email me if you're interested.

Bloddy fu*&$% HELL, a few years ago I overstayed my visa for a few weeks, and chances are 50%- 50% that I'd get a kick in the Butt at the point of entry.

Make a video...make a video...make a video pleeeeze....

Just by reading this thread makes me wanna be a fly on the wall....

[mwagener]

Originally posted by laughingbear
...Make a video...make a video...make a video pleeeeze....

...working on it...

[mdbeh]

I just finished attending Michael's most recent workshop, and I had a GREAT time. I'd really recommend anyone who's on the fence about going to sign up--you'll be glad you did.

I've been recording for a while, but I felt like I'd hit a wall with how I'd been learning so far--books, trial and error, occasionally sitting in on 'real' sessions, and [duh] online forums. To have a chance to go through the entire process of tracking and mixing with a real expert, and to be able to stop, ask questions, try different options, was fantastic.

There's not one single big thing I learned, except perhaps an incredible attention to detail. (Ever punched in a flange multiple times to get it to sweep in the right place? I have now.) It was more seeing how all the little decisions, made correctly, added up to something pretty amazing. I can't wait to start my next project and apply what I've learned, to see if I can get the little things to add up to something as cool as what we created at the workshop.

Any downsides? Well, MW has an pretty amazing collection of mics and outboard, and you're going to want ALL of them after you leave. But a Gearslut knows how that is already...

Thanks again to Michael and Ryu for a very cool time.

Brian

[GreatDivideStud]

I just got back from the May workshop and all I can say is "wow"! I wish I had done this years ago when I first got into recording. Michael Wagener is the real deal and a real master at his craft. Michael is also a man who holds nothing back and has a gift for passing on the knowledge.

As for my story, I've been an professional musician for 28 years and a engineer/producer/studio owner for 12 years. Making a great recording is the one thing in life that I'm most passionate about. Needless to say, I was very ambivalent about attending this workshop.

First off, I'm a die hard PT in-the-box guy and there is no PT at Wireworld (Actually, Michael has an M-Box buried in the back yard). Second, I made some pretty decent records (and many shitty ones) in my day , but overall I consider myself a pretty decent engineer/producer. In the end, my constant desire to get better convinced me to sign up.

As someone else reported, the first day alone was worth the price of admission. Michael divulged a wealth of knowledge about micing guitars, drums, vocals and few other things. He also helped me learn to listen in ways that I never knew before. I learned so much just by watching him work and this has giving me a lot more confidence in my own abilities. Your platform of choice has no bearing on what you will learn at the workshop.

All the preamp and mic shootouts were a real education as well. I shipped over a pair of Requisite Audio Pal +'s that compared very favorably in all tests ( Michael says they're the next preamps he will buy). I also brought over a Brauner VM1 KHE and a pair of Josepheson e22s's and learned more about their strengths and weaknesses. The e22's were a surprise in that nobody liked them on Toms (which is how they are advertised), but we loved it on overheads and acoustic guitars. I also learned that what might sound good in one studio on one day might not fair too well at another place and time.

I've never worked in a studio that had an assistant until now, but I'm here to tell you, sell your 414's and hire this guy Ryu. The man is invisible and then your thinking "let's put the $35 Berringer mic on the lead vocal" and before you finish the thought he's already done it. What a pro he is as well as a super nice guy. He's unfair competition to all the other's in his recording school.

So, for all of you who think this class is too expensive, I say you can't afford not to go. There is no piece of equipment you can buy that can replace what you will learn in this workshop. A new Distressor can wait, but your career cannot. Michael should be charging at least $5000 for this workshop, but it's only $1950 at this point. I went to a 7 hour Roger Nicholes seminar last year and it cost (I'm embarrassed to say) $1500. There I got a great verbal review of all his great EQ mag columns he's written over the years. I like Roger, but I would have rather had the Distressor.

Feel free to contact me if you need more convincing.

Thanks,

Jamie

[mwagener]

Wow, thank you for the kind words Jamie, glad you liked it.

[Matt Smith]

I haven't been able to attend a workshop yet, but I just want to echo the praise of Michael. At the risk of sounding like a pathetic buttkisser here, he really is wonderful. His incredible wealth of knowledge and experience is ALMOST as impressive as his constant, unselfish willingness to share this knowledge, even "off the clock." He has helped me out so much, and is always so patient. A real pro, one of my heroes, and an absolute class act.

Matt Smith
www.theocracymusic.com

[blackcatdigi]

Michael is just TOO cool.

His presence here at GS and his workshops are priceless.

We're a fortunate bunch to have access to this knowledge and experience...

Thanks again MW!!!

BTW, if anyone is 'on the fence' about participating in one of the WSs, just DO IT!

I consider the WS I attended (first one, BTW) to be the best money I've ever spent on recording.

[Bob Olhsson]

I've hung out for a day at several of Michael's workshops. I never failed to learn something and saw a lot of techniques used I had only heard about previously. These workshops are second-engineering experience on steroids. I expect to hear great things from many who've participated.

[mwagener]

Wow! I'm honored, thank you guys.

Well, I just got confirmation from Ty Tabor of KING's X that they will play for us during the MOAW (Mother Of All Workshops) in July. MOAW is hosted by Fletcher and myself and is a 4 day powerworkshop. It happens a few days before the annual WireWolrd BBQ (July 24th) which is also the week of the Nashville NAMM show (the last one in Nashville for a while). If you're interested check HERE

[jkmixer]

I must agree with all above. Definitely without a doubt the best money I have ever spent on music recording & production. It was an all around blast and loads of fun.

Just go! You will go back.


Thanks Michael,

Jim Kinney

[sixtiksix]

Hey Gang!

As well, I concur. I have about twenty years as a musician and the same amount as a tech. So before going down the career path as a studio dude, I attended Michael's Workshop. I have been to many classes in my life that covered practical information and the workshop was the best hands on experience I have ever had. The whole experience was inspirational as well.

To be in the same room with a great producer surrounded by world-class gear can be mind blowing. Michael of course is very casual and personal but maintains a professional rhythm allowing you to get your money's worth.

Michael is extremely interactive and addresses your questions like a trusted friend. He probes your statements in context with the conversation elucidating the information that you, yourself could not articulate alone or with a instructor less experienced or concerned.

One of the best things I learned at Wireworld is the fact that I can do this and I can hear what I need to hear. It was thrilling to be able to utilize all of the tools at the workshop to achieve confidence that would have taken years on my own.

My classmate for the workshop is everything I am not. He is a seasoned studio owner who works with world class musicians Yet the class moved smoothly and Michael maintained a perfect balance between both our levels and I think the mix between years of experience and raw enthusiasm melded well.

So what more can I say other than blaze a trail to Nashville and take advantage of a great opportunity.

Sincerely

[Killahurts]

It's been two weeks since I attended the mixing portion of the summer workshop. I wanted to post before now, but I've been slammed with business since I got back. It's good though, because I really had a chance to reflect, assimilate and actually put into action what I learned. I wanted to attend the entire workshop, but my schedule wouldn't permit, so I choose to attend the mixing half. Also, Michael and I use the same desk (Sony DMX-R100, even though he's got 2 grudge) and the same speakers (ADAM S3A), so I figured I could take a lot "home" with me from a mixing workshop using those tools.

I make most of my living as a composer/producer, but I also have a studio I try to keep busy with stereo and surround mixing, and occassional tracking for outside clients. My mixing skills, particularly with rock music, had come to a dead end, I think. Even when the client was happy, I wasn't. It was frustrating knowing the sounds I wanted, and only being able to get 70% of the way there. Most everything ended up sounding like a damn demo to me, even when it was really good musicians/recordings.

So I went to Nashville thinking I would learn some mixing "tips and tricks" and secrets from a master. And I did learn all that - but that was only the tip of the iceberg. The most important things I learned were totally unexpected, and totally fundemental. I learned that my approach to mixing had not been quite right, trying to stablize and fix everything, and then put it all together and make it fit, rather than building the mix, where each logical step builds upon the last, and the music itself dictates what each track, and the mix as a whole will sound like. Yeah, I know, it seems pretty simple, yet I did not have this elementary perspective. During a hands-on excercise, Michael was able to quickly point out flaws in the way I was monitoring, and how that was responsible for getting me into trouble with my gain structure later. EQ-ing? Same thing- I had been searching for problems in the tracks and ways to correct them, instead of finding the musical aspects, and enhancing them. This workshop has caused to me rethink what is important when I approach a mix. It's like starting over as an AE in many ways, but I view this as a positive thing. Realizing now how truly little I know, I've been inspired to set off on a course to learn more. Go brain go.

Michael Wagener is a PRINCE. A legendary Producer/engineer who has his name on millions and millions of records, and yet was willing to share his great knowledge and experience with us, without holding back. And watching him work by himself is a lesson in and of itself. Like all people who are experts in anything, he makes it look easy - like anybody could do it- but then you get up there...

This week I get to record a song for a really good band and remix 3 already tracked elsewhere (the drummer is excellent, and I understand he hires a professional tuner for every session he does-yea! ). I'm really looking forward to these sessions because I go into them with a new confidence that, in addition to possibly flooring the client, I might even floor myself...

To fellow Gearslutz I can only tell you that there is no gear at any price that could improve my sound to the degree this workshop has. The fee was so little compared with what I came away with, it's almost criminal (Oh, but I did come out of there Jones'n for some Hedd 192 real bad, that's gonna be my next piece).


Thanks Michael, Ryu and my classmates! You inspired me not to open an Italian food resturant, just so I could sing Frank Sinatra tunes every Saturday night

[JohnnyTooLoud]

Ok - My turn here at singing the praises of the Production Workshop.

First off - Michael is just a great guy. Great vibe all around. You just feel like you've been friends a long time.

Secondly - He's a great teacher. There were three of us with various levels of knowledge and experiences and he was able to lay out things that didn't bore or leave anyone behind. He was able to present things in a way that made them clear and easy to understand.

And I would have to say that what I got most out of it was a great boost to my confidence. Watching and mixing with him helped drive home the subtleties of so much of what we do. And to see and hear it before and after really gave me the perspective to return home and not second-guess as much.

I can't think of any other item I have spent $$ on that has had such a strong impact on my work.

Thanks Michael and Ryu.

--Giovanni

[Disco D]

ok, I'm new here - whats the story with these? still going on? would love to know more.... thanks

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by Disco D

ok, I'm new here - whats the story with these? still going on? would love to know more.... thanks

Yep,. still going on, but right now the studio is booked solid and I am not sure when the next workshop is going to happen. But there are always scheduling changes and then I can fit in a workshop. You can find more info here:
Production Workshops

[JB3]

...and hey, if Michael finds time for a workshop, and you can find a way to attend, you will leave the workshop a more informed engineer, mixer, producer.

I've been to two of the workshops, and each time come away with a truckload of invaluable techniques, viewpoints and experience. (Not to mention a truckload wishlist of gear to add to the studio...)

Research it with anyone who's attended. I think even Fletcher found it fun and informative...and he co-hosted MOAW.

...J, Workshop 3 and MOAW attendee, engineer/producer/artist development, So Cali, USA

[Disco D]

cool - schedule permitting i will be at the next one

[mwagener]

Short notice:

The next workshop is scheduled for January 28th through February 5th and I still have a couple of "seats" available.

We'll have the complete Korby Convertible set and the new Korby Blue and Red mics for comparison. One of the guests is also bringing a Pearlman TM1 mic.

On the preamp side there are a few additions to the WireWorld list: The new Chandler Germanium and Chandler TG Channel version 2, a Mindprint DTC and we might have some new (still secret) A-Design pres.

On the compressor end we have two GrooveTubes Glory comps and a Neumann U473 and two U473A and the RidgeFarm Boiler Compressor additional to the WireWorld equipment list.

HYDROGYN, fronted by the lovely and talented Miss Julie will be performing for us and we are recording and mixing the Skid Row cover "18 And Life".

I'll post some pictures and comments here once we get going.

[blackcatdigi]

Originally Posted by mwagener

...we are recording and mixing the Skid Row cover "18 And Life".

"It's like déjà vu all over again," eh Michael?

Sounds like a great workshop!

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by blackcatdigi

"It's like déjà vu all over again," eh Michael?

Sounds like a great workshop!

I love that song. Maybe we get one of the guys from Skid Row to come in for some overdubs

[Matej]

Is there any news on the workshop dvds? I'm really looking forward to them...

All the best!
Matej

[mwagener]

Originally Posted by Matej

Is there any news on the workshop dvds? I'm really looking forward to them...

All the best!
Matej

Nope, they are on hold right now, the studio (and I) are booked well into the summer, sorry, no time for DVDs right now.

[Matej]

Originally Posted by mwagener

Nope, they are on hold right now, the studio (and I) are booked well into the summer, sorry, no time for DVDs right now.

Well I'll keep holding my breath anyway . You'll have to unleash all this information on us sometime...

Good to hear you're booked, that can't be a bad thing.