Stories from the "Remoteness files"

[bobodegreat]

So.....Its about 20 years ago. Im in a studio in NY called, "Gorilla Mountian", not its real name. My music partner and I are mixing a gospel tune at about 2am, with an engineer named, "The Menace", not his real name.

"The Menace" is loaded. Sipping from a bottle of cheap wine he kept next to the console, trying to get the mix right.

For some reason he just cant get it right. Something is distorting, but the consoles meters are just fine!

In walks our hero, Steve Remote, he sits at the console, listens for a minute, looks to his left and points. "There, thats your problem". He then gets up says goodbye and leaves.

In the FX rack, Steve saw a SPX 90, steady in the red causing all types of ungodly distortion.

The menace was so embarassed, and drunk, he didnt know weather to curse or spit.
All he kept saying was "What that guy did just was'nt right, just was'nt right...........

[Musiclab]

hmmm I know all the players and location in that tale. I think the menace became a teacher at ARTI or IAR. Steve's the man

[Remoteness]

Ha, ha, ha...

I remember that situation.

Did you know that I was the Chief Engineer for that place for about fifteen minutes?!
Well, maybe even less time.

The Menace even made "Gorilla Mountain" business card with my name and title on them.
I'm pissed that I threw them all out -- Some folks don’t believe I was the EIC for that place since they knew how different the Menace and I were. I'm like... Details are everything. The menace was like... Look at the detail of my hansome appearance.

I split from that place because every suggestion I made was poorly modified or thrown out altogether.

I remember when we were getting brand new power in the place.
I could not be there so, I asked the Menace to make sure they place the power panel nowhere near the CRM. They must run the power lines away from the CRM and place anywhere in the stairwell area. In no way should they be placed in the CRM. I knew there was a chance the Electric Company would have wanted to place the power in the CRM because it was a straight home run from the downstairs main power panel.

I said; over and over -- please make sure this large power line and distro doesn't make it into the CRM because we will have tons of problems.
The wiring wasn't the best situation and I knew we would have serious issues if it ended up in there.

Believe it or not, when I can into the CRM the next day I noticed that they installed the power inside the CRM RIGHT NEXT TO ALL THE AUDIO RACKS!!!!
When I turned on the system and listened to the stuff we heard tons of noise, buzz, hum etc., etc.

I was freaking out! I said, "I told you so! But Why, why did you do that Menace?"
He replied, they said it was easier and would not be a problem.
I said I'm the EIC. Why would you rather listen to a stranger rather than your EIC?

He then asked, what can we do?
I said, remove the power and place it in the stairwell like I originally stated.
He said, I cannot do that, it will cost too much.
I replied, okay, lets surround the power panel and the rack to the right of the power panel with AT LEAST 1/8" steel, then we'll strap that to the ground buss and everything will be everything.

Some time later the Menace said the work was completed, so I decided to pass by the studio and see the fine work that was done.
I walked into the CRM and noticed that the racks were cover with thin (arse) aluminum siding.
I said, Menace is there at least 1/8" steel sheets under the aluminum siding?
He replied, No, it was too expensive and the guy said it would be just fine.
I turned on the system and nothing changed... I quite on the spot!

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

hmmm I know all the players and location in that tale. I think the menace became a teacher at ARTI or IAR. Steve's the man

Yeah, he also became a limo driver for awhile.

Every now and then I pass that place...

It became a McDonalds.

The studio had a lot of potential -- In this case it wasn't as much "the ears and the gear" that broke the facility, it was how it was run.

I remember having my original (first) truck parked outside for multiple days doing various sessions before he built the CRM.
IMHO, the studio sounded very nice.

[lampmeister]

Haha! Great story, thanks for sharing.

The moral of the story being..."Do it right first time!"

I guess some people just never learn...

[Remoteness]

Yeah, and you should also believe in the people you hired to have around you...

Especially when they're doing you good. If they fail you, well that's another story for sure.

[bobodegreat]

The sad thing is, The mountain could have been a respectible place to work in.
I know a lot of locals came in to use it. Had the management mindset been good, The mountain could have grown into something really beautiful.

BTW Steve, have you heard from Smurf lately? I spoke to him a while after 911 but not recently.

[Remoteness]

Yeah, you're right, the Mountain could have been a serious place to work in. And, that is why I even considered being part of it as the EIC.

In any event, Smurf did a very good job trying to keep the place serious.
I haven'te heard from Smurf in a very very long time.