Sprinsteen Blood Brothers VOX & Harmonica

[RusRant]

First, bruce is a loud singer so there probably wasn't a big level difference. Second, he has great dynamic control of both voice and harmonica. It does sound like it is lightly compressed as well though to me. Great song and DVD though. Big Bruce fan here.

[Mike Derrick]

Yeah he does have fantastic control over his own voice. And yes he can be a loud singer, although I'm pretty sure there were parts of songs where he was dynamically alot quieter than when he is really giving her. I'll have to watch it again tonight, but I do remember him singing softly for one song (and it seemed quite quiet) and blowing harp in between singing in a manner where it seemed like he wasn't really holding back on the harmonica, compared to how softly he was singing. (and perhaps that song just started quieter and then built to a louder singing climax.)

At first I wasn't paying too much attention to the quieter singing vs loud harmonica thingy, but then later they show him belting out a rocker song and again blowing his harmonica. So I think, yeah ok, his voice and harmonica are probably within decent gain range of each other for the tracking of the rocking song, but my mind flashes back to the quieter song, and wonders about the gain management for the dynamics in that song. Do ya think the engineer is riding the fader at all?

[RusRant]

Yeah, that song definitly builds. Listen to Secret Garden and This hard Land to hear the extremes of his voice and control. Most likely is riding the fader during the tracking as well as light compression. I actually play live and record singing and playing harp with the same mic and use no compression and make it work fine. It takes some practice and automation in the mix. The E-street band is built around supporting his voice so that helps a lot as well. Again great DVD though. Also dig the VH1 storytellers. By the way, dig the Avater.