I meet with Albini, what should I know?

[NandoOg7]

Hey guys, I will be going to Electrical Audio Studio to sit in on a project with Steve Albini. What should I know? All I know is that he recorded Nirvana's "In Utero" and some Pixies. I really respect Steve and I want to know a little more about him. Thanks!

[skatingbasser]

Wow. You're... uh... pretty lucky.

It's all about placement. Of the instrument in the room and the mic on the source.

Little EQ, no compression, minimal overdubs, all analog.

Room mics. Electrical's incredible adobe brick wall rooms.

What isn't there to love?

[vernier]

Didn't he also record Jimmy Page and Robert Plant?

[BobbyPeru]

http://www.markprindle.com/albini-i.htm

Bobby Peru
Milwaukee, WI

[Kenny Gioia]

Steve Albini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Apemandan]

This is a lecture he gave, pretty interesting in parts and certainly gives you an idea of his views on recording..

Made with Pageot - SteveAlbiniweb.mov

also..

Steve Albini

[vernier]

I heard he's into analog.

[Mount Cyanide]

He's really been getting into Pro Tools lately but this isn't public knowledge.
Tell him that you'd like to record the whole project on an HD rig.
It's gonna require some pushy coaxing and a touch of arguing
but he'll respect you for it afterwards.

[Whitecat]

Originally Posted by Mount Cyanide

He's really been getting into Pro Tools lately but this isn't public knowledge.
Tell him that you'd like to record the whole project on an HD rig.
It's gonna require some pushy coaxing and a touch of arguing
but he'll respect you for it afterwards.

[shaggseb]

A cool lil video on the man

[Sui_City]

Originally Posted by Mount Cyanide

He's really been getting into Pro Tools lately but this isn't public knowledge.
Tell him that you'd like to record the whole project on an HD rig.
It's gonna require some pushy coaxing and a touch of arguing
but he'll respect you for it afterwards.

Originally Posted by terminal3

+1

[Infernal Device]

make sure you...

Ask him a lot of questions about Nirvana.

Congratulate him on the Pro-tools rig.

Tell him you know analog is over and dead.

Ask to see his u87's.

Tell him to use a 57 on the snare, and 421's on the toms.

Tell him to use u87's as room mics.

Ask him what it is like to be such a well known producer.

(It will be a day you won't forget.)

[ektia]

Don't piss him off (it won't be pretty).

[joelpatterson]

Keep your mouth SHUT.

[NandoOg7]

Yes, I plan on keeping my mouth shut and not ask him too many questions. I'm not going to ask him about Nirvana or anything like that. I know he will get irritated. So he's pretty much against the norm on mics? I know he has a pretty extensive collection of mics including a u48 that he uses instead of a 47. On his website it says to not ask him to use the HD rig, which they DO have, because he won't touch it. Now, aside from the "setting me up to get kicked out" questions, what should I ask him?

[joelpatterson]

"I'm running down to the corner store, you want anything?"

[NandoOg7]

Haha, ok I get it. So I'll jusy watch and study.

[James Meeker]

Before you get there make sure to jam some Big Black and Rapeman!

[amishsixstringe]

What's funny is Steve is most likely reading this thread.


Neil

[PoorGlory]

How about: treat him like a human being.

He's not a Highlander or a deity in human form or anything like everyone else seems to make him out to be. Let him do his job, don't get up his ass, but if you have questions or concerns there's no reason to not speak your mind.

Why would you want to work with someone you have to hide from?

[cyanmonkey]

when he's listening intently, get on his good side by just quietly walking up behind him and rubbing his shoulders. alibinis like that. massage his ear lobes, too.

[johndykstra]

Originally Posted by Infernal Device

make sure you...

Ask him a lot of questions about Nirvana.

Congratulate him on the Pro-tools rig.

Tell him you know analog is over and dead.

Ask to see his u87's.

Tell him to use a 57 on the snare, and 421's on the toms.

Tell him to use u87's as room mics.

Ask him what it is like to be such a well known producer.

(It will be a day you won't forget.)

don't forget to bring a camcorder...i wanna see this! Seriously though congrats, and take it all in.

[zakco]

Originally Posted by amishsixstringe

What's funny is Steve is most likely reading this thread.

Exactly what I was thinking...I can just imagine how I'd look at some guy "sitting in" on a session after I finished reading a thread on goofslutz where he's asking for advice on how to "sit in" with me.

He's just a dude, dude.

Gotta love the interknot...

-Z-

[Drumsound]

Steve's a nice guy. He's brutally honest and very intense. Sit and watch and absorb as much as you can.

[davet]

Pro Tools?? I would think he might use Radar, not Pro Tools. At one point I know he said digital didn't work properly, at least for him.

Lucky you: sit back, shut up, learn what you can. He seems like a nice guy, but I suspect he won't suffer fools.

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by NandoOg7

Hey guys, I will be going to Electrical Audio Studio to sit in on a project with Steve Albini. What should I know? All I know is that he recorded Nirvana's "In Utero" and some Pixies. I really respect Steve and I want to know a little more about him. Thanks!

The important part is that you are about to sit in on a session. It does not matter if its Albini, George Martin or a 17 year old kid from the neighborhood; getting invited to a session means that you find a seat in the corner and do your best to be invisible.

[soupking]

Originally Posted by rcm

The important part is that you are about to sit in on a session. It does not matter if its Albini, George Martin or a 17 year old kid from the neighborhood; getting invited to a session means that you find a seat in the corner and do your best to be invisible.

+1

Been reading people's responses. Yeah, I think you're going to get the most out of the experience by listening. I mean, you are talking about the audio industry, a world of listening. Then only ask questions that confer with imperatives (requests), and if there's a good time to ask him about how something works, then ask (stay non-personal if possible). Use politeness to know when to ask. That's all I think anybody could really recommend without joking about Nirvana.

[firby]

Stammer alot and call him 'mister' .

[lowfreq33]

Originally Posted by davet

Pro Tools?? I would think he might use Radar, not Pro Tools. At one point I know he said digital didn't work properly, at least for him.

Lucky you: sit back, shut up, learn what you can. He seems like a nice guy, but I suspect he won't suffer fools.

He told me that he's simply not interested in digital, because he's never had to say to an artist, "We can't do that because we're recording to tape". He said that if that day ever comes he may look into getting a rig, but it's not likely.

*I don't know him personally or anything, just met him once. Nice guy. But very serious about his craft.

[lowfreq33]

Oh yeah, be sure to ask him why the room mics are on the floor.