Switchfoot - This is your life - Who recorded/mixed/mastered?

[datune]

Hello,

I have been listening to a song called "This is your life", from a band called Switchfoot a couple of times, I never heard of them before, but hotdamn, the sound of this song is unbelievable, the drums are like out of this world, the whole song sounds so incredibly good sonically, I really would like to know who laid hands on this track, and how they did it.

Especially this big, huge wall of sound (toms) at 03:27, how did they do that, how did they get the toms at that specific part to sound so unbelievably huge (I can't imagine widening and eq'ing alone is going to achieve this).

Any info much appreciated, I searched before posting, but couldn't find anything relevant.

[Mike Brown]

Go to Google

Type: Switchfoot Discography

find:

Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown (CD, Album) at Discogs

John Fields rocks.

[lynyrd]

Funny thing, last night in the "exemplary drum production" thread, I mentioned Switchfoots' Meant to Live as a recording with unbelievable sounding toms. I guess I'm not the only one who digs the recorded sound of their drums. I guess I'll have to check out more of their stuff.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by datune

Hello,

I have been listening to a song called "This is your life", from a band called Switchfoot a couple of times, I never heard of them before, but hotdamn, the sound of this song is unbelievable, the drums are like out of this world, the whole song sounds so incredibly good sonically, I really would like to know who laid hands on this track, and how they did it.

Especially this big, huge wall of sound (toms) at 03:27, how did they do that, how did they get the toms at that specific part to sound so unbelievably huge (I can't imagine widening and eq'ing alone is going to achieve this).

Any info much appreciated, I searched before posting, but couldn't find anything relevant.

It was mixed by Tom Lord Alge as well as "Dare to Move" from the movie A Walk to remember. There is no mention of who mastered it but my guess was Ted Jensen.

[datune]

Thanks for the answers everyone.

After continued searching on this board I found a post from Steven Slate where he says that the drums used by Switchfoot are samples!

I would love to find out more about the production and especially the mixing process, but I guess I'm not the only one

Does Tom Lord Alge peruse the gearslutz boards? If so, I'll offer a box or two of Mozartkugeln or Mannerschnitten (as seen on friends for example) for some info Tom (hey, can't blame me for trying :P)

[Janesaid2me]

Switchfoots first couple albums sounded really good...their latest stuff i wasnt much a fan of both sound and music wise...

[confooshus]

It's from the album "Beautiful Letdown". That album is amazing in every way: lyrics, arrangment, production, engineering, mixing... The song "Dare You to Move" will change your life. If you haven't heard the whole album, pick it up. It's a classic.

[slaves666]

I agree, killer band....great songs, and awesome tones.

[strawberrius]

the lofi verse drums were just chunky sounds reappropriated from the demo that we reprogrammed/printed on 1 track.
the chorus live drums were recorded at sage and sound to 2" studer then xfered into PT.
i remember pumping the verse synth bass out thru tim's SVT in the room and printing it back to PT.
i will say it is one of the toppest qwal songs i have had the pleasure of working on.
oh yeah - mixed by TLA / mastered by Bob Ludwig.

[zboy2854]

Yes, that album is a great one, and a who's who of the top modern mixers. TLA, CLA and JJP all have mixes on that album, and they all sound great.

[juniorhifikit]

Originally Posted by strawberrius

the lofi verse drums were just chunky sounds reappropriated from the demo that we reprogrammed/printed on 1 track.
the chorus live drums were recorded at sage and sound to 2" studer then xfered into PT.
i remember pumping the verse synth bass out thru tim's SVT in the room and printing it back to PT.
i will say it is one of the toppest qwal songs i have had the pleasure of working on.
oh yeah - mixed by TLA / mastered by Bob Ludwig.

thumbsup nice - straight from the source. This is why I still check in here.

Thanks John!

[whataboutnoah]

would you be so kind as to share what vocal chain you used on "dare you to move"???

i absolutely adore the vocal production on that whole cd

[asplashofcitrus]

Anyone take a listen to the newest album, "Hello Hurricane?" Huge. Awesome guitar tones/sounds too. I dare want to say it's better sonically than the new John Mayer album too...

[Glenn Kuras]

You guys might enjoy this little interview we did with them. BTW super guys!!

Class Room vol. 3 "Room Case Study"

[role_65]

I have been trying to like hello hurricane, but just doesn't do a whole lot for me. Maybe it's my weakness. Having a good song with great engineering is just much easier for me to dissect vs an average song with great engineering. I would think I would be less emotionally involved and easier to deconstruct the components of the piece , but not so for me...
My musician or personal taste keeps getting in the way i guess. I recognize that the guitars are recorded well, but it almost like so what... but hey I haven't liked a couple new albums here latley ..dfegadMayer's Battlestudies kills me...
IF i could be the Clapton of my generation I would embrace it, not hide behind bubblegum tongue Bullshit! Apparently Try and Continuum were the good ole days... Where have all the good guitarist gone, And whay are Major Labels avoiding these guys like the plauge.....

Off the soap box

Ryan

[strawberrius]

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/576430-post47.html

Originally Posted by whataboutnoah

would you be so kind as to share what vocal chain you used on "dare you to move"???

i absolutely adore the vocal production on that whole cd

[dom783]

Love pretty much everything Switchfoot makes..

Haven't really gotten time to listen to the new album though..saw them on Conan the other day night and thought it was decent..

The older albums are just classic.. thumbsup

Has anyone on here listened to Jon Foreman's EP stuff?

I really enjoy it..

I asked him on twitter what he used on it he said.. something like

Neve 1073 clones, Distressors, LDC mics, and Taylor guitars..

pretty cool stuff

[trickg]

I have an interesting story related to this thread about this song and the fact that the recording is so huge. I play drums in a church worship band and one Sunday when the associate pastor was speaking, he wanted the song "This is Your Life" by Switchfoot to immediately follow the sermon. As soon as I listened to it I had concerns because I knew that no matter what we did, with our instrumentation and sound system there was no way we were going to be able to even come close to that sound in a live setting. Needless to say, we didn't - we played well, but it just couldn't stand up to the awesome sound and mix from the original recording.