new mars volta: any gear info?

sheltersoton · 18th September 2006, 01:38 PM

hiya,

just listening the new mars volta record: undecided yet....

vocal sound is nice any idea of the signal chain or any info generally of equipment used / techniques etc

cheers

now .... where are those hooks?

BCains · 18th September 2006, 02:01 PM

heres some links that may answer you question

Mixonline

BCains · 18th September 2006, 02:04 PM

Oh wait just read over your question, that info was for the De-Loused in the Comatorium album, sorry. I'll do a search.

sheltersoton · 18th September 2006, 02:59 PM

to be honest i think the new album is smidge too self indulgent: read ... oh god, what have you become?!

de-loused is arguably one of the greatest rock albums ever made: a bit slammed mastering wise but its doesnt distract too much

cheers for the link

Anonymatt · 18th September 2006, 04:38 PM

The new MV has its moments, certainly. I was kind of disappointed that there were none of those "Oh, Holy Hell!" bits like the last half of Frances the Mute.

I kind of fell out of love with Costey's style after listening to this record. Not because of any shortcomings, but simly because it doesn't wow me the way it used to. Being a Mars Volta fan, I was sorta trying to cop his shit for a while.

The mastering is aggressive and irritating. Somebody has to have a sit-down with Omar. I actually like some of this music, and twenty years from now, when I dust off the old Mars Volta album, I'd like to not be reminded of how bad 2006 sounded and just listen to the damned thing. The loud parts are generally -6 dBFS RMS with brief journeys -4 or so, and the "quiet intro" hangs out around -10-- which, I thought, was normal for modern rock music. Great googley moogley.

jeff deff · 18th September 2006, 07:05 PM

I saw the Mars Volta when they were opening for System of a Down. Someone with the band is an old friend and I got to see their "traveling recording studio". They had what sounded like a strict schedule. Every morning they arrived on their bus at a new sports arena for the show. They would unload recording gear and setup in a locker room to record.

They had a protools rig that Omar was operating as far as I could tell. They had a separate drumset that was being used just for the recording. They were using a Royer SF12 as an overhead. The other drum mics looked typical, D112 and the like, can't remember exactly. I also saw they had a beat up U67 around. I heard that they got some sick drum tracks by setting up the drums in the shower one night.

The band would record during the afternoon, take a break to do soundcheck, record a bit and then play the show. Do the meet and greet routine, pack up, get on the bus, drive all night and go to the next show.

I was impressed at how industrious they were. I'm not sure if any of this material made it onto the record or not. Maybe it was all demo stuff, but the concept of recording in the locker rooms of sports teams across the country is pretty cool.

In the past, I know they recorded the drums to a click track, then added everything individually for Frances the Mute. Maybe they took just a few bits of the locker room recordings for the new record?

RoundBadge · 18th September 2006, 08:15 PM

I know they had an old MCI console in a LA ;;
a Friend here started to refurb it but it became a nightmare and bailed it..so it probably just sits in storage some where gathering dust..

i think they have a Neve Kelso or Melbourne they were using for remote stuff into protools

grahluk · 18th September 2006, 08:25 PM

Least favorite album from one of my favorite current bands. I'm gonna keep popping it on now and then to see if it maybe grows on me somehow. All it does now is make me want to listen to the other 2. Anyway closer to topic but not gear specific, when I saw them last (solo show before they hooked up with SOAD) they were great but... there were many points in the show where they went "out" there and indulgent to the point where I was shifting on my tired feet and looking around seeing people check their text messaging, looking at their watches, or staring around looking for something interesting. Monster band but definitely getting lost up their own asses at times. This album reminds me of that. I know Omar fancies himself a "director" or "conductor" but he should stick to writing and performing and let someone else help him "produce" their records.

ignatius · 18th September 2006, 08:26 PM

i'll never get over "deloused..." i can't put in the CD player w/o listening to the whole thing. "frances..." has some good bits and is class all the way but i never got into it as much... i didn't know they had a new one out! i'll go search it out today. thanks!

eligit · 18th September 2006, 10:13 PM

how does the sound on this album compare to francis?

i remember getting excited for that album....but it was so harsh, compressed, and limited (tracking, mixing, mastering...i donno) i could not even get throught the whole thing. it was like a clock radio on ten. ouch!

is the new one any less nasty sounding?

BCains · 19th September 2006, 03:20 AM

jeff deff: I read somewhere that they tracked all their drums for the album on tour
with SOAD, so it all may have made it to the album....?

grahluk · 19th September 2006, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eligit

how does the sound on this album compare to francis?

i remember getting excited for that album....but it was so harsh, compressed, and limited (tracking, mixing, mastering...i donno) i could not even get throught the whole thing. it was like a clock radio on ten. ouch!

is the new one any less nasty sounding?

Still crushed by the same guy. Nothing new or better there. Methinks the entire production (source sounds, arranging, mixing, album sequencing, concept) is a notch down from the other two. Still sounds like the same band. Maybe the new one sounds a bit like outtakes from Frances. A bit meandering. Disjointed. A couple really cool moments though. Great band. I dunno. Maybe it would have been better if it was done all at one time and place. It makes me think of a chinese saying. Me Sook. (not cooked yet).

eligit · 19th September 2006, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahluk

Still crushed by the same guy. Nothing new or better there. Methinks the entire production (source sounds, arranging, mixing, album sequencing, concept) is a notch down from the other two. Still sounds like the same band. Maybe the new one sounds a bit like outtakes from Frances. A bit meandering. Disjointed. A couple really cool moments though. Great band. I dunno. Maybe it would have been better if it was done all at one time and place. It makes me think of a chinese saying. Me Sook. (not cooked yet).

bummer. it really pisses me off when a cool band gets destoyed by being crushed. just takes all the fun out of it both because of the distortion and harshness AND the unrelenting lack of dynamics....

r.

it would be great to hear such a raw and often meandering band captured with nice dynamic uncrushed sound, like a jazz band.

18th September 2006, 01:38 PM	#1
sheltersoton Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 389	new mars volta: any gear info? hiya, just listening the new mars volta record: undecided yet.... vocal sound is nice any idea of the signal chain or any info generally of equipment used / techniques etc cheers now .... where are those hooks?

18th September 2006, 07:05 PM	#6
jeff deff Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago, Ill. Posts: 124	I saw the Mars Volta when they were opening for System of a Down. Someone with the band is an old friend and I got to see their "traveling recording studio". They had what sounded like a strict schedule. Every morning they arrived on their bus at a new sports arena for the show. They would unload recording gear and setup in a locker room to record. They had a protools rig that Omar was operating as far as I could tell. They had a separate drumset that was being used just for the recording. They were using a Royer SF12 as an overhead. The other drum mics looked typical, D112 and the like, can't remember exactly. I also saw they had a beat up U67 around. I heard that they got some sick drum tracks by setting up the drums in the shower one night. The band would record during the afternoon, take a break to do soundcheck, record a bit and then play the show. Do the meet and greet routine, pack up, get on the bus, drive all night and go to the next show. I was impressed at how industrious they were. I'm not sure if any of this material made it onto the record or not. Maybe it was all demo stuff, but the concept of recording in the locker rooms of sports teams across the country is pretty cool. In the past, I know they recorded the drums to a click track, then added everything individually for Frances the Mute. Maybe they took just a few bits of the locker room recordings for the new record? Last edited by jeff deff; 18th September 2006 at 08:19 PM. Reason: bad grammer

18th September 2006, 08:25 PM	#8
grahluk Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 547	Least favorite album from one of my favorite current bands. I'm gonna keep popping it on now and then to see if it maybe grows on me somehow. All it does now is make me want to listen to the other 2. Anyway closer to topic but not gear specific, when I saw them last (solo show before they hooked up with SOAD) they were great but... there were many points in the show where they went "out" there and indulgent to the point where I was shifting on my tired feet and looking around seeing people check their text messaging, looking at their watches, or staring around looking for something interesting. Monster band but definitely getting lost up their own asses at times. This album reminds me of that. I know Omar fancies himself a "director" or "conductor" but he should stick to writing and performing and let someone else help him "produce" their records. __________________ "Wow, that's really exciting and new and underground and authentic. Let us take it and bring it into our dark hearts." -John Stewart on marketing.

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18th September 2006, 02:01 PM	#2
BCains Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 292	heres some links that may answer you question Mixonline

18th September 2006, 02:04 PM	#3
BCains Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 292	Oh wait just read over your question, that info was for the De-Loused in the Comatorium album, sorry. I'll do a search.

18th September 2006, 02:59 PM	#4
sheltersoton Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 389	to be honest i think the new album is smidge too self indulgent: read ... oh god, what have you become?! de-loused is arguably one of the greatest rock albums ever made: a bit slammed mastering wise but its doesnt distract too much cheers for the link

18th September 2006, 04:38 PM	#5
Anonymatt Gear maniac Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 163	The new MV has its moments, certainly. I was kind of disappointed that there were none of those "Oh, Holy Hell!" bits like the last half of Frances the Mute. I kind of fell out of love with Costey's style after listening to this record. Not because of any shortcomings, but simly because it doesn't wow me the way it used to. Being a Mars Volta fan, I was sorta trying to cop his shit for a while. The mastering is aggressive and irritating. Somebody has to have a sit-down with Omar. I actually like some of this music, and twenty years from now, when I dust off the old Mars Volta album, I'd like to not be reminded of how bad 2006 sounded and just listen to the damned thing. The loud parts are generally -6 dBFS RMS with brief journeys -4 or so, and the "quiet intro" hangs out around -10-- which, I thought, was normal for modern rock music. Great googley moogley.

18th September 2006, 08:15 PM	#7
RoundBadge Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles ,Ca. Posts: 5,544	I know they had an old MCI console in a LA ;; a Friend here started to refurb it but it became a nightmare and bailed it..so it probably just sits in storage some where gathering dust.. i think they have a Neve Kelso or Melbourne they were using for remote stuff into protools

18th September 2006, 08:26 PM	#9
ignatius Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 891	i'll never get over "deloused..." i can't put in the CD player w/o listening to the whole thing. "frances..." has some good bits and is class all the way but i never got into it as much... i didn't know they had a new one out! i'll go search it out today. thanks!

18th September 2006, 10:13 PM	#10
eligit Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,505	how does the sound on this album compare to francis? i remember getting excited for that album....but it was so harsh, compressed, and limited (tracking, mixing, mastering...i donno) i could not even get throught the whole thing. it was like a clock radio on ten. ouch! is the new one any less nasty sounding?

19th September 2006, 03:20 AM	#11
BCains Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 292	jeff deff: I read somewhere that they tracked all their drums for the album on tour with SOAD, so it all may have made it to the album....?