Multi-Grammy Award winning recording engineer Michael Bishop explains how he mics and records this phenomenal CancerBlows live performance. Featuring some of the best-known trumpet players alive, the music is fantastic and Michael’s thoughts on how to capture brass, orchestra and big band properly using ribbon microphones is invaluable.
Huge thanks to Ryan and Niki Anthony, Michael Bishop and Erica Brenner.
The recording is available on Music=Hope Records and all proceeds from the sale of the recording help fund cancer research. Purchase the music: CD/DVD (the full concert and music experience): https://www.cancerblows.com/shop.php
Recorded and mixed by Russell Dawkins.
Recorded at the Christ Church Cathedral – Victoria, BC, Canada
One SF-12 stereo ribbon microphone on live saxophone and piano. The SF-12 was positioned twelve feet in front of the musicians, piano slightly to left, saxophone slightly to right. This recording came from a warm-up jam. Recording is dead dry, exactly as it went to DAT.
Recorded by Steve Albini
Recorded at Electrical Audio, Chicago, IL.
In Royer’s early days, when many people didn’t understand ribbon microphones, Steve Albini was kind enough to make a number of educational recordings for us which we included on our first demonstration CD. Steve is a well-known, well-respected engineer who has plenty of experience with ribbon mics and thousands of engineers and producers have learned from these comparison recordings over the years.
Tape Op Magazine reviewed our Demo CD #1 and said this about Steve’s recordings:
“The ‘something special’ though is the Microphone Comparisons with Steve Albini at the end of the CD. Steve goes through and compares the R-121 to other mics (Coles 4038, SM57, etc.) and provides us with his wonderful dry commentary. We love ya Steve! Truly one of our favorite CDs at the studio these days.” -LC
All of Steve’s comparison tracks are here, along with his original commentary.
Saxophone (Coles 4038, R-121, close R-121, distant R-121)
Recorded and mixed by Clint Bennett. Produced by Anthony Marinelli & Shawn Amos.
Recorded at Westlake Studio D (Los Angeles, CA) and Bismeaux Studio (Austin, TX). Additional recording and all mixing at Music Forever.
Recording chain: All mics into Neve VR console preamps at Westlake and API console preamps at Bismeaux. Recorded to Pro Tools HD at 96k. Digi 192 converters at Westlake and Bismeaux, and Apogee converters at Music Forever.
Special thanks to Shout Factory for the use of these recordings.
“Flying High” (Gaye, Stover) – SONG INTRO
1a) Full Mix
1b) Isolated Saxophone: R-121 on saxophone
“Flying High” (Gaye, Stover) – SONG ENDING
2a) Mix
2b) Isolated Vocals, Claps, Percussion: One SF-24 with musicians gathered around it.
2c) Isolated Horn Stem: R-121’s and R-122 on various horns.
2d) Isolated Drums: SF-12 on drum overhead, low and towards the front of the kit.
Recorded and mixed by Tommy Vicari
Recorded at Bill Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, CA.
Recording chain: All Royer mics through Millennia HV-3D preamps. SF-24 room mic through HV-3D preamp to GML EQ with 3 dB boost at 10K. Recorded to Pro Tools HD.
“Backrow Politics” (Gordon Goodwin) – Full mix from two sections of the same song, with isolated tracks
a) Full Mix
b) Isolated Trumpet solo: R-121 on soloist.
c)Full Mix 2.
d)Isolated Brass & Sax Section: Eight R-121’s on trumpets & trombones, with SF-24 room mic.
e)Isolated Brass & Sax Section: SF-24 room mic alone.
