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
Engineered and mixed by Tommy Vicari. Produced by Quincy Jones with Sammy Nestico and Jerry Hey.
Recorded at Capital Studios, Hollywood, CA
From the Qwest Records release “Basie & Beyond”.
Seven R-121’s capturing the trumpets and trombones.
Recorded digitally on Sony 3348-HR’s.
Arturo Sandoval demonstrates his trumpet and piano recording techniques in the best way possible, laying it down in the studio. Each of these videos feature Arturo soloing on the trumpet and then doing some extraordinary piano playing. For the trumpet demonstrations, engineer Don Murray removed Arturo’s solo tracks from two recordings featured on Auturo’s record “Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You)” and Arturo recorded new solos.
Recording chain Trumpet: Royer R-122 and SF-24V into Millennia HV-3D preamplifier. Bricasti reverb. Recorded to Pro Tools. Recording chain Piano: Royer SF-24 and two Mojave Audio MA-300’s into Millennia HV-3D preamplifier. Recorded to Pro Tools.
The instruments are miked the way Arturo records in the studio: Trumpet – one R-122 close mic, with an SF-24V at a distance and blended for added dimension. Piano – One SF-24V at the knee of the piano, with two Mojave Audio MA-300’s set in Cardioid and spread out.
(Arturo normally uses SF-24’s in the distant trumpet position and on piano, but we had SF-24V’s on hand.) Trumpet: “Things to Come” (Walter Gilbert Fuller, Dizzy Gillespie) Piano: “Surena” (Arturo Sandoval)
Trumpet: “And Then She Stopped” (Dizzy Gillespie) Piano: “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” (Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach)
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)
RCA 10001 spot mic and SF-24 room mic on Malcom McNab’s Solo trumpet (RCA 60%, SF-24 40% in the mix).
Brass, French Horn and Bass Trombone recorded on R-122’s with an SF-24 as room mic.
Recording chain: RCA 10001 into a UA 2-610 tube preamp, SF-24 and R-122’s into a Millennia HV-3D preamp. Recorded to Digital Performer HD 192 (at 88.2/192), using the HD 192 converters. TC Electronics M-6000 and Lexicon 960 and 480 reverbs used in the mix. No compression, limiting or EQ used.
“Saloon Music for Bb Cornet and Pit Orchestra” (Bruce Broughton)
Engineer: Al Schmitt, Producer: Gary Grant
Recorded at Capitol Studios (Studio A), Hollywood, CA.
Recording chain: All mics routed through an assortment of Mastering Lab, Neve and Studer tube mic preamps. Recorded to Pro Tools
One R-122 on Arturo Sandoval’s solo trumpet
Four R-121’s on the trumpets
Four R-121’s on the trombones
SF-12 overall big band room mic
SF-12 drum overhead
Recorded and mixed by Clint Bennett. Produced by Anthony Marinelli & Shawn Amos.
Recorded at Westlake Studio D, Los Angeles CA. Additional recording and all mixing at Music Forever.
Recording chain: All mics into Neve VR console preamps. Recorded to Pro Tools HD at 96k. Digi 192 converters at Westlake Studios and Apogee converters at Music Forever.
“What’s Going On” (Benson, Cleveland, Gaye)
a) Full Mix
b) Isolated Trumpet & Trombone: R-121 on trumpet and R-122 on trombone.
c) Isolated Electric Guitars: R-121 on electric guitars.
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.
