Saturday
Apr072007
The Velvet Eaglet

I just got back from Mitch's birthday party. Good times. I tell you what, that Steve Mason knows how to throw a dance party. Anywhooo... I've been down in my basement quite a bit these past few days, working on overdubs for the Caedmon's Call record. I haven't shown much of it since I got rid of the big studio, so I thought I'd give a little "photo tour" of where I'm spending the bulk of my days right now.
Here's the main work area...

some guitars...

some more guitars...

My little amp closet. I built this space so I can make some noise and not wake the babies. Rock and roll, huh? From Left to Right there's the Visual Sound Workhorse Pony, the BadCat Cub 2 and a funky little $75 Univox that's possibly the best sounding amp I own. (And those are boxes of Coming to Life propping up the amps. Gotta get some use of them, you know?)

Mitch, the birthday boy, loaned me this gorgeous piece of lusciosness for my vocals. It's an old Neumann M269. I don't really know what that means, but I know it sounds amazing.

Yours truly singing a tune. I found back in the Normals days that I often sing better when holding a guitar. I'm more used to it, I guess, and so I get a more natural performance. At least, that's what I tell myself.

That piece on top is another gorgeous loaner. Presonus sent me their ADL600 preamp to use for a few weeks. It sounds amazing and is one more reason I love this job.

Yes, I used a timer.

Well, that's about it for me today. I have to get up in five hours to catch a flight for our Caedmon's show in Florida somewhere. Hope you all have a great weekend.
Here's the main work area...

some guitars...

some more guitars...

My little amp closet. I built this space so I can make some noise and not wake the babies. Rock and roll, huh? From Left to Right there's the Visual Sound Workhorse Pony, the BadCat Cub 2 and a funky little $75 Univox that's possibly the best sounding amp I own. (And those are boxes of Coming to Life propping up the amps. Gotta get some use of them, you know?)

Mitch, the birthday boy, loaned me this gorgeous piece of lusciosness for my vocals. It's an old Neumann M269. I don't really know what that means, but I know it sounds amazing.

Yours truly singing a tune. I found back in the Normals days that I often sing better when holding a guitar. I'm more used to it, I guess, and so I get a more natural performance. At least, that's what I tell myself.

That piece on top is another gorgeous loaner. Presonus sent me their ADL600 preamp to use for a few weeks. It sounds amazing and is one more reason I love this job.

Yes, I used a timer.

Well, that's about it for me today. I have to get up in five hours to catch a flight for our Caedmon's show in Florida somewhere. Hope you all have a great weekend.
Reader Comments (13)
I love it all.
And the foam on the mic stand behind the Neumann? What a great idea.
You really know how to rock it AO. Its all so rocktastic.
So awesome. So beauty. So perky.
tk
when will we get a taste of some of your stuff on the new CC Album?
you know...a snippit or greatness?
Just so you feel the love, Coming To Life changed everything I knew about music. Before that I was jamming to Audio and Newsboys. Thats right my parents didn't allow me to listen to "Secular Music". Now I listen to whatever moves me and Coming To Life still is a relivant album to me. Thanks a ton for your honesty in that album. Thanks for singing about girls and couch sitting.
Oh yeah and beautiful guitars!
Nice.
Have a safe trip.
nice tele...i have that same one...good guitar
oooohh...that's where I know you from. you were that guy in the Normals...whatever happened to you guys? are you still playin?
no but really, those pics makes me wanna record.
Thanks for the little glimpse into your lair...I loved how you actually gave the names of all those mics and preamps and stuff...now groupies like me can try to copy everything you do. Nice stuff!
Ha! Jud has to play his drums out in the cold garage .... cause he can't jam in the house like he wants to while the girls are awake (Livvy hogs the sticks), and he can't jam when they're asleep without waking them up. Ah the sacrifices musicians make to rock out with their music without waking the babies.
Dude, I am so jealous. I love my cellar home studio, but yours is so light years cooler!! Can't wait to hear the new Caedmon's record.
Hey Andrew...
You like the Presonus? Rick over there tried to get me to try one out and mentioned that you (or at least Caedmon's) was using one.
I use a good deal of their gear in my home studio.
Jim