The water's still rising.....

It's been over a week since the last update from Skyhook Studios control room, and parts of  Britain are gradually disappearing under the floods (was Atlantis once something like Stroud?). Do we need to start building an ark?

Despite the winds and rain there's been a huge amount going on in the recording zone......

Otis Mac and the Tubby Bluesters

We had a visit from Otis Mac and the Tubby Bluesters who are coming in for a session in March. Otis rocked out last month's Stroud Blues event at Lansdown Hall with some stunning performances and the first bass guitar solo I've seen for ages from seasoned performer Lee Hunter. Some outstanding guitar work from Mark Boughton and the powerhouse beat of drummer Paul Barret made this a great show.  Anyone who's seen Otis perform with his fine band will know that's how tight you get when you've performed 120 shows in a year.

Here's a link to Otis Mac's website

http://www.tubbybluesters.co.uk

We are planning a 'live' sound recording in the Skyspace to keep that punchy groove the Tubby Bluesters create when they are in the gig zone.......... watch this space........

Nancy Grace.....

Last Saturday was a vocal recording session with Nancy Grace accompanied by expressive and inspiring vocal coach Philly Dyson. I opted for our Rode NTK mic through the TL Audio 5051 Valve channel to get a contemporary recording of Nancy's fine vocals. She is showing amazing control and personality in her singing for someone so young and not a touch of pitch correction in sight. I'm sure the world will be hearing a lot more from Nancy Grace in the future.

Alan Tocknell Drum sessions......

The last three days have been an intense and exciting session for David Ireland's forthcoming album Cosmic Glue. Accomplished drummer and drum maker Alan Tocknell has been in the studio recording drum tracks for the project and what we have achieved is fantastic. Alan has been using one of his own kits and the sound is unbelievable.

Alan Tocknell at Skyhook

Alan playing some sensitive brush parts

I first heard Alan play with Stroud performer Patsy Gamble and the amazing sound of the T Drums kit grabbed my attention immediately. Here's the website for Alan's stunning handmade drums;

http://www.alantocknell-drums.com


Alan's website is packed with tons of interesting information about drum technology and the science behind the design of drum shells and the selection of woods

How I mic'd the kit:

I used an Audix D6 on the bass drum about four inches from the beater head  and slightly off centre to get the click and then a Rode NT1a  about a foot in front of the bass drum to get some low end whoomph.

On the snare I used the ubiquitous SM57 pointing at the dead centre of the skin and quite close in to get a bright snap with some body from the shell, Toms and Floor Tom were very close mic'd with AKG D40s on rim clips although I had to use a stand with the floor tom mic as Alan's floor tom had an extra wide rim.

The hi hat and Ride cymbals were individually mic'd with Rode NT5s (we love Rode mic's at Skyhook). I wanted to really capture the bell sound of the ride as I love that in recordings and it is just right for the production we are going for on the Cosmic Glue album, so I spent a lot of time fiddling with the position of this mic.

Finally the whole kit and cymbals were mic'd with our stereo matched pair of AKG 214s in a tried and tested setup

 We are all really chuffed with the classic sound of the kit we've achieved, which needs to fit with David's collection of songs which span from the 1970's to the day before yesterday. David and I cannot wait to get to the mixing stage although we still have many  days of vocal and guitar recording to go yet let alone Sax, Harp, Keyboards and live string parts

David Ireland listening back to drum tracks

It's been an awesome few days fuelled by veggie pasties from Stroud's Sunshine...the best anywhere in the world plus a gorgeous quiche from Sandra Ireland too....happy days!

Sunshine Stroud the best veggie pasties anywhere.....
https://www.sunshinehealthshop.co.uk

A quick peek outside the studio door and it's still raining, maybe what we really need is a hot air balloon.............

more updates coming soon.