Tag: George Leger III

  • Noisy Mouse In The Headphones

    Noisy Mouse In The Headphones

    noisy mouseNothing is more annoying than a noisy mouse in the headphones. Recently in the studio while getting ready to start knocking out vocals for American Mayhem and we had an issue with a hum type of noise going on in the headphones. This makes for unpleasant recording. Not to mention that it also can be an issue if it’s being recorded on to the track in question. Adding noise from an unknown source isn’t always a great idea.

    Find out what was causing the noise to occur. A kind of noise that flares up when the mouse is being moved. Nothing like a bad noisy mouse, however, that was a result of the issue, not a root for the cure. We did find it!

    Noisy Mouse In The Headphones

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    Transcript:

    What are we up for George? What are we looking at?

    I just hear some weird hum.

    Very briefly.

    Yeah, it came and then it kinda went.

    I can kinda hear your mouse moving.

    Yeah well…

    Mouse noise is what I’m saying. Not like the actual physical noise. I’m hearing in the system.

    Somethings tweaked in the system.

    That seems a bit quieter.

    Yeah, well the transformer was on the audio cable.

    Sittin right on the cable? Yeah, that’s bad. Studio badness. Do not put your audio cables right on a transformer.

    Oh yeah. Much better.

    Much better.

    Ok. We’ll be recording now. Shhhh.

    Red light ‘s going on.

    No squeaky chairs. No nothing.

  • Backseat Producing And Manolo Blahnik

    Backseat Producing And Manolo Blahnik

    jody in studioI’m usually a hermit in the studio, but I’ve opened up a little and had a little episode of backseat producing that led to a discussion that involved Manolo Blahnik shoes. In the past, I rarely let people in the studio while I’d be singing. Hence the reason why I’d produce them myself. I’m changing things around. Especially since I’ve been having George Leger III producing vocals for me.

    Another first happened during the vocal recording session of American Mayhem. I allowed my buddy Greg Nicholson and his girlfriend to sit in while I was recording vocals with George at Utopia Parkway studio. Greg and I have written songs in the past. But he’s never sat in on recording with me as the artist. George has one rule – which quickly gets reminded to Greg as he offers up some advice.

    While waiting for George we get into a discussion about the Apollo by Universal Audio and shoes by Manolo Blahnik. All of this prior to Greg and his girlfriend are about to go watch the World Cup football (soccer) between USA and Portugal. See, he’s for USA and she’s for Portugal. I’m sure that was an interesting match for the two of them. As we all now know, that was a moving match.

    Backseat Producing And Manolo Blahnik

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    Transcription:

    Are you’re P’s coming out okay?
    Pah. I don’t know.

    ‘Cause you had a lot of P’s. So I was just wondering how.

    Oh yeah, they’re not popping in the mic.

    Ok. Cause sometimes I have to like turn my head just a little bit when I’m singing a P even with a pop filter.

    Shhhhh.

    Sorry.

    Shhhhh.

    Ha ha ha.

    You’re a guest. Not a producer.

    No side, no backseat driving.

    Exactly. Please. We have work to do. Okay, here we go again. Ready?

    Yes.

    Mumbo jumbo. It makes people go really?

    Really?

    Really?

    In other words…

    Why do you need this?

    It’s like so when you start updating your studio and she’s living with you at some point in the future. I’m projecting here. And Greg’s like “I need to buy this.” and you’ll be like “Really? Really?”

    Remember, that’s what George and Jody said.

    This stuff does make a difference.

    Do I get a pair of Manolo Blahnik’s?

    Of what?

    Manolo Blahnik’s.

    I don’t know what that is.

    Really nice shoes.

    Oh. Okay.

    I don’t even know what the hell that is. But like, Okay.

    A pair of nice shoes is that what that is?

    Yeah. They cost quite a bit.

    Alright. So, you get the toys in the audio gear. She gets the toys in the shoes.

    That’s only fair.

    Right.

    I believe in this. I believe in being fair.

    But here’s a question. How much are those shoes?

    Between $300 and $500.

    Oh yeah.

    Whew.

    Alright.

    That’s totally fair.

    Per pair. How much is what you want to get?

    The Apollo? How much is that Apollo? About $2500?

    That one? $2799 plus tax. No. $2500 plus tax.

    I was thinking between somewhere between $2500 and $3000. Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.

    I was like, we already shook, we already negotiated this deal.

    I did not know how much that cost!

    I don’t know how much your shoes are, but I’m thinking my thing is 10x of what we just negotiated.

    Dammit!

    ha ha ha ha.

    Fair trade. Fair trade.

    Well, now I have to get the most expensive pair of Manolo Blahnik’s now.

    No I think it’s only fair that you would get at least a dress.

    Ha ha ha.

    To go with the shoes.

    Okay.

    Yes.

    Alright.

    That’s only fair.

  • Drum Fill Love

    Drum Fill Love

    drum fill loveIt’s not often where you’re in a studio talking about a drum fill. At least not often where you’re proclaiming you love it. This is precisely what happened during a moment in the recording process of Till We Meet Again, a song written by myself and the awesome Jesse Stern. We’re in the studio doing vocals with George Leger III when George blurts out something entirely unusual for an engineer / co-producer.

    Talk about getting caught off guard, especially when drumming is like ESL. I remember wanting to be a drummer when I first wanted to learn an instrument. However that got nixed by my mom due to saying it would be too noisy. Instead I got a guitar and an amp. How much noise did that make? A whole lot more.

    Imagine my surprise when a drum fill part I created elicits a response like what I get in the video. Of course the most polite response is what I gave, but seriously, in my head I was like – hey! I did that. Maybe I should have been a drummer first. What a different world I’d be in if that had been the case. I might not be the songwriter I turned out to be. Who knows, I could have become an on call studio or touring drummer. Ah, who am I kidding – I love the musician I am, but there are times. Times when I do wish I were a better drummer.

    Drum Fill Love

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    Transcript:

    I said I love that drum fill!

    Thank you.

    Fuckin’ love it.

    It’s a cool drum fill.

    It’s totally cool.

    I done did that.

    Totally fuckin’ cool.

    yeah.

    I have to make that a Phil Collins thing somehow.

    Get it to sound like it’s in a fuckin’ glass room or something bizarre.

    Oh lord.

    Aw, c’mon man.

    Have you subscribed to my YouTube Channel yet?