So Battle of the Bands went extraordinarily well, besides the fact that I sounded really treble on my monitor and that whole results thing, but let's put that all behind us. We've got $50. It's time to start thinking about things.
That's probably the last major show that Fountainhead will play with the proper line-up (though I might be able to come back ... I don't know ... it'd be easier if it wasn't a Monday, probably). After that, we'll be as the grains of wheat scattered by the wind. In other words, Fountainhead is almost over. We have a fairly strong fan following, and we owe one thing to them if we don't owe it to ourselves and that is to establish some sort of longevity.
So therefore I propose that Fountainhead moves its focus to recording what we have and what we don't have yet. We could do five or six tracks without doing any new material, but I suggest we try to fit some new songs on there, regardless of whether we ever actually perform them. We're apparently not the highest priority of recording studios, so if we can't get studio time, I suggest we try to do it ourselves.
So ... I wanna know what we have to work with. Post all the connections you have, all the equipment that is available to you, all the studios of which you know, past experiences, second hand experiences. Anything and everything that might help.
I'll start.
My older brother has some sort of recording equipment. It's not anywhere near top of the line, and the quality that it turns out hasn't been splendid when I've used it, but then again, it was a little different than what we'd be doing. I asked for a recorder for my birthday. We'll see how that comes out. I know that quality recording can be done with run-of-the-mill personal computers (that means PC or Apple though apparently Apples are better. Which is why I want one), but you need a fast processor, plenty of memory, and a good sound card, as well as multi-track recording software. Bathrooms have good aucoustics for vocals (you always sound the best singing in the shower, right?) or at least better aucoustics than kitchens or bedrooms. The only recording studio I know of is Woodshed. Recording time can be pricey. And then from that, you probably want to send in your recording to have the CDs done professionally and not just burned with a CD burner. Then again, we're on a tight budget and a tight schedule. We might just want to go out and buy a bunch of CD-Rs.
Posted by Andrew Richner at April 9, 2005 04:52 PMYes, getting stuff recorded is a very good idea. I don't know of any recording place, but I have heard Taylor talk about some place that is good and pretty cheap.
Posted by: Justin Bunke at April 9, 2005 06:17 PMhttp://www.tcmusic.net/resourcecategoryRecording_Studios.html
That link has lots of recording studios in Minnesota. Also, another local recording studio is Pine Woods Recording. I think it's in the phone book under Music or something.
Posted by: Luke Porter at April 9, 2005 06:47 PMI think taylor had some friend who he said would record us for free. That'd be pretty choice.
I have no connections, myself.
Posted by: Michael A. Harms, Esq. at April 9, 2005 07:19 PMThanks Luke.
Posted by: Andrew Richner at April 9, 2005 08:21 PMI've got a condenser mic and a preamp that would work with Mike's Macs. I'm also coming to MN the last weekend in May...
Posted by: Jack McD. at April 9, 2005 11:49 PMI don't have connections, but just for the record, we should call the demo "The People's Champions".
Posted by: The Reverend Doctor M. Flash at April 10, 2005 11:51 AMYeah, I know a guy named Nate Ditmar, he owns a studio in his own home. It's really really nice and we could record very very cheap and probably even free. I'll email him and get back to you guys.
Posted by: Taylor at April 10, 2005 12:24 PMI like the idea Mark
Posted by: Justin Bunke at April 10, 2005 12:27 PMI'm not sure.. The connotations with the Rock just don't sit right with me.
oh who am I kidding, the rock owns.
Posted by: Michael A. Harms, Esq. at April 10, 2005 01:44 PMi know Kevin Carey, who's been in the music business forever as far as i know. he knows me and mark and would probably record us for cheap if not free. rachel stroetz's dad has a buttload of recording eq in his basement that we might want to keep in mind. also, we could probably borrow some stuff from our good friends in Runway. that's all i got for now...
Posted by: David at April 11, 2005 08:29 AMp.s. who do i need to yell at to get a copy of the recording from friday night?
Posted by: David at April 11, 2005 08:31 AMMe
Posted by: Michael A. Harms, Esq. at April 11, 2005 08:56 AMI have heard that RCTC has a pretty good recording studio, and one of the classes does recording sessions as a project.
Posted by: Peter at April 11, 2005 09:04 AMyeah, i've heard that too but i don't think they'd be willing to do a seven-peice band and more than one or two songs anyway. still, if you know anyone in the class that would be cool. i know a bunch of people who took it last year but that doesn't help much.
Posted by: David at April 11, 2005 10:35 AMSwell. I think Ditmar is a good resource for this, because Tay's used him before, and it'll be cheap. Why not give it a shot?
Taylor emailed him, so this should be neat.
Posted by: Michael A. Harms, Esq. at April 11, 2005 10:39 AMMy parents said their willing to help us pay for stuff, which basically means they'll pay for whatever.
Posted by: Nate at April 11, 2005 06:47 PMFRIGGIN SWEET.
That rules, Nate. Thank your parents for me.
Posted by: Michael A. Harms, Esq. at April 11, 2005 09:19 PMfountainhead should be some sort of ongoing thing. before we leave next year, we should induct new members. it will be like the dead poets society or something! and then people will realize that we're not that great and not want to join our band. the end.
Posted by: david at April 12, 2005 01:04 PMI dunno, I'm more of a fan of fountainhead puns living on in Folkenhead.
Posted by: Michael A. Harms, Esq. at April 12, 2005 02:37 PMi heard from matt dery (do you guys know him?) that you guys kicked ass at the battle of the bands friday night!!! nice!! i wasn't there.. but i would have voted for you! (or else roxbury.. or both..) but you guys soo should have beaten plazmatic.. ugh i can't stand them!
Posted by: curbside memory at April 12, 2005 03:51 PMI enjoy watching Plazmatic. They're a fun group, but thanks for the vote of confidence. Always good to get positive feedback
:coolfish:
Posted by: Michael A. Harms, Esq. at April 12, 2005 05:19 PMGUYS! I have a basement, plus about 4 mics and we could borrow Schibs' mixer. Haha, well, I recorded us (Silhouette) a couple weeks ago and that's still kinda in progress...but yeah, I could do it probably...but I'm not guaranteeing the highest quality sound...go to www.purevolume.com/silhouettemusic and listen to "I Will Be" if you want to hear the quality.
P.S. I love Mark.
I love you too Tanner.
Posted by: The Reverend Doctor M. Flash at April 12, 2005 07:14 PMWow. Turns out we have lots of resources at our disposal. We should've done this one or two months ago. Then we'd be done with it already. Oh well.
Let's start rolling on some of these. Just to recap. We've got Taylor emailing Ditmar, we've got Nate's parents saying they'll help out paying (though we kinda owe it to them not to make them pay for everything), and we've also got the possibilty of recording with Tanner.
So we'll try to get Ditmar, if that doesn't work, we'll either go with Tanner or with David's friend. That sound like a plan for everyone?
Let's start assembling a schedule now. I say everyone try to leave Saturday afternoons as open as possible. Is that a conflict for anyone? If so, we could try to hit Sunday afternoons.
Posted by: Andrew Richner at April 12, 2005 07:49 PMNot this saturday.. I'm not sure, but there's another weekend where I have to see my brother graduate, but I can probably get out of that, because it's not like he cares anyway.
Posted by: Michael A. Harms, Esq. at April 12, 2005 09:54 PMWell this Saturday is probably a little early. But I think we should maybe try to keep Saturdays open in general maybe?
Posted by: Andrew Richner at April 12, 2005 10:07 PMI haven't heard from Ditmar yet, I'll eventually call him if he doesn't email me. I've been too lazy. Open to beatings at the current time!
Posted by: Taylor at April 12, 2005 10:37 PMMike gave me a high five today. It was cool.
Posted by: Luke Porter at April 12, 2005 10:37 PMErr are you guys going to I Voted For Kodos show at Studio Academy on the 22nd? I guess it's ska night at studio.
Posted by: Luke Porter at April 12, 2005 10:38 PMMost likely
Posted by: Justin Bunke at April 12, 2005 10:40 PMDittmar is in. We'll need to find a date/time but I think he only records on fridays. I'll post later about it.
Posted by: Taylor at April 14, 2005 06:44 PMAlright, then. We'll plan on going with Dittmar, but everyone else who was hunting, don't stop yet, 'cos if for whatever reason Dittmar doesn't work, we should have a backup. Oh yeah, and since we're officially recording without them, fuck Woodshed. Fucking cheap-skates.
Posted by: Andrew Richner at April 14, 2005 11:10 PMI second the cry of "Fuck Woodshed."
Bunch of fucking assholes.
Posted by: Michael A. Harms, Esq. at April 17, 2005 12:07 AM