As you may have noticed, it has been a long time since I have reported about new finished productions or ongoing projects. As from now, I will inform you about the actual running production and complement my Instagram posts with more details here in my blog. This topic will be placed between the other general articles so you will not miss them. On that, you can count!
Live Instrumental Recording
Studio B - Alesis x2 console & a bunch of outboard gear
Last weekend, I spent my first time in the recording studio called Energiekreis Zuckerhut Studios which is located in the western German city Bonn. The studio was founded in 2014 and is run by the two German producers/engineers David Trapp (EMMA6, Jupiter Jones, among others) and Michael Schwalb (Revolverheld, Eko Fresh, among others).
I scheduled one and a half days to realise a live instrumental recording for a four-track EP. We set up everything technical and went through the sound check during the Saturday. Then, the whole Sunday was used to record the live instrumental session.
It is all about the new-found German indie-pop band "von Berg", based in Cologne. The band consists of four students of music, which got to know each other at the Cologne Academy of music, which is also the place of origin of the band. This recorded EP will be fundamental for the creation of their specific sound - we will see.
The production team consists of Florian Schurz (engineer) and me, Benjamin Albrecht, as producer.
Technical Details
Drum set with Glyn Johns overhead method
Nord Stage 2 and microKorg
2x12 Vox speaker with common miking
We recorded drums, electric guitar, bass and keys (Nord Stage 2 and microKorg) in a live recording setup and just overdubbed an acoustic guitar. We decided to capture the MIDI signal next to the line output of the keys to be more flexible later in the mixdown. The speaker of the guitar amp was placed in a separated room to minimise the cross-talk in the main recording room.
Channels & Microphones
| Channel | Microphone | Preamp/Signal Chain |
|---|---|---|
| Kick In | Shure Beta 91A | Alesis X2 |
| Kick Out | Audix D6 | Capi VP312 (API Replica) + Pultec EQP-1A Replica |
| Snare Top | Shure SM57 | Capi VP312 (API Replica) |
| Snare Bottom | AKG C414 XLS | Alesis X2 |
| Overhead L | AKG C414 XLII | Capi VP312 (API Replica) |
| Overhead R | AKG C414 XLII | Capi VP312 (API Replica) |
| Dirt Mic | Neumann U67 Replica | Alesis x2 |
| Guitar Amp A | Shure SM57 | Telefunken V672 |
| Guitar Amp B | Sennheiser MD421 | Telefunken V672 |
| Bass | DI (with Aguilar Tone Hammer 500) | Focusrite ISA428 MkII |
| Piano | DI | Focusrite ISA428 MkII |
| Synth | DI | Universal Audio Apollo Quad |
| Acoustic Guitar A | Line Audio CM3 | Focusrite ISA428 MkII |
| Acoustic Guitar B | AKG C12 Replica | Focusrite ISA428 MkII + Pultec EQP-1A Replica |
| Acoustic Guitar C | Line Audio CM3 | Focusrite ISA428 MkII |
Studio B - Preamps & EQ
What Is Next?
In the future, I will continue my work with this project and will give you an insight into every stage of the production. Stay tuned and don't forget to visit my social media profiles from time to time, so you will not miss anything ;)
In the end, I want to thank Michael Schwalb for supporting us in the studio setup and Pierre Dresen, who accompanied me the whole day with his camera and took some great photos and collected video material.
4 thoughts on ““Von Berg” Instrumental Recording”
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I need to to thank you for this very good read!! I absolutely enjoyed every little bit of it.
I have you bookmarked to look at new things you post…