Mixing Day Six : She Won't Last
Ryan had this one nailed from the get-go. Sounded full, powerful, moody. Dave and I made a note here and there - just minor adjustments - and "She" was ready to go. This was the first Panic Channel song and it's always a benchmark of how far we've come together. It tells the true story of a girl going through a really dark time in her life. There is a lot of emotion that needs to be communicated, and Ryan once again made all the puzzle pieces fit just right.
We then went next door for our post mix sushi fix, the Golden Globe Awards playing on TV.
After dinner, we went back to the studio and burned our "She Won't Last" CDs. Dave was nosing around and found Ryan's book of Cd's that he brings to test the room to get his head space aligned for mixing, a collection of some of the best rock records from the 60's-90's. He told us how fun it was just to listen to great music you grew up with and that influenced you on the gigantic main "Flamethrower" speakers. He started playing some songs and we all kicked back and just listened. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, and some obscure 70's rock. Through those giant speakers in that million dollar room, every tiny detail, every nuance was clear. We heard the creaking sound of someone getting out of a chair in the fade out on The Beatles' "A Day In The Life". Like a time machine, we were transported back into the room with all those musicians, hearing what they saved in time for us.
The best moment was when we turned the main lights off, and listened to Led Zeppelin. The board's thousands of tiny red and green LED's and all the glowing white fader windows made it look like the cockpit of a ghost spaceship.
After "In the Light", we played Zeppelin's "Ten Years Gone". I first got into this song a long time ago when I moved to Los Angeles. I've always gotten this strong vibe from it, it never fails to stop me in my tracks. It was a song that reminded me to keep searching; that something was out there for me. Hearing "Ten Years Gone" through the Flamethrowers in the glow of the lights of that ghost spaceship, I felt like maybe I had discovered what that feeling was for.
just one of those things
another bleeding bird
in love with her broken wings
and I know that's just the way these things go
now I know better
Comments
i really love these posts!
that night sounds awesome steve
i can't wait to hear these songs. i'm starting to get really excited. anticipation is starting to get me giddy!
Posted by: ooftymcgoofty | January 17, 2006 10:30 AM
Great to keep reading this...
If there was one person I could duet with, it would be Robert Plant!
So damned exciting this!
RP
x
Posted by: RecklessPrincess | January 17, 2006 10:31 AM
With every post about the mixing process I get increasingly excited about the album. I really can't wait!!
Fuck me, I want to hear these Flamethrowers!
Schu
Posted by: Schubert | January 17, 2006 11:08 AM
Whoa...ummm ya whoa!
Posted by: wendybird | January 17, 2006 11:14 AM
To hear "She won't last" and then Zep through that ((((system)))) must have been insane.
Posted by: Brett | January 17, 2006 12:14 PM
Steve:
I know you're talking about Mixing right now, but I hope you guys take a lesson from the Beatles and Zeppelin cds in regards to Mastering: a good mastering job does NOT mean pumping the levels excessively, so there is no more dynamic range.
Yeah, that Zeppelin remaster job was done in 1990.
And it still sounds fresh.
(The Beatles stuff was remastered for cd in 1987.)
By contrast, try listening to the Velvet Revolver album, "Contraband", through those Flamethrower speakers. You guys would be wincing----- total ear fatigue. Where it physically hurts your ears, over time.
I've ripped the audio directly from that cd, and when you analyze it in a program, you can see how the peaks are actually clipped off---- that harsh digital clip.
Just a horrible, horrible mastering job.
All so they can say, "Our disk is louder than any other band!"
Unfortunately, the same can be said of Bruce Springsteen's "Devils & Dust" cd. Totally clipped peaks, with ear fatigue. What a shame, because the tunes cry out for a subtle master, like his "Ghost of Tom Joad" album.
It's the current trend, of compressing the fuck out of every type of music.
___
But if you put in "Physical Graffiti" or "Abbey Road" and cranked the volume, no ear fatigue. Because it sounds natural, with a healthy dynamic range.
The same can be said for "Nothing's Shocking".
___
Here are some fascinating analyses from this guy I found on the net, who first turned me on to the idea of dynamics and not compressing the hell out of the music:
http://www.airwindows.com/analysis/Albums/index.html
http://www.airwindows.com/analysis/Dynamics.html
Anyway, I'm sure you guys know what you're doing.
(As if you're gonna listen to some anonymous asshole like me!!)
But most sincerely, keep the posts coming!
It's awesome reading about the process.
-jr.
Posted by: Joshua | January 17, 2006 12:28 PM
Awesome Steve. Simply Awesome.
Perk is one of my favorite drummers and I can't wait to hear him playing these songs.
Thanks for keepin' everyone informed.
Peace.
JD
Posted by: John Dickerson | January 17, 2006 01:02 PM
Steve, your posts rule!!!!!!
-AER
Posted by: Adriana | January 17, 2006 02:07 PM
Ok, I'm going through my vinyl and pulling out those Led Zeppelin's that I listened to in my younger days -- laying there with my head between two speakers....
Keep it coming. Thank you very much for the insight into the process.
steve
Posted by: Steve | January 17, 2006 02:37 PM
"Did you ever really need somebody, really need 'em bad? Did you ever really want somebody, best stuff you ever had? Will you ever remember me baby, did it feel so good? Cause it was just the first time, and I knew you would". Fuck yes, one of my top 5 songs, of all time, along with "In The Light"-oh man. ITL is probably the most spiritual tune of any Rock act I know. "Everybody needs the light-whoa, yea, yea". And yes people, I'm actually old enough to remember when Physical was released, and I can still hit the notes baby. Hey Steve, ck out Dean Deleo's little tribute to Ten Years Gone in the STP song Bipolar Bear during the solo. Pretty cool shit. It's a magical tune for me as well. God, I do love it so and makes me think of both times gone and things to come. Can't friggin wait to hear She Won't Last. Hell, don't know I Can Last till it come out, lol.
"We are eagles of one nest, The nest is in our soul."
Posted by: Lyn | January 17, 2006 03:30 PM