Where the &^%$#$ is that file?

The mixes are done, the band is tired, the ProTools session is closed.  The drive with the files is stored and forgotten.  The band makes it BIG!  Where are you files?  Where they saved properly?  It's been years since that session.  If the drive is still working, are the software and plugins still supported?  

One way to avoid this situation is to consolidate your audio files (making every file used in the mix the exact same length.)  It might use a tremendous amount of disk space, but you can guarantee that your files can be used with other programs in the future.  You can also save tracks with and without effects.  

It's also a good idea to have multiple backups, preferably in separate locations and spin up hard disks occasionally.  As new formats become the standard, transfer files accordingly. 

It might not be the most exciting way to spend time in ProTools, but data management is a critical part of being a successful musician.

$9,500 Worth of Authentic Analog Sound

Mercenary Audio has an amazing Ampex 300-4, a four-track 1/2" tape machine ready to sell.

The Analog Rules website has some great sales brochures from the 1950's including one of the Capitol Records control rooms, looking very industrial with cinderblock walls.

Recording Stories...

Had a band in the studio... The band had previously determined to lay down a scratch recording to click, then go back and re-record the drum track, then bass, then vocals, etc. 

The drum track went fine, but the bass player had never been in the studio before and was having a serious case of studio jitters.   After a while, the bass player left the studio completely frustrated, embarrassed and just wanting to leave.  While they were out, I determined that the bass player would indeed need to record again or I would need to do quite a bit of editing.  Because they knew it was a scratch track, they weren't aiming for perfection on the scratch track.   After a while the band came back in to record together.   While they had been practicing their parts separately to prepare for recording in the studio, they could not have predicted their reactions when they were actually in the studio.  

While recording together for bass works well as you can use a DI, it would depend on many other factors if this solution were to be used for other instruments.   Does the guitar player or drummer need to take visual clues from another player to get something just right?    

More later...

Foster The People

After a little research: Mark Foster of Foster the People recorded "Pumped up Kicks" as a demo in Mark Foster's home studio using Logic.  It was good enough to include in the album Torches.   Link to article in The Wire Magazine.

**OR**
Mark recorded it at Morphonics in LA.  You decide.

Foster the People are signed by StarTime International.  http://www.startimeintl.com/

What Happens After You Get Signed

Earache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in the UK and the US.  They have a great blog post about what happens after a band gets signed by a label.  Any label. Big or small. 

Click below.

What happens after you get signed? Ask Earache.

Boston

I've moved to Boston and Michael Miller has taken over the studio. You can find his website here: www.mproco.com