WARNING: This is pure trivia.I've taken some of the surviving note I made for my own use while listening to the rough mixes. Some of the notes I don't understand myself, most of it is clear. All the mixing and editing was done at SIAM Records with Mike Landy doing all the technical stuff (edits, and mixing) with me overseeing as producer. Mike was tireless in his pursuit of the right sound and mix. We spent many days and even remixed many of the tunes once we figured out how the mixing should go. Much credit goes to Mike as he did all the dirty work and spent most of the hours in the dark control room. In the beginning the cello and sax were a little further out front and later we realized a more meshed, balanced sound worked better. Mike later mixed he CD using the DVD 5.1 format (5 discreet channels plus the subwoofer channel. This is an amazing format. Look for it in the years to come. |
When listening back to the rough mixes I made notes in an attempt to organize my thoughts about the session and to try to figure out which takes to use. We recorded two full days so there was plenty to listen to. In general the notes are self explanatory. A "*" generally indicates something I liked. Roman numbers indicate my own 'sectioning' of the tune. HD=head. There are times when I just put a check mark next to something (here indicated by "check")indicating 'acceptable' or 'solid' but not great. In some cases there are notes on what takes went into the final cuts....
Take #1: top No!
Head just doesn't take off! No momentum.
VC solo: OK, transition no good (*last few bars, good)
Head Out: "G"-halting, oops!, Chorus: OK, but no elevation of energy
End: OK, Yes.
Take #2:
Head-slight vc fuck up. Cool-needs goosing for percussion, not enough build.
VC solo: OK until 2x sections when it's a little halting.
Head Out: All good.
Head-check.
Blow:VC: OK, sx:check,tutti:OK--a little disconnected. *:Good Coda!
Take#2
Vibe great-head in, 1st ending (cello part?)
A few bars off the top of the coda? or use take #1?
Take #1
Great: is there some way to edit out of the sax solo before it gets grooving and get back to head out--into "A" problem? Percussion coda, OK. (don't put this next to Agon). Out Head cool!
Take #2 (what's left [problem with SMPTE stripping caused us to lose some of this take])
*Head In, from bottom of page.
*Solo: good, great beg.
*Head out
Insert HDOUT: page 2--great!, end of page 2 no (last note acceptable)
Final edit: Insert, cool. Take 2 (?to T1 for high notes?) VC solo T2! Take 1? somewhere near end go to T1. Insert!! Take 1--for high stuff. Last note is cool of insert.
Into, OK transition into Head a little cowardly. Head good. Sax, vc solos good (D-maj7 not right!). HDOUT-need me.
Take #2: Use this!
Intro: good. Head 1, good; 2, good, near end cello part not right. Bridge--alto flub. Out-Vc solo good.
Sx solo: vc pizz out until top of chorus? transition? -could be cool?
VC solo: good. Percussion solo:* Head out, end: both good.
Alto sax insert: Wow! time feel..
VC solo insert-**
Top insert: good, better, not sure. Head, yes. YES USE!
Take #3: top, OK. Floating--intro not great, *but build up is great! *B Head, smokin' Solo, good! Head out; I*, II*, III*
Take #4: Keeper!
top--great bass stuff, sax/vc, a little out--could be vc?
Head: I*,II*,III*, bridge--OK? //from Take #2? or Insert?. IV*
Sax Solo*:vc pizz stuff a little early for it!--keeper
HDOUT: I, need II!, III NO!. Insert Bridge**
Take #5: HDIN--cool. VC solo--a little awkward at top. Sax solo--OK, end a little weak (take vc out until top of chorus!) HDOUT**
Take #2: cello solo pretty good--is it still .....? Sax solo: really cool-relaxed, suave! HDOUT: good, slight miscue by AL on xxx melody. bass ending...
Take #1: good--but feel is not quite there. VC solo-OK, but halting in pacing. Prefer #2, good ending! **SAX: Yes! Great! Intro and head, NO--missed fast part again.
intro-good. OK, flow not right, a little herky jerky. **Insert: head out from sax melody.
Take#2
Intro--first bars-intro good. Next few, no good. No good-pacing-take 1 better. **End.
Take #3
*Insert: ok, good vibe.
Notes on final edit: Topaz, TK2-bulk, TK3, top; TK4-out from sax until last bit.
Bass--great beg!--solo is burning! alto/vc-a little off. HD: OK, vc, ok--*floating chords are great! *AS, great! OUT, good.
Take #2
**Great Vibe. VC "solo" unsatisfying?