Well, dear readers, two days ago I wrote, “it’s not like I wasn’t warned, oh yes, it’s not like I wasn’t warned” and now I’m reiterating it once again. My engineer warned me that the Sondheim was the best sounding, and then we spent a lot of time getting the Bacharach to sound as good, which we did. We worked our magic. When I left the last of that mix I was warned again that the Andrew Lloyd Webber sounded worse than the Bacharach. I didn’t believe it. I should have. I spent a hugely frustrating evening trying to make a silk purse out of the biggest sow’s ear I’ve ever heard in my life, and I’ve heard a few, baby. Without question, the people who did this recording should never ever be allowed anywhere near a recording studio again. Listen, doing a live recording is never easy – it’s hard, but you have to do your homework, you have to be prepared, and most of all you have to know what you’re doing and how to mic the band. If you don’t, you have no business taking people’s money. The minute the first ten seconds of the first rough mix played I knew we were in for it. The sound was actually grotesque. I won’t go into the very odd orchestrations or combination of instruments, although that’s part of the problem. But how does an engineer record a piano in MONO? It just boggles the mind. And then he has one mic to cover three reeds – sax, flute, and clarinet. The only problem is that one mic cannot record those three reeds properly. And didn’t. The head mics worn by the actors were buzzing, distorting, and frequently sounding like someone making popcorn. So, we struggled all evening and go through the very long first act (seventy-six minutes). The second act is ten minutes longer than that, so obviously some stuff will be cut. We did the best we could do, but on some numbers it’s just not enough. I will be recommending many cuts to be made, and they’re all fairly obvious ones. We’ll still be left with plenty of music but I cannot put my name on the tracks that are the worst sounding. The performers are fine and hopefully people will be forgiving because it’s a) a live show, and b) for a charity. The mono piano is just so annoying because a nice stereo piano covers a multitude of sins and you always have it as a backup. It’s a good thing I don’t know who did this, because both my engineer and me would like to find him and make HIM mix this sorry mess. The Bacharach was a walk in the park compared to this, but at least we got through the first act. Tonight it’s on to the second. I think with judicious pruning and some shuffling of the song order, it will squeak by. And there are some terrific performances, so that makes it okay in a way.
Prior to all that frustration, I’d had a perfectly nice day doing perfectly nice things. For example, I got up. That was perfectly nice. I then did stuff related to the three STAGE releases, after which I had to do errands and whatnot, pay some bills, pick up some packages, eat, and then do some other stuff. I found time to watch one motion picture on Blu and Ray, the only occasionally funny Jerry Lewis film, It’s Only Money. This one’s directed by Frank Tashlin, and there are a handful of absolutely hilarious sight gags that are classic Tashlin. Other than that, it’s a bit of a slog. The black-and-white transfer, while not pristine, is fine – sharp, good contrast, and decent sound.
Then we did the mix, and I was so annoyed that I did something I haven’t done in five years – I stopped at a McDonald’s and had a filet o’ fish. I think I’ve sufficiently been away from that kind of food for so long that having it was a bit of a shock – it was REALLY mediocre, and I say that as having once been a real filet o’ fish fan. And they’re not cheap.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get some good beauty sleep.
Today, I shall do yet more errands and whatnot, write some liner notes (if I have the energy – it may have to wait until tomorrow), hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, then I’ll have a visit from a book dealer friend, who’s going to go through all the books in the garage (and there are a LOT out there) and hopefully take a lot of them away – I’m willing to let them go fairly cheap, save for some really good titles of things I’ve upgraded). We’re also going to sup, then Melody’s rehearsal has been cancelled because a birthday party she’s going to got pushed earlier, and then it’s mixing the rest of the Lloyd Webber show.
Tomorrow, I’ll write liner notes, make decisions with David Galligan about what will stay and what will go on the Lloyd Webber CD, relax, and then see a play with the Geissmans. Sunday will be Melody’s rehearsal and then dinner. Next week is going to be insane but not as insane as this past week.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do errands and whatnot, write, hopefully pick up packages and an important envelope, have a book dealer visit and dinner, and then mix. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, Szell Conducts Mahler’s Sixth and Tenth Symphonies, a Japanese issue in paper sleeve – I love these performances. Blu and Ray, Miracle in Milan, Pal Joey, Demetrius and the Gladiators, and Bite the Bullet. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be done with part one of the nightmare mix.