Music Mixing Blog

Cassidy Gold #50 (or is it #51??)

2010-05-01T13:22:00.003-05:00

Wow, i havent blogged in forever. My apologies. i've had quite alot to say, but no time to say it. I'm gonna try to find time to get back on my blogging game. This is a good way to start. I just found out today that an album i worked on quite a while ago, Cassidy "I'm a Hustla" went gold!!! YEAH!!! i'velost count but i'm pretty sure thats either #50 or #51 on my gold and platinum list. With record sales in the dump, its become harder and harder to earn gold records, but i still get a few here and there, I'm lucky and grateful. So, i did a bunch of music for the song "A.M. to P.M." on the album, that was my contribution. My production partner, Brent Kolatalo, engineered the sessions (and probably added some music too) so thats his 8th Gold album. Congrats Brent!

Man, there's so much more to tell, and i havent updated my site in about a year. YIKES!! I think i'm gonna start trying to hit the blog again several times a week. Take care.

-Ken Lewis

Haiti Relief Mixing

2010-01-13T18:18:00.004-05:00

The news of the devastation in Haiti is far beyond comprehension. The early images of destruction alone pull my heart into my throat. I've already donated to the relief effort, and i suggest everyone who can donate anything directly to the relief efforts to please do so. Haiti needs you right now.

For my part, I have decided that the next two independent artists to hire me to do a mix for them, I will donate the entire mix fee to the relief effort. 100% of it for both mixes, and i will also donate the money to whatever Haitian Relief Organization the person chooses. I am just so heartbroken over what i'm seeing there that if i can stop what i'm normally doing and spend two work days relieving suffering down there in any way that i can, thats what i'm going to do.

The only caveat, you must actually tell me you are hiring me for the Haitian Relief mix.

Sincerely,

Ken Lewis

Vinda Bar, Best Wine Bar in Barcelona

2009-12-27T17:07:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to post a little diversion from the usual. I was recently in Barcelona and absolutely fell in love with the place. What a great city. the food, culture, people, weather, night life, is all exceptional. I met some great people while there, and found a wine bar in the Gothic quarter that i really loved. If your in Barcelona, definitely check out Vinda Bar, in the Gothic Quarter, not far from the Cathedral. I had a tremendous bottle of wine for about 18 Euro, and a really good one for 14 Euro. Lee, the owner, was really good at suggesting wines as well, and when i told him what i liked, everything he picked was spot on. and the food is really good too. there's my Barcelona tip!!! here's a pic from Vinda bar of my favorite wine of the trip. Spanish wine rocks!

-Ken Lewis

VOCAL TRACKING MISCONCEPTIONS!!!!

2009-12-22T23:37:00.002-05:00

Almost Christmas!! cant wait. Still grinding on these mixes though. Current and or recent projects include Miggs (WARNER/ROCKRIDGE), Notar (TYRRANOSAURUS), J. Lewis featuring Flo Rida (INTERSCOPE), The Higher (EPITAPH), Portable Payback (UNIVERSAL), King Phaze, Linzee Starr, Lovely Hoffman, One Less Reason, Jocey, Black Lagoon, 13 Yards to Victory, Brandon Beal, Warren Dean, Jamie Wainwright featuring Craig Smart, The Accentrix, Marina Chello, Paul G featuring Akon (UNIVERSAL SA), Carishma and Sunny Khubani, Surefire Music Group, Trillogy, Xtortya. Whew!!! I have been BUSY. If i've been working with you and forgot to mention you, my appologies, its a little hectic right now and i'm working from memory.

OK, on to my blog. One of the BIGGEST misconceptions about audio in general, but specifically about vocal tracking in the digital world is this. If you take a vocal track, and you make a digital copy of that vocal track, THAT IS NOT A DOUBLE TRACK. Making an exact copy of ANY track does absolutely nothing except make it a bit louder (just like pushing up a fader does).

All the time, i get songs in to mix, and for instance, the lead vocal has a "double" track, which turns out to be not a double track at all. just a copy of the original lead vocal track thats labeled "LV DBL". Dear young engineers, artists, producers, people just learning, etc.... please read this blog and understand exactly what i'm saying. Same with guitar tracks, keyboards, basslines, etc... If you want a double track of something, you simply have to perform it and record it a second time. If its not feeling like a double track, then you didnt perform it as closely to the original take as you need to, try again. If it was easy, everybody would make records :-)

I hope this helps clear up a couple of my biggest pet peeve misconceptions about recording vocals. Good luck in your record making endeavours. if i can be of service to you, here I am.

Merry Christmas!!!

-Ken Lewis

VIDEO Blog- Symphony at Concertgebouw Amsterdam

2009-12-04T02:30:00.001-05:00

Wow! I just got back from Amsterdam and while i was there i had the true pleasure of seeing the Symphony perform at the legendary Concertgebouw concert hall. I couldnt film during the performance, unfortunately, but i did get some good footage at intermission. this shows basically how the orchestra is seated, what instruments go where, and shows you a great view of the Hall as well as this insane pipe organ they had. And the sound of that place with that orchestra was truly exceptional. Maybe the best sounding hall I've ever been in and I've been in many. The video gets cut a little short because the usher was coming over :-)

-Ken Lewis

Tips & Techniques - Piano Recording with MIGGS

2009-11-10T14:48:00.002-05:00

I just wrapped up production for a rock band called MIGGS on Warner / RockRidge Records. I'm finally back in New York City and beginning to mix the project, but this was recorded down in Tampa, Florida where we were recording the band. This goes thru how i recorded the piano for the record. What microphones, placements, etc... This was during the recording of piano for a song called "Damage".

Enjoy!!! -Ken Lewis

Video Blog, End of Night, Oct 28

2009-10-29T02:42:00.002-05:00

I'm just wrapping up a very long 15 hour day of production on the new MIGGS album that I'm producing (www.miggsmusic.com) for RockRidge / Warner Records..
This is just the end of night summary of the day, nothing too special. Just some insights on what a long day of record making is like, for those of you who dont yet get the supreme luxury of doing this for a living. I am lucky, but i work hard for my luck.
-Ken Lewis

Vocal Recording Chain - Nerd Blog 1 with MIGGS

2009-10-23T18:09:00.000-05:00

Ken Lewis here, currently in Tampa, Florida producing an album for RockRidge / Warner recording artist "MIGGS". Here's a short little nerd video blog for all you guys trying to learn how to record vocals, or record vocals better. I don't usually use a Distressor to compress vocals while tracking, but i am today and it sounds great. In this video blog, I'm basically just breaking down my vocal chain that i'm using to record while the singer is in the live room singing his heart out.

Enjoy!

-Ken Lewis

Tips & Techniques - Vocal Comping w/ Miggs

2009-10-22T18:28:00.002-05:00

I've been producing RockRidge / Warner recording artists "MIGGS" this month (www.miggsband.com). Lately we've been in heavy lead vocal recording mode. This video gives a little insight into the process of "Vocal Comping". Usually when i record vocals, i have the singer give me many takes, and I guide them as needed with direction before each take, then i send them away and put together all of the best pieces of each take into one final Comp Vocal.

And while i'm at it, I'm going to repost a link to an old blog posting i did from a few years ago, which covered my techniques with vocal comping in depth. I think its the most commented on and linked blog post i ever did, so here it is again. for all you producers out there wanting to learn how to record and comp vocals, or maybe get a few new tips and techniques, here ya go!!!

VOCAL COMPING BLOG

Enjoy!
-Ken Lewis

Tips & Techniques - Guitar Recording w/ Miggs PT 3

2009-10-20T21:17:00.002-05:00

Part 3 of the saga, recording electric guitars with Miggs. I am producing an album for Miggs, on RockRidge / Warner Records. We've been tracking lots of guitars (and lots of other stuff which i'll blog about). Enjoy!
-Ken Lewis

Tips & Techniques - Guitar Recording w/ Miggs PT 2

2009-10-19T13:12:00.002-05:00

Continuation of Part 1. Part 3 coming tomorrow and currently shooting more videos to post :-)

-Ken Lewis

Tips & Techniques - Guitar Recording With Miggs PT 1 of 3

2009-10-18T15:10:00.002-05:00

I am producing an album for RockRidge Records artists MIGGS MiggsBand.com. We've been recording electric guitars on the album and i wanted to do a little youtube video documenting how the process is working. this is video 1 of 3, i'll post the other 2 videos on successive days. Miggs has also been putting up their own little ongoing video documentary of the making of the album as well, some really cool, funny, and insightful footage on their own wesbite.

Enjoy!!

-Ken Lewis

Ariana Grande is vicTORIous!!!

2009-10-16T14:10:00.004-05:00

Last year I produced a 4 song EP for young prodigy Ariana Grande. Ariana is just one of those people who completely piss you off. Absolutely incredibly talented at everything she does. Unbelievable vocalist, completely believable actress, budding young songwriter, and all around super talented artist and entertainer. Like i said, don't you just hate those people who are great at everything?? Well, she's one of them. Well, I'd like to hate her, but she's so damn nice that she just wins you over.

Anyway, last year (thru early 2009) Ariana starred in the hit Broadway Musical "13 The Musical". And when that play closed, she moved to LA and began auditioning, quickly landing a co-lead role on a new Nickelodeon show coming out in January titled "vicTORIous".

Here's a link that tells a bit about the show......

vicTORIous

Oh yeah, did i mention Ariana is also signed to Sony Records? Like i said, you just wanna hate her, but you can't. Congrats Ariana on all of your success and all of the much much bigger success coming your way soon. I cannot think of anyone more deserving, nor anyone who's more fun to work with!!!!

-Ken Lewis

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS

2009-10-15T14:39:00.002-05:00

A little while back, i mixed a song called "Oxymoron" for a South African pop rock artist named "Zebra & Giraffe". Well, at the time, the artist was telling me "Hey this song and this album are going to be big!!!". Well, it turns out he was REALLY right.

"Zebra & Giraffe" recently won a SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AWARD (SAMA) for their album "Collected Memories", and last weekend at the MTV Africa Music Awards they won "Best Alternative Artist"!!!

Big congrats go out to you, Zebra & Giraffe from a half a world away! Here is their website.....

Zebra & Giraffe Website

-Ken Lewis

Will Ferrell - Insurance Public Option PSA

2009-09-22T10:15:00.001-05:00

Will Ferrell is a genius. Watch.

Will Ferrell PSA

Enjoy!!!

-Ken Lewis

13 Yards to Victory - Album Sampler

2009-09-11T21:37:00.005-05:00

I recently completed production on a 7 song project for a Boston rock band called "13 Yards to Victory". Here's a little album sampler of four of the songs i just put together, please give it a listen and tell me what you think.

13YTV%20Album%20Sampler.mp3

I'm headed up to Boston for the day on Sunday (sept 13th) to attend their album release party and performance at The Hard Rock Cafe in Boston. Unfortunately this is a closed invite only event, but i'll be rolling deep. All my friends from Surefire Music Group in Lowell, Mass are coming with me. Surefire is one to watch for sure. But i digress.

13YTV recently put out a press release announcing the coming album that was carried by 113 MJAOR NEWS OUTLETS!!! Including USA today. unbelievable. Read the press release below.

USA TODAY ARTICLE

I encourage you to read a little bit of the press release. Its absolutely amazing and super cool what this band is doing, which is one reason i really wanted to be a part of this record. Giving back to the community and serving your Country are two damn fine qualities in anyone, let alone a young rock band.

Enjoy!!!

Ken Lewis

UPDATE>>>>> The Boston Globe just ran a story today (Sept 12), a very nice, quick read, and i got a quote and a link to my site. cool!! read it here

BOSTON GLOBE

Public Option - Health Care Explained

2009-09-09T23:20:00.002-05:00

So much disinformation is floating around about the health care reform debate. I thought I'd post up a video explaining in very simple, well thought out terms, exactly what a "Public Option" is, what it would and wouldnt do, and why it should absolutely be included in any true health care reform. Call your congressman, call your Senator. Ask them to support a Public Option in the Health Care Reform Bill. Please.

Thank you!
-Ken Lewis

A&R's Pay Attention!!!

2009-08-22T00:52:00.002-05:00

Recently i've been mixing an amazing young pop artist named Kristine Elezaj. She drips talent. I'm not going to hype her up. She can do that herself. I've mixed 3 great songs for her so far and I'm mixing a ballad next week for her thats a smash!! Watch this video, it will let you see and hear everything you need to know about this rising talent.

-Ken Lewis

"Heartless" is Double Platinum!!

2009-07-23T01:39:00.002-05:00

A friend recently told me that Kanye West's single "Heartless" just went double platinum! Holy cow! I played the staccato flute chords on the song, the ones that come in after 8 bars in the intro and pretty much musically drive the whole song. Thats me.

I also heard a rumor that Kanye is doing an insanely over the top video for "Robocop" which i assume will be his next single. Can anybody confirm this rumor or confirm that its not true? I'd really like to know, and I really dont wanna call Kanye up with some really trivial ish. Anyway, i created a whole orchestra for this song (its most prominent in the songs hooks, the big soaring orchestra that comes in in the chorus is all me). Its not just strings, I basically created just about every instrument in the orchestra for it. It was really fun and really grueling to do, but if i hear that song on the radio 5 times a day i'll be all smiles ear to ear. Ok, back to the grind here.

-Ken Lewis

PS. I've also been told that some big radio stations have already been playing "Robocop" in regular rotation. If you've heard it on your local radio station, can you drop me a line and tell me what city / station? Thanks!!!

13 Yards To Victory Update

2009-07-07T18:45:00.002-05:00

I havent blogged in a while. I am so slammed with work right now and attempting to stay really creative and really focused, and sometimes blogging is a distraction. Its been falling to the wayside lately, but hey, i'm back. I've recently been producing a great band from Boston named "13 Yards to Victory". Very talented young guys, 5 piece band, excellent songs. They were down to my studio recently to have me produce some vocals and music. To say it went great might be an understatement. We seem to click really well, and they certainly worked very hard, stayed focused and positive and really delivered great vocal performances. Days after the last session, I got the following letter below from their manager. It was very very flattering and i wanted to share.

*************************
Hi Ken-

Just a note of thanks to you for a FANTASTIC week of recording! You are clearly a breath of fresh air in the music industry as evidenced by your honest, top notch, creative, patient, invigorating and motivating sense of self. You’ve clearly earned and deserve every credit you’ve achieved. It is both an honor and a pleasure to be working with you. I thank you for the experience as do all the members of Thirteen Yards to Victory!

We are looking forward to working with you and your stellar team as this innovative project evolves and develops.

Kind regards,

Fred (Manager 13YTV)
*************************

-Ken Lewis

BRilliant Use of Autotune

2009-05-30T20:15:00.001-05:00

This is one circumstance where i think AutoTune has been used briliantly and creatively. I'd like to make records with this guy.
Enjoy!
-Ken

Art, Painters, Sculptors, Cathedrals

2009-05-27T01:37:00.003-05:00

I just found this article, "The 101 Most Important Painters of All Time". Quite a coveted list to be on I'm sure. Anyway, I thought i'd post the article

101 Most Important Painters Of All Time

for you to check out. Growing up, i was bored with art, it didnt move me, i wasn't interested, etc... Turns out i just hadn't seen the right stuff yet. Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio can certainly come with its share of vanilla. I went to college in Boston and discovered the Boston Museum of Fine Art, and that was pretty cool, but when a major Monet exhibit came to the Museum, i went to see and i was blown away. maybe 100 of his master works. huge paintings covering half a wall sometimes. Thick coarse brush strokes that made much more sense to the eye looking from 30 feet away than from 5 feet away. I was hooked right then and there. Monet remains one of my favorites.

I love art, but i'm basically a sucker for the Masters. I dont really care who painted what, and i dont personally care to know the deep meanings that the painter is trying to convey. I just know what catches my eye and what i like. Artists like Picasso I'm torn. some of his works i really dig, and some i'm like "OK, i see thats the nose, thats the eye, but its just not doing much for me".

My favorite living painter is Paul Guy Gantner, and I am very fortunate to have one of his large paintings on my wall. I still smile every time i walk past it, and i still think its as beautiful as the day i got it. Art makes me happy... physically, smiling, happy. I truly enjoy it.

One of my favorite dead painters is Salvador Dali. He's just about the only painter who can make me like pastels (usually i like muted and earthy tones). His work is intense and challenging, imaginative, insane, bizarre, all wrapped into one. I got to see the biggest Dali Masterworks collection ever assembled at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. over 200 of his big paintings, plus sculptures, sketches, you name it. amazing amazing stuff brought from galleries and private collections all over the world for this exhibit. Now i have my own Dali wood etching. Its a collectors piece, but in the grand scheme of things, a very small one. I just love it because its Dali and its beautiful, I'll have it til i die, along with my Gantner. This is the one i have....

Dali - Purgatory 33

Like i said before, I really am just a sucker for the masters. Some of my favorites are Monet, Van Gogh, Pissarro, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Rubens, Renior, Rafael, Rembrandt, Seurat, Botticelli, I also love the sculpture of Rodin, Michelangelo, and a whole bunch of others i dont remember.

Funny, I also LOVE European Cathedrals, though i'm not religious. I can spend hours in them. Of course partly because of the amazing acoustics of those spaces. I was in Munich, Germany and wandered into a Cathedral there around 6pm. a boy's choir was beginning to sing and the chuch organist was playing the massive pipe organ. the Cathedral must have had about a 6 second long reverb, the sound just floating endlessly in the air like angels. Some of my favorite Cathedrals are The Notre Dame in Paris (because of the amazing gargoyles!!!), Westminster Abbey in London is MASSIVE, and dead people are buried under the floor and you cant help but walk on them, kinda cool in a weird way. Kings are buried there.

In Florence, Italy, the Santa Croce Cathedral is (all things considered) a fairly unassuming place as Cathedrals go, except for the fact that dozens of incredibly historic and famous figures are in tombs there in the main room, one next to the other, Dante, Michelangelo, Rossinni, Galileo!!!!! Holy cow. So many more. just to be in the same room with "them" was pretty inspiring. Their ghosts must have great parties. Pretty much everywhere in Europe I go, if there's a big Cathedral, its on the route. Maybe i'm getting a little bored with them lately, i mean there's only so many you can see before you've seen enough for a while, but mostly still they are awe inspiring from an artistic and acoustic standpoint.

So, I'm rambling, and i have mixing to do, and my break time is long over. time to get back to work. If you are not yet familiar with many of the names in this post. Start googling!! or better yet, if your in a major city with a good art museum, go check it out. I'll give you one secret. Art museums can be overwhelming. A part of you is always saying "i've got to see everything", or "How can i just walk right past this painting, its in a museum for gods sake, it must be good right?". The trick to enjoying museums is to learn to walk right past the stuff you dont care about until something catches your eye. Dont even slow down. normal walking speed until your eye tells you to stop, then enjoy THAT. Just about every museum just has way too much stuff, find the stuff that moves you and spend your time there.

-Ken Lewis

6 in 13

2009-05-05T23:36:00.002-05:00

What a run i've been having lately!! I havent been blogging much at all lately, which is too bad, i like to do it, but it might give you some insight into just how busy i am right now. complete craziness! First a NOTAR project update. The album is coming together beautifully. I am so proud to be a part of it (I'm producing, mixing, writing, performing, etc...). Most of the production is done, and I'm now finished with 5 songs, mixes and all. I feel like a Matador. I cant wait to let people start hearing the album, SO GOOD!!!!!

So....6 in 13. yep. I've worked on six #1 Albums in the last 13 months. Holy CRAP!!! I'm pretty happy about that. Not sure if there's ever been a 13 month stretch of my career that i could say that about. Though there have been 2 different times where i worked on 3 of the Top Ten Billboard albums. Thats a pretty crazy feeling as well. Anyway, this current run includes Danity Kane, Day 26, Young Jeezy, Kanye West, Notorious Soundtrack, and NOW Vol. 30.

Alas, (i said it, alas) i have more big news on the horizon. don't wanna jinx it. So much good stuff happening right now. I really feel like the planets are beginning to align and much of what i've worked so hard for the last several years laying the groundwork for is beginning to come to fruition.

Oh, one of those things, that is current public knowledge is 15 year old Ariana Grande. I produced four songs for her late last year. She is utterly awe inspiring to watch perform and to hear sing. Like a young Christina Aguilaria who can also act. Ariana finished a run on Broadway in January and then went out to LA. She was recently cast in an as yet to be titled Nickelodeon series that i think comes out in August. The show will make a pilot run of six episodes (i could be making that up, not sure) and hopefully (probably) the show will get picked up for a full season. She's also currently negotiating a contract with a major label, and if that label has any sense they will sign her in a heartbeat. No worries though, if that label doesnt sign her, she's already got significant other interest from other majors. This girl is on her way and its no surprise to me, she's gifted, driven, and has a great support network. I'm glad I'm a part of it.

OK, now I've REALLY got to get back to the mix currently on my console. another great song, and I'm inspired.

-Ken Lewis

MUST WATCH

2009-04-29T02:08:00.003-05:00

It has been WAYYYY too long since i blogged, but i saw this video tonight and damn near cried it was so moving. Things like this remind me how much i love music. This is so brilliant, i wish i would have thought of it. I'm not gonna give it away, you just gotta watch. Enjoy!!

STAND BY ME

-Ken Lewis

Notar & Counting Crows

2009-02-19T21:08:00.002-05:00

Well, I eluded to it in a previous blog. Now that I've got one song completely done and mixed, and about 12 more songs going in various stages of development or mixing, I feel comfortable blogging about this project. I am currently working with an exceptionally talented artist name NOTAR. You could call Notar a rapper, and in some ways thats spot on accurate, but I really like to just think of him as an artist. Musically, this project is a true combination of rock and hip hop. There are songs with straight up down south hip hop drums and loud raw rock guitars on top. Notar is an accomplished musician (trumpet), so its easy for us to speak in a musical language creatively, we can talk the language of hip hop, or rock, or music in general, which makes my job of producing so much easier and more creative. As songs get finished and posted, I'll give you links.
So, the team behind this record could be considered a bit of a dream team. Bruce Kirkland of Tsunami Entertainment is on board consulting on the non studio stuff. Bruce and Cael Kirkland connected me to the project, thanks guys!!!! The General behind the project is none other than Adam Duritz, lead singer of Counting Crows, and he is Executive Producer of the album. Adam signed Notar to his record label, Tyrannosaurus Records (one of my favorite record company names ever!!). Adam also performs on one of my very favorite songs on the album, called "Stranger", a very timely song about Iraq. Adam sings the hooks, Notar tackles the verses. As much of a pleasure as its been to work with Notar, its truly an honor to be working with Adam Duritz, as i am a big fan of Counting Crows and have seen them perform live more than any other label artist.
Side Story..... sometime back in the 90's, my friend Mike Habig came to NYC for work and i went in to have some dinner with him. On the way to his hotel, someone asked me if i wanted to buy scalped Counting Crows tix. They were playing at Hammerstein Ballroom right around the corner from the hotel and Mike and i decided, what the hell, we'll go. Neither of us were really fans at the time. that all changed. The show was being recorded for a live album called "Live Across A Wire" and it was also being broadcast live on MTV's Live at the Ten Spot. Lets just say that if you find the recording of "Round Here" from that concert album, well...... it probably changed my life. Counting Crows are one of the most musical bands on Earth. Anyway, that show changed my life. So, you can guess that while i dont think i've ever been star struck by anyone, it is immensely fun to be working with Adam Duritz to make this Notar record. With some luck and plenty of hard work, hopefully we'll be able to make Notar as big a household name as the Counting Crows. I think he possesses the talent.
Last weekend i brought in the lead singer of rockers "Silvertide" to sing a hook for Notar's album. OK, if you dont know who silvertide is, www.myspace.com/silvertide just listen to Walter's voice. then imagine him belting a raspy powerful rock vocal over a grimey hip hop beat. gave me chills. There are also rumors that Chris Carraba, the singer of Dashboard Confessional, might come in and sing a hook as well. And maybe if we're luck we'll get Adam on one more hook on the record. but dont get it twisted, Notar can sing a bit himself, and he tackles a few singing hooks himself very well. Notar's album will be called "Devil's Playground" and all of the songs on the record kind of fit that mood and theme, life on the dark side.
Anyway, keep your ears open for Notar. I've been brought to this project to bring it home. There are about ten songs that have been started but not finished, that i'll be doing (am currently doing) additional production on, and many songs that we're starting from scratch that i'm producing, and of course I'll be mixing the whole record as well. And i'm doing some writing on it, especially on the songs i'm producing. So far its coming out really hot and i'm very excited to be working on the record. I'm sure it'll be a running theme on this blog for the duration of the project, which could go for another month or two. Stay tuned!!!
-Ken Lewis