Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

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Lou
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Lou »

Straight back 'atcha' buddy!

Many thanks,

Regards,

Lou. 8)
Moleymole
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Moleymole »

I had the pleasure of visiting Lou at Studio 4 with my wife on Saturday.

To say I was blown away by the facility is probably a serious understatement!

Not only is the studio a practical demonstration of fine engineering and near-perfect acoustics, we were also highly impressed with the welcome afforded to us by Lou and his wife, Sarah.

They made us feel welcome from the outset, providing us with lunch as well as an obligatory visit to the local pub.

It’s certainly opened my eyes up about studio design/construction, and Lou himself is an absolute mine of information, which being the person of generous spirit that he is, is more than willing to share with others. No ego at work here!

I cannot urge all UK studio owners/prospective owners strongly enough to get in touch with Lou and arrange your own visit.

You won’t regret it, and in our case, I feel we’ve started a friendship which will last for a very long time.
A work of art is never finished, only abandoned.
Lou
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Lou »

Many thanks for the kind words Colin. It was a pleasure to meet you both to, and you're more than welcome. :wink:
near-perfect acoustics
Classic! :wink:

All the best mate, keep in touch and good luck with your project.

Regards,

Lou. 8)
Moleymole
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Moleymole »

We'll definitely keep in touch mate - I meant it then & mean it now.

Keep on truckin!!!!!
A work of art is never finished, only abandoned.
Lou
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Lou »

Blimey chaps! What a Summer, lousy weather, business ticking over, and then………BANG things come from nowhere! :shock:

Some of you may recall my links to our live drum sound that I posted here a while back. Well, having now done numerous sessions here with just about everyone leaving 'gobsmacked' by the sound, there was one particular (very large) client who, whilst being impressed, wanted a more controlled sound for theatre applications. (Basically they wanted to make my kit sound like cardboard boxes!) :twisted: :twisted:

So, whilst I will never subscribe to me covering a live engineers ass by sending out shite, I had no choice but to go back to the drawing board! To be fair it was worth it, and it was all done with 'O' Rings and some more precise tuning. I therefore present the 'Definitive' Studio 4 live drum sound once again for your perusal.

Both examples are the same thing except that the second one features a little impulse response reverb to 'huge' it up a bit. I must point out that this is once again Andy doing his thing, but it's just a 'line-check' - no click. no tune no nothing, just him jamming' to himself once we'd set levels and pans. Furthermore I was able to stand by my guns and not use any EQ, Compression, Expanders etc, just some minor gating on the toms!

Please, if you can, play on a good system and loud!

Enjoy! :wink:

http://www.box.net/shared/b5y9lmme32


http://www.box.net/shared/9rmjnclenl

On an equally positive note, I've had a few major people show up, but, none more important to me than one of my all time heroes - The legend that is:

Elliot Randall! :shock: :D :D

A truly remarkable musician with an astonishing pedigree, and a very kind, genuine and warm Gentleman. As a fellow Gemini, Purist and Groover, we got on like a house on fire! He absolutely loved the 'feel' and sound of the place and can't wait to come back!

E.R. 'Soaking up the vibe of Studio 4's Control Room'

Image

'El-Groovio' 'Rellin' in……………..my Variax Acoustic'!

Image

Us two 'clowning' around and thinking of a mutual friend! What a blast this was. :D

Image

Well just thought you'd like to know guys that so far, all's well that ends well! Hope all your build's are going smoothly, and thanks as always to all my mates up here who gave me so much support whist I went to hell and back!

Much warmth,

Lou. 8)

(P.S. If any of you want to keep in touch on a more personal day to day level, then feel free to look me up on facebook. If can can help anyone I will. Just search for Lou Stonehill) :wink:
Soundman2020
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Soundman2020 »

Please, if you can, play on a good system and loud!
:)

Very nice, Lou! Wow. Those must be the best "cardboard boxes" I've ever heard! :shot:

How did you mic that, if you don't mind me asking.

- Stuart -
Lou
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Lou »

Hi Stuart - Thank you buddy, much appreciated and glad you enjoyed! :D

To be honest I pre-empted someone asking about the mics, and how it was done, so I took some pics to explain. (You know I like my pictures, and nothing makes it clearer!). :roll:

I decided to 'lose' the cymbals for ease of illustration.

OK, so here we go. Firstly, apart from my Neumann's all the mics here are Sennheiser (still waiting to justify my AKG 414's). :!:

This first shot shows four of the 7 toms used for that session. They're all mic'd with E904's. (dynamic) Awesome mics, not cheap, but so inconspicuous, and the separation between them is mind blowing! Note the 'O' rings on the top heads including snare, but if you look carefully at the 15" on the right, you'll see I put one inside this tom as well, to dampen the lower head. I had to cut 1/2" out of it so that it would sit correctly, but this is common practice (as long as you know about the idea!) :wink:

Image

Then the first of two E914's (Condenser). These are just great for anything really, but especially cymbals, brass, percussion - Upper transient stuff in general. This one is for the hi-hat, (almost vertical, slightly away from the snare and NOT too close (about 1 1/2" above).

Image


Then the second E914, but this time underneath the snare, again NOT too close! (Note the E904 clipped to the top) Using upper and lower mics on the snare, (for me) is essential, as it gives maximum flexibility in the mix process.

Image

The kick drum was mic'd with an E902 (dynamic). This baby really handles some punch and is also great for bass cabs, cello, and baritone! Again, slight angle and NOT too close. Perhaps I should explain why I keep saying Not! :roll:

I've witnessed so many occasions where a producer is arguing with an engineer over the thinness of a sound. 99 times out of a 100, the mic position is so close, it doesn't capture the full sound and is 'chocked' at the same time (ie it aint working properly), especially true with condensers.

Image

Finally - My 'babies' A matched pair (sequential serial numbers) of Neumann U87's for overheads. These have been industry standard for decades, for good reason and of course, need no explanation. Note the positioning BEHIND the drums, and fairly high to capture some of the natural room ambiance as well - Standard cardoid configuration. Angled down like this gives an amazing balance between cymbals and toms, and truly 'reflects' what the drummer hear's

Image

The three toms we didn't use for that session - 12" 13" and 18"

Image

And 1 more for luck!

Image

So there you go Stuart (and for anyone else) that's how it's done! Simples :wink:

Later dudes!

Lou. 8)
Moleymole
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Moleymole »

Great stuff Lou!

Glad things ar egoing as well as they are for you mate.



Colin.
A work of art is never finished, only abandoned.
Soundman2020
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Soundman2020 »

Thanks for all the details on the micing technique, Lou. Much appreciated.

I'm curious about one thing, though. You mentioned that you have some 414s (excuse me while I turn green with envy for a minute...!), but that you didn't use them here. Any reason for that? Did you try them and didn't like them in that context, or what? (I mean, if you really hate them and are about to throw them in the trash, then I'll be happy to lend you MY trash can as a place for you to throw them :) ). I'm just curious, because 414s normally work well on drums. Are the U87's really that much better?

- Stuart -
Lou
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Lou »

Hi Stuart - Sorry for delay, manic. :lol:

Reading my post, I can see that I've implied that I have a pair of 414's but I don't!

They were always on my wish list (and still are) but with 30" screens, Cubase 6 around the corner, and bills to pay like everyone else, I simply can't justify the additional expense at this time.

The 414 is (IMHO) one 'hell of a bang for your buck' - Great for gtr cabs, strings, vocals etc, but especially brass. Yes folks brass!

As for them competing with U87's .............no, but, they are the best {for me} mid-ranged price mic out there!

Typical German engineering, build quality, accuracy.........blah blah. but, the Neumann is the one - honest!

Hoe that helps, and much respect Mr. Mod! :lol:

Lou. 8)
Soundman2020
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Soundman2020 »

Thank you, Lou! For a moment there I really thought you had a couple of 414's and hated them, and wanted to give them to me! :) Oh well... I can dream...


- Stuart -
Lou
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Lou »

Hi Guys - Long time no speak! Hope everyone's doing fine and dandy!

Forgive me but I'm 'on the scrounge' - Since it clearly seems to be 'tight' for everyone at the moment (and on a global scale) I've set up a page for Studio 4 on Facebook. The problem is that the very simple function - Suggest page to friends doesn't work, and apparently hasn't done so since Oct last year!!! :roll:

I don't know how many of you who followed my thread are still up here, or indeed on facebook, but if you are, would you kindly (when possible) login to said 'Farcebook' search pages for Studio 4 and hit the "like" button?

Many thanks chaps, much appreciated - I've already put a link on my page back to here in the true spirit of networking! :)

All the best guys, and thanks once again. :wink:

Lou. 8)
Moleymole
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Location: Bristol, UK

Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by Moleymole »

Hi Lou.

I've searched for Studio 4 but I get hundreds of hits and don't know which one is yours.

Could you try adding it as a link to your own page?


Hope all is well,


Colin.



***** FORGET IT *****

Found it, and "liked"
A work of art is never finished, only abandoned.
carsten_d
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by carsten_d »

carsten_d
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Re: Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Post by carsten_d »

:oops:

should I delete the link?
just noticed your:
***** FORGET IT *****
I thought this was your signature...
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