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march 2014
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studioexpresso eZine
Since 2000
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Find new opportunities--maximum visibility, production work, interviews, and industry networking. Renew today!
This month we spotlight an uncommon studio in LA, Hear the art of mixing in Cotati, visit with a Blues Man in Denmark, sip Napa wines blended with music, and come back to Hollywood to listen to the Carter Girl sessions.
Thanks to our 24,000 readers and studioexpresso's community of studios, composers, arrangers, and producers who create music that lives and moves.
Congrats to those of you have renewed your double espresso's or renew today! Click the blue link next to the espresso cup above. Thank you!
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Enter Uncommon Studios LA
 Meet studio ambassador and uncommon drummer Kenny Aronoff.
Today, Aronoff continues to play in some of the world's legendary studios, 9000+ capacity concert halls, and on major TV shows like the Super Bowl, Kennedy Center Honors, Grammy Foundation, to name a few.
It's a treat for us Angelinos to find Aronoff right here at home playing intimate venues like The Lucy's, The Baked Potatoe or at his own recording studio in North Hollywood called what else? Uncommon Studios LA where he has set up his massive drum set with 18 mics ready to record at a moment's notice!
Send files via the Internet, or hard drive, or come to his Uncommon Studios LA in North Hollywood, CA "I work with an engineer who is in a separate control room and together we are always striving to give you amazing sounding tracks. I can record bass, guitars and keyboards..." And,if you're an artist or band that need a little more help, Kenny also produces "Whether it's 1 song, an EP or a full length album, I work with the best studio musicians to ensure you get a top quality sounding record," says Aronoff. Private drum lessons are also available by the master clinician. Read more here
Tube-Tech For A Blues Man
Talented Danish musician Mike Andersen is a household name among soul/blues fans in Europe. Until now, he has recorded all his albums in various professional studios. For his upcoming 2014 release however, he chose a rather different approach: He decided to do all recordings in his home studio, using the TUBE-TECH MP 2A and PM 1A preamps as front end. Andersen who was nominated for Danish Music Awards (Blues) last year tours April- October 2014 in Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The band is: Mike Andersen: vocals & guitar Johannes Nørrelykke: guitar Kristian Fogh: keys Kristian Kold: bass Jens Kristian Dam: drums
Prairie Sun Recording Where Art Meets Music
Scenes from the film "Coffee and Cigarettes," starring Iggy Pop, were filmed there. And Tubes drummer Prairie Prince designed and painted murals in the largest studio that featured a barn, corn fields and a cloudy blue sky on the ceiling. If you're looking for California dreaming or good vibrations, look no further. Take a road trip to Prairie Sun Recording in Cotati California, 40 miles north of San Francisco. Bass Drum Of Death did. BDoD finished tracking and mixing their new album in Studio C at Priarie Sun Recording with Jacob Portrait (right). Keep your ears to your radio speakers, and listen out for their new sounds folks. Photographed above with studio owner Mark "Mooka" Rennick who shows off the artwork courtesy of the band. Portrait mixed BDoD courtesy of the room's Neve 8024. Nice! Who else was seen there recently? Isha mixed Horses Heaven in beautiful studio A. Next, The Sun is prepping for an epic multi-day lock out with Kings of Carnage! Can you taste the metal?!!
Carter Girl Sessions With Don Was
L-R: Carlene Carter and producer Don Was; and rear (L-R) Greg Leisz, steel guitar; Wesley Seidman, assistant engineer; Rami Jaffee, accordion ; Tiffany Anastasia Lowe (Carlene's daughter); Jim Keltner, drums; Howard Willing, engineer; and Blake Mills, guitar. Photo by David Goggin.
Daughter of country music legends June Carter Cash and Carl Smith, Carlene Carter says it has been her lifelong goal to make this record.
Carlene shares writing credit on "Lonesome" with her great uncle A.P. Carter (recently in the Billboard Top 10 as cowriter of the pop phenomenon "Cups"), and the track features vocals by Vince Gill.
Produced by Don Was for Rounder Records, the album is mixed by Bob Clearmountain and features fabulous musicians: Don on bass, Jim Keltner on drums, Rami Jaffee (Wallflowers and Foo Fighters) on keyboards. Greg Leisz plays steel, acoustic and electric guitars. Sam Bush is playing mandolin on three songs. Blake Mills plays most of the stringed instruments, electric guitars, and tiple, which is a kind of mandolin. Carter's forthcoming album, "Carter Girl," was recorded at Ocean Way in Hollywood, with additional sessions in Nashville. The album is an homage to her Carter Family legacy for which she is now the standard bearer after the passing of her grandmother Maybelle Carter and mother June Carter Cash. Notable guest artists on the album include: Willie Nelson on "Troublesome Waters," and Kris Kristofferson on "Blackjack David."
"I knew that he would bring the right people to play on it," says Carlene about her producer, Was. "I really believe in the power of the universe, and because this particular record had such 'heart value' in it for me in carrying on the Carter Family legacy, I needed it to be the best it could be. Don was the right man for the job."
"Carter Girl" will be released on April 8 to be followed by performance dates in Nashville (Station Inn on release date) and Los Angeles (Grammy Museum, April 15; Amoeba Records, April 16; Hotel Cafe, April 17).
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Grammy-winning "Ambrosia," frontman and guitarist David Pack Releases Napa Crossroads on Concord Records  The new album is a labor of love and collaboration with David Pack and five Napa wineries: Silver Oak, Pride Mountain, Far Niente, Casa Piena, and Gargiulo Vineyards. Napa Crossroads tells the stories of wine makers and musicians weaving their passion for music and wine making into art of producing a record. David Pack made sure that all the songs were homegrown, composed and recorded in Napa Valley. Over many hours of lunches and dinners with winery owners, David gathered into songs a lifetime of stories reflecting each wine makers personality. "The majority of the winery owners were not professional songwriters...Three of them had never written a song in their life," says Pack. It's the blending of new comers with legends like Ray Manzarek and Alan Parsons that sets this record apart from the rest.
"Silverado Free" features the late and great Ry Manzarek on keyboards and included his trademark Vox organ sound. "He heard the final version, emailed back and said, 'I love it,'" Pack said of Manzarek's key role in the production.
According to Pack Concord Records came on board towards the end of the project. The wineries put up production money and Pack invested five years of his time traveling back and forth from Southern Cali to Napa to write and produce."We just let it organically happen," says David Pack. "David's concept of bringing together the art of songwriting with the art of making wine defines Napa Valley and what we are all about. To see his dream come true and be a part of it is truly awesome," says Jeff Gargiulo owner of Gargiulo Vineyards. His songs, "April Born in May" and "Wine Country Cowboy" were inspired by his daughter and Jeff and David Duncan's band The Silverado Pickups.
New Bock Microphone Featured at Winter NAMM  Engineer David Bock has yet again captured the unmistakable tone of a cherished vintage microphone. The newly introduced Bock iFet phantom-powered condenser microphone possesses the sonic signature of a classic fet47 mic plus deeper bass and higher highs."There is a real art and science to designing and manufacturing a modern microphone with a specific sound, that embodies the sonic characteristics of a loved classic vintage microphone," said Brad Lunde, president of TransAudio Group, the U.S. distributor of Bock's entire line of high-end studio microphones. "David Bock understands the fundamentals and nuances of microphone design with tremendous depth, and he is passionate about building great microphones that will stand the test of time in the studio. "With its dual-circuitry design, the Bock iFet is a great studio vocal mic - with all of the depth, character, and authenticity you would find in a vintage studio condenser many times the iFet's price - and also a great studio high SPL input instrument and kick drum microphone. "That should make it especially appealing to individuals who are on a budget yet are unwilling to fall short of perfection." The Bock iFet Microphone is now shipping and has a US-MSRP of $2,150.00.
Trans Audio Group Gathered at NAMM 2014 
The layout for NAMM this year was updated with this great concert/foodtruck area out front. When I say food truck, I don't mean your typical hot dogs and hamburgers. These were gourmet trucks with things like Ahi Poke Nachos and Brussel Sprouts with Bacon! Trans Audio Group kept their booth lean, mean, and clean this year, focusing on their line of boutique products with the inventors on hand. While the show was in progress you could spot Stevie Wonder, Marilyn Manson, Todd Rungren, Johnny Depp, and this guy, Matt Sorum, drummer for Guns'n Roses and Velvet Revolver! Then on Friday Trans Audio Group's Brad Lunde and studioexpresso's Claris Dodge hosted two HotZone panels, one on mixing/engineering and another one on music directing. The line up drew a good-size audience. Later that Friday we were invited at the TecAwards reception. This NAMM was really something special; more people, cooler gear, amazing celebs, and HUGE excitement for new products from Trans Audio Group. Till next year!
TransAudio Group, founded by industry veteran Brad Lunde, has quickly become the premier US importer/distributor and/or US sales and marketing representative for high-end audio. Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the norm. TAG product line includes A-Designs (USA), ATC Loudspeakers (UK), Bock Audio (USA), Chameleon Labs , Crane Song, Daking Audio (USA) Dave Hill, Drawmer, Pete's Place Audio, Tube-Techand Sonodyne Nearfield Monitors
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Courtesy of Studio SuiteX +1.800.450.5740 NAB passes may still be available
April 7-10 in Las Vegas
Studio Suite X will be in the South Hall, Lower Lever, booth SL7424, just at the bottom of the 'half-way stairs"
Studio SuiteX management software is used by 6000, in 1,400 facilities and 40 countries! Founder Joel Stoner (below with Ed Cherney and Claris Dodge) recently moved his staff to a cool new refurbished warehouse-style office space in Burbank, CA
Software update 10.1 has some great new features. If you've waited for 'that next update' to finally jump up to Studio Suite X, now would be a good time!
For easy navigation, download the NAB App here
 
Monday June 2
2014 Recording Industry Golf Tournament
Join Honorary Chairs Ed Cherney and Al Schmitt
Meet your hosts studioexpresso, Trans Audio Group & Studio Suite at Hole # (TBD)
Malibu Country Club
Proceeds benefit the music and recording program at A Place Called Home www.apch.org
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 SXSW Quote of the Month
"What it's about is freeing yourself from the expectations of the music industry and the expectations of the status quo. I never liked having my skirt measured for me at school or told how to do things or the rules to play by. And as you become more successful they start to push the rule book closer and closer to you. Now you're here, so how are you going to maintain it?'"
- Lady Gaga on her feelings about the music industry's expectations at SXSW.
New Abair CD With Pledge Music
Mindi Abair has partnered with PledgeMusic to promote her new album, Wild Heart. The saxophonist/vocalist is offering dinner with her and her band, shout outs at concerts, signed CDs and much more. PledgeMusic is a creative and interactive way for fans to experience their favorite artist's journey releasing new work:
Abair's new album features guest performances by - and songwriting collaborations with - Gregg Allman, Joe Perry, Booker T. Jones, Keb' Mo', Trombone Shorty, Max Weinberg, Waddy Wachtel and others. Produced by Abair and The Decoders, Wild Heart is set for release May 27 on Heads Up, a division of Concord Music Group. RIP L'Wren Scott
January 1, 1967 - March 17, 2014
Some pointed out that feminism was taken back by a few decades when news headlines in Billboard and BBC called the late designer L'Wren Scott Mick Jagger's girlfriend while reporting her tragic death on March 17.
Ms Scott earned her designer title with hard work. A self-made woman, she moved to California in the early 90s and established herself as a stylist, initially in collaboration with photographer Herb Ritts, and later with Helmut Newton, Karl Lagerfeld and Mario Sorrenti. One of her early assignments was an ad campaign for Elizabeth Taylor's "White Diamonds." Scott established her own company LS Fashion Ltd. Scott's first collection as a clothing designer was called "Little Black Dress" in 2006. Madonna, Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, and Penélope Cruz have all worn Scott's dresses to the Academy Awards. In 2010, Scott collaborated with Lancôme to design a capsule collection for the 2010 holiday season featuring a lipstick in Scott's signature bordeaux color. 2011 saw the launch of Scott's first collection of handbags. Scott collaborated with Banana Republic with an exclusive holiday collection including apparel and accessories for women. Sadly London Fashion Week cancelled her fall 2014 collection due to reported losses and $6 million debt.
Scott was found dead by hanging at her apartment in Manhattan, New York a month before her 50th birthday.
L'Wren Scott (born Luann Bambrough) was adopted and raised by Mormon parents in the city of Roy, in northern Utah.
Anna Wintour, the long-time Vogue magazine editor, wrote in a tribute: "L'Wren was a total perfectionist, someone who absolutely embodied everything her marvellous clothes stood for: strength of character combined with a confident and powerful style." Rebels With a Cause Aim To Revolutionize Health CareBenefit Gala Brings Tech & Entertainment Leaders Together   Alex J. Berliner/ABImages and Getty Images
Most agree a revolution in health care is needed. Now USC may be leading it with a generous donation from Oracle CEO, Larry Ellison. Imagine therapies that target your own unique genes, maximizing efficacy and minimizing side effects. Imagine nanoscale devices within the body that continuously monitor medical data and adjust medication delivery. Imagine the future of medicine and health care and you will see that it is already becoming a reality at Keck Medicine of USC. Rebels With a Cause at Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood last week on Thursday honored Oracle Corp. co-founder and Chief Executive Larry Ellison, raising $9 million to benefit the medical research of Dr. David Agus, director of the USC Westside Cancer Center and the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine. Paramount CEO Brad Grey announced plans to build a new cancer institute in Los Angeles. He said it's envisioned to be "a life-changing and life-saving facility, dedicated to providing the most cutting edge and groundbreaking medicine available." The entertainment was MD-d by David Foster who is working on a new Diana Krall album and finishing work with Bryan Adams, and Stevie Wonder with plans to work with Lionel Richie and JLO. Don Mischer produced the event. In remarks, the 16-time Grammy-winning Foster praised Ellison for his comprehensive knowledge, world-changing technology, love for life, good manners, America's Cup win, "superb and overlooked Oscar-worthy acting performance in 'Iron Man 2'" and his generosity, which the honoree later proved by announcing that he would match the gala's up-to-then $4.5 million in proceeds, doubling the night's total haul.
Pharrell Williams reached into the audience, singing his Oscar-nominated tune "Happy." Barry Manilow sang three numbers, ending with "One Voice," as, one by one, the 62 voices of the USC Choir joined in.
To your health!
Face Virtual Reality  Facebook is buying hot virtual reality gaming company Oculus VR for $2 billion. That includes $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares of Facebook stock. There's also an additional $300 million potential earn-out in cash and stock based on "the achievement of certain milestones." Fresh off Facebook's $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is showing the world that he isn't afraid to use his company's skyrocketing share price to get an edge in Silicon Valley. How will this change my facebook page? I can't wait to find out! Let's just hope they'll be improving the look to something close to Google glasses. Oculus may also want to look into better music for their website (hint)!! 
Happy Birthday Max!
It's many firsts this week for Max who looks like he's having a good time with this impressive pipe organ. Parents Christoph Bull and soprano I-Ching Wang encourage their son Maximilian (Max) who enjoys playing at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles where Dad is organist-in-residence and concertizes all over the world. Watch out parents... It starts early!
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The whole Earth smiles, thy coming to greet Spring (March 20th).
Like hearing sounds of music, you can track season changes by recording sounds and patterns in nature. With Spring, the length of daylight increases.
That means you have more time to make the most of your day.
Enjoy and thanks for reading!
 
Make news and share it with studioexpresso community of over 24,000 subscribers.
Music Lives & Moves...until next month,
Claris Sayadian-Dodge, Founder I Editor studioexpresso
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Prairie Sun Sessions
Isha mixing Horses Heaven in Studio A
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Loving Music Again!
Discovering new music was always an act of revolution for Root's drummer, Ahmir Questlove Thompson who lists Stevie Wonder, Prince and
J Dilla as early influences.
"I try to navigate the waters by remembering where I'm going. When it comes to players, to programs, to services, think of them as ships bringing you to the music you need, have always needed, will continue to need. They're not the voyage. They're the vessel. Learn how to steer in the prevailing winds and soon you'll be sailing," say Questlove in a Wired article this month.
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David Pack's Napa Crossroads
11 Mar 2014
Concord Records
Mark your calendars for the official Dinner and CD release concert of "Napa Crossroads"
with David Pack, Alan Parsons, Robert Schwartzman, others
This event is sponsored by Arts Council Napa Valley and The Music Connection
Where: City Winery, 1030 Main St., Napa
When: Monday, April 28, 6:30 p.m.
on your table today!  Ben Lilly of ATC
The Tube-Tech Team from Denmark: John Petersen (L) Jesper Bo Nielsen (R)
 Brad Lunde with Dave Hill
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Rounder Moves To Nashville
New Address
1209 Pine Street, Suite 100 Nashville, TN 37203
Rounder Records, a division of leading independent music company Concord Music Group, announced the completion of the company's relocation from its longtime base of Boston, Massachusetts to its new home in Nashville, Tennessee. A major force in a broad range of musical genres including Americana, bluegrass, country, folk, rock, Cajun/Zydeco and children's music, Rounder Records has helped shape American roots music for over 40 years. Its outstanding artist roster includes Alison Krauss, Steve Martin, RUSH, Gregg Allman, Raffi, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Carlene Carter, Steep Canyon Rangers, Tony Trischka and rising stars such as J.D. McPherson, Della Mae and others.
Concord Music Group and Rounder are additionally delighted about the effort to broaden their presence in children's entertainment, anchored by the recent acquisition of the beloved record label Music For Little People. The company will operate as an imprint under Rounder, which shares a long and complementary history in children's music. A premiere children's music showcase for 25+ years, Music For Little People releases have featured artists such as Willie Nelson, Faith Hill, Taj Mahal, Los Lobos, Laurie Berkner, AC/DC's Brian Johnson, Pete Seeger and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, to name but a few. Music For Little People founder Leib Ostrow will continue to be an essential contributor to the label going forward. A slate of new projects is scheduled for release in 2014 and beyond.
Headed by President John Virant, Rounder's Nashville team includes Vice President of A&R Scott Billington, newly appointed Vice President of A&R Tracy Gershon and Director of Project Management Eliza Levy. Rounder will continue to be supported by Concord's integrated national sales and marketing services.
Rounder Records founders, Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton Levy remain in the Boston area and continue to be actively engaged in the company, producing and consulting on various Rounder projects.
"Rounder has always been driven by the music, and we're thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute and be part of the Music City community," said Rounder President John Virant.
Sony has introduced a line of portable storage solutions, including a 256GB solid-state drive (PSZ-SA25) and two hard-disk models with capacities of 500GB and 1TB (PSZ-HA50 and PSZ-HA1T, respectively). Each drive features one USB 3.0 and two FireWire 800 interfaces, allowing users to transfer video at up to 400MBps with the SSD model and 120MBps with the HDD models via USB 3.0. The drives also connect to compatible Sony hardware such as the PMW-50 or PMW-1000 decks. Each has a heavy silicon cover and protective case to withstand the rigors of field production and reduce shipping damage. Built-in shock resistance can absorb falls of up to 7.5' for SSD and up to 6.5' for HDD. For more information, visit pro.sony.comRecord Plant's New Studio Manager Jeff Barnes  New manager announcement was made by Rose Mann-Cherney this month. Record Plant Recording Studios President further emphasized the company's ongoing growth and expansion of its staff. In his new position, Jeff Barnes will work closely with Rose Mann-Cherney and Vice President/General Manager Jason Carson, and manage the day-to-day studio operations including studio bookings, scheduling of engineers, overseeing of technical operations/equipment, and project budgets, while interfacing with producers, recording artists and artist managers. "Over the last six years, Jeff has become part of our Record Plant extended family. His work ethic is second to none, and I am extremely proud to have him on our team," stated Rose Mann-Cherney.
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