One of the reasons I started Blue Coast Records was to capture the sound of the musicians as they played together learning new songs in the studio. There was a freshness and lightness that was often lost when the 'record' button went on. It was a luxury I got to experience as a recording engineer and producer that I felt was worthy of sharing with the world.
So, with 20 years of recording experience under my belt, doing all the usual overdubs creating large sounding ensembles, I decided to go small and intimate. You'd think this would be easy -- just put up some mics and hit record. I wish. Recording live without headphones and no overdubs became the hardest challenge I faced. Figuring out where the mics are placed, which mics to use, where the musicians sit or stand, becomes an adventure with every recording. There is no rule book and no “one size fits all” way to record.
The result was a holographic sound as if the musicians are sitting in front of you, in your living room. Close your eyes and you can see them in front of you.
Many articles have been written about those early days of Blue Coast Records. I'll start reviving them over the next few months. Come back here to find out more.
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