Since I do so much writing to pay my rent, maybe it’s unsurprising that I often neglect my own personal blog. Unlike with my professional work, I give myself no deadlines here, so that the fact anything shows up here at all is something of a miracle.
Fortunately, it’s been busy month, and there’s plenty to report. In the past week alone, Vaudeville Park got it’s first mention in The New Yorker, and the lil’ lady, Maria Johnson, got her photo in The New York Times, playing a Shostakovich opera at The Bronx Zoo.
I’ve also got myself a new computer am now running Avid’s Pro Tools 10 on a blazing-fast quad core MacBook Pro. Since all of my neighbors in the new building work normal-people hours, it’s given me the opportunity to work at home on smaller-budget mixes that I would have turned down in the past. I’m doing some pretty affordable per-song rates, so if you have any projects of your own in need of mixing, reach out anytime.
I’ve always been knee-deep in plugin authorizations, but now it’s becoming ridiculous. I probably have more software at my fingertips than I’d ever have a reason to use if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s part of my job to mess around with and report on new tools.
A few developers have been banging down the door to get their software reviewed in SonicScoop and Scientist, and I’ve also reached out to a few designers who have been working on some fascinating new technologies that I’ve been curious to try. Look for many more new plugin reviews soon.
I’m currently mixing an album for the Sephardic indie rock band DeLeon. If you like your indie rock dark, sexy, and based on centuries-old dead languages, this is the band for you.
Seriously though, they’re awesome. I mixed their 1st record. Peter Katis [who’s worked with The National, Interpol, Frightened Rabbit and Jonsi of Sigur Ros] mixed their 2nd one. Now they’re on to their 3rd record, and I get to mix once again.
I’ve also been signed on to produce the new InputOutput podcast series for SonicScoop. We just released an episode that consists of an in-depth review of Pro Tools 10. The next one coming is based around a fascinating interview with producer/engineer Kevin Killen [U2, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello].
Also: Bear in mind that you have just a few more days left to read the June issue of Trust Me, I’m A Scientist. Our 1-year anniversary issue will be out on Monday. In case you haven’t checked it out yet, in the current June issue, you can:
-
Join Ethan Winer, co-founder of RealTraps and acclaimed author of The Audio Expert as he presents Audio Priorities: What Matters a Whole Lot (And What Doesn’t).
-
Discover almost-classic instrumental tracks in Seen and not Heard.
-
Join producer Count and Tape Op magazine in the campaign to set new standards for digital album credits.
-
Find out how much audio engineers are earning (and where) in Industry Intel.
- Go behind the scenes with Sub Pop band Beach House and producer Chris Coady to learn about the making of Bloom.
-
Hear from 3 excellent self-recording musicians to discover why they go it alone and what they’ve learned in the process. Then, hear from 2 of the most compelling artists to join Luaka Bop since Os Mutantes.
-
Plus: A whole lot more.
Thanks and enjoy,
-Justin