Category: Recording Session Notes

by Gary Powell

Last night was just plain fun recording Meredith McCall, Alicia Jones and Laura Benedict. All three singers have been working here at Powell Studio Productions for decades and will have their rich histories documented here soon. Together we arranged the parts for two songs on the spot with the girls in front of the mics. With no notes written, we call this a “head-chart”. I had worked out some ideas before beginning the session, but nothing was written down. It’s an exciting way to create group vocals. I have a midi keyboard at the mixing console and together we create the voicings (how the notes of each chord are stacked and who sings which one) and then the singers deliver the performance on the spot. It’s dazzling how quickly this process goes forward with experienced and talented singers with studio experience.

by Gary Powell. 

Session Date: June 3, 2005 / 7pm-12am

I have worked on four albums previously as Kurt Van Sickle’s choral arranger and vocal recording producer. Kurt is a leader in the meditational music field and writes beautiful melodies. In attendance at the session was Chet Himes, Kurt’s recording engineer. I engineer most of my own sessions, but having Chet present lended the session a set of outstanding ears and engineering talent. We recorded five men and five women simultaneously using a mid/side microphone configuration with a pair of AKG 414-TL’s (that Chet brought) running through a Drawmer 1960 Mic-Pre.

by Gary Powell 

Today we recorded the final vocal for Helen Darling’s song, “Mistake” co-written with Gary Burr.

I cut Helen with a Rode NTV through Mark McQuilken’s RNP (Really Nice Preamp). This combination of mic/mic-pre is warm and wonderful for Helen’s voice with no sibilance at all. With Helen, there was no need to compile the vocal from different takes. We have a conversation about the performance she is choosing and with a very few punches we’re done. We recorded a three/four part background vocal texture in the bridge with cascading, major 2nds added to each chord change. It offers a beautiful blue-grass voicing for those chords. None of it was parallel to the lead vocal, which we both loved. Helen has a wonderfully quick ear and is a total pro (and fun) in the studio. Thanks, babe.

by Gary Powell, Producer 

Helen Darling writer of “Bring on the Rain” (performed by Jo Dee Messina) is in the studio today recording a publishing demo for her new song, “Mistake” co-written with Gary Burr. Helen and I have been working together in the studio since 1985! The session was recorded in Digital Performer 4.5 using GigaStudio3 with Larry Seyer’s Acoustic Bass Library. Larry is also playing the guitar, mandolin and slide guitar parts in person. Larry and I have been working together in the studio since 1978! The guitars are being cut with a stereo pair (AT4033) through Mark McQuilken’s RNP
(Really Nice Preamp).

by Gary Powell

Ensemble: Wild Basin Winds

Recording Dates: 4/10,11,13/2005

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