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Over the years, my career has included many technical and creative challenges. This page highlights some of those more creative efforts.
I’ve assembled a few samples of the types of recordings I am often asked to make.
They are large files and will take a while to download. Most are live to 2-track recordings. |
While working as holiday and vacation fill-in for the house radio engineer at the U.S. Census Bureau, I was asked by the senior producer to work up a package of PSAs that would accomplish several goals: - expose college students to Census data and its usefulness - expose college radio station personnel to Census radio programs and data so they learn about the vast amount of data of Census data. - be college radio friendly Of course if you’ve ever tried to market anything to college radio, you’ll understand how difficult this can be. The sound geek details:
- AKG 414 through a Soundcraft console, a dbx compressor into Pro Tools. - The music is stock music, tailored for each piece. - All of the voices are not professional radio talent. - I produced, wrote, and engineered these PSAs. |
Census College Radio Samples Length :60
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A good friend, Terri Allen, is a local producer and voice-over artist. I assisted her in the production of her narration demo reel. Here’s a sample. Contact her here. The sound geek details:
- AKG 414 through a Soundcraft console, a dbx compressor into Pro Tools. - I created the music using pre-recorded loops in Sonic Foundry ACID 4.0 - I then edited and tweaked it in Digidesign Pro Tools LE. |
Terri Allen "VW Radio" Length :60
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I often work with Kitay Productions at the University of MD Comcast Center for the basketball games and other events. Recently we were part of the University’s graduation ceremonies as well as twelve local high school graduations. Each school brought in their own concert band/orchestra and choir. I had to mix the event for the PA system and to DVD for recording at the same time. Here are a few samples from both the University and high school ceremonies. The sound geek details:
- Shure VP-88 Stereo mic on the orchestra placed above the conductor’s head - For the University Wind Ensemble, I used KSM 141s in addition to the VP-88. They were positioned directly in from of the conductor, to capture the piccolos and flutes. - Stereo pair of Shure KSM 141s on the choir - Countryman EMW lav mic taped inside the upright piano - Shure SM58s for vocal soloists - Allen & Heath GL3300 Mixer - dbx 160 and Alesis 3630 compressors - Recorded direct to DVD - This was mixed live in the arena from a sky box position - There was about 300-400 feet of mic cable between the mics and the Allen & Heath mixer. The audio mix was then sent downstairs to the video control room at line level, into a Mackie 8-bus mixer (another 200-300 feet of cable). From there it was routed to a DVD recorder and DVCam video deck. |
University of MD Wind Ensemble "Stars and Stripes" Length 1:01
University of MD Wind Ensemble "76 Trombones/Medley" Length :47
Eleanor Roosevelt High School Choir Length 1:19
Eleanor Roosevelt High School Orchestra Length 1:25
Oxon Hill High School Choir Length 1:21
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I have even had the chance to record and mix a "Nu Metal" band. This is R18. We used drum samples and arranged them in Sonic Foundry’s ACID 4.0 and then imported them into Pro Tools LE. Everything else was recorded in the guitarist’s basement. Not a studio, more like a family room area. The sound geek details:
- everything was tracked on a Pro Tools M-Box system. - Guitar sounds used both a Johnson J-Station and live amps with an SM58 and a KSM 141 on them. The 141 was about 8 feet away, set to cardioid. - Everything except the vocals was tracked through a Mackie 1402. - I then edited and mixed it in Digidesign Pro Tools LE. - Some "Mastering" included a Waves L2 plug-in and some EQ. |
R18 "Time and Space" Length :58
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I was asked to record a performance of a local church choir. As I soon found out, it was a choir of 45 and a 33-piece orchestra! This was mixed live to DAT in the room, using headphones. The sound geek details:
- Shure VP-88 Stereo mic on the orchestra placed above the conductor’s head - Stereo pair of AKG 414s on the choir - Shure KSM 44 supplementing the choir - Shure KSM 27 for soloists - Mackie 1402 Mixer - Two dbx 160 compressors, stereo linked after the mixer - Tascam DA-40 DAT - I then edited and tweaked it in Digidesign Pro Tools LE. |
Wesley Freedom Church Choir Length :58
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I was asked to record the choir because previously I had recorded a performance by some members of a prominent New York City opera company. I’m not allowed to say which one, but let’s say, they’re not Yankees Fans. This was mixed live to DAT using headphones. The sound geek details:
- Shure VP-88 Stereo mic on the vocalists - Pair of Shure KSM 44s supplementing the stereo field - TRAM lav mounted under the piano lid as a barrier mic - Mackie 1402 Mixer - Yamaha REV 7 reverb to fill dead acoustic space of performance hall - Two dbx 160 compressors, stereo linked after the mixer - Tascam DA-40 DAT - It was then edited and tweaked in Sound Forge 6.0 |
"Nessun dorma"
Length 1:03
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I’ve also been spending some time creating music using Sonic Foundry’s Acid Pro software. Here are two examples of some techno/house style pieces I made on my first attempts with the software. (did you know I spent years as a working musician?) The sound geek details: - Acid Pro 4.0 software - Acid and East West Pro Sample WAV loops - Mixed in Acid using Yamaha NS-10M speakers - the names for these files came from my son, he’s 5 years old. If you listen closely, you might even hear his voice in there somewhere... |
"Power Ranger"
Length 1:02
"Space Returns"
Length :49
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