Flamenco Zambra... Finster engineering

[XLR]

Zambra... flamenco guitar.

I spent Wednesday at Finster’s Geomana studios tracking a couple tunes. Chris has an engineering ear that is nothing less than virtuosic. He probably smokes me as a guitarist too but that’s another story.

We did a couple pieces. This is the one I liked the most. We did some stereo tracking first but then did a brief mono mic/pre shootout for nylon str gtr and that’s where we did this track. Chris used a U87 on cardioid, approx 4 ft from the gtr, to an Avalon 737sp pre. This was edited from two takes, moving phrases around for best effect. I later added just a touch of SIR reverb before posting. No compression or EQ. We also didn't edit out the chair squeak and fingering noise in the intro... it's just a live kind of sound.

At the session Finster and friends made me feel very much at home at Geomana despite our superficial stylistic differences (metal/classical). Most importantly though, Chris was able to capture a recording that I couldn't have done myself, and one that makes me feel good every time I listen to it. And what’s better than that?

Guess you can tell I was impressed, but enough proselytizing about Geomana...

Hope you like the tune.

Tim

 

[Dogman]

WOW!!!! Tim, excellent playing, and Chris, damn good sounds...very, very nice!!! Don't know what else to say....If I could play, and had a tune worthy of actually recording, I think I know where I might go to capture the sounds...

Tim, tell me a bit about the piece...It is beautiful.

And another word...SHIT!!!! Damn hot....
Ed

 

[bigwillz24]

Hey Tim if you ever put out an album let me know.

I'll buy it...

 

[xfinsterx]

Indeed it was a true pleasure working with Tim.
Very professional, very focused, and he had a great deal of knowledge on something i rarely capture which is the classical guitar.

Cool learning experience for me, and a cool way to meet a very classy fella'.

Tim your welcome back anytime bro.

-Finster

 

[shiatzu]

wow.

i have nothing else to say other than "wow"... i wish i could study the guitar under you.

 

[metalhead28]

Tim, as always, an amazing tune. Your playing is absolutely fantastic.
Makes me feel good every time I listen to it too!

 

[XLR]

Thanks Ed, Bigwillz24, Maestro Finster, Shiatzu and Metalhead for the listens and kind comments.

Dogman, about the Zambra… it’s a Moorish influenced flamenco form – the title means “celebration”. When it’s danced, it’s pretty different than most flamenco dancing… the woman’s movements are slow and graceful, and she’ll be likely barefoot. No loud heels pounding the stage here. Juan Martin composed this version.

I’m kind of hoping that Chris will track a 2nd part to this so we can have a “meeting of two spheres” classical/metal duet. He was playing some cool lines with it, on my gtr, when we were listening to the session playback, and it made me think that some metal lines could work really well with the Zambra.

Thanks guys.

Tim

 

[RAMI]

As usual, incredible playing. Just awesome. I'm speechless, I am without speach, I have no speach. That's one guitar??? You're a sick, sick man.

 

[XLR]

You're a sick, sick man.

Haha... well, maybe that's true. But is there a gtr player who isn't? Heh-heh.

Thanks for the listen Rami.

Tim

 

[7string]

Sorry to have to say this, Mr. Lawler, but the 9,475,639th note that you hit was BAD BAD BAD!!!!!! The rest were just 'ok.'

Have I told you how much I hate you lately?

That was nothing short of fucking awesome!!!!!!!

 

[XLR]

Sorry to have to say this, Mr. Lawler, but the 9,475,639th note that you hit was BAD BAD BAD!!!!!!

You heard that too 7? When we were editing, I think I started getting on Chris' nerves with wanting to move so many phrases back and forth. He finally said, "Come on Lawler... that part's good enough." Well Finster, see... SEE, sEE, sEE ...HAhAHa!!!!1. OMG, I'm starting to channel some Mystery Records stuff here. Sorry.

Tim

 

[7string]

You heard that too 7? When we were editing, I think I started getting on Chris' nerves with wanting to move so many phrases back and forth. He finally said, "Come on Lawler... that part's good enough." Well Finster, see... SEE, sEE, sEE ...HAhAHa!!!!1. OMG, I'm starting to channel some Mystery Records stuff here. Sorry.

Tim

hahahahahaha... but you do it so well!!!!

 

[Incanus]

Sorry to have to say this, Mr. Lawler, but the 9,475,639th note that you hit was BAD BAD BAD!!!!!! The rest were just 'ok.'

Well, actually, I think it was the 9,475,638th note that you heard. I was using my fingers to count, so I may have been slightly off. I believe the note was about .000000000000000000000000001 ms too short and the whole piece just seemed to drop out there as a result!

But seriously, that's a wonderful piece. The recording sounds excellent. Great job Finster. Perfect amount of verb: it contributes to the sound without drawing attention to itself. And I couldn't detect the edits at all. Beautiful.

And careful with that Christian channeling (or was it Ted?) Don't let him take over! He is one hell of a powerful force!!

 

[undrgrnd studio]

Beautiful

I am simply amazed. I always fancied the nylon string myself and even learned a couple of classical excercises, but I can;t imagine being able to pull off that song. Its a beautiful piece. You should be proud.

 

[7string]

Well, actually, I think it was the 9,475,638th note that you heard. I was using my fingers to count, so I may have been slightly off.

Could very well be! I used my fingers to count, too. But ever since I broke that little finger on my right hand I can't rely on it at all!

 

[lurgan liar]

Wow.....mmmm wow!!!!! dunno what else to say

I agree though, i would love to hear some finster magic along with that track...who agrees?

 

[VSpaceBoy]

Good job!

Great playing and song!

Great recording, it sounds great. You guys picked up a great sound, keep up the good work!

 

[andydeedpoll]

i Love the bit where it sounds like you're tapping the strings with the palm of your hand, with some insane little scalic thing over the top.

mmmm.

sounds amazing.

Andy.

 

[gbav]

Not much i can really add, both you guys did a nice job.. recording sounds fine and the playing is something to be envious of for sure. Great work.
gary

 

[XLR]

7 said:

[hahahahahaha... but you [channel Mystery Records] so well!!!!

All I can say is eeeeEEEEEk!

[Perfect amount of verb: it contributes to the sound without drawing attention to itself.

Thanks Incanus. The day after the session when I was adding the reverb, the discussion from my previous recording in the clinic helped to add to the little voice in the back of my head that says, “Come on… you know that’s too much reverb… back it off until it just takes the dryness away.”

[I always fancied the nylon string myself and even learned a couple of classical excercises

Cool, undrgrnd studio… something about the physical feel and sound of nylon strings has always gotten to me. And thanks for the compliment.

[I agree though, i would love to hear some finster magic along with that track...who agrees?

Well since then Finster has told me he's going to tinker with it…. It’d be a cool sound. Thanks for the listen Eamon.

[You guys picked up a great sound, keep up the good work!

Thanks Space… I think the “real” tube pre really added a lot to the sound, especially the heavier sounding passages and accented notes. To my ear it added that classic tube compression at the points where the dynamics get hotter.

[i Love the bit where it sounds like you're tapping the strings with the palm of your hand, with some insane little scalic thing over the top.

Thanks andydeepoll… it always feels good when somebody notices the details! . On the first take, all I could think of when I was playing that section was that the percussion effect would be really messing with the gain staging/rec level peaks in the control room. But, of course, no problems there at all.

[both you guys did a nice job..

Thanks for listening Gary.

Tim