How did you get started doing recordings?
In college I took an engineering class. I was a politics major but I just decided to take one thing that I thought might be interesting. It turned out to be really interesting. I wasn't really super into recording but it was a fun class. It was an 8 track analog recorder but I wound up gravitating toward the 4 track.
Do you have any idea why?
It was easier to manipulate. Initially, the 4 track was it. When I was in my bedroom I had to keep things really, really quiet. With 4 track you can make things sound loud even though they're really quiet. It's like the opposite of big, multitrack recording. Things sound puny but collectively they become a big, huge thing.
You were just concentrating on individual sounds and making them big?
Yeah.
Are you still using the TEAC 3440 [1/4" 4 track], that's on the album cover?
I got this Scully flat-bed. It's a 1/2 inch 4 track industrial thing. It's the type Pet Sounds was recorded on.
Do you like the sound of it better?
It's amazing. It soaks in lots of low end but I want to sell it 'cause I just got an ADAT. It's not what people think it is. I'm going through a [Roland] Space Echo so it goes onto tape and the output sounds like analog tape, 'cause it is. I also did that with the Scully, have that rolling and do some drum things. You can only do that with the initial tracks 'cause there's a [tape] delay but I actually could delay it on my ADAT after I record it. The ADAT is a great medium.
You have 8 tracks to play with.
It's a huge plus. I like it 'cause I can do all these experimental things with degrading sound but it's there. It'll be there forever. I like using crummy mics that have really colored sounds.
Are there any mics you really like?
I work in the audiovisual department for this corporation that's really old and they have this "museum" of audio equipment. That's where I got the Scully from. I use this Electro-Voice, one of those real industrial-type mics. They're thin and they've been around since the '60's. It's a great, really bright sound. I always use that on vocals. I have this Shure Pro Log, the crummiest Shure you can find. I use that for warmer stuff. And just a host of Radio Shack mics. I just bought a real AKG, a real microphone! But the new stuff is still totally lo-fi. That's the funniest thing. I must just be drawn towards those sounds.
