Your year in review

[Manning]

Mat @ Coloursound has just completed his first year, and I was going to ask him to give us his "year in review". Then I thought I'd extend the offer to everyone.

So everyone - how was 2011?

My year was entirely about attempting to turn a ramshackle duck barn into a recording studio. Two months of just cleaning out all the crud you find in a duck barn, followed by endless work with gyprock, paint, fibreglass batts, sand, yellowtongue, shredded carpet, and basically anything else you can think of. We're still not finished, and we are yet to see dollar one in income. And for some reason I haven't quit yet

[Drumstruck]

Nice idea for a thread Manning

For me 2011 has been about stepping my gear up in quality, learning some new tricks and reducing my power consumption overhead (replaced my desk / replaced 2 windows DAWs with 2 Mac DAWs / replaced the Roland e-kit with a DIY Gretsch e-kit / finished building a custom Sleishman / Rototom acoustic kit).

.... and played on a few songs for overseas guys plus recorded a few of my own songs..... a positive though not overly productive year but very ready for 2012.

Now I just need someone who can get me in touch with Kylie so I can give her the demo song I wrote for her........

[stosostu]

Hmmmm 2011.

Well the first three months were like the previous twenty years, working as a tech writer in a defence company. But then they offered me a package, and since I'm 64 and I was going to retire at 65 and the package was equivalent to three years wages, even with my tiny grasp on maths, I took the money and ran.

So, then the plan was/is to build a studio since my wife has evicted me from my music room as she needs it for her business office, and she is now the money earner.

Thus the last eight months has been a nightmare of mineral wool batts, gyprock, studs, screws, adhesive etc. Today I finished the first layer of batts and gyprock, so its now on to the next layer of gyprock, and so it goes on. The only reason I haven't given up is that I keep buying stuff to put in the studio when its finished, so I just have to finish it.

In my tiny mind I thought it would be finished by this Christmas, but other things keep getting in the way, so at this stage I'm hoping for completion mid 2012, or Christmas 2012, or whenever. Its a good job I don't have to make money from it. If that was the case we'd starve.

So, in reflection, 2011 has been an interesting, if not entirely fullfilling year, with the prospect of 2012 being even better.

[Sammas]

What was 2011 for me?

I found Manley Labs.
I found Cranesong.
I found Duntech.
I found a Girlfriend.

I found a lot of things to smile about, and not a lot of them were audio based. It is going to be a tough year to beat.

Its a bit early, but all the best for 2012 chaps!

[AnthonyMF]

Well, when the year began I was 3 months into my new studio space and moving house AGAIN. Spent a good 6 months working on an album with a solo singer songwriter type playing everything, a couple of demo's, singles, odd jobs, and an EP that's turning into another album. Hasn't been anywhere near as busy as I'd hoped, but I've been learning the space, figuring out what I need, buying/selling/reconfiguring/building and learning what it is that actually helps people make great music, rather than what toys I'm excited about.

Outside of the studio it's been a year of learning big life lessons about friendships, trust (or lack thereof), and figuring out how to make the most out of throwing yourself to the wolves.

Oh, and I've also spent the whole year saying to my housemate "We've really got to get the band back together". Seriously, it's going to happen, it's got to.

It's actually been a pretty cool year. Looking forward to seeing what I can do with 2012.

[Hybrid88]

...I found a Girlfriend.

I found a lot of things to smile about, and not a lot of them were audio based. It is going to be a tough year to beat.

Its a bit early, but all the best for 2012 chaps!

Your lucky mate, I've had a shocking year to be honest. I'd do anything to find the right girl right now - here's to 2012 being better year for me

[DrAlienSmith]

2011 has been business as usual at the studio which has been great. I've had 50ish projects through, mostly full ones but a few more just mixing and mastering projects than in previous years which is interesting.

Gear wise I've been rotating around, buying and selling, and I've gotten some great stuff that fits me well, mics mainly. I've also gone down the modding road with some great and some not so great results.

On a personally its been about juggling the studio with the arrival of daughter number three, crazy times.

[Manning]

Wow, great to hear from the WA guys. I don't cross paths with members of that species very often so it's cool to learn what's going on.

Al - I'd love to hear more about your "great/not so great" results with modding.

To all - feel free to expand your replies to include gear added/subtracted..

I've had a very busy year on that front, the highlights being the two Fearn VT1 preamps and the Fearn VT7 compressor, the Purple MC77 compressor, the Mindprint DTC and a 500 rig with two API 512c in it (it's still looking a bit sparse but I'm working on that). For mics the undoubted highlight was the Bees Neez Tribute. The crowning glory of my gear this year will be adding the Auditronics 701 console (hopefully happening next Saturday).

On the guitar front I added a Parker Fly Mojo, a Steinberger ZT3 and an Axe FX. I also picked up a Theremin and a killer handmade ukelele from Jim Williams.

[rick]

ermm
worse year i have ever had

but

from the the top you drop , from the bottom you rise

2012 is setting up now to be great

[DrAlienSmith]

Wow, great to hear from the WA guys. I don't cross paths with members of that species very often so it's cool to learn what's going on.

Al - I'd love to hear more about your "great/not so great" results with modding.

To all - feel free to expand your replies to include gear added/subtracted..

I've had a very busy year on that front, the highlights being the two Fearn VT1 preamps and the Fearn VT7 compressor, the Purple MC77 compressor, the Mindprint DTC and a 500 rig with two API 512c in it (it's still looking a bit sparse but I'm working on that). For mics the undoubted highlight was the Bees Neez Tribute. The crowning glory of my gear this year will be adding the Auditronics 701 console (hopefully happening next Saturday).

On the guitar front I added a Parker Fly Mojo, a Steinberger ZT3 and an Axe FX. I also picked up a Theremin and a killer handmade ukelele from Jim Williams.

Nice one, some tasty gear additions there.

As for the mods, I had Jim Williams in the US mod 4 of my Soundtracs console channels. Great results sonically, much clearer with better transient response while the eq is also more useable. It was fairly pricey tho with the shipping etc so I'd stay local if I was to do that again.

I also did a transformer swap in my M-Audio Sputnik. It was always a good mic for roomier stuff but never for vocals. The top end was always a bit weird up close so I put a TAB Funkenwerk T14 in there and it made a nice difference. Not huge but it smoothed out the top end enough for it to be a useful vocal mic now.

I also had a crack at doing a valve swap and a capsule change in a CAD Trion 8000. Again the mic wasn't really useable for vocals. It changed the character of the mic from over bright to too dull so its still no good for vocals. On the plus side its the best bass cab mic I've ever had so it stays put. I have another CAD Trion 8000 in the hands of Ross Giles right now and hopefully he can wield his magic and I will have something unique in the mic locker.

[Ben M]

Great to hear what people have been up to.


2011 has been a great year and I'm very excited about 2012.
This year I've;

Recorded/mixed a hand full of EP's
Recorded/mixed a hand full of Album's
Did sound design for a theatre production
Recorded/mixed a 15 episode radio play
Trained 30 audio production students

Spent all of April in NYC

In august I officially setup my mix room at home so I could spend more time with family and less time driving a car to do what i can do at home. which has lead to doing more of a mixing online business which i do as my own business and also for a new online editing/mixing service run by an Americian engineer/producer. All under standalone solar power.

Also recently my wife and i have taken over management of a fantastic country hall just down the road from us. We're going to make it an artistic retreat as well as hold festivals and events. I also want to make it acoustically sound so i can use it for tracking. More on that later in another thread.

In january I recorded a compilation album with 17 local singer/songwriters which was a great way of getting them to meet and network so now we're seeing them doing lots of gigs together and supporting each other in creative ways.

Finished a pair of diy gpultecs and started a set of 4 diy API 312 pre's.

I bought lots of audio things and sold lots of audio things. Always massaging what works for the next project and buying/selling.

Also i met Geoff Emerick and attended his 3 hour masterclass at intergrate. Which was fun.
I'm sure there's more but that'll do for now.

Cheers

[The Tasmanian]

I'm with Rick - absolute shocker of a year
Even though I worked on some of the most incredible projects, traveled the world, the smell of one particular stinking rotting turd overwhelmed my sense of smell...
did someone step on something?
Good riddance 2011!

[rick]

You know i travelled the world this year as well
Sometimes you have to go a long way to find out
What your living in good and bad

I have spent the morning putting acoustic things
Up on the roof in the new studio
I may actually open it soon !

I might just change history over time
2010 blot out 2011 straight into 2012

All that said i live and have lived a very fortunate
Live , a few speed humps car crashes and shipwrecks
Is what you get if you send your days sailing too close
To the rocks for the thrill of it all

I might just have to be a normal guy next year
.... Maybe

[The Tasmanian]

All the best for your 2012 Rick - may it be a great one!

[13thbeach]

Well after spending the last 8 years busting my ass to get into
This industry with not much luck, I can finally say I have arrived.
I've worked odd tracking jobs here and there but have not had a real
Chance to get going. Slowly collecting equipment helped me position
Myself to set up a studio and finally have a go.
It's been the right way to do it I think (for me anyway).
I've set up a studio where I own every piece of gear outright, including
The Neve. My rent is extremely well priced and I can afford it if the
Studio sits empty for weeks on end (which it hasn't been).

So this year has been great for me on so many levels. I've finally achieved
A goal set about 12 years ago, to make records and enjoy my job.
I've been improving my teqchniques on every recording and been discovering
What works and doesn't work in my studio. I've recorded and mixed a few ep's
And albums and was even lucky enough to work on the new Dandy Warhols album.
We tracked all the drums and backing vocals for the new album which will be out next year.
And then we also upgraded to the 5106 Neve which has really put the studio on the map.

So a year on, the studio is still here and has some bookings for January. I hope we can
Take it to the next level. I thank all the bands and engineers who have used the studio so far.
The results have been beyond what I would have hoped.

[Futureman]

Watching my daughter grow up to a 1.5 year old cutie.

Repairing lots of stuff.
Building Lots of stuff.
Buying lots of stuff.
Recording lots of stuff.
Not mixing lots of stuff.. uh oh.

Here she is playing with some bit of junk I found on the side of the road.

[Chris H]

Been an Interesting year for me and the family. On the personal front, a move from the hills near Belgrave to the Mornington Peninsular near Sorrento has been a fantastic change for our lifestyle.
As for the music and recording this year, the school job has provided it's usual classical and jazz concert recordings and a bunch of solo performance recordings of the students doing music for their International Baccalaureate, which is an international final secondary course in place of VCE yr 12. Some good talent this year with one student's family relocating to London to peruse her musical career beyond year 12. Next Monday I will be in Scotts Church Melbourne to record the annual carrol service.......nice big room that one, with no shortage of reverb.
I have been doing more playing than the last few years with a stint in a mates band for his CD launch and playing on a CD I have recorded for others. Also, I am thinking of putting some of my own music out there this year. The little Egnater amp I bought from Michael T here on the forum was a good move and has been used for recording and the live work.
First recording job for the year was a classical job with a small orchestra in a medium sized church with a pipe organ that was used in the performance. It was also videoed and after sorting out noisy power issues all went well.
Next was mixing and mastering a big project for a muso I have known since the 80's. This was recorded by a close friend and was a great project with a personal touch. Two pre production recordings for the next CD of a regular customer Eddy Cole and a six song CD for a new singer songwriter is currently in the mixing stage.
After some initial use, The Audek console was again put aside so restoration could be completed. Found out the hard way that a vintage bit of kit needs no stone unturned when you are going to put it to serious work.......it's no use doing a half baked job as it ends up being more trouble than it's worth. It's taken a few years now with the engineer who built it only being able to work on the restoration sporadically but it's in the final stages and should be back in operation for January. In the mean time some of my Optro gear is in need of attention but the money isn't there......it will have to wait. 3 of the silver modules are out of action as is 2 of the 7500 modules in the sidecar console.
As usual I did a few live mixes for Chain during the year but the live FOH work has dropped right off for me this year...... a good thing as I have felt my ears have wanted a rest from that whole scene!
The move to the Peninsular has meant I now get to do most of my recording work in the best sounding room I have ever worked in. Some things you don't know you are missing till you experience them again and realize how valuable they are and how much you have missed them. The job I am now mixing is the first I have recorded in this space for a about 5 years and the ease at which all the sounds came together was a real eye opener for me. It has definitely taken my work to another level sonically. I'm starting to get a few younger bands in their 20's, one, a new band for me, are booked for late January so things should continue to tick along ok. Haven't been hunting for much work but I am thinking of building it up a bit next year to the point where I can cut my day job at the school back to 4 days a week. I feel it's time to move in that direction...as rick puts it....time to sail a bit closer to the rocks. I'm definitely of the opinion that if you live your life too safe you can loose it in a far sadder way than if you play it too safe and never really live, .......as long as the family is ok. The trick is finding the balance, hey?

[Wiz]

I find it frightening to think how fast the year has gone.

It seems like only 5mins ago, it was NYE.

This year has been a real mixed bag for me.

On the music front, its been one of my best ever.

I am playing and singing better than I ever have before, seem to have come of age, unfortunately that age
is 47....8).

The studio, is going really well.

I mixed quite a few songs for other people, which was cool to generate some income.
Wrote and recorded quite a few songs.

Did my first (self shot) music video.

Built and bought some nice gear this year. Truth be told I spent a small fortune...8).

Martin D28
Les Paul
Gretsch Drum kit
Electronic Piano
API 550b
JLM FC500
JLM TG500
JLM LA500 ( i just built this yesterday, and its great)
JLMPEQ500 (at least I gave Joe a good year...8)....)
Patchbay and leads
Fender Jazz Bass (a squier, but gee its a corker)
Video camera, tripod, wide angle lens, lights, final cut pro x

On the home front, one of the worst years of all.

My daughter who is 14, has been really really sick. Suffering from vassal vagal syncope, which in normal terms means she basically passes out. Its been up to 6 to 8 times a day. Many trips to hospital in ambulances, and specialists, etc to basically end up at the point of ...hopefully she will grow out of it.

Geeze, when your kids are crook, you could trip over a bucket of U47's and not really care.

My wifes, singing teaching business is going great guns.

I still seem to learn something significant about audio every single day.

I wish everyone a safe and happy Xmas...and may Santa stuff your stocking with something nice.

cheers

Wiz

[Wiz]

Oh and Chris..

I moved from Rye, to Bundaberg 7 years back.

I really loved living on the mornington peninsula. There was also a pretty good music scene there.

I played in the band "holy cow" down there for a couple of years...

Also, you must get one of those vanilla slices from that bakery in sorrento...8)... I know iced vovo's are the go
around here....8)....but the Sorrento Slice is a thing of wonder...8)


cheers

Wiz

[Manning]

Also, you must get one of those vanilla slices from that bakery in sorrento...8)... I know iced vovo's are the go
around here....8)....but the Sorrento Slice is a thing of wonder...8)

I've been to that bakery - yes indeed, they are something special. Worth driving from Melbourne for.

[Chris H]

Oh and Chris..

I moved from Rye, to Bundaberg 7 years back.

I really loved living on the mornington peninsula. There was also a pretty good music scene there.

I played in the band "holy cow" down there for a couple of years...

Also, you must get one of those vanilla slices from that bakery in sorrento...8)... I know iced vovo's are the go
around here....8)....but the Sorrento Slice is a thing of wonder...8)


cheers

Wiz

Hey Wiz, small world indeed. I know Ian T from Holy Cow well! My son was over at Ian's place a few weeks ago and I started out with recording at Richard Cook's studio where Ian did a a few CD's. Holy Cow! Love the band, they where playing at the Surf club two weeks ago........ and I'm onto the vanilla slices AKA "snot blocks"! Actually the snot blocks from Flinders store opposite the pub are giving the sorrento ones a good run for their money.......an even bigger slice and equal in taste and importantly texture! After a surf at flinders I buy one and share it with my two boys.

[Ben M]

Actually the snot blocks from Flinders store opposite the pub are giving the sorrento ones a good run for their money.......an even bigger slice and equal in taste and importantly texture! After a surf at flinders I buy one and share it with my two boys.

Chris I'm in Flinders every year pretty much because my wife's father lives near Shoreham. We're there around Xmas this year and I will have to try a snot block now. I don't have any excuses for not already doing this.
I now feel safe in the company to say that I'm a connoisseur of the snot block, not that I have any qualifications or ever admitted it til now.
The lamington has nothing on a good snot block.

[rick]

Oh i am F@#$ing loving 2011 !
Just got back from the vet and found out
My dogs got cancer
And the has tumor has busted
and it all looks pretty grim

I guess i will just add it to my shit list for 2011

I love this thread though , you get a bit mioptic
In your views sometimes

Great to see a bunch of you guys whose careers
I have been watching
blossom
its a credit to you !

[Chinagraf]

I had a really busy year, a few left field projects, been mixing a bit of Bhangra for some Punjabi dudes, lot of fun because I can't understand any of it. I decided to only buy things that make music rather than process it, so added to my guitar fetish this year - A mid 80's LP Custom, White Falcon, mid 70's Tele and a 1980 Gibson ES175. Was pretty flat out till I went travelling in August, then since I got back mid Sept, all I wanna do is go travelling again. I know I have to get back into work at some point. but I really wanna go to Cambodia now though. Something about spending a while with people who have so little materially, but are so happy. For the moment,I just can't get back into music as a profession. I'm sure i will, I need to, I just don't know when. Not for the rest of this year, anyway.
It has been a weird year in some ways though. I've seen some bad things happen to good people this year for no apparent reason, more than ever before. Strange days indeed.

[Wiz]

I am really sorry to hear about your dog Rick.


They become such a part of the family.....and its a right bastard this close to Xmas....happened to friends of ours last year.

sorry mate


Wiz

[jkhuri44]

mixing bhangra? wicked... sounds like a fun year

[Chinagraf]

Yeah, best part was learning to break my 'western' way of listening which was hard at first because I've been doing it so long.. Tumbis, Serangi etc, the first feedback I got was "Aaah, you've made it all sound very smooth" (I smile and give myself an internal high five) then "It's not supposed to sound like that" (high five cancelled). Once I could pronounce Algoze and Dhol I was set.

[The Tasmanian]

Rick please let us know how your dog gets along.
Now I'm concerned about your dog on top of all of my other shit!
(you know me - I'm a crazy K9 lover)

[rick]

Thanks chris ( and everybody else)
Just found out its untreatable
So take her home and bring her back for a final needle
Apparently its a fast moving agressive type of cancer
So vet said could be game over in days / weeks
Maybe a month

Just not what i wanted for my self or the kids
For christmas
Still 11 years for a jack russel is over average
And she has been a brillant little mate

I cannot win a trick this year

Onwards and upwards

[Drumstruck]

Very sad and sorry to hear this - our dogs are special friends