Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: hieronymous on September 07, 2010, 05:46:23 PM

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: hieronymous on September 07, 2010, 05:46:23 PM

I recently went into the studio to do some recording with my friend who was visiting. Alembic gear was used, both in the studio and afterwards, so I thought I would post here.  
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/85773.jpg)
 
In the picture is my '03 Custom Stanley Clarke Signature Standard 5-string (restrung EADGE and upgraded to Anniversary electronics), as well as my F-2B and SF-2. The SF-2 wasn't in the signal chain, though I did use it later in post-production.  
 
I'll be posting soundclips and probably more pictures, so stay tuned!

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: tmoney61092 on September 07, 2010, 05:52:53 PM

EADGE? never tried that before, how did that turn out?
 
~Taylor

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: hieronymous on September 07, 2010, 08:23:54 PM

Oops! That should have been EADGC - should've taken the time to spell check!

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: tmoney61092 on September 07, 2010, 08:31:19 PM

haha, i was like really? gonna have to try that now. all is good though
 
~Taylor

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: hieronymous on September 08, 2010, 10:37:35 AM

OK, time for some soundclips.
 
This track was the second thing we recorded. The signal path is:  
 
Stanley Clarke bass --> CAJ Tube Compressor --> Alembic F-2B --> Radial ProD2 DI box --> board
 
I was playing my Alembic, but didn't have the sound together by this point - I think I had the bridge pickup a little too high (I was recording in mono):
 
original bass track (http://hieronymous.us/music/bass_original.mp3 target=_blank)
 
Recently I finally figured out how to send signal out of the MBox (the ProTools interface I use to record) so that I can process signals with outboard gear after the fact. I use plug-ins sometimes, but I prefer the flexibility and fun of using my own (usually) analog stuff. So in this case I used the Alembic SF-2 Superfilter to shape and beef up the sound:
 
bass with SF-2 (http://hieronymous.us/music/bass_SF2.mp3 target=_blank)
 
There's a noticeable difference through computer speakers but it will be much more impressive through headphones or good speakers.
 
Here they are with the drums:
 
original bass with band (http://hieronymous.us/music/bass_bandoriginal.mp3 target=_blank)
 
SF-2 bass with band (http://hieronymous.us/music/bass_bandSF2.mp3 target=_blank)
 
I did something similar with my Rickenbacker, though in that case I wanted to bring out more mids and highs, which I will post later.

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: pauldo on September 08, 2010, 04:35:12 PM

Harry - thanks, I certainly appreciate that you often times post relevant and useful information (along with great riffs).
 
This is another fine example - - - - and another wake up call for my yearning for an SF-2.

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: hieronymous on September 08, 2010, 04:57:05 PM

Thanks Paul! Yeah, the SF-2 is really quite amazing. You can have a track that sounds like it doesn't have enough treble, bass, whatever, but with the SF-2 you can often pull them out! I'll definitely put together the samples of my Rickenbacker at some point.
 
I should say something about the studio - it is Robot Envy (http://www.robotenvy.net/ target=_blank) in Berkeley, California. It's a small, independent studio, just perfect for what I wanted. Here's another shot:
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/85803.jpg)
 
 
You can see my Moog Taurus 3 bass pedals in this shot, though they don't appear in the track I posted.

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: gtrguy on September 09, 2010, 11:45:42 AM

I use an SF-2 with the F-1X as a direct box to record and it works great. You can always find a good sound if you have the time to tweak it a bit.
 
Dave

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: terryc on September 09, 2010, 03:05:13 PM

I must have been a drummer in my past life because next to a great bass riff I just love the sound of a solid funky drum pattern.
Nice rhythmn..very funky..send more sound clips!!!!

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: pace on September 09, 2010, 06:16:15 PM

How's the Taurus working for you Harry????

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: terryc on September 10, 2010, 06:15:32 AM

Is it in 5/4..sounded very like the intro to 'Money'

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: hieronymous on September 12, 2010, 04:40:44 PM

Thanks guys. At first I didn't think that this track was going to really go anywhere. It was just kind of a funk jam we did to get warmed up. Here's the whole track, mistakes and all, nothing fixed:  
 
 first first robot envy (http://hieronymous.us/music/first_robot_envy.mp3 target=_blank)
 
But putting it through the SF-2, it kind of came to life for me. I also overdubbed some Rhodes electric piano and did some more mastering EQ & reverb. Ah, now the track is beginning to take shape...
 
 later first robot envy (http://hieronymous.us/music/first_robot_envy3.mp3 target=_blank)
 
As to the similarity to Pink Floyd's Money, I never thought of that! Maybe because I'm basically playing pentatonic, plus playing with a pick...

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: alemberic on September 12, 2010, 05:23:05 PM

Hi Harry--
Bump...please check your gmail account when you get a moment.  Thanks--
 
Eric

Title: Alembic stuff in the studio
Post by: alemberic on September 12, 2010, 05:30:56 PM

Sorry, guys, another bump--a shameless effort to make my 101st post.  (I think this promotes me to another membership level?)
 
Thanks for your tolerance--
 
Eric