jamesmedermusic - Tumblr blog

[jamesmedermusic]

It’s happening! 💫 I’m stoked for my friend @calvinsturges and his soon-to-come-true dream of having a kick ass home recording studio… if you can even call it that. It rivals the quality level of a lot of commercial studios. Including a 16 track tape machine 😉 I had a fun time helping him setup a couple weeks back. We ran all the cabling for the patchbay, positioned the ns10 monitors, tested signal though the snake, patchbay, Yamaha console, the multitrack and mixdown decks, and converters. Phew! Cal still needs to build sound treatment and troubleshoot some ghosts in the vintage Yamaha console but it’s coming together! He’ll be rolling soon enough, and the music will flow ☺️❤️ (at San Jose, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqVgdxrrBaL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

Here are some photos from last weekend’s recording of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra‘s performance in the San Francisco Bay Area. I love working with this group and the unique challenges that come with recording in such a large hall. 🎙️ Even though I’ve been working with this group for many years, there’s always hurdles to overcome on the technical side. I was running 14 mics for the performances, and a couple were giving me audio pops at certain moments during the rehearsals. I think this is due to long cable runs, and potentially some faulty phantom power switches on my microphone preamps. Luckily, after reseating the cable connections, and also changing some of the patch lines, everything went well during the actual performances… I got very lucky! I definitely have to take the time to clean some connectors and double check gear before the next performance. 😅 I’ll likely share some sounds in the coming days after doing some work on the mixes ✌🏼 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5W80JptM5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

Bathroom selfie to check in on y’all… has everyone listened to my new song ‘Colors’ as many times as you can count me here? Cuz if not, get on it 🫡 I hope you like it! Thanks!!✌🏼 Link in bio (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpNp-kmrxkf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

I’m stoked to have a new compressor in the rack… 2 whole years in the making, literally. I had this Goly MS76 compressor kit 98% built shortly after receiving it… but a couple missing parts from Europe, a few components with wrong values and some other unforeseen headaches made it a difficult and slow going build. The last bit to troubleshoot was oscillation which would happen at the highest output gain settings. Luckily @cuebus came to my rescue and did a thoughtful mod by adding two capacitors in key spots to tame the oscillation. Full clean gain now! 🙌🏼 This compressor is modeled after the classic Urei 1176, rev G FET compressor circuit. It’s a transformerless design but somehow still retains a lot of attitude. Transistors for the win! It can but used to compress in M/S (mid-side) and also has a wet/dry function. Super useful features! I can’t wait to use this on future mixes at @piquerecording ✌🏼 (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CooXbKgu75L/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

Colors ✨ 2.10.2023 🌹 A song about a flower press, A long distance relationship, Valentine’s Day? The 4th single from my upcoming full length comes out next Friday. Spotify Pre-Save link in my bio. Thanks for the support! 🙏🏼 https://www.instagram.com/p/CoNRqv_p5oc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

It was awesome to have @nuclear.tsunami in the studio yesterday 🙌🏼 He wanted to do the bold approach of recording a performance straight to tape. I made sure to use my favorite mic chains and we went for it! Mr. Tsunami got through 4 songs and I hope y’all get a chance to hear these rusty-old-timey-folk tunes soon! ————————— Voice: Groove Tubes 6tm, Skibbe 736–5, Drawmer 1968 Guitar: Altec M53 w/ 42A capsule, Skibbe 736-5 Both into an Otari MX55 2track machine, 1/4” at 15ips. Transferred into Protools via Lynx Aurora ✌🏼 (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cna2SzQruO0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

This #MakeMusicMonday brought to you by singer/songwriter @robbierittman and his talented band - @torranceklein bass, @fahemerfan guitar, @redwoodthekid keys/drums. Swipe to hear a lil taste of this timeless folk rock sound 🙌🏼 I’m super grateful to this crew for trusting me with their sound 🙏🏼 This 2 day session took place back in mid December at Cal Lutheran University with their stunning @thisisapiaudio Vision console. There’s nothing like recording live to tape! …errrr hard disk 😉 I can’t wait to dig into overdubs and help make these tunes extra special 💫 More soon! (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnNMn5tPd_w/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

This #MakeMusicMonday brought to you by singer/songwriter @robbierittman and his talented band - @torranceklein bass, @fahemerfan guitar, @redwoodthekid keys/drums. Swipe to hear a lil taste of this timeless folk rock sound 🙌🏼 I’m super grateful to this crew for trusting me with their sound 🙏🏼 This 2 day session took place back in mid December at Cal Lutheran University with their stunning @thisisapiaudio Vision console. There’s nothing like recording live to tape! …errrr hard disk 😉 I can’t wait to dig into overdubs and help make these tunes extra special 💫 More soon! (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnNGRS3vM8Y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

This #MakeMusicMonday brought to you by singer/songwriter @robbierittman and his talented band - @torranceklein bass, @fahemerfan guitar, @redwoodthekid keys/drums. Swipe to hear a lil taste of this timeless folk rock sound 🙌🏼 I’m super grateful to this crew for trusting me with their sound 🙏🏼 This 2 day session took place back in mid December at Cal Lutheran University with their stunning @thisisapiaudio Vision console. There’s nothing like recording live to tape! …errrr hard disk 😉 I can’t wait to dig into overdubs and help make these tunes extra special 💫 More soon! (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnNFOgWvmLL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

#tbt congrats to the @delvingmusic crew for releasing their full length record back in November 2022. Here are photos from their album release show at @thehotelcafe 🙌🏼 I always liken Delving to sounding somewhat like the indie rock band Wilco, with a psychedelic and soulful edge. The songwriting is top notch 🚀 If you like that sort of thing (of course you do) check out ‘Pink into Grey’ on your streaming service. Or purchase a cd on their Bandcamp✌🏼 Shoutout to the band for bringing me onboard to engineer 3 of the songs on this release. Greatly appreciate the support and trust, thank you! 🙏🏼❤️ (at The Hotel Cafe) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnCwt2YPOl0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

I’m grateful to have been part of many film productions throughout 2022! Does that make me a boomer…? 🎙Sound Speeeed!! Here are some BTS photos by @dp_del.rio during the filming of Love Inflation, directed by @roxivalenzuela. DP’d by @larkindonleydp and Produced by @akajuanfaisal. Filming took place back in August when it was toasty here in LA, peep the shorts and sweat 🥵 It was wonderful being part of such a talented crew! 🙌🏼 Love inflation (drama/comedy) will be part of some upcoming film festivals❤️📈 I cant wait to work more boom op/location sound gigs in 2023! Special thanks to @michaelglines for connecting (and encouraging!) me with many of these production teams 🙏🏼 ***These photos are part of my ‘end-of-year photo dump, 2022 edition’ - memories that I missed sharing along the way. I hope you enjoy and have a happy new year y’all! (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm2j71vPuRJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

Here are some special moments from all the way back in April ‘22 with @wirestheband. The group enlisted Grammy winning saxophonist @adrianterrazasofficial to blow solos over two songs. What an experience! Adrian happens to have played on some of my favorite record ever so it was quite exhilarating 🔥 Thanks to @wirestheband for trusting me with sounds ❤️ The band also recorded all the guitar, bass guitar, and vocals for their upcoming full length record at @piquerecording. Additional sounds include vibraphone, Juno 60, Rhodes and as many effects pedals as there are times signatures in their songs… yea, lots! I can’t wait to hear the album in it’s entirety in the near future, don’t miss it!! 🚀 💫 💣 🙌🏼 ***These photos are part of my ‘end-of-year photo dump, 2022 edition’ - memories that I missed sharing along the way. I hope you enjoy and have a happy new year y’all! (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmzYj44vb9c/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

Here’s a throwback all the way to June ‘22 with @nuclear.tsunami performing as the featured artist at the Highland Park Bowl Open Mic, hosted by @brendacarseyart and @wonderandaweprod. Mr. Tsunami is joined onstage by the ever inspiring @wunderlandmusic on violin. What a treat this evening was! 🙌🏼🙌🏼 Nuclear Tsunami had 4 original tunes mastered this year by yours truely at @piquerecording 🙏🏼 Rumor has it that there’s a 5th already complete and will be on the airwaves in the near future 🤫 Don’t sleep on these moody folk anthems 🔥 ***These photos are part of my ‘end-of-year photo dump, 2022 edition’ - memories that I missed sharing along the way. I hope you enjoy and have a happy new year y’all! (at Highland Park Bowl) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmvdrwvOjQY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

It was wonderful having Jesse Hughes aka @day_dream_studios stop by the studio a couple weeks ago to lay down five original tunes. Jesse delivers soulful folk ballads with beautiful acoustic guitar tones, often crafting melodies in unique time signatures. What a pleasure! 🙌🏼😊 These photos are part of my ‘end of year photo dump, 2022 edition’ - memories that I missed sharing along the way this year. I hope you enjoy and have a happy new year y’all! (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmutYCovcX_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

Final gigs of 2022, Come on out! ✌🏼 Friday 12/2 at Oracle Tavern Free, 21+, 8pm @oracletavern with @delvingmusic, @s.e.an.doc Tuesday 12/6 at Silverlake Lounge $11.33, 21+, 7:30pm @thesilverlakelounge with @delvingmusic, @missnotmaam_ (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CloZmrQLHaL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

Happy #MicMonday! Here’s some photos I snapped when recording the Peninsula Youth Orchestra last month in Belmont, CA. I’m forever fine tuning my orchestra recording setup and was able to get some lush sounds this time around. A pair of mics that greatly enhanced the sound were the @akgaudio 414’s, placed in the ‘outrigger’ position - the far left and right side of the stage. These mics were in an omni polar pattern and helped capture the organic ambience/decay of the hall. The other mics which are seen on the front quad array are a pair of AKG C480B bodies with CK 62DF capsules (omni). The center pair are Altec M53’s with 42A capsules (cardioid). ✌🏼 https://www.instagram.com/p/ClgywrzpoxO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jamesmedermusic]

Patchbay POV 👀 Happy #ShopSmallSaturday!! I wanted to say thanks for your patronage and support here at Pique Recording this year. #grateful While visiting with a drummer friend at a friendsgiving gathering on Thursday I asked him how his various music projects were going… he reluctantly chucked, took a second to collect his thoughts and said ‘music brings me the most happiness and also the most hardship in life’. His honesty caught me off guard and yet was entirely relatable. The amount of effort it takes to pursue a passion in the face of adversities is forever an uphill battle. It’s cliche but the lows are low and the highs are high. I think the only way through it is by helping my(our) fellow creatives. The very least we can do is build each other up with generous support and encouragement …and it’s also nice to share empathetic conversation, sometimes over tofurky <3 Today is Shop Small Saturday so it’s a great opportunity to give back to the creatives in your community. Or at the very least spread the word, give a shoutout or a tag. Support your music making friends! Drop some small businesses(or nonprofits) in the comments, don’t be shy! I’ll start off …yes I’m going to miss way too many, so I need your help! @monheimmics @fixproaudio @parnassusandco @mysticcircuits @wearemovingtheneedle @womensaudiomission (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClbwUyMvL98/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=