How did you first get into recording?
I was always the guy in the band that had a tape recorder or had access to one and knew how to use it. My first recorder was some kind of 2-track, reel-to-reel thing.
Reel-to-reel? That's impressive.
I got a TEAC 3340 when those came out and I thought, "Great! I've jumped to four tracks now." They were great. Actually they were horrible, but they were really fun.
Was this in the '70s?
Late '60s, early '70s was when I got the 3340.
Did you have some sort of mentor or an apprenticeship with any studio?
Naw, I just figured this stuff out for myself. I didn't even have the luxury of thinking about whom I'd like to be like — I was just out there by myself.
What equipment are you using now in your home studio?
I'm recording to the Alesis HD24 hard disc recorder. I think it's great. It's pretty much like a tape recorder, so I'm not using computers or Pro Tools, just the Alesis and a Yamaha digital board. Part of my whole deal is to keep it as simple as possible. My goal was to make great records as cheaply as possible.
Why don't you use Pro Tools and computers?
I figured I'd have to go back to college to learn how to use all that stuff. I never had the two or three months or whatever time it would take to learn it. I was recording on ADATs after I moved out of tape and I thought they sounded great. But the guy who worked on my ADATs told me, "I'm not going to be able to work on these anymore because I won't be able to get parts for them. I strongly suggest you find something else." So I looked around and I thought, well the Alesis hard disc recorder sounds good. It's a tape recorder basically, and I like pressing play and record at the same time. It was simple to use and much cheaper than a Pro Tools rig.
That is a pretty inexpensive setup, but you have spent some money on outboard gear over the years. What are some of your favorite mics, preamps and compressors?
If I was on an island and had an HD24 and needed a microphone — well, I like those Neumann microphones. I've got a U47 that sounds just fantastic. I've got an M147 that sounds fantastic, too.
So you like the new Neumanns as well as the vintage ones?
Almost. You can't touch a U47 as far as I'm concerned, but the new mics are pretty close.
What about preamps?
When I started making records at my house I just had two, a couple of Avalon VT-737s. I like the 737. It's a preamp, EQ and compressor combined and they work great. That's all I used for a few records and then I decided I wanted a few more channels — I wanted to cover everything that might be going down live. So I bought some Brent Averill Neves and Brent Averill APIs and those things are great. Then I bought a couple of Telefunken V76s, and they're great too. That said, I could live without all this stuff. After I got all this gear I noticed that whenever it came time to do a part I had to decide which of these preamps to use with what mics, and what guitar amps to use with what guitars. When I started out I was just using the Avalons, so my decision was already made, but the end result still sounded great. These preamps and compressors all have different colors and slightly different little sounds, so certain ones are better for certain things. But if you're going to keep it simple you don't need to get bogged down with all of that. You can do it with two Avalon 737s or two of any preamp you can get your hands on. It doesn't really matter what brand it is, as long as you think it sounds good.
What about compressors? I heard you really like that UA 2-1176.
I've got that dual 1176 and I love it. You can't make that thing sound bad. I talked to a friend of mine who had an old one and a new one and he couldn't tell the difference.
You don't use Pro Tools, but do you ever use software plug-ins or effects?
I have made records in Pro Tools, but not as an engineer — just as a producer. I've probably made half a dozen or more that way, and Pro Tools is fine. When I'm using Pro Tools I really get into it and will use anything at my disposal, plug-ins, cut-and-paste edits — anything I think will improve the sound. At the same time there's a danger in that. You can go overboard with it, so you have to use your ears. Still, I like the flexibility of a computer-based system.
Do you now make all your albums in your home studio?
Yeah, for the past seven or eight years that's what it's been. I think I went to an outside studio once or maybe twice in all that time.
Does your home studio have a name?
I call it Rootball.
What does that mean?
I'm not sure.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you use your living room as the drum room, right?
Yeah, I've got the drums in the living room. I'll sometimes move stuff around, but for the most part I use a spare bedroom for vocals, another bedroom for guitar amps and the living room for the drums.
How does your wife put up with having musicians traipsing around the house?
As far as the drums go, that only happens a couple of days at a time, and if I'm working a lot I'm still only doing five or six albums a year, so that's five or six times she's moved out of the living room for a couple of days. It's not that constant a thing.
