Behind the Songs: More Than Broken

One of the reoccurring themes throughout Snapshots of the Shattered Soul is the theme of brokenness. My goal was to write lyrics that met people where they were. I didn’t want to write songs about the way things should be. Instead, I set out to write about real life – songs that could reach into the lives of both Christians and non-Christians alike.

We are all imperfect and broken people. There is something wrong with every one of us. To begin, we are all sinners and blemished before a perfect and holy God. In addition, we all have issues that hinder us in one way or another. Some of us are defeated by the destructive voices inside our own heads. Some of us are losing a fight with addiction. Some of us are crying out for love, yet are looking in all the wrong places. For some of us, pride is killing our relationship with God and with others. Some of us secretly despise our own looks or personality.

Lost In The Wreckage
Throughout the years, I’ve questioned the idea that God personally cares about me. Even though the Bible resounds with evidence of God’s love, I’ve at times believed that God has abandoned or forgotten me. An example of this was in 2011 when I lost my job as worship pastor and was without full time work for over five months. As a guy, this was extremely frustrating and humbling. The longing to provide for my family ran deep within my veins, yet that desire remained unfulfilled. My pregnant (and incredibly supportive) wife was working part time while I was desperately searching for work. Audio-for-video production jobs were scarce in Columbus, OH. Most jobs in this field were concentrated in Los Angeles or New York. However, we preferred not move too far away from our family with a little baby on the way (but we knew we might have to). On the flip side, it was tough to get an “average” job because I was over qualified. As an example, I had no retail experience and very little warehouse experience. Even though I could easily be trained for some of these jobs, I’ve had no experience so that made me a lesser candidate. At times, I was able to make some extra money through freelance staging work or live sound work. However, freelance jobs tended to be few and far between in the wintertime.

My two years of experience working as a worship pastor brought many challenges, and after losing my job, I wondered whether I could ever bring myself to work in a church again (unless God somehow changed my heart)....

Read more in Marc's book Snapshots of the Shattered Soul: The Stories Behind the Songs. Click here for more info.

Shadows & Sunlight Video Shoot

Here are some pics from Saturday's Shadows & Sunlight video shoot. Pictured are drummer Jim Davis, bassist Joey Bradley and guitarists Mitch McKelvey (with the hat) and A.J. Maynard. The video was shot in a warehouse and soon-to-be art space/gallery in downtown Columbus. The final video will also feature actor Ian McCue (this footage was shot a couple weeks ago). Thanks to director Ben Bays (www.room101productions.com ) and camera operator Shawn Likely for catching the footage. The shoot went incredibly smoothly! Thanks to my father-in-law who let us borrow his kerosene heater! Ben recently also shot footage for a music video for Portrait of Me (featuring my visual artist father). Looking forward to seeing the final music videos - they should debut within the next 2-3 months.

"Worshipping You" on YouTube

"Worshipping You" is now on YouTube! A very simple lyric presentation, but it's a start. In other news, I'm looking forward to shooting some music videos for Shadows & Sunlight and Portrait of Me with director Ben Bays this month!

Rush of Fools Show - October 8th, 2011

What a great weekend! The band and I had a blast opening for Rush of Fools on Saturday in Norwalk, OH! Thanks to Bill and Sherry Thomas and Elevation Church for hosting the event, and thanks to all the fans who came out! Also, thanks to Steve Beal and Jeremy Awbrey for the pics. Finally, we'd like to send a big thank you out to Rush of Fools for the opportunity to open for you! You guys are awesome!!!

THE NEW ALBUM IS NOW AVAILABLE!!

The new Marc Andre album Snapshots of the Shattered Soul is now available on iTunes and CDbaby.com!! You can purchase a download of the album on iTunes or you can purchase a physical CD (or download) from CDbaby.com. Visit www.marcandremusic.com for more details!

The Here and After

Well, the album is finished. It’s hard to believe. For over two years, I’ve poured my heart and time into this all-consuming project, and suddenly, my part is complete, and it’s time to share the baby with the world. It’s hard to explain what I’m feeling right now as the emotions are so mixed. On one hand, I’m anxious to get this music out to people, and pray it will be a blessing to many. I’m also relieved that I can now return to a more “normal” and balanced life, yet on the flipside, I have to wonder what’s next.

It’s been about two and a half months since I lost my job at the church, and since that time, I’ve been able to focus completely on finishing the album. It’s really been a blessing in disguise in many ways, one being that I’ve had the time to complete a project that ended up being a little more entailed than I had first expected (especially as I got towards the end). However, the reality is now starting to set in that I don’t have a full time job, and quite honestly, I’m not really sure where to go from here. Crystal and I really thought a church would be a safe place – a place where it’d be difficult to lose your job (unless you did something immoral or really foolish). I won’t say much more except that I’m beginning to doubt that my calling is in full-time church ministry. All this to say, I’m exploring other options.

Through the years, I’ve had a lot of experience in audio production work – everything from composing custom music to mixing television shows, radio spots, and commercials. I’ve run sound for video shoots, live events, and television news broadcasts. I’ve worked as a stagehand and have set up/torn down sound and lighting equipment. I’ve even edited the video for a handful of commercials, and have designed several personal web sites. Regardless of this experience, it has been hard to find regular work in these areas, especially in Columbus, OH. Crystal and I would both prefer not to move, but it is a possibility, as Columbus doesn’t offer the same opportunities in audio production that you may find in other cities. I could really use prayer for direction. For the time being, I am trying to take as many freelance jobs as I can find, so if you know of anyone who has an audio need, please let me know.

Despite my career dilemma, God has provided for us in amazing ways. Somehow the money has always been there when we needed it. The last several months have pushed us to put our trust in God that much more. We believe He must have something incredible in store for the future. We certainly don’t want to predict anything (because who can know the heart of God), but it’s suspiciously odd how so many details have “fallen into place” with this new album. I never dreamed I’d be working with some of the people who worked on this project. In addition, God has provided an amazing tour band. I wasn’t even looking for a band, but the Lord brought three incredible musicians into my path – drummer Jim Davis, bassist Joey Bradley, and Matt Meyer. I’m really pumped about playing some shows with these guys. We’ll see where this thing goes.

Even in the uncertainty, I feel like I’m where God wants me right now. I feel so alive when I am playing and writing music, and I’ve learned through the years that there are some things you just have to do, whether you make any money at it or not. Of course, I face the reality of paying bills and providing for my family. I am by no means downplaying the importance of taking care of my family. However, in the midst of taking care of my family (however that ends up looking), I believe I need to keep making and playing music, as it’s something God has given to me to give to other people. In the light of eternity, two years of sweat and tears are completely worth it if the message of this album affects the life of just one person. Not everyone will get this project, but some people will click with it (some already have), and it’s those people I pray will find hope for a new day and another try.

In future months, I plan to begin unwrapping some of the lyrics and inspiration behind the new album. The project is a deep well, and I’m looking forward to sharing some of the stories behind the snapshots.

Marc’s new album Snapshots of the Shattered Soul debuts the first week of October.

To kick off the tour schedule, we'll be opening for Rush of Fools on October 8th in Norwalk, OH!

"Missing" on iTunes and CDbaby!!!

The new Marc Andre single Missing is now available on iTunes. Click here to listen.

It's also available on CDbaby. Click here to listen.

Band Practice

The band has been practicing every other Saturday, and we're getting prepped to start touring! Pictured are Jim Davis on drums, Joey Bradley on bass, and Matt Meyer on guitar. Thanks to Jon Albright for running sound!

Update on "Missing" Single

Just mailed the new Marc Andre single Missing to Nashville mix engineer Todd Robbins! Todd has a ton of credits, including dc Talk's Jesus Freak and Supernatural albums. He is going to mix the rest of my album too! I'm pumped! Check out his credits here: http://albumcredits.com/Profil​e/119065

A Pause for Celebration

This week, I’m planning to start recording vocals for the new single Missing and will continue tracking vocals for the rest of the album over the next month or so. This is a huge milestone! Looking back, here are some of the other highlights (with blog links).

Aug 2009-Dec 2010 - wrote lyrics & music for 13 songs

“Creative Floodgates” - http://marcandremusic.blogspot.com/2009/12/creative-floodgates.html

Jan-June 2010 – worked on demos and midi mock-ups, prep for Nashville

“Demos” - http://marcandremusic.blogspot.com/2010/03/progress-of-album-demos-p1-chapter-3.html

June 18th, 2010 - recorded drums, bass and guitar at Darkhorse Recording in Nashville (1st trip to Nashville)

“The Big Day” - http://marcandremusic.blogspot.com/2010/06/progress-of-album-big-day-ch-12.html

July 2010-Feb 2011 – editing, additional midi sounds

“Editing” - http://marcandremusic.blogspot.com/2010/07/progress-of-album-editing-ch-13.html

Aug-Oct 2010 – recorded acoustic guitar with Matt Meyer at 10x12 Productions (Columbus)

Nov 2010 – began working with composer Rich Barrett & Robert Nugent

“Strings” - http://marcandremusic.blogspot.com/2010/11/progress-of-album-pop-strings-ch-15.html

Feb 3rd-4th, 2011 – recorded strings and guitar leads/textures in Nashville (2nd trip to Nashville)

“The String & Guitar Sessions” - http://marcandremusic.blogspot.com/2011/02/string-guitar-sessions.html

Feb-March 2011 – programmed midi strings

“Programming Midi Strings” - http://marcandremusic.blogspot.com/2011/03/programming-midi-strings.html

March 2011 – additional overdubs with guitarist Mike Payne - http://marcandremusic.blogspot.com/2011/03/overdubs-with-mike-payne.html

April 15th, 2011 – final string session

“The Last String Session” - http://marcandremusic.blogspot.com/2011/04/last-string-session.html

April-May 2011 – recorded piano

“The Perfect Piano” - http://marcandremusic.blogspot.com/2011/04/finding-perfect-piano.html

A Portrait By My Father

Some of you know that my dad is an amazing artist. The other day, Crystal and I were over at my parent's house and were looking at a number of his paintings as he is showing some of his art at a local event tonight. One of the paintings we came across was the one you see right here. This was painted in the original 10x12 Productions - one of the bedrooms at my parent's house (my small business was named after the dimensions of this room). This was painted in 2001, not long after the release of my first pop rock album Dishes (you can see a copy of this album sitting on a table toward the left side of the painting). You also will notice a black sheet hanging down from the top of one side of the windows - I didn't have any blinds in this room. I would simply pull the black sheet across the windows at night, attaching the sheet to a nail on the right side of the windows. Oh, the bachelor days.

One of the songs on the new album is actually dedicated to my father. It includes a beautiful string arrangement by composer Robert Nugent.

The Latest News

The new album is coming together! So far, I’ve recorded piano for six songs using my new East West piano samples (I have three songs to go, which I hope to wrap up in the next week and a half or so).

The Final Recording Stage: Vocals
I plan to start recording vocals the week of May 23rd (at 10x12 Productions). A friend is renting me his compressor (Empirical Labs Distressor), which I’ll use in conjunction with my API pre-amp. I’ve allotted about a month of time for vocal tracking. I will probably record the vocal for Missing first (the soon-to-release single off of the new album). I hope to send this tune off to my mix engineer sometime in early June. Hopefully, the new single will hit the streets later June or early July.

A Song Gets a Face Lift
I recently made some significant changes to a tune called Bed of Strangers. This has been a tricky one all along. I’ve been consistently attached to the message of the song, but have at times been unsure about the musical arrangement. The other night at the point of discouragement, I asked Crystal if she liked the song, and she said, “Yeah, I like it, but it’s not my favorite on the project.” I then asked, “What don’t you like about it in particular?” and she responded, “The chorus… I think the first part of it.” I knew something wasn’t clicking with this song, and I think it hit me at that point that the chorus was indeed the weakest part. We prayed about it, and the next morning I woke up with stronger lyrics and a new improved chorus melody! I’ve also shortened the song by a minute. Wow, what a difference! I’m really digging this tune now! You may ask what is Bed of Strangers about? Well, I guess you’ll have to wait until the album releases to find out!

Graphic Design
In other news, I may meet with a graphic designer to start discussing the overall look of the album cover and jacket next week.

That’s all I’ve got for now. Starting to see the finish line. Back to the studio!

An Ever Present Help in Trouble

Here's what one listener had to say (he discovered my music through a free mp3 site)....

"I returned from Afghanistan in January...I know I already mentioned it on your wall, but God really used your music to calm my nerves during my deployment. The two songs in particular were "Hurricane" and "Pull Through." Amazing... It was as if Hurricane was written for me. My father passed away this July, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. And throughout the previous year in Afghanistan, I found myself listening to music whenever possible to keep my brain occupied; I knew that if I had a moment of quiet I'd be thinking about my dad, and I couldn't afford to bust out crying wherever I was. So... thank you for those songs...I can't wait to hear the new album!" - Brian

Maybe you need encouragement today. Here's a verse I referenced while writing the song Hurricane.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride...'Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold." - Psalm 46

(Brian's comments above were posted with permission)

New Marc Andre Single – Missing

Just wanted to give a quick update on the new album, Snapshots of the Shattered Soul. Production wise, things are moving along! I’ve recorded final piano tracks for four songs now, and I hope to be wrapping up the piano parts in the next 2-3 weeks. After that, I will start recording the final vocals.

New Single Coming Soon…
I’m sure you’re curious what the new album sounds like! Well, in the next couple months, I will be releasing a single from the new album called Missing. You will be able to preview and purchase this single on my page at CDbaby.com. Stay tuned for more details!

Finding the Perfect Piano

I'm having a blast today trying out my new East West Quantum Leap Piano samples. As far as piano goes for the new album, purchasing this library is absolutely the best move I could have made. With four pianos (a Bechstein D-280, Steinway D, Bösendorfer 290, and Yamaha C7), three mic positions for each instrument (close, player, and room) and dozens of reverb options, the sound possibilities are nearly endless. I've been spending this afternoon trying out various piano sounds on different songs. The Bösendorfer may not be used on this project (as this piano tends to be used more often in classical music), but the Yamaha will appear quite a bit, with a few guest appearances by the Bechstein and Steinway. The Bechstein sounds great on some of the more poppy songs and the Steinway is perfect for the more intimate tunes. The "size" and dynamic variations of the Yamaha is choice for the bigger and sometimes darker songs.

I would have never had such versatility had I tracked a live piano (I'd be limited to one piano and would have to pay for studio time and really wouldn't have the time for much experimentation). I also don't own the gear to record with multiple mics positions (I'm not sure how many mics & pre-amps the East West guys used to record these pianos, but it was definitely more than I could ever afford).

On a side note, installing this library was quite the big operation. It literally took me 24 hours (2 days of sitting by my computer) to install these samples, with 35 double layered DVDs! However, the quality of these instruments was totally worth the wait!

Backing Tracks

Today, I’m spending a couple hours working on mixing the backing tracks we’ll be using at concerts. Our live band will be made up of drums (Jim Davis), bass (Joey Bradley), rhythm guitar (not sure yet), lead guitar (Matt Meyer), piano, and lead vocals. However, a lot of my music contains quite a bit of additional instrumentation – keyboards, strings, percussion, and background vocals. For most songs, we’ll be playing with a click track and we’ll have some of these background instruments playing along with the live band.

For concerts, the backing tracks will be played back using an iPod, an iPad or a laptop and will feed back to the soundboard and then one channel (the click track) will feed to the band’s in ear monitors, and the other track (a mono mix of all the backing instruments) will be mixed in with the band through the house sound system. Our drummer Jim will be triggering the backing tracks.

The mixing engineer at the concert will be responsible for balancing the backing tracks with the live band… with this in consideration, it’s my goal to set the overall level of the backing tracks so that they are the same from song to song (so the mix engineer won’t have any volume surprises). It’s also important that the click track is the same level from song to song (so the band doesn’t get blown away by the click, or lost because they can’t hear the click).

On another note, we had a great extended 3 ½ hour long band practice this morning. The band is sounding tighter and better every time we practice! Hoping to play our first full show sometime in June!

When All Instruments Are Spoken For

I’m getting very close to having all the instruments recorded for Snapshots of the Shattered Soul. On Tuesday, I received all the audio files from Monday’s string session in Nashville (read previous blog). I’m very happy with the way the strings turned out! Thanks to David Davidson for playing violin and viola, John Catchings for playing cello, and thanks to Bobby Shin for engineering the session!

I still need to record piano and there are a few keyboard/synthesizer parts here and there that I’d like to tweak. Matt Meyer may also record a small electric guitar part at the beginning of one song (I didn’t get to this part while recording with Mike Payne). Otherwise, the instruments are pretty much ready to go.

I am currently saving up for East West Quantum Leap’s Piano Library (http://www.soundsonline.com/Pianos). Why am I now going with samples? Sounds like I’ve changed my tune, huh? Well, as opposed to recording a real piano, I won’t have to pay for piano tuning or studio time, and with this library, I’ll have access to four amazing pianos (including a Yamaha C7 and a Steinway, all with multiple mic positions)… and additionally, I’ll own these piano sounds for years to come - a great investment for future projects. Hopefully, I’ll be able to purchase these samples, finalize the piano parts, and wrap up the last bit of instrument tweaks by the middle of May. I will then start recording the final vocals (lead and background), and after that will come the mix stage.

It’s a funny feeling seeing the light at the end of the tunnel after about a year and a half of writing, recording and editing. What a blast it’s been to watch these songs come to life, from rough piano and vocal demos to complex arrangements!

The Last String Session

Yesterday, I mailed a package to violinist David Davidson in Nashville (we recorded strings for five songs at his studio in early February). The package contained a DVD of two Pro Tool sessions, as well as some sheet music. This next Monday, he will be recording violin and viola for the opening song on the album, and John Catchings will be playing cello on a tune called “A World Without” (John was the cello player at the recording session back in February). This morning, I met with composer Robert Nugent to finalize this cello part. I will have to email the sheet music for this part to David before Monday’s session. After this session, all the strings for the album will be recorded. Things are moving along!

In other news, I’m still trying to figure out what to do with recording piano. I’ve been eyeing some piano samples (especially East West’s piano library), but I’m not completely sure whether or not I’m going to go this route.

The Performance Side

Most bands live two competing lives. Much of their days are spent in the meticulous seclusion of a studio – tweaking and fixing to their heart’s content, while another significant part of their existence is exhausted on the road and on the stage – the true testing ground of their musicianship. Before the days of computers, it was much more challenging to get it right in the studio. There was no Beat Detective and no Auto-Tune. It wasn’t possible to line up a sloppy drummer or bassist “to the grid.” A pitchy singer couldn’t pass as a singer with good pitch – what went to tape was basically what you heard in the final mix.

And They Sounded So Good on the Record…
Thanks to today’s technology, the studio can give a musician a false sense of his/her own ability. With a live performance, what a musician plays is what the crowd hears. There are no re-takes or punch-ins (however, many nuances you’d hear in a recording are lost when the same music is pumped one time through large speakers in a noisy room of fans). Additionally, the stage brings with it many unique uncontrollable variables (bad monitor mixes, poor acoustics, unruly fans, tight schedules for set-up, tear-down, etc.). A performer has to be at the top of his/her game regardless of the circumstances.

An Honest Self-Critique
It can be humbling to hear yourself recorded, especially when you are listening back to a live performance. I know I have areas to improve. For example, as a singer, I know I don’t sing my best when I am nervous. I don’t usually get nervous on stage, but there have been times when I have been and my singing has suffered. Usually, if I’m nervous, I’ll hold back which results in bad tone and/or shaky pitch (especially high long notes). I’ve also noticed that my vocals aren’t their strongest when I am playing an unfamiliar piano part at the same time. For some reason, I won’t hold notes as long as I normally would, and my pitch loses its importance when I am pre-occupied with remembering chord changes or piano melodies. I also am aware that I have a tendency to rush my piano playing in louder song sections, and my piano playing becomes a little more generic when I am singing, and especially when I am trying to follow a click track. Obviously, every performer has areas where he/she needs to improve. On a random note, my drummer Jim recently mentioned that many drummers tend to rush when they have to go to the bathroom, and are forced to hold it. Funny but true!

I Don’t Want to Kill Any Birds, But If I Had To Kill Two, I’d Use One Stone
I made a big mistake with my last album Backstage Pass (2004). I didn’t start practicing with a band until after the album was released. Why was this choice such a mistake? Well, for one, I wasn’t really ready to promote the album through live shows when the project came out. I think it’s true that people are the most excited about an artist and/or recording at or after a live show. I also think that I would have benefited from practicing with a band before I sang all the vocals parts on Backstage Pass (although I did rehearse a lot in the car and in my parent’s basement).

On the new album Snapshots of the Shattered Soul, I am doing something different in that I am playing all of the piano parts as well as singing (Rich Barrett played piano on Backstage Pass). For most concerts, I will also be singing and playing piano (or keyboard as real pianos quickly go out of tune when you carry them from one venue to another). Rehearsing with the band has been helping me to prepare both for live shows and also for the final tracking of piano and vocals on the album. There are definitely trouble songs/sections that I am working on refining – both on my own, and also during our Saturday morning band rehearsals.

Until the Good Gets Better and the Better Gets Best
Over the last couple weeks, Jim, Matt, Joey, and I have been recording our practices and what a mirror that has been! We are each taking notes on our own performance and are working to iron out the rough spots. Currently, we are focusing on about nine key songs from the new album, but will also soon be incorporating a handful of tunes from Backstage Pass. We’re really looking forward to playing out – hopefully starting in June!

Coming soon… “Developing an Engaging Set List”

Overdubs with Mike Payne

On March 11th, Nashville studio guitarist Mike Payne started recording overdubs for three songs that we were unable to get to on our trip to Nashville back in early February. This past Monday, he posted the audio files from these sessions for me to download. Over the past week, I’ve been pulling these new guitar parts into Pro Tools, and just finished importing the last of these files last night. I have to say, Mike’s guitar parts have taken these last several songs to a new level! Two of these tunes are the worship song and the love song I’ve mentioned in previous blogs. I can tell Mike really spent his time on these tunes. The harmonies and counter melodies he came up with aren’t just icing on the cake; I believe they are foundational in bringing these songs to life!

Tones and Parts
I have learned quite a bit from working with Mike (I’ve recorded with him twice now – once on February 4th at his home studio, and then again on March 11th over iChat). Not only is he a skilled guitar player; he is extremely adept at choosing guitar tones that work well in the mix and guitar parts that compliment the other instruments. I’ve heard a couple professional engineers comment about “Mike’s (great) tone.” He just knows his amps, pedals, and guitars and knows what it takes to get a certain sound. At one point, I remember saying to him, “This song is partially inspired by The Fray. I don’t want to sound exactly like them, but do you think you could find a guitar tone which might fit this style?” Sure enough he did – and he actually came up with a slightly varied tone that sounded somewhat “Frayish,” but different enough to give my song it’s own sound.

The Skill of Listening
I find that a lot of musicians don’t listen to anyone but themselves when they are playing. It’s good to be aware of what you are playing/singing as a musician, but in a band setting, it’s important to make sure your tones/parts/pitch/etc. are blending well with everyone else. I’ve played with some musicians who are determined to play at all times with as many notes as possible. Often, silence is as much a musical tool as musical notes themselves. Simplicity is also at times more powerful than complexity. Sometimes, silence is used to give a song dynamics (instruments are brought in and out at key song sections) and other times, silence is used to help a melody or counter melody “breathe.” Simplicity can likewise be used to communicate a certain emotion (intimacy or innocence) or to punctuate a more note heavy musical passage.

I think one thing that makes Mike such a good studio musician is the fact that he is a careful listener. While recording overdubs, he actually asked me to turn his guitar down quite a bit in the mix so that he could hear how his parts were blending with the other instruments. He also had me turn the drums up a bit higher than everything else so that he could make sure that his playing was tight. As I go back to listen to his parts, I am amazed at his sense of rhythm. I’ve hardly had to edit any of his parts because about 99% of the time, he is locked to the drums like a leech to a leg. Absolutely amazing.

A Pleased Costumer
In conclusion, I am so thankful that my friend Dave Bechtel introduced me to Mike Payne. It has been awesome to work with him, and I hope we have more opportunities to work together in the future!

Piano Tracking at Liberty Presbyterian

Well, last night, I began to officially track piano for the new album. I got through about four songs, and have six to go. Here are some pics from Liberty Presbyterian in Delaware, OH. I've decided to go with the Yamaha C7 for many of the songs. Our church's Kawai just doesn't sound grand enough for the big tunes. However, I may use the Kawai on a couple of the more popish songs.

One Piece at a Time

The pieces are really coming together for the new album! Last Friday, Mike Payne recorded guitar overdubs for the 3 songs we were unable to get to while in Nashville last month. He should be sending me those files in the near future. Also, this coming Thursday, I will be meeting with composer Robert Nugent to listen to a cello part he arranged for one of the new tunes.

I now have most of the MIDI strings programmed. These sampled strings will be mixed underneath the real strings to create a larger sound. I’ve also been quite busy practicing and making final tweaks to piano parts. I hope to record real piano in the next month or so. Next week, I may do a practice recording session where I will set up some mics on a live piano and experiment with different mic positions and pre-amp settings. In addition, I’ve been practicing vocal parts – mostly in the car while driving (I’ve created a variety of mixes – some without vocals, some without piano and vocals). You may see me driving down the road singing at the top of my lungs!

I’m still paying for the album as I go. I’m currently saving up for an Empirical Labs Distressor, a compressor that I will use on the final vocals, along with my API A2D pre-amp. I want to use the highest quality signal chain as possible!

I’m still hoping to release the new album sometime the middle of this year.

Programming MIDI Strings (Video)

Marc talks about string articulations, and the process of programming MIDI strings which will used to fill out the sound of a smaller string section.

Click on the photo for video. Video is 12.5 MB and may take a minute or two to load. You can also right click on the photo and select "save target as..."