RECORDING May 2024 - 66
Music recorded by RECORDING Magazine's own readers-
Reviewed by producer, engineer and bassist Dave Martin
READERS'TRACKS
Conor & The Wild Hunt
" Lavender "
Equipment
DAW - Pro Tools; Console - Yamaha DM2000; Interface - MOTU 2408 (x2);
Microphones - Audio-Technica AT4050 and AT4033a, Heil mics and Neumann
KMS 105; Instruments - Gibson Hummingbird Acoustic, Kurtzmann piano, real
violins, real drums, bass, etc.; Plugins - Pro Limiter, Big Clipper; Monitors - Mackie
HR824; Headphones - Audio-Technica ATH MX50x and Sony 7506
Music
" Lavender " is a three-movement progressive Americana piece written by
Conor Brendan and released by Conor & The Wild Hunt. Conor plays guitar,
bass and banjo, and sings lead and background vocals. Chris Elvidge is the
drummer and background vocalist. Max Brown plays electric guitar, Kait El
plays violins, and Joanne Dodds adds background vocals. " Lavender " was
produced and engineered by Conor's dad, Bill Mueller.
" Lavender " begins with an American-ish vibe, while the vocals start the story
of the Hobbits' adventures in Middle Earth. The second movement is darker, with
lyrics retelling the conversation between Frodo and Sam, while the third movement
celebrates Frodo's success in destroying the ring and saving Middle Earth.
Review
References to J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth are not uncommon in both rock
and prog music; Led Zeppelin's songs might be the best known, but Black
Sabbath ( " Wizard " ), Megadeth ( " This Day We Fight " ), Joni Mitchell ( " I Think
I Understand " ), Rush ( " Rivendell " ), and even Nickel Creek ( " In The House of
Tom Bombadill " ) all show the influence of The Lord of the Rings.
Conor & The Wild Hunt's " Lavender " is a lovely recording, with unexpected
textures on first listening, yet perfectly appropriate as the piece progresses. A
banjo that helps lift the first section doesn't call attention to itself until the end
of the first section-though it would be missed if it weren't present. The second
section of the track includes real violins playing a melody. At the same time,
the story is moved along with a call-and-response duet, and the final section
features wordless vocals supported by lead guitar-another unexpected touch.
As I listened to " Lavender, " three things were apparent. First, the recording
seems to have been planned; I would guess that Conor spent a good deal of
time writing the piece and had a vision of the final production (string and vocal
parts in particular). Second, the performances, both the vocal parts and
the instruments, were exceptionally well done. I don't hear anything on the
recording that sounds like it was 'good enough.' Someone had high expectations
for the performances and worked until they met those expectations. And
finally, the same level of care was taken on the production side; the individual
tracks sound great and the mix is wonderful.
LISTEN HERE
r e co r di ngma g. co m/r e ad er s- tr a ck s / lav en der
66 RECORDING May 2024
Dave's Suggestions
This production reflects the artist's vision, and
as such, anything I suggest would be contrary to
that vision. But I'll take this opportunity to remind
our readers how even small adjustments can
have a big impact-both positive and negative.
For example, in the first few measures of the
song notice where the banjo sits in the mix; it's
in a supporting role. If it had been even a dB or
two hotter, the feel of the intro (and therefore,
the verse that follows) would have been quite
different-not better or worse, necessarily, but it
would have changed the feel.
Another subtle example is the short pause between
the first and second sections of the piece
(about 3:09). What would the effect have been if
the pause had been a half-second longer? What
would the effect have been if the pause had been
a half-second shorter?
Conor Brendan's father, Bill
Mueller, was
the producer/engineer on " Lavender. " Bill is a
GRAMMY®
nominated engineer with decades
of experience. I mention Bill because while I understand
and applaud the DIY aspect of home
recording, I also understand the role that those
years of experience can bring to creating a
great-sounding record.
On " Lavender, " the musicians created the magic,
the engineer captured it, and the producer worked
to realize the musicians' vision. My final suggestion
is to consider whether bringing in an outside producer/engineer
can work for your project if your
time and budget allow you to do so.
Summary
Conor & The Wild Hunt's " Lavender " is a marvelous
recording-congratulations to all involved
with the production!
Dave Martin is a producer, engineer and bassist.
Dave owned Nashville's Java Jive Studio for close
to 25 years. Dave has recorded, produced and/
or played with symphony orchestras, rock and
roll icons and country music legends ranging
from the Old Crow Medicine Show, The Dead
Pickers Society, Porter Wagoner, Robben Ford,
Billy Cobham, The Box Tops, Carl Verheyen,
Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest), Adrian Belew, Rick
Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Eric Johnson, Robbie Fulks,
Steve Vai, The Coasters and others. Dave is also a
member of the Western Swing Hall of Fame.
http://recordingmag.com/readers-tracks/submit-your-track
RECORDING May 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RECORDING May 2024
Fade In
Fast Forward
LEWITT RAY
Vanguard Audio Labs V24
Crafting Modern Vocals
SPL Channel One Mk3 and Track One Mk3
RECORDING’s Field Notes: Recording Vocals
Ohma World Ribbon Microphone
API TCS-II Channel Strip
Studio 101: Delay-Based Effects, Part 1
TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik Alchemy Series TF17 FET
Soundware Showcase: Toontrack Session Organ EKX
Flock Audio PATCH VT + PATCH APP DX V1.1.0 + DX BRIDGE
Plugin Outlet: oeksound Bloom
Earthworks DM6
Soundware Showcase: Baby Audio Atoms
RØDE NT1 Signature Series Condenser Mic
Korg Keystage
Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby
Readers’ Tracks
Monheim Crème Tube Condenser Microphone
Fade Out
RECORDING May 2024 - Intro
RECORDING May 2024 - Cover1
RECORDING May 2024 - Cover2
RECORDING May 2024 - 1
RECORDING May 2024 - 2
RECORDING May 2024 - 3
RECORDING May 2024 - Fade In
RECORDING May 2024 - 5
RECORDING May 2024 - 6
RECORDING May 2024 - 7
RECORDING May 2024 - Fast Forward
RECORDING May 2024 - 9
RECORDING May 2024 - LEWITT RAY
RECORDING May 2024 - 11
RECORDING May 2024 - 12
RECORDING May 2024 - 13
RECORDING May 2024 - Vanguard Audio Labs V24
RECORDING May 2024 - 15
RECORDING May 2024 - 16
RECORDING May 2024 - 17
RECORDING May 2024 - Crafting Modern Vocals
RECORDING May 2024 - 19
RECORDING May 2024 - 20
RECORDING May 2024 - 21
RECORDING May 2024 - SPL Channel One Mk3 and Track One Mk3
RECORDING May 2024 - 23
RECORDING May 2024 - 24
RECORDING May 2024 - 25
RECORDING May 2024 - RECORDING’s Field Notes: Recording Vocals
RECORDING May 2024 - 27
RECORDING May 2024 - 28
RECORDING May 2024 - 29
RECORDING May 2024 - Ohma World Ribbon Microphone
RECORDING May 2024 - 31
RECORDING May 2024 - 32
RECORDING May 2024 - 33
RECORDING May 2024 - API TCS-II Channel Strip
RECORDING May 2024 - 35
RECORDING May 2024 - Studio 101: Delay-Based Effects, Part 1
RECORDING May 2024 - 37
RECORDING May 2024 - 38
RECORDING May 2024 - 39
RECORDING May 2024 - TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik Alchemy Series TF17 FET
RECORDING May 2024 - 41
RECORDING May 2024 - Soundware Showcase: Toontrack Session Organ EKX
RECORDING May 2024 - 43
RECORDING May 2024 - Flock Audio PATCH VT + PATCH APP DX V1.1.0 + DX BRIDGE
RECORDING May 2024 - 45
RECORDING May 2024 - Plugin Outlet: oeksound Bloom
RECORDING May 2024 - 47
RECORDING May 2024 - Earthworks DM6
RECORDING May 2024 - 49
RECORDING May 2024 - Soundware Showcase: Baby Audio Atoms
RECORDING May 2024 - 51
RECORDING May 2024 - RØDE NT1 Signature Series Condenser Mic
RECORDING May 2024 - 53
RECORDING May 2024 - Korg Keystage
RECORDING May 2024 - 55
RECORDING May 2024 - Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby
RECORDING May 2024 - 57
RECORDING May 2024 - 58
RECORDING May 2024 - 59
RECORDING May 2024 - 60
RECORDING May 2024 - 61
RECORDING May 2024 - 62
RECORDING May 2024 - 63
RECORDING May 2024 - 64
RECORDING May 2024 - 65
RECORDING May 2024 - Readers’ Tracks
RECORDING May 2024 - 67
RECORDING May 2024 - Monheim Crème Tube Condenser Microphone
RECORDING May 2024 - 69
RECORDING May 2024 - 70
RECORDING May 2024 - 71
RECORDING May 2024 - Fade Out
RECORDING May 2024 - Cover3
RECORDING May 2024 - Cover4
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