I write the songs of love and special things

This is an almost commercial post. I'm always ready to blog bad experiences with businesses. I also enjoy blogging the good ones. Yesterday I had a good one.

I have been doing live recordings for the MoBluz Band for a couple months now. I started out knowing zero about it. I had done studio recordings but I was the vocalist, not the tech. I've learned more but I have been limited to free software for mixing and recording. The help files taught me a lot but I just don't have the experience and training of a studio tech.

Yesterday I learned how much more can be done with proper equipment and training. Wow.

I followed along with MoB as he went for his first visit to the new studio we made contact with in Lansing. It was quite an experience.

Verdict Records is the start up venture of Chris Newberg. He's a student at one of the local colleges. While he's just starting out with his own studio he worked at a recording studio as a tech and his experience shows in his results.

I have to admit the location was daunting. We were only a block or two from the MSU stadium in Lansing on a game day. The address is just a house on the street, not a "business building". It's shared by several students. They were all very pleasant and enjoying the game on TV while we were there.

We got past all the "hmmmm...." feelings that caused and went on. Then we confronted the stairway to the third floor attic where the studio work is done. It's daunting. I haven't seen a twist in a stairway like that in years and years. I wish I'd thought to take a picture of it. That almost put us back to looking elsewhere. MoBluz and I are NOT 19 year old college students. Luckily we haven't lost our sense of adventure or balance.

I'm glad we haven't. We took the time to look around and talk with Cris. It was obvious that he had put a lot of time in getting the two small rooms sound proofed and tight. Some of his tools are home made but they do the job. We stayed. I am glad we did.

While getting equipment up is an issue the boys there are willing roadies, as is Chris. We had plenty of help. Set up took time, too. Then level setting. Then recording. MoBluz put down three tracks for a test burn. The first time set up always takes longest.

Once all the tracks are down the magic starts. That's where a trained tech comes in. I can add a little echo, up the bass or raise the treble. That's training.

What I saw that this young man has is a desire to have your music sound the way YOU want it to sound. He has the skill to accomplish that goal. More importantly, to me, he will work with your attempt to describe what you want different and keep tweaking until the fine tuning is right in your ears, not his. He never tried to debate a change, only to explain it and make it happen.

He agreed to fine tune one of my stereo recordings for me during a break. It was one that Kevin Murphy played sax on with the band. We started tweaking it together but I could see his ear was good and just left him to it while we went for a break and beverages. Singing is thirsty work.

The difference in the two files is audiable and laudable. The sax is loud and clear, not buried in the background noise.

He has the knowledge I don't have, but he also has an ear for balance that I think I do have. I know I love what he did for the song. I will post links so you can hear them when I get time.

I don't have the vocabulary for telling him that a sound needs the EQ raised for the bass tones. I can only say it's "too thin" or "not full enough".

His mouse flies through the programs, files and buttons, clicking and switiching until he finds the effect he thinks will work. He lands on one, adjusts some settings and plays it back for you in a flash. He's quick and knows his programs.

I don't need to know if he upped the reverb, the echo or raised the bass levels - I did need to know the sound was "richer" when he was done. He and MoB called it "warmer".

They could speak the language to each other. It made it quicker for the fine tuning of the tracks. I know MoB was good with the sound on the test tracks he laid down.

I also know that when I have my songs ready to record I will have my work done with Cris. It may be a "start up" studio, but he won't be long getting it started. He is keeping his rates VERY reasonable, too.

You can find him on the web at Verdict Records and on myspace http://myspace.com/verdictrecordslansing . I will be posting links to both on the side bar.

If you are interested in getting your original music recorded your way Verdict Records is the top of my list of places to call first. You will have a master CD to burn when you walk out the door.

I have checked out other studios and pricing in the area. I have talked with other recording techs. You can find bigger studios, better locations, more equipment - maybe even better prices (I doubt it!), but I challenge you to find a tech with more heart to get your music your way.

Chris Newberg at Verdict Records is going to be short on time to schedule recording very shortly, if I'm not mistaken. Get on the list now if you want studio time, I'm tellin' you!

His website is being updated. When the recording samples are up I will post a link here for you to check out.