MINDSPEAK & Jeremy dePrisco



		Philosophy of Recording KISS (Keep it Simple, Songwriter) I record only stripped down acts that require demos or intimate recordings with minimal frills. My own music requires a lot of overdubs, and I enjoy that aspect of recording. However, my setup and schedule currently do not allow for the additional work needed in large production projects. Types of recordings I do Rather than just recording a CD, I approach each project with an ear toward archiving the artist's material. Much of this approach comes from the recording I've done with my father, and the nostalgia I feel when I listen to these tapes. Though my father never had professional aspirations as a performer, he can still sit back and listen to himself perform. The recordings we've made are a document of that time and place. Planning Stemming from my archival view, I approach each session with a fair amount of planning. When you arrive, mike stands will be set up, levels will be preset and the phone will be off the hook. How else can you take full advantage of the time at hand, when instruments and voices converge for a one and only performance? 1st take verses Nth take... I've noticed two schools of thought when it comes to getting the best take. Some people (myself included) prefer to go with the first, most fresh take. Others hammer out take after take until they get what appears to be the best performance. Sometimes that works, but I have found that continued hammering messes with your ears, and even though you may feel more focused, you are really not hearing things in a fresh way. I try to gain a balance between these two ways of thinking, and I will even allow myself time to hammer at a song if I really think it will do some good. Most times it is the first take, even with a few mistakes, that has the best energy. Talent selection I tend to choose talent that has a gritty, emotional edge. I am especially fond of writers who have lived a certain amount of hardship, and writers who know what it is like to work a full-time job and play music on the side. That appreciation goes a long way toward understanding my own needs as a producer/engineer. Preparedness Know your material. I don't enjoy editing for the sake of it. I would much rather see someone record in a relaxed, prepared way than in a stressed out, tense way. Also, know what to expect from the recording process. Don't expect to record a whole album in one night - that is rarely possible.