BelleAnne recording a vocal part - or is she just posing? - with the amazing AEA R44CNE ribbon microphone.

My Stuff.

In 1996, I bought a 4-track cassette recorder, a Yamaha MT4.  I was hooked again; now, I could record myself 4 times without ANY sound on sound.  I soon sold that and bought a Tascam 8-track cassette recorder.  This was even better!


After flirting with upgrading yet again to a standalone digital recorder, I figured out that digital recording on the computer was the way to go.  I bought Cakewalk Pro Audio, Version 7, upgrading later to Version 8 and then 9.  I tried Sonar when it first came out, but I didn't see that it provided anything I needed that Pro Audio 9 didn't provide, so that's what I've been using for years.  In early 2002, I bought an Aardvark Q10 Direct Pro, which has been my mainstay since.  I also have an Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 if I need more than eight tracks at a time.   The Aardvarks have their own discrete preamps which are pretty nice, but I also have an Aphex 207 dual-channel tube preamp.

Microphones.  Here's a Picture of part of my collection.
For the past few years, I've also become a microphone collector, with a special interest in ribbon mics.  My ribbon mics are:

• 2 AEA R84
• 1 AEA R44CNE
• 1 Shure SM33
• 2 Shure 330
• 1 Shure 333
• 1 Shure 300
• 1 Beyerdynamic M160
• 1 Beyerdynamic M260
• 3 Beyerdynamic M500 - each is a different "variety" of this model
  

In small-diaphragm condensor mics, I have a pair of Oktava MK012s, each with cardioid, supercardioid, and omnidirectional capsules, as well as the 10 db pads, and a pair of Rode NT5s.  In large-diaphragm condensors - which I almost never use any more with those nice ribbons around - my locker holds a Rode NT1000, an Audio Technica 4033, a Studio Projects C1 and a Studio Projects B3.

My dynamic mic collection is nice.  It includes:

• 2 Sennheiser MD421 MKII
• 1 Sennheiser MD441
• 2 Sennheiser MD431
• 2 Beyerdynamic M88
• 1 Beyerdynamic M300 (Soundstar MKII)
• 1 Beyerdynamic M69
• 1 Electrovoice RE20
• 3 Electrovoice RE18
• 3 Electrovoice 367 N/D
• 3 Electrovoice 635a
• 2 Electrovoice PL80
• 1 Electrovoice N/D 308
  
• 2 Electrovoice RE55
• 1 Shure Beta 58
• 1 Shure SM57
• 1 Peavey 520i

I also have a couple of boundary microphones.

Instruments.
My studio contains

• a full Tama "Rockstar" drum set with two snare drums and five Zildjian cymbals (Zildjian "New Beat" high hats);
• a Hammond M2 organ with Leslie 145 speaker;
• Four Fender Precision basses (they're all different) and two Fender Jazz basses;
• A Fender Concert Amp;
• An Ampeg B15-N (blue-diamond);
• An Ampeg Reverberocket 2, refurbished by Jess Oliver, the guy who designed the amp;
• A Peavey Delta Blues guitar amp;
• A SWR WM400 bass amp with Avatar SB12 Neo speaker;
• A Gibson SG guitar;
• A Fender Stratocaster guitar;
• An Epiphone Alley Kat guitar;
• An Epiphone Supernova guitar;
• A Danelectro "Hodad" baritone guitar;
• A Martin D28;
• An Alvarez Yairi DY69 acoustic guitar;
• An Alvarez Yairi acoustic baritone guitar.

My approach.

I'm still learning and, God willing, will continue to do so.  When possible, I record people playing together rather than rely on overdubbing.   I attempt to capture as natural a sound as possible and subject the captured sound to minimal processing.  This means using a mimimum number of the right microphones and placing them in optimum locations.   I can use up to three separate rooms if needed, to reduce bleed; but bleed is not always an enemy.

Here are some samples of what I've recorded and mixed in my studio:

Mayn Shvester Khaye - the Nigun Orchestra, with mandolin by Scott Tichenor.

Chiribim Chiribom - my wife singing, with the L'chaim Players.

The "In" Crowd - the Ramsey Lewis instrumental, played by Dan Doran on piano, Rick Yord on bass, and Chip Lewis on drums

Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues - Tom Hall, vocal and guitar; Rick Yord, bass; Andy Curry, rhythm guitar

Please contact me if you want me to record you!  My rates are very reasonable.

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Copyright 2006 by Andy Curry