Wlr&rr

[365_days_gone]

So did Matt really record all of the songs in one take? I read somewhere that it was not recorded with different layers and such. It sounds pretty good for one take.

[RicardoObviouso]

not all of them were recorded in one take... i knew a few were and there were penalties for any band member who screwed up, but the majority were recorded live off the floor... meaning no layering... just a few mics and the band playing together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what were the penalties? i believe whoever screwed up while recording had to drink a can of warm rainer beer out of a cow bell. and i believe the only victim was pat.

Edited May 12, 2006 by one_trick_pony

[no yu begin wher i end]

That sounds about right. It was recorded in 9 days, I think, and only with equipment from before 1975.

[uglyredhonda]

what were the penalties? i believe whoever screwed up while recording had to drink a can of warm rainer beer out of a cow bell. and i believe the only victim was pat.

Here's a mirror of that page:

 

http://www.chrisblackburn.com/oldlinks/studio4.htm

 

I wish he'd kept some of those studio pics online. I only vaguely remember the website from that period, but it was nice getting a peek into the recording process.

[Stu]

I'm dying to know what distortion is used in little terror and the tab for it (hint, hint). I pretty sure it's either a talkbox or wah. Anyone know?

Edited May 13, 2006 by Stu

[365_days_gone]

That is insane that he recorded it that way. How does it sound so good then?

[ToadMan]

Magic.

 

Even with just a few mics, there will still be multiple traces (with different balances). The recording can still be mastered. I would imagine that this is true for WLR&RR. I have no facts to back this up, just my opinion.

[365_days_gone]

So in some sences, it is almost a live record. ;)

[uglyredhonda]

It was multi-tracked like any other studio recording. The difference was that all of the instruments were recorded simultaneously instead of one at a time. The mix was processed like any other studio recording, just with Warne trying a few "old-school" tricks.

 

While whole takes were used, I've never seen any assertion or implication that the band only recorded each song once. I assume they did multiple takes of each track and "finished" the best one.

 

I certainly doubt it was "just a few mics". There's no reason that they couldn't have had twenty-four (or more) individual mics recording at the same time. (They more than likely avoided the bleed-over between guitars and drums by stationing the amps in separate locations, away from where they were performing.)

 

I think some of the recording process for WLRRR has been confused or overstated. It has certainly not been uncommon for bands to record albums this way, it's just been uncommon for major albums. (Frank Black has recorded several albums where the entire album was recorded and mixed live to two-track.)

 

More from Livesey's point of view, via 49music.net:

 

"Matt has his own interpretation of LoFi, which is cool, but I am not sure this record really sounds LoFi in the accepted sense, but definitely Retro. We wanted a 70s vibe to the recording and a simpler sonic picture to previous records. We used simple mic'ing on the drums involving old tube and ribbon mics, old mic pres, Eqs and compressors and took a much more 70s approach to guitar and bass tones, utilising a lot more vintage guitars than before. We wanted to be as far away from modern rock as possible. Controversially, we did not use tape, but recorded on Protools. Many people would believe that tape gives you a more old school sound, but what is far more significant is the attitude of the people making the record and the kind of sounds you are dialling up. We used Protools primarily because it is way quicker, cutting out a lot of spooling and tape changing time, and speed of working and keeping that momentum was by far the most important factor in keeping to what we were trying to do. By the way, this was the first time we recorded using an HD Protools system, which sounds far sweeter than the older systems and thus not as different to analogue recording."

 

http://www.49music.net/main/?type=menu&act=2&headid=13

 

As far as my own opinion, I wish Warne had used more of his usual processing concepts. I personally think two guitars can be enough on a record, but the way they sound on WLRRR sometimes seems flat / dead / empty. Plus, whoever did the mastering should be smacked for killing the low-end.

[icantremember1989]

um like whatever

[uglyredhonda]

um like whatever

Yeah, reading is kinda complicated.

[icantremember1989]

are you trying to make fun of me? because if youre, my feelings are really hurt and you win and i lose. now go listen to wlrrr and cry because they killed the low end.

[RicardoObviouso]

what were the penalties? i believe whoever screwed up while recording had to drink a can of warm rainer beer out of a cow bell. and i believe the only victim was pat.

Here's a mirror of that page:

 

http://www.chrisblackburn.com/oldlinks/studio4.htm

 

I wish he'd kept some of those studio pics online. I only vaguely remember the website from that period, but it was nice getting a peek into the recording process.

the only reason why i remembered that is because its not the first time they've done that. during the recording of anti-pop, the same rules applied. i remember it well because i had to drink it.

 

 

i think it may have even been the same cowbell, now that i see the the picture again.

[uglyredhonda]

i think it may have even been the same cowbell, now that i see the the picture again.

Two words: tetanus shot.

[Stu]

what were the penalties? i believe whoever screwed up while recording had to drink a can of warm rainer beer out of a cow bell. and i believe the only victim was pat.

Here's a mirror of that page:

 

http://www.chrisblackburn.com/oldlinks/studio4.htm

 

I wish he'd kept some of those studio pics online. I only vaguely remember the website from that period, but it was nice getting a peek into the recording process.

the only reason why i remembered that is because its not the first time they've done that. during the recording of anti-pop, the same rules applied. i remember it well because i had to drink it.

 

 

i think it may have even been the same cowbell, now that i see the the picture again.

Why would you have to drink it? Okay, Do you know matt or something? who are you?.. ;)

[RicardoObviouso]

its a long story. but i'll give you the jyst of it:

 

i was part of a group involved in the recording of anti-pop. and as far as 'knowing' matt, i wouldnt consider us to even be aquantences, but he knows me and i know him. both on a level based on more than idol/fan. our parents were neighbours for years, my step sister works for chorus media and HOB which does a lot of work for/with matt, and i've known ian browne since before he was with mgb.

[365_days_gone]

hahaha I bet! ;)

[fukwa2253]

just one song was done in one take according to matt

[gordonfreeman12345]

one take is pretty amazing