Episode 12 - Crow's Eye - Part 1

Ken talks about how he wrote and recorded the song "Crow's Eye" off his "What's Coming" EP. Part 1
Intro Clip
Still photos: IG/priscillacscott
Additional photos by
Wyatt Troll
Jeff Bender
Alison Dyer
Olaf Heine
Ryan Daly
Myriam Santos-Kayda
Syd Kato
Illustration by Evan Long
Ken Andrews music and merchandise:
www.hellomerch...
Failure music and merchandise available at: www.hellomerch...
If interested in booking Ken’s mixing services and all other general inquiries:
www.kenandrews.com

[@BD-me4nk]

I watch a lot of KZbin and this is hands down my favorite channel. Can't get enough. Thanks Ken for doing this.

[@robertreynolds9961]

For real tho.

[@tatumleonidas1444]

i know it is kinda randomly asking but does anybody know a good place to watch new series online?

[@jamalshepherd243]

@Tatum Leonidas Flixportal :P

[@tatumleonidas1444]

@Jamal Shepherd Thank you, I went there and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :) I really appreciate it!!

[@jamalshepherd243]

@Tatum Leonidas no problem =)

[@DreaNEO]

I just returned from band practice...THIS is exactly what I need for the sake of education and perspective. Thank you Ken. You are a black belt kung fu master.

[@MrMatamatic]

I could have watched two hours of this ! THX Ken !

[@mattperreault3518]

Also I never thought about it before but that’s a great tip about steering the groove with the bass and guitar!

[@matthewwachter9070]

The technical aspects of these videos are way over my head, but I am fascinated watching a master producer/song writer such as yourself practice your craft. Thank you for sharing.

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@firefoxussr31]

I absolutely love seeing how the nuts and bolts go together! I now have a new appreciation for this song, simply thank you for doing these videos.

[@larryhendrickson6830]

The album is sooooo good! Bought the album and still bumping it every morning to my shitty job...

[@catharsisecho]

Crow's Eye is my favorite off the EP. There's just something Bowie-esque that I love about it. Really enjoyed the part 1 deep dive. BTW, sorry if I overstepped with the Heavy and Blind thing. No ill intentions meant.

[@SLAVECO3]

Always a treat. Thanks Ken.

[@d1sp0s1t10n]

Love these videos Ken!! I'd really like to see a dive into 'Heavy and Blind'. Definitely is my favorite song for the latest Failure record.

[@jadew.6786]

Professor Andrews! Im ready for class. I look forward to your videos. Informative and helpful.

[@ransbarger]

Thank you.

[@jongallardo8006]

Really stoked for these videos you’re doing . Here’s to hoping Failure will tour those 3 albums next year as originally planned!

[@nedim_guitar]

For a hobby musician such as myself, this is very helpful! Everything doesn't have to stick, the tone of the instruments can be utilized in a better way (just the phaser thing and the cutting out the kick in does a lot in this specific case)... It all makes me feel like I can do it, with some attention to detail, and it doesn't necessarily always need to be a complex guitar part in there. Inspiring!

[@englishiowa]

I literally just commented a couple hrs ago on a diff production video of yours that it’d be amazing to see some of your mixing techniques and plugins 🤯. So this is awesome to see. And the EP is what sold me on finally getting Superior Drummer 3. Thank you sir!

[@markbailey574]

Love the smile at 15:13. Glad to see that Ken enjoys making the music that we enjoy listening to!

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

absolutely! as hard as this year has been, somehow music still brings me joy.

[@catharsisecho]

Hell yeah!!

[@mattperreault3518]

If it’s feeling kinda lazy you gotta make it phasey. Haha! I’m a big fan of your work sir! Keep it coming!

[@philippgrunert8776]

The content ist brilliant, learning a Lot

[@vonapathy]

Nice! This is great song to breakdown, and I eagerly await part 2. Although I do have to admit I'm very curious about the vocal effects in Too Many Thoughts. I think you touched upon it during Jim Adkins podcast, but I can't remember what you said!

[@deviousmind5072]

Dear Ken, a Huge THANK YOU for hearing us for this new videos. Amazing work and a great way to enter deeper into your work, approach, mind and song. I learned a lot. One day, someone will ask me: "Who is your teacher ?", and I will answer: "Mister Ken Andrews, man !!!! "

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Wow, thank you for this comment! Its so good to know that these videos are connecting, much appreciated.

[@deviousmind5072]

@@KenAndrewsMusic May I ask you what is the brand of pedalboard you are using on live ? I saw some videos of one in aluminium perfored and really thin ... thx for your help

[@Badgrammarterry]

Love this song a lot! Great Job Ken!

[@eldude-iv8dw]

I’d love to see a video where you do a breakdown for Another Space Song, specifically the drums. Your drum sound/mix is perfect, Quicksand Slip and anything Failure are the gold standard.

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Thank you so much!

[@alfredolecuona7284]

Gracias Ken!!!

[@danieln2967]

Hey Andrew! What SD pickups are in that LP?

[@iagol9737]

Hi Ken! Fantastic episode! :) Can i ask you what are your favourite expansions for Superior Drummer? and also, do you use Superior Drummer to augment live drums while mixing? Thanks!!

[@asmokingumbrella]

Glad to see a new post! Can you please tell us what pickups are outfitted on your '76 Les Paul? Is that a SD JB in the bridge?

[@christmeister]

It's a SD '59 in the bridge and I think a custom in the neck

[@robertreynolds9961]

Its a seymour duncan custom classic in the bridge. I habevthat pickup...its so nice and chunky.

[@gmajneu0]

Ken - I always forget to ask. What's that guitar stand you're using? Thanks for the insights in this series! It's great.

[@donalkennedy6393]

Fascinating, thanks for this Ken!

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

My pleasure!

[@pop__rocks7775]

Loving the videos!! I remember you having the Les Paul on our "pre-palooza" tour in 94.

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

That's right!

[@spencerb2631]

Dude! It's so refreshing to see how little processing you're doing with the drums and bass. I also use Superior 3 and as somebody who hasn't been able to record with or mix real kits, I constantly find myself tweaking the sounds too much. Would love to get your thoughts on the mixes on my channel if you ever have time. Thanks so much for continuing with these episodes they're truly invaluable!

[@robertreynolds9961]

He really is a "simple is usually best" guy.

[@DeadPerspective]

Quality content

[@jacobsmith1877]

Such a simple guitar part but it works so well in the song. I absolutely love SD3. A couple of things I don't know if you've thought of with SD3 - you can enable the full bleed options but then turn the bleed down a bit - it adds some realistic glue between channels without being obnoxious. I also tend to excessively humanize the drum midi to get the track sounding slightly sloppy. You can drag or rush some fills, make faster kick parts sloppy, etc.

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Yep, I mix the bleed to taste, for crows eye I wanted everything really dry and separate. Have not played with the humanizing feature enough yet. Thanks!

[@davidlovellbass4761]

Hi Ken. What’s that guitar stand/holder you’re using?

[@snavs420]

Is "Hair and Honk" the sequel to Sword and Shield?

[@EMPERORTITSWORTH]

Your videos are fanfreakingtastic! Where can I get one of those desk mounted guitar stands? My shoulders anxiously await your reply...

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Thanks! not desk mounted. its a floor stand: K&M Performer Walk Up Guitar Stand - Electric.

[@Aiur]

🤘

[@jaysonscott187]

Pretty cool man. Thank you for sharing! :)

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Glad you liked it!

[@songsfromtheclassroom9638]

Hi Ken, would love to hear how your process for getting the SD3 midi files onto PT instrument tracks for editing the midi in PT and not in the SD3 mixer. I like the idea of having it laid out in PT and working on the midi velocities there as opposed to inside of the SD3 plug-in. I hope that makes sense. lol. And, have a wonderful New Year's Eve my friend. :)

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Hmm, I do edit the midi tracks in PT. I don't use any of the composing or groove tools in SD3 at all. I play my midi tracks in, or sometimes draw them if that's faster. I just use SD3 as a sample host. Now if you mean how do I PRINT the SD3 sounds to AUDIO tracks, yes I do that 99% of the time. I usually print out each component of the kit separately into stereo tracks with the amount of ambient mics I want blended in. So Kick, Snare, Rack, Floor, Hat, etc. However, I generally lean more towards slightly dryer sounds when I print them out so I have some room to add more ambience in the mix.

[@Trujogrunge86]

🙏👏🤙😎

[@nastyporch3275]

Have you and Greg and Kellii looked into any kind of jamming-across-the-internet services? I'd be curious if you found something reliable with low latency.

[@blahuhm6782]

Ninjam is zero latency.... well kinda ;)

[@nastyporch3275]

@@blahuhm6782 cool, I'll check it out! Of course there's going to some degree of latency with everything but just looking for the best option at this point :)

[@catharsisecho]

Roger Waters performed "Mother" live with his current band during the initial lock-down where they were all in different locations, and it was synced up perfectly. Of course, Waters has financial resources well beyond what is available to just about anyone else, but it shows such a thing is possible.

[@bdamotta]

Any particular reason for having all your outputs on the Fractal maxed out?

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

No, I think my tech just made that as a reminder to himself. If you could defeat those knobs I would. Not needed in our application and if one gets bumped all hell breaks loose.

[@healyed]

This is awesome. I’d love to see an ever deeper dive on your process for programming drums. Things like: are you using some of the included grooves in superior drummer as starting point and adjusting? Quantizing? Playing patterns in by hand? Looks like things were pretty free form form but in time from the midi editor closeups. Super appreciate you taking the time to do this.

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

I'm not using any included grooves. I usually can hear the pattern I want in my head so its just faster to finger-drum it into ProTools and then edit further. Yes Quantizing, most of the time, usually not 100% though and sometimes leave the hi-hat less quantized. I do try and make sure the down beat of each section is right on the grid or a bit after, because if its before, it makes editing the kit later kind of a pain.

[@healyed]

@@KenAndrewsMusic outstanding. Thanks for the insight.

[@denverrandy7143]

Beautiful Les Paul,What Seymour Duncan is that in the bridge position outta curiosity?

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

I think it's a Jeff Beck? Neck pu was in the guitar when I bought it, although I don't think it's OG. All I know is they both sound really good and I have no interest in changing the sound of this guitar.

[@denverrandy7143]

@@KenAndrewsMusic Sounds great,I was looking and I think the neck pick up is an older model seymour duncan before they started writing the "sd" signature on them...and yea, please don't change them. You wrote my favorite albums on them.lol🤘👍Have a good one Ken,take care.

[@lespaulguy22]

Ken, what kind of pickups do you put in your P Bass? Love your bass sounds.

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Duncan 1/4 pound for p bass. Thanks!

[@Floped00]

Hey Ken any chance that your solo projects will come to vinyl?

[@nikitadovidchenko6336]

Legendary Les Paul!

[@FrazierGregory]

Ken, I am in a hospital bed the day after a major surgery on my neck and will be very restricted on what I can pick up and would probably have to have my students hand me my guitar or bass when I remembered an earlier video where you used a guitar stand and had the pleasure of watching this one earlier. Which stand do you recommend?

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

greg I saw that on Facebook. I hope your recovery is smooth man. I had full ACL replacement last year. Yes the stand I'm using is designed for bass guitar and electric guitar, not acoustic guitar, but they make that variant as well. K&M Performer Walk Up Guitar Stand - Electric.

[@zachromanoff3933]

Ken You’re always a pleasure to watch and learn from. My new solo project is about seven songs deep and I’m finding it a little daunting trying to mix and stay objective. Any advice for mixing your own tracks? Thank you sir

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Good question. Listening in the next room sometimes help reveal problems that really good speakers or nice headphones can smooth over. Step out of the room for a few minutes. Listen to something else, like news.

[@zachromanoff3933]

@@KenAndrewsMusic that’s great advice. Thanks for a quick response and I wish you a merry holiday season! -Z

[@larryhendrickson6830]

#failureforlife

[@blahuhm6782]

Lol, I love when people ask me what my interests are and I get to see the funny look on their face when I say "I'm a long-time fan of failure."

[@catharsisecho]

When I get a strange look when wearing a Failure shirt, I generally say, "It's a band, not a personal motto." Heh.

[@brucelee8329]

Any chance the EP goes vinyl Ken?

[@zachromanoff3933]

Ken, do you recommend Fractal over tube amps in a home studio environment?

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

I recommend pretty much any decent modeler or even plug-in for home recording because recording a loud guitar amp in a domestic space is fraught with big problems. Main one being its really hard to be sonically isolated from a loud guitar amp in a house. And that bleed can really hinder you in evaluating what you're recording unless you're willing to record some and play it back every time you make a change to the sound. 2nd big problem is roommates and neighbors! I think high quality guitar modelling is one of the BIGGEST boons to home recording ever. The only drawback is getting feedback, but my monitoring system is capable of getting loud enough to vibrate the guitar body, which is harder with smaller speakers.

[@zachromanoff3933]

@@KenAndrewsMusic can you recommend one modeler over another? Subjective opinion of course. Thanks

[@giantbiclighter]

Ken - off topic, sorry. I would love to hear your thoughts on the new HUM album

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Hmm, not sure I want to wade into becoming a music critic, but I will say I have listened to it a lot and enjoy it.

[@Infrared72]

cool video - especially the breakdown on the rhythm section. I like what you had to say about the fact that the bass guitar and kick drum ended up a little out of sync. That kind of stuff always adds feel to a track and keeps it from sounding square and stiff with everything perfectly aligned to each beat.

[@Tool185]

Hey Ken, I am massive fan of yours and honestly from your point of view, why did you pick the axe fx as your go to from the rest of the competition? I wanna become a sound engineer as well and wanna know what will be best to pick for an amp modeler really.

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

In 2014 I took the top Kemper and the top Fractal into my studio and evaluated them for 10 days. At that point I preferred the Fractal both sonically and functionally. While I have not auditioned every modeler that has come since then I have investigated most of them, and functionally they don't really compete with the Fractal IMHO. It can be simple or really complex and customizeable. It also encourages a lot of experimentation which I enjoy. But honestly, from strictly a sound perspective, none of the main players in the amp-modeling space sound bad. I'm sure I could get sounds I liked from all of them.

[@Tool185]

@@KenAndrewsMusic Ty very much!

[@jaysonscott187]

So have you been able to mix any artist's albums lately? How about a soundtrack piece? How do you go about getting that kind of work? Thanks man.

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Yes I have been mixing albums, although since they are for touring bands the release dates have not been locked in. I think there are a lot of albums that are finished and people are waiting to see what the best time to release them is going to be based on touring possibilities and the pandemic. I've been really lucky that since Fantastic Planet came out I've had a fairly steady stream of artists inquiring about me as a producer or mixer. At this point, over 100 albums mixed, I am getting most of my work based off a specific album I have mixed in the past. Some people still reference FP, but a lot of people have heard my electronic mixing work, or my work with female singers, so its kind of a mixed bag these days genre wise. Recording gear is so cheap now, there's really no excuse to not be out there recording/mixing music in some form. Find unsigned artists you like and record and mix them for free. Hone your craft. But of course, to make a career out of it, you eventually need to be a part of something that a bunch of people really like. Which is obviously luck. But I have noticed that luck tends to favor those who show up and do the work!

[@catharsisecho]

@@KenAndrewsMusic I don't remember the exact quote, but Picasso once said something like, "Inspiration will find you, but she must find you at work."

[@puredistraction]

Do you own the rights to Shifting Skin at this point? If so, have you ever considered reissuing all the ON material under your name? Still some of my favorite Failure related material, and it doesn't even come up in related artists for Failure and KA on Spotify! Bums me out to think of newer fans not being able to easily discover the albums. Not to mention there are at least 3 Shifting Skin b-sides that were released, maybe you have some more stuff? A comprehensive ON compilation would be so rad.

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Thank you so much for pushing on this. Shifting Skin: At this point it's less about the rights and more about the unfortunate fact that I'm having trouble accessing the multitrack files because it was made so long ago. Long story but I used a tape based back solution back then and while I have the tape, restoring those files is turning into major nightmare because the software has been re-written several times, and oh no I've gone cross-eyed... But seriously I really want to get the multitracks for that album before I re-release it.

[@TurtleBeoulve]

Do you ever write/produce without a thought on whether you could do it live? Have you ever just decided, "fuck it, this is a studio only thing"?

[@robertreynolds9961]

Do you have 2 of these ECG series 5 guitars?

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Yes I do, one is exactly like my Signature model, and the other has different electronics. No piezo system, but the neck and bridge pickups come out two separate outputs.

[@robertreynolds9961]

@@KenAndrewsMusic so you actually have 3 of them? Wow. They look killer! Wish I had one! Man I would love to see a lil tour of all your guitars. See what all is in your guit-arsenal! That would be an epic video. Love your channel man! And your comments are epic!

[@therudeawakening51]

Hey Ken, pardon my clueless-ness, but, I didn't get your reaction to the "Sword and Shield" video clip. Were you unhappy with the video?

[@catharsisecho]

Hmm... I interpreted it as, "Yeah, I went there, and it was glorious."

[@KenAndrewsMusic]

Not at all. I directed it! Just laughing at all the negative responses it got.

[@therudeawakening51]

@@KenAndrewsMusic Ah! Got it. Thanks!

[@audiopropaganda5992]

Can I get the laugh/cough as a ringtone?

[@froghawk]

Please never stop using a ton of phaser!