Making Records with Eric Valentine - WTF#1 The Answers Part 2

[@AndersAalborg]

7:59 - Who would you want to produce/engineer/mix your solo album? 9:07 - Top 2 desert island records, and why? 11:03 - Engineering heroes, dream band to record, holy-grail piece of gear 14:22 - Record most proud of and pleased with sonically 15:38 - Editing/tweaking of vocals vs leaving as original performance 18:18 - Drum tuning/head choice/dampening, old vs new guitar strings, favorite nebula 21:50 - Dry vs “live”-room drum recording, and considerations 25:18 - Mics for K/S, 1176 blue-stripe revision, ever release Pye clones? 29:02 - Suggestions for cheaper OH-mics, kick, snare, toms 33:48 - Eureka moments over the years? 37:28 - “Analog-free” future? 39:48 - Music career Qs, planned trajectory/goals? 43:41 - Living in major music cities with regards to career opportunities 47:12 - Traditional studio-ranks vs home studio and learning online, etc 52:25 - Third Eye Blind drum sounds 56:07 - Handling phase issues when delaying, gating, low-passing kick track copy 57:40 - Biggest change in recording over the years, aligning guitars/bass to edited drums? 1:03:31 - Collaborating with plugin manufacturers? AD/DA-conversion 1:08:19 - What did you have for lunch? Thx. 1:09:02 - There can be only one: pre/EQ/compressor/mic (not UTA-stuff) 1:11:39 - Lifting a recording to another level 1:13:31 - Stand out song over the years which you had difficulty with 1:19:49 - Recording bass on the Death from Above-record

[@PatFlanigan]

Doing the lord's work, I see! Although I do encourage everyone to watch the whole thing...

[@Khmissa]

thank you bro

[@AndersAalborg]

@@PatFlanigan As do I! This just makes it easier to revisit the answers 😏

[@mikelisa7180]

Only a photographer-kicking front-man-baby would be so precious lol

[@deadrituals]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all these questions!

[@taopagan]

I love that you make yourself available and share your insights so freely. Thank you!

[@castlestreetrecords]

Sorry about the loss eric R.I.P apreciate you doing the video anyway and containing such an honest environment

[@thebrainrecordingstudios8976]

Great way of looking at the QOTSA thing man. I wish I had that zen like perspective on such tricky things.

[@OlofBerggren]

Would love to hear more about your work with Nickel Creek. There are some lovely vocal sounds, thinking of the radio-sounding lead on When in Rome especially. Thanks!

[@miguelluismusic4181]

Waking up to this very informative chill session (recording my songs all season long) God bless you Eric...

[@sixtosixes2540]

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I'm glad you enjoyed your soup and olives. Looking forward to the next round when I can ask you about dinner. Bless.

[@Martin-kn6vc]

Would love to see a drum tuning video from you. I love your drum sounds!

[@johnvcougar]

In case you missed it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2fCaJStarqIm6M

[@jordanredroom]

"I think I know whats missing...so maybe at some point ill create a plugin" - HOLY CRAP!

[@PatFlanigan]

Also, the fact that Semi-Charmed Life and Go with The Flow have the same snare and snare head blows my mind!

[@mattwinegar527]

Hey Eric. I'm a huge fan of your channel and your record production/engineering over the years. The Bianco U87 on kick batter/under snare was used on the second Spent Poets record "Steve" recorded at Coast recorders. David Bianco (who was an incredible engineer and all around sweetheart) at the time called it, "A waste of a track... and a phase nightmare". I set it up through an 1176 after he setup his mics and I requested it get it's own track, because it was what we had used in our own studio recording drums for our demos. We called it the ELO mic because it sounded like ELO's "Don't bring me down" to us. When it came time to mix he decided he really liked that ELO mic and he later told me he used that same U87 setup for years after that. I believe Jacquire was working around Coast at that time and that's somewhat likely where it was picked up. It makes me happy that it traveled around a bit.

[@mrwev]

Thats cool!! Its great to hear the full legacy of that technique and give credit where its due :)

[@jonoville]

Thank you for answering my question. Still working hard here in London. Will feel like I've made it once I have enough spare cash and space to have a drumbrella!

[@samtheinsaneshred]

Anyone else think Josh just doesn't want people to know they were messed up on drugs so much that Eric had to take them away to a different studio? I call BS on Eric being "too into the minutia". That's the whole reason you get Eric in to do your record! He gets everything right, right down to the "boring stuff". Not hating QOTSA, love the band, just think the reason it was taken down was a bit weak.

[@mrGood-84]

Sam Leader I guess you could be right. It is a sensitive subject no matter how you look at it... In any case, Eric, sir - we are grateful that you’ve shared the information about the whole process. I doubt anyone who’s in this audience gives any shit about those “creative” moments most of the bands go through. We are here for the knowledge. I hope it won’t backfire on you! Can’t wait for the next material! P.S. could one of the next videos be about Slash’s debut album? :)

[@acarlovonsexron1994]

They were never a band to hide their drug use or problems. "First It Giveth (Then It Taketh Away)" ring any bells? That's not the issue. They have another song called "The Lost Art of Keeping A Secret" that's probably more apt. He feels he's worked hard to develop these "secrets" and just doesn't want to give them out like slices of cake. He's said so more or less explicitly. And never mind that most of what was "revealed" actually wasn't that nuts, but the fact people want to know so bad what happened he wants people to work for it too, I'd guess.

[@louderthangod]

Sam Leader Josh doesn’t seem to shy away from talking about his drug use.

[@EtcEtcAndEtc]

@@louderthangod It's a different thing when someone else is talking about it though.

[@louderthangod]

EtcEtcAndEtc That’s reasonable.

[@r.ezlets]

Yes! I have been waiting for more, thank you :)

[@renatoquaresma82]

Can't wait for the Waves Unfairchild and ValenTape plugins! Thanks for the videos Eric!

[@thehowlingterror]

Oh forgot to say; Thank you Eric Valentine for being open and honest. Love this show.

[@OliverAmberg]

Thank you for all the insights and memories. I hope there will be a chance to hear the iPhone demo of Release one time.

[@BockwinkleB]

Josh Homme, Master of Mystery, released his new album on YT the instant he released it to paying customers. "His band, his thing" indeed.

[@alejandroraia]

thanks for answering Eric, I actually expressed myself badly and wanted to know a little more about your experience when recording this type of bands exceeding the common, as one thinks the steps to follow to face a project so out of the ordinary in terms of the sound composition of instruments

[@joelybarish4618]

Could you please go into greater detail about your separate music and vocal busses?? I'm particularly curious as to how they are summed back into the masterbus.

[@crestiferj2689]

the lost art of keeping a secret. i respect that about josh and qotsa. i am glad you had a chance to talk with josh and work things out. i admire you respecting his wishes. he's built this thing...this mystique...since he was a teen. it's his art. he wants the art to speak for itself. that's pretty...rock and roll. thanks for doing all these videos.

[@DavidEvangelistaMusic]

Hey Eric, can you please go over and deconstruct Good Charlotte's Lifestyles of the rich and famous?

[@buzsman]

Eric, thnx a lot for what you're doing! Very inspiring!

[@koenraadfoesters]

I feel the same about Shawn Everett. This guy is just off the charts. That new Brittany record is insane sounding.

[@yoyolebatteur]

I think the Michael Jackson anecdote is about Billie Jean where Bruce Swedien said they went up to mix 91 because each time someone wanted a tiny change, but eventually, as EtcEtcAndEtc said, they went back and used mix 2. He posted that on Gearslutz years ago, that forum has some gems.

[@LesonDeson]

About editing distorted guitar, there's a cool trick when you don't have the di. It is to duplicate the amp track filter all the hi mids and highs out then that track looks more like a di and is perfectly synced with the amp so you can group the two and edit. I've read about and heard you say multiple times how you capture guitars reamping them and that you were working on a future reamping dispatching unit. How close is that from going straight to the amp? I feel like going DI then reamp I'm losing some of the tone on the way (and the interaction between the guitar and the amp) even if it's so much more convenient. I would love to hear you about it as I know you've tried everything possible. Thank you

[@boglot]

Eric, at 1:21:50 were you referring to the Tech 21 Blonde pedal?

[@nicknovak5514]

Albini does the lav mic on kick beater too. He uses a countryman isomax 2.

[@t_n8435]

I knew you were going to say Shawn! I actually went to your studio with him about 12 years ago

[@miguelluismusic4181]

Eric...... when you go over drum recording in the future, could you drop a quick two cents on recording with two mics... Many of us are living this two mic lifestyle... I'm interested in the overhead + kick drum setup, but always freak out with phase anxiety if I were to set up the kick mic a few feet in front vs. just inside the kick drum port. I also get mic bleed anxiety if the kick drum mic is a few feet in front. Is their a type of Xanax for this, or should I just keep drinking Reishi mushroom tea? Also maybe if you could go over a single overhead mic and a room mic far away, and how to deal with the phase issues... Thank you King Eric...

[@rowegardner9673]

Pleaseeeee make a tape plugin! Or any plug in. I feel like you could bring a valuable perspective to the plugin market. Actually, I’m curious how you’d get along with Kush Audio’s plugins.... You guys teaming up for a tape plugin would be a dream haha.

[@jameshal9871]

I just got hard

[@nickguttmann2646]

Not sure if you’re still reading comments from this video, but had a question. I tend to record fairly safe while tracking and rarely use tape. I see that you like adding harmonics and bus compression etc during mixing. Any tips on giving the playback/rough mixes some energy before adding all the plugins during mixing? So I can still overdub etc without latency/bypassing plugins

[@bencekarai642]

Hi Eric. I don't know where to send you a question so I'm dumping it here, hoping it will make it into the next WTF video. It's strange talkint about such a beautiful song in technical terms but i was curious about what are you using on Grace's 'Release' for the vocals? When there are huge transients in the vocal, some sort of saturation or distorsion seams to appear. Is that just your tape machine or is there something more to it?

[@GetUpTo88]

Hey Eric, I think you should demo the new IK Tape Machines if you haven't yet. I've got the other usual suspects like the UAD ones, Slate, Waves, etc as these are a step above for sure. They are CPU intensive so I'm using PT's "commit" function with them per track but I can still easily go back and tweak and re-commit and they are worth it. Putting together a mix after using them on every track reminds me of mixing off tape a lot more than other plugins but I don't work at a studio with a tape machine anymore to directly compare. Would love to hear your thoughts on them either way.

[@mrwev]

I'll check em out!! Thanks!

[@cmousdale]

Thanks for doing these… just to clarify - will you NOT be going that in-depth on any future videos? :-( Or just QOTSA stuff? I love these in depth videos. It'd be a shame to lose that... however some bands must be cool with it? Like with the DFA1979 guys?

[@mrwev]

Chris Mousdale sorry this was not clear :) I will be doing in depth videos for pretty much every other band I’ve ever worked with because all of them have been very excited to be a part of the channel. QOTSA/Josh is the only band that is requesting that I don’t do that anymore.

[@cmousdale]

@@mrwev Thanks for the clarification. That's great to hear! Love this about your channel, I find it fascinating both as a fan of the bands and also as a lover of that art of audio production. Thanks!

[@LesonDeson]

Starting with a good laugh at the cleaning keyboard.

[@sbstefan]

As much as I love the mix breakdown videos, I totally understand Josh's perspective and the whole "preserve the mystery" thing.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Glad you got to talk to Josh and hash things out! It's a shame that he still wants to remain so secretive, but I get it, I guess.. He doesn't want people copping his tones/techniques and whatnot, though most of us fans have already done a lot of research to figure out most of that stuff. I'm just grateful that you put out that episode and i was able to see it before it was taken down at least. Thankfully, I've got it saved so I can watch it anytime. Hope you do more Qosta episodes though, even if they're far less detailed.. I'd take it! ;p Cheers

[@mhatfieldmusic]

WizardsWithMachinery any way for you to share that saved video? Dropbox maybe?

[@rome8180]

What does he think will happen if someone "cops his tones"? That they'll suddenly learn how to write songs like him? I don't get why it would even matter.

[@r.ezlets]

@BodetSound i love you. Sorry Josh!

[@mhatfieldmusic]

BodetSound dude thanks!

[@13PMMusic]

Honestly I’d love to see a deconstruction on the 5SOS stuff you did.

[@jeradatherton]

Me too!

[@rome8180]

Glad I saw the QOTSA video while it was still up. I agree with others that you didn't really divulge any "trade secrets" in that video. I think Josh Homme's position on this is a bit precious, to be honest. The music should be enough without an air of forced mystery. I do appreciate that you're respecting his wishes though.

[@tonoormusic]

Glad I saw the episode :)

[@caleykelly]

Again Eric, astoundingly generous. It will takes many passes to deceminate all the info you're laying down. Cheers!

[@EtcEtcAndEtc]

1.19.30 - Eric, I believe they went back and listened to mix 2 and used that one!

[@thehowlingterror]

It's up to Josh Homme to think that his guitar setup is better than mine. Unfortunately he's incorrect and even if he asked me I wouldn't tell him. Your loss Homme. :-)

[@colonelporridge8974]

Hi Eric, A suggestion for your Q&A sessions would be to break it up with the questions being shown in print on a black background ; this allows the viewer to skip through the timeline so that then they see the black screen showing the question they will know they are in the next topic. This allows you to jump back in easily too as you can see where each question starts as you fast forward. Also posting the individual questions with their time code. Here is a good example of that from the Reaper DAW blog kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGemmHZuodWafa8 But the content here is awesome. Thank you

[@davestanley357]

I really want Eric to team up with the Anamod people who make the ATS 1. I was chatting to them and they are re releasing the ATS 1 with all the cards. They could model Eric’s tape machine (with his input) and add it as an extra card. Would be amazing!!! It’s an all analog device which simulates tape without the tape. I wish I lived in LA. I would make it happen.

[@BockwinkleB]

Glad you guys talked, wish he would "let" you share your experiences though.

[@timjonesguitar]

I watch your videos just to listen to the introduction song....lol

[@SocialGore]

Please do a Production Deconstruction on "Unrepentant" by The Dwarves, I beg you.

[@iagol9737]

Hi Eric! Are you still open to more questions? In that case, could you let us know the correct place to write those questions? :) Thanks!!

[@mrwev]

Feel free to any questions to the WTF#1 (the questions) episode kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX3RhXyYhNBprZo Thank you!!

[@EtcEtcAndEtc]

Thank you for cleaning that keyboard, Eric, I didn't wanna say anything!!!

[@mwroberts79]

Two artists that you've worked with are Third Eye Blind and Sinomatic. The first 3EB album was a huge success, any chance youll do a show profiling that album? Thats my fave Album to date. I love the simplicity of it. Sinomatic bombed but I felt it was still solid. Any stories from working with them?

[@mrwev]

Matt Roberts 3EB is in the works :)

[@jordanredroom]

@@mrwev CANT WAIT!

[@nickystee8396]

Astro Lounge is criminally underrated

[@PatFlanigan]

Very noble of Eric to respect QOTSA's wishes. But fuck Josh, man! I understand wanting to have some mystery and myth to your band, but in this age of sharing, Podcasts, KZbin tutorials, vlogs and long-form stuff just like what Eric is doing, it just sounds like pretentious disconnected rockstar bullshit coming from Joshua. Artists and the music industry as a whole can only benefit from videos like this as it helps make music, musicians and producers better at their craft. No one's gonna "copy" your "thing", Josh! At this point everybody knows what gear QOTSA uses, what amp Joshua plays on and how they make their records. By seeing how this great album was made, someone might try and even succeed at making another great album. And lord knows we need more of those...

[@grzegorzkowalski6341]

Does anybody have this vidoe about QOTSA and would share it?

[@berend6471]

you should release these as a podcast! would work really nice, and it's pretty easy to do, and think there'd be a big audience there.

[@Journeymanlive]

Eric + Guns and Roses possibility ? take my money !!

[@NotesForSpaceCadets]

:O mrw Eric Valentine clips his mic at 15:49.

[@castlestreetrecords]

The spencer lee band singer sounds like bill withers

[@directive-4]

Sorry to hear about your friend:(

[@dyn01234567]

If Eric ever wants to quit producing records, he could easily become a diplomat.

[@studiodude1]

So, what is going on with that loveseat behind you?? Is it like, melting or what?? It's making my OCD crazy!!! :)

[@cassio_zambotto]

Wow! One thing is the band not wanting you to reveal anything about the recording, specially when you're playing the material (which have multiple owners). Another thing is them to call you to make a video with an erratum to include the way they perceived everything (which you did with majestic political ability to maintain your point haha). And all of this because they know there's explicitly not-so-cool aspects of objective reality in what happened there!? hahahahaha Bands are always so full of shit, be it the biggest or the smallest.

[@yoyolebatteur]

I don't really see the problem, it's not like they're suing him.

[@jameshal9871]

Who gives a shit. Respect the artist

[@lucasetten]

PL20 and RE20 are the same microphone. At least that’s what EV says.

[@mrwev]

Lucas Etten interesting... what I remember from when I bought it is that it is the same mic but the pass/fail tolerances we’re less stringent for the PL20. So if you’re lucky you could get one that sounds the same as an RE. I know I love my PL :)

[@DomSimpsonDrums]

I 'reddit' somewhere that if you really want to see the qotsa walk through you can find it... ;)

[@simonharwood8488]

I'm sure some people ripped it.

[@BottleneckMoses]

EV, if you ever find yourself in South-East Queensland in Australia I’d like to have a beer with you. And no, that’s not meant to sound creepy.

[@KyleGushue]

Im not mad at Josh, im disappointed in him.

[@joelybarish4618]

Ummm, nebula is also a plugin host. Just sayin.....

[@mrwev]

Joely Barish haha!! Maybe I got it all wrong :)

[@EtcEtcAndEtc]

and don't poke the (Ginger) Bear

[@chrisdover8507]

This probably won't help but after he kicked that female photographer I lost all respect for the guy. It was 17 years ago FFS. Anyway. I do respect it too I guess because there is a bit of magic and mystique involved in your records

[@BarnacleButtock]

You took my suggestion to put the questions on screen! Orrr it's because now you're at the main desk, and not a hotel room. :)

[@BarnacleButtock]

Just before 21:00 - - wow, to begin life Semi Charmed and to die by Grohl's fist!