Sunset Sound Studio Tour - Van Halen Recording Setup - Warren Huart: Produce Like a Pro

Go here to sign up and get access to all 11 videos of the students recording Van Halen 1 at Sunset sound. www.producelikeapro.com/van-h...
Intro 0:00
Studio Tour 0:58
Tracking Sheet 2:46
Microphone Setup 3:13
Meeting the Students 9:17
Echo chamber 19:02
Mixing Discussion 20:13
Headphone Mixing 21:25
Wrap Up 23:37
"Atomic Punk" 28:58
To learn more about the Los Rios Rock School visit their site.
www.losriosrockschool.com/
Special thanks to the students!
Vocals: Sophie Martin
Backup Vocals: Dylan Dusablon
Guitar Lead: Julia Lane
Guitar Rhythm: Julia Lane
Bass: Ryan Poppenhagen
Drums: Thomas Lowrey
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Produce Like A Pro is a website which features great tips to help the beginning recordist make incredible sounding home recordings on a budget.

[@capnmo6718]

Look at all these little kids takin’ care of the music biz.

[@christopherdunn317]

I'm addicted to the atomic punk song now. Wow these kids just blow my mind, the girl playing guitar was awesome as well as the rest great job !

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Christopher!! Agreed it's great! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@truckertucker5003]

thumbs up for the guitar lady!!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much! Yes, she was amazing! They did the whole album in one day!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@DLoganFoster]

singer drummer bassist too!

[@truckertucker5003]

Indeed!!!!!

[@RS-pp7ng]

thumbs up for the 4 of them !

[@loveiseternity]

I love the drummer's feel. What a natural player. Well done, young man!

[@thomasondrums3941]

Thank you very much! I appreciate that!

[@Fendervana]

Just needs to hit harder..

[@Aaron-zh4kj]

Drummer's the real MVP in this session.

[@mihkelmaidla2126]

It makes me feel warm when Warren speaks with the kids and i see the passion for the music in there. And its not the usual passion he has. Its something different when you speak directly to people and not the camera. hastag Music is lif

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Mihkel Maidla thanks ever so much! I really appreciate that extremely kind comment! I'm a Dad! This stuff is important!! Have a marvelous time recording and mixing many thanks Warren

[@nikgiengermakesmusic]

I was gonna say you approach them as if they were your own kids. I learn a lot about audio on this channel but I also learn LOTS of how to behave.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Nik, thanks ever so much for that! Yes, indeed! I had this idea to help these kids because I'm close with Sunset Sound where Van Halen recorded this album! It took a huge amount of time and energy (personal expense as well) but it was worth it! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

@@Producelikeapro Good on you. Those kids can really play and deserved that learning opportunity. So for people like yourself, that engineer and the teacher to go out of you way - and your own pocket - to make it happen, that's a really wonderful thing. 🍻🙏👊💯

[@christopherdunn317]

Wow this is the most amazing thing i have seen yet, the actual paper notes on set up. 24 track 30ips mix down to 2 track studer 15 ips not to mention mic setup and track layout I'm in heaven :)

[@BoyAditya]

man that guitar's sound is on point!

[@marcosmiranda389]

It's great just getting to see the place where that classic was created. And the kids are great too.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Marcos!

[@BassManDan1018]

‘It’s FRICKIN BOILING HOT.’ Great vid Warren, big fan of Van Halen and YOU! you’re so generous with your knowledge and your enthusiasm is contagious.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Daniel! You Rock!

[@adrianlyord5300]

The young lady singing " Atomic Punk " almost sounds like Getty Lee from Rush ! Very good job to the kids playing and Kudos to you Warren and your crew for putting together the video, well done! Always enjoy your channel and keep up the good work!🤘🏾😎😊

[@HeyItsMe52]

Your awesome Warren - These kids are going to remember this experience for the rest of their lives...So much talent!....Such a great way to pay tribute to the past....These videos are going to be such a treasure trove to people in the future after the console, Sunset Sound and all of us are long gone.....Good job!

[@NelsonClick]

Wow! That was better than I thought it was going to be. I genuinely liked it. I particularly enjoyed the vocal line. Brought a clearer dimension to the song more than was on the original recording. I'm playing this again.

[@stanbury69]

you kids rock!!!!!!!!thanks to the bigger kids(adults) for bringing this to life and making it happen cheers to everyone involved

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much Sean! Yes, the kids did an amazing job! This was all done in one day! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren!

[@Rnrf5150]

OMG The Atomic punk WOW! the guitar,drums,bass, vocal its all phenomenal n bloody well done.

[@cbeserra]

Impressive performances. I can’t imagine being in that room, with everything on camera, and nailing it live. Awesome

[@lecanalband]

This was just totally awesome. These kids are amazing, all of them (just watched the other clips too). Great vocals, totally wonderful guitar, great drumming and steady cool bass. Great job, loved to see this! ✌🏼✊🏼

[@homeworldmusic]

I've been smiling throughout this, what an excellent project, thank you for sharing this! History, tech, and the enthusiasm that we all feel live or in the studio, just all-around super!

[@metalzizar]

Woah, lots of 57's. It's very sweet to watch the whole recording setup, I was blown away. Loved the voice of the girl and the whole performance!

[@danb1572]

This entire video is just great! How cool for all the people involved to give this opportunity to the kids and give them something to remember for the rest of their lives. Great job to everyone! The band was really, really ON FIRE too!

[@willb3698]

You're an inspiration Warren - it's great to work with your passion and bring the younger generation into it. I know as much as anyone how work - no matter how wonderfull can have it's off days - yet we never see this with you. Those kids must have been in heaven!

[@TheGarageRecordingSC]

That was awesome !!! Amazing to me how simple the setup really was !!! Just goes to show you how great songs just sound great !!

[@robertkerr8601]

The kid's are awesome, they were there to have the time of their lives. It wasn't about re-creating anything 100%, it was about getting as close as one can with what they have to the experience and sound, and most of all, HAVING FUN! Who cares about the pin point accuracy of the sound between the kids and the original, you can never replace the original, no on is disputing any of this, they were there to have a wonderful recording experience, and at their age that is the main goal. And they sure had an awesome time, thanks to Warren and Sunset Sound. These kids are amazing, and so is the whole production team - I am grateful to the kids and the enitre production team involved who spent goodness knows how many hours putting this together for all of us to watch FOR FREE. Thanks kids and and thanks to all the team who made this happen!

[@patrickfouhy9102]

Warren, been enjoying your videos for a while now, and this is awesome. Giving those kids an chance to record at place like that is really cool. I'm living up in Seattle and I remember the first time I got to record in the London Bridge Studio I was completely floored. Great work!

[@Producelikeapro]

You're very welcome Patrick!! Yes, I feel so lucky to be able to do this! I was really excited to do this and the kids did an amazing job!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

[@sinsofthesister5443]

What you have been doing with/for these kids is awesome! Easy to tell you do this out of a love for music. Keep it up Warren - and team!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Sins Of The Sister aw shucks thanks very much!! We are all about giving back! Have a marvelous time recording and mixing many thanks Warren

[@maidenthe80sla]

What an experience for these talented young ones and something that they surely will never forget. As a matter of fact some of the older folks, too. Warren that was a fantastic idea and thanks for producing this.

[@TacticalBear]

I love this! More things like this needs to happen!

[@manicmoron]

This is fantastic! I like all the videos about this project. Thanks for pulling all this together and giving us some insight on how the original recordings where done. Fascinating stuff! Would love to see this become a regular segment. More classic albums, more super talented young folks rock'n out playing the oldies. Lots of work but it's so cool. Thanks to everyone involved. Rock on!

[@DatAnydeks]

Very special video. Warren always presents himself as such a generous person. How can one not appreciate free vids like this? Jeff, the house engineer was also kind sharing his time and knowledge. I'm grateful. Thank you.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much Elias! I really appreciate your extremely kind words! Yes, Geoff was very generous with both his time and knowledge!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren

[@tisbonus]

I've come to the conclusion that if I could afford your services you would be the guy. You look very easy to work with as well as a wealth of musical knowledge and taste. These kids are very very fortunate to have you in the room. Oh, that guitar timing on Atomic Punk is just stellar! These kids are AWESOME!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks that is extremely kind of you Tisbonus!! I was so happy to be able to work with the kids! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

[@RadioDarioBerlinRome]

Awesome project, thanks so much for doing this. It's a gift to see that iconic studio and getting to know all these stories and tricks about the recordings of such epic albums. Thanks for sharing!

[@canyondepths]

Great advice about not recording guitars with a lot of volume in the headphones ... definitely takes away an aggressive performance ... been there/done that.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Dennis!! Yes, indeed! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

[@238839]

No words...this is simply outstanding in every way...THANK YOU!!

[@timw.6910]

I’m pretty sure seeing and hearing these kids play this would put a GIANT smile on EVH’s face : ) Great post, thank you 🤘🏼😎👍🏼

[@Producelikeapro]

Eddie was kind about it and he and Alex have them all signed albums and posters! Alex have the drummer signed sticks as well!

[@timw.6910]

@@Producelikeapro Wow, very cool indeed. Thank you for replying, I know what you guys are doing is appreciated by people all over the world who are still captivated by the sound from those early VH records. Thank you for peeling back some of that onion skin 😁

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Tim! Yes Ed was very private and we didn’t talk about his support at the time! I got to ask him how he did things, although honestly I don’t believe he remembered everything! Which is understandable as he had made so many amazing recordings!!

[@willieboy8798]

i met ed at an LA party ...if i could give him anything once it would be let him come back for 24 hours and listen to people copy his music in the year 2073 which would be a century from the time VH decided to formally form! he could invite his brother as well!

[@m.b.g.musicproduction9658]

Saw the video of the finished song a few days ago.......loved it, so glad you are doing a follow up video about the session.......keep up the great work!!

[@ovnilab]

Awesome job guys and girls! And amazing how it TOTALLY has THE SOUND/s of the original album!

[@randallfisher3167]

How could 20 people give these amazing kids a thumb down! Great Playing and Producing. What a great memory for these kids to have. Awesome!!

[@perrypelican9476]

I would pay to see those kids perform. The energy is wow.

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed! Amazing!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Hey Mr. Marvelous, that was a marvelous job, these kids can play, nice to see this Marvelous Studio

[@whisperthiefmusic]

More!!! I need to see and hear more of them playing! AMAZING!!!

[@megap2m]

Wow. That's my dream. Nice reverb in guitar room . have a good time.

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi BOB MARLEK thanks very much for the great comment! Yes, the kids were incredible! Have a marvelous time recording and mixing many thanks Warren

[@chrisscooter1]

This makes me so happy!! So proud of those kids. So good!!

[@rickblackers88]

Great!!!Atomic punk is my fave from the first record.Warren you did it again,congrats!

[@Stev0BabaGhanoush]

Excellent way to close out the video! My favorite Van Halen tune!! Great video as always. I'm thrilled to see so much talent in such the next generation of musicians!

[@saltykrug]

Wow what a great segment! Super proud of these young musicians! Great job everyone!

[@allstar930]

I really enjoyed this video and all the nuggets we learned about the studio along with one of my favorite albums. The kids did a great job, too!

[@n.s.3410]

What a great experience this must have been for everyone involved, especially the kids! You guys really took me back to my youth. Thanks for doing this.

[@elpadrino1128]

Atomic punk is one of my favorite Van Halen songs This is awesome!

[@jeffreymonroe153]

Damn! fantastic musicianship from all! So great to see!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!!

[@choppingpenguin]

Man, I am VERY IMPRESSED w these kids! Kudos to all of them, but I REALLY love seeing a young lady crushing Ed's leads!

[@tmitz73]

Great Video... Keep em' coming fellas!!!

[@joekelley5121]

I see a lot of people are doing a detailed analysis of the sound/performance, etc. but for me, just watching the whole video, seeing what was used to record that first iconic album, and watching the kids pretty much nail it, including the girl's vocals, because she has the chops, it was awesome. Forget the details of comparing it to the original recording. Even Van Halen didn't nail it the same way live. That's what's great about music. Overall, well done! Loved it!

[@spookybaba]

I'd love to see/hear the rest of the tunes they played. Fine stuff, indeed!!!! 👍👍👍

[@MrPoilleke]

Super job you did there guys. Congrats the kids for me!

[@pthompson108]

These kids have got the stuff ! Brilliant video mate, thanks so much for doing this.

[@DARKMETAL31]

great video thanks for sharing, magic studio and unique artists, just have no words for all this information, amazing video just love it

[@AMB666]

Just an amazing as possible video...I hope I see you do more videos like this one. Thanks!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!! Really glad you enjoyed it!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

[@StanleySerrano]

I really really enjoyed this video. You gotta do more of these

[@rogerbranton1752]

Some things are informative. Some things are fun. This was definitely BOTH! The kids sounded amazing - so good on 'em!

[@DanieleTurani]

Those kids can play! Great videos Warren and what a great time you all had :)

[@terrydoylemusic]

Fantastic video. Great info about the set up and the kids did a great job at the end. Very coherent playing with no click. Shows they practiced, know the material and have the skills. If only all groups came into the studio so prepared! :-D

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Terry!! Agreed, the kids did amazingly well for not playing with a click! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

[@AgentXPQ]

One thing that may be off- In live VH recordings from the club days, you will hear the car horns here and there, operated by a foot switch. I think they had taken a few and hooked them up together, just as a silly thing to have onstage. These may have been housed in a deactivated WW2 Bomb they had onstage (I'm serious. There are pics of Edward, in a club, next to a bomb) but I am not sure.

[@chasebeavers]

The bomb had a rack delay unit Eddie used for Eruption. I think the car horns were on a piece of plywood, but not sure.

[@AgentXPQ]

@@chasebeavers I think you are right. I have since seen photos of the bomb, and it had some kind of echo in it.

[@thomasochoa2137]

no the horns were on a piece of plywood on the floor. eddie had his roland space echo in the bomb casing you can see it in photos.

[@TheDude-vx6wn]

Wow! Great playing

[@johnkasonga6634]

Wow these these kids ROCK. Awesome.

[@Skibble5150]

Great job guys! Much awesome!!!

[@Tephomab]

Thanks for all of your awesome work with PLAP and Pro Mix Academy! I've been doing live sound for nine years, and now I'm doing mixing and mastering as well. Your videos and recordings have all been extremely helpful! I'm hoping you will release another "Top Free Plugins" video. The last one was extremely helpful! You are the best! Hopefully some day I will get to meet you.

[@michaellnbnj]

Great stuff as always, Warren! Thank you!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Mike! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

[@dajzilla]

THIS. IS.AWESOME! WOW! Im a HUGE VAN HALEN FAN and I don't know how im just seeing this

[@montearnstam6827]

Wow those kids are SICK!!!!!!! Great performance

[@brianwilson49]

what a wonderful opportunity for these kids - fascinating vid!

[@jimmyjennings4089]

Wow so cool to see the interest in the greatest band in history, love it Eddie Van Halen all the way.

[@eddyrox5150]

those kids are sooooo amazingly awesome!! great job!!

[@harmonystudios1182]

Wow! Thanks for this detailed overview of the recording process Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Harmony Studios aw shucks thanks ever so much! The kids did amazing! Have a marvelous time recording and mixing many thanks Warren

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, the kids did amazingly well MorbidManMusic! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

[@Ahazzard39]

Awesome.....just AWESOME!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much AJay! I really appreciate all of your support my friend!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

[@JamesJohnson-hb1me]

Amazing video! I had so much fun! Thank you very much!!!

[@SONORSQ2guy]

Your best video ever! I believe you have the tracks sheet for VH 2. The date on the track sheet is 12/78. Van Halen 1 came out Feb. 1978. Van Halen 2 came out early 1979. I'm sure that track sheet is for the second album. I don't think they used bottom tom microphones either. From the sketch it looks Alex had 3 rack toms in a triangular pattern with 2 microphones to pick up the signal. Thanks again for sharing this great video.👍

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks thanks ever so much Greg! Yes, as I explained these are the track sheets from Van Halen 2! The track sheet is available to see on FaceBook and at Produce Like A Pro! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren

[@JasonSmith-we5ls]

Amazing. Great players and a very interesting concept.

[@SubmaxSubrose]

Thanks for all the amazing videos and great info! Cheers from Chile!

[@GregThorneKTM500NB]

Great video and history lesson Warren. TY. Kids were stellar!

[@bgibson72]

I hope they're all still making music somewhere, somehow. All are excellent!!

[@YHRS]

Great project, Warren! Keep up the good work, you're a real inspiration!

[@salmonesque]

Awesome - loved the voice. Great sound lads. Well done

[@deriktofil]

Love this channel and all you do warren. Bravo sir.

[@TonjuwelenDeAgentur]

Wow, what a fantastic idea. So entertaining. Warren, you really made my day :) And of course the kids too...

[@Zack_Darce]

I love the fact that any of those mics could be the same ones that were originally used. I haven't really listen to Van Halen but now I'm going to have to listen to all their albums to hear the tones you're talking about

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

Holy shit... those 4 kids at the end fkn ROCKED!!! Wow!!!

[@autotransport5568]

Warren...you really knocked this one outta the ballpark. I just subscribed to you! Great great stuff!

[@jorrickthole6505]

Great video. Informative and fun. Thanks for the good times 👍💀

[@EricGPLAP]

Amazing! 57's on the kick!? and that Echo chamber! wow

[@mvh2275]

The kids ROCK!

[@YoBroMan]

This is so AWESOME!! I love it! Just one tidbit; The date at the top of the "studio notes" is 12/78. The first album was recorded from 8/77-9/77 and the second album was recorded from 12/78-1/79. Based on the date on those "notes," I'd say that sheet is for the second album.

[@joshuanewburger]

.....NERD

[@kellydecker5876]

it sure is....i bet Ted T. wouldnt give em up

[@collinjamesguitar]

Second album is pretty close to identical in production IMO other than Eddie using more gain on the first record

[@ShadovvV]

Not only that, but the notes also say "546" (Shure Unidyne III) for the top and bottom of the snare, as well as the bass drum. The guy in this video is saying they used SM57 for that, which isn't altogether true because the 546 isn't the same as a modern SM57.

[@StevenMikel1]

@@ShadovvV They probably didn't have any 546's by the time this video was made,they were budget versions or pre dated versions of known Shure mics.

[@Twotontessie]

Ok I am totally tripping...they rock! Way to go!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!!

[@ruff2007]

WoW! so percise.Great Job.

[@angelainamarie9656]

Go kids! That's beautiful.

[@hellvulcanoh]

Music+kids+ Good teacher best combo thanks!

[@jackblack2321]

Pretty cool, nice to see kid’s with talent

[@ArthurStone]

Much awesomeness; thanks everyone :D

[@nuts45150]

Great stuff I'm sharing this to a young awesome band in nj I know

[@nuts45150]

Sugar Rush Rocks

[@jasonmare33]

awesome warren thanks

[@thom2847]

Liked for the performance at the end.

[@noisesoundtonevibe]

Yay! So cool! Thanks Warren!