We all ended up behind the console for our own reasons. For some, it was a chance to record our legacy, our music that we would share with family and friends forever (and maybe even sell some). For some, once the drugs wore off, the sex became dangerous and the rock and roll a little loud and a little old, it seemed a good alternative to a real job. And there are even some of us who have known all along that our dream job would involve long days, little money, ear fatigue, serious relationship issues and a basic lack of a life for this thing called audio.

Idealism in the Real World

"What a waste" and "what a shame" are two phrases I've heard a lot lately.

My father, John Lichty, after 20 clean and sober years, decided to fall off the wagon a few years back. Despite the best efforts of a family who has, quite frankly, seen enough alcohol related problems to fill an entire season of "The Young and the Restless", he has been unrelenting in his pursuit of distilled spirits. A few brief stays in detox did little to quench his thirst and a month ago he was finally arrested while driving under the influence of alcohol. This was his second time and he had no insurance and an expired license. The State of Michigan is not very tolerant toward these things (thankfully), so he is currently spending his days in a correctional facility located in the middle of the state.

Okay, so what does any of this have to do with audio? Well, to me, almost everything.

I have very few memories of the days when my parents were together and my dad was drinking. They divorced when I w ... Read More »

Paul Mahern is a bit of a legend to us "Hoosiers" in this business. He has steadily been turning out very well produced, great sounding albums from right here in the heartland for close to twenty years.

Paul started with Indie-Rock bands like Antenna and The Blake Babies. He worked his way up to bands like the Judybats, The Mysteries Of Life, and the solo releases from Lisa Germano (best known as John Mellencamp's fiddle player). Just last year Paul achieved Indiana nirvana by working on John Mellencamp's most critically acclaimed album in years (his self-titled release and his first for Sony).

I caught up with Paul while he was mixing a project on which I had done some playing, arranging and producing. We were in Culver, Indiana at the Storyk Designed Galt Studios taking a break sitting out by the nearby lake. That's when I started the tape rolling.

So, how did you get started in this business?

There is a great movie from the late 1970s called "One Trick Pony." It stars Paul Simon as a folk singer/songwriter (a real acting stretch for Mr. Simon) trying to get back onto the charts. It follows his trials and tribulations, and we suffer along with him, as the producers and record labels turn his wonderful little song into a disco nightmare. There is a terrific final scene where a roll of 2-inch tape is being unwound down the streets of Manhattan.

This movie should be required viewing for all of us who ever sit in the producer's chair. It shows that the best thing you can do for a client is work with them, not against them.

I suppose this could be a pretty gutsy article, after all, I may have to fess up to mistakes of my past. I freely admit to making a few, only because I have learned from them. Thus, I feel I may be able to share the knowledge of my mistakes in the hopes that those up-and-coming producers out there will not be doomed to repeating them.

Pre-Producti ... Read More »

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Despite my glowing, youthful appearance, I harbor an ever increasing affinity for what can only be deemed, "old-school ways."

You see, because of the way I tend to work on projects (lay down click tracks and sequences in one place, do tracking at one place, overdubs at a few more places, mix elsewhere), I'm still one of those holdouts with some ADATs and that ancient beast, a mixing console. Yes, while many of my comrades are marching into battle armed with "SCSIs, plug-ins, HUIs, GUIs and LOUIEs," I still love my buttons and knobs and the familiar whir of the tape transport.

So, when the age of the affordable digital console dawned, I was excited. I mean, I may be old school, but I certainly realize the benefits of a good digital console.

The problem is, in these early digital boards, the word "good" just wasn't easily included in the description. These early desks were, shall we say, "engineering driven." Some guys in lab coats in the back rooms of Big Audio Conglomerate, I ... Read More »