Telarc International is proud to offer online production notes for LAGQ's new release 'Brazil' Los Angeles Guitar Quartet LAGQ Brazil Release Date: 9/25/2007 SACD-60686 CD-80686 Unless otherwise indicated, LAGQ is heard as follows on the surround layer: Left Front: Matthew Greif Right Front: William Kanengiser Left Surround: John Dearman Right Surround: Scott Tennant The following are exceptions (using only first names to make it easy): Sambadalu: Left Front: Matt Right Front: Scott Left Surround: John Right Surround: Bill A Lenda do Caboclo and Cafezinho: Left Front: John Right Front: Scott Left Surround: Matt Right Surround: Bill Recording Engineer, Robert Friedrich, discusses the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet’s Brazil sessions at Skywalker Sound in March, 2007. 1. How do you approach recording 4 guitars? What are you aiming for as far as sound goes? It‘s a delicate balance to record 4 guitars. I am trying capture an even ensemble balance as well as deliver each guitarist’s distinct sound. And it’s more than just getting the sound, it’s about getting 4 distinct personalities. Much of it has to do with creating a comfortable recording environment, which is inherently un-natural, and giving them the opportunity to do what they do best. First, before I put any microphone anywhere, I go out into the room and listen to them play. Then I size up each guitarist's sound, and I place the microphone where I think it will translate that sound best. Once I hear how it comes across on the speakers, I can make adjustments, but it’s all about listening before I do anything technical. Choosing the microphones, is of course, a big part of the process, and I use my experience with different microphones as well as seeing what’s new and interesting. If time permit’s I will try a couple of different microphones and chose what I feel fits the application best. In this case I was looking for microphones that would provide the fullest possible sound out of their guitars and I chose Royer R-122V as the main pick-ups and AEA R88 as the room pick-ups for the guitars. 2. You record for a stereo version and a surround version at the same time. What do you need to consider for each one? You really need to know what kind of stereo and surround approach before the sessions and then implement different microphone techniques to accommodate each. For the surround version of this release, we were using all five channels equally, placing each guitarist in a quadrant, and soloists in the center, as well as using percussion front and back. Using the figure 8 patterns on the Royer and AEA microphones made it possible to get the isolation needed without sacrificing the ensemble sound. This surround program is intended for and really shines on a full-range surround system, although it will translate on any surround system. 3. How did you record and mix in Luciana Souza’s voice? Apparently, there were some challenges to record the percussion instruments she was playing while singing. Can you elaborate? Luciana was in a booth isolated from the quartet. This was done so we would have control between voice and guitar balances. The real challenge was to control voice and percussion since she was singing and playing percussion at the same time. An attempt was made to track the percussion without the voice, but the end result was the performance sounding flat and lifeless. We knew that voice, percussion and guitars had to be performed live, so we built a little house for Luciana’s percussion instruments. The walls were made from gobo’s and the roof was piano blankets over the gobo’s and her shoulder. Luciana was a real pro and willing to do whatever was necessary so the performance came through. 4. This was recorded at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County. Tell us about that facility and the experience there. We really enjoyed working at Skywalker Sound. The room is fantastic, quiet and their technical service is second to none. Leslie Ann Jones and staff engineer, Dann Thompson, made the behind the scenes easy so we could concentrate on making music. It was a sincere pleasure to record in such a beautiful facililty. Photos by Michael Norwood For more information on LAGQ Brazil please visit www.Telarc.com LAGQ's Official Site