The Stephen Desper Thread

[Andrew G. Doe]

COMMENT TO ALL --

I did not say there were NO press mentions of a Smile project, I said they were far and few between.  You can dig them up but the point is you must dig to find them.  The Smile name is not in every interview of those times.  I doubt you will find anything before '66.  ~swd

I agree with you entirely on that - because Smile was a 1966 project.

[Andrew G. Doe]

"So what I'm saying is that these sessions were not referred to as Smile sessions by those involved with them at that time.  The reference to Smile came later.    

And with this I'm done on the subject.

[Glenn Greenberg]

The Carl thing in 1972 is on p,128 of Look ! Listen ! Vibrate ! Smile!

Excellent!  I have that book!

Thanks, Andrew!

[Stephen W. Desper]

"So what I'm saying is that these sessions were not referred to as Smile sessions by those involved with them at that time.  The reference to Smile came later.    

And with this I'm done on the subject.

Me too -- I hope we can move on.  I've visited your website bellagio 10452 and found many interesting things. Some useful items cannot be found elsewhere.   ~swd

[Jonas]

Stephen,

Did you engineer any of Bruce's tracks and if so can you answer my question about The nearest Faraway place...it got lost a couple of pages ago with the whole 'smile' fiasco

[Andrew G. Doe]

"So what I'm saying is that these sessions were not referred to as Smile sessions by those involved with them at that time.  The reference to Smile came later.    

And with this I'm done on the subject.

Me too -- I hope we can move on.  I've visited your website bellagio 10452 and found many interesting things. Some useful items cannot be found elsewhere.   ~swd

Kind words are always appreciated, just as additions and corrections are always welcomed - especially from someone who was there. The whole Spring period is still a very gray area.

[Stephen W. Desper]

Stephen,
Also, I know its been a while, but how many instruments do you think were used for Bruce's 'The Nearest Faraway Place'? To me (not including the guitar playing) it sounds like it was done all with just one keyboard synth...

I thought you were joking with this question.  First, sampling forty years ago?  NOT!  Second, suggest you listen real hard.  Amid others you should hear a Grand Piano, Fender Rhodes, Bass Guitar, Tuned Timbale, Timbale return, Violin section, Viola section, Cellos, Harp, Vibs, and a Celista. ~swd

[Susan]

The whole Spring period is still a very gray area.

Hint hint...!
;-)

[Stephen W. Desper]

Comment to aeijtzsche --

Still looking for a snare drum? 

Check out this DW snare  >>> http://www.dwdrums.com/may/acousticeq.htm

A drum made for the microphone.  Look at the videos.  ~swd

[Jason]

Mr. Desper, what recollections do you have on the track Student Demonstration Time, if any?

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

Read the book, man.

Steve, very interesting Snare drum.  Looks neat.  I am still in the market for a good one, (and a tape machine, a good compressor, a good monitoring system [which I may ask you about at some point], a boeing 747...you know, you always want more stuff.)  but I changed heads on my current one to the Remo "rennaisance" model, and it's made a pretty good difference, night and day really.  But I need a wood snare.  And a million dollars, and a Benz...

[Jonas]

Stephen,
Also, I know its been a while, but how many instruments do you think were used for Bruce's 'The Nearest Faraway Place'? To me (not including the guitar playing) it sounds like it was done all with just one keyboard synth...

I thought you were joking with this question.  First, sampling forty years ago?  NOT!  Second, suggest you listen real hard.  Amid others you should hear a Grand Piano, Fender Rhodes, Bass Guitar, Tuned Timbale, Timbale return, Violin section, Viola section, Cellos, Harp, Vibs, and a Celista. ~swd

seriously, I hear all these instruments, but I swear it sounds like he did it all in one sitting on one of those neat all-in-one keyboards...obviously the technology back then isn't as good as it is now..but you catch my drift.

good stuff

[Stephen W. Desper]

Read the book, man.

Steve, very interesting Snare drum.  Looks neat.  I am still in the market for a good one, (and a tape machine, a good compressor, a good monitoring system [which I may ask you about at some point], a boeing 747...you know, you always want more stuff.)  but I changed heads on my current one to the Remo "rennaisance" model, and it's made a pretty good difference, night and day really.  But I need a wood snare.  And a million dollars, and a Benz...

What A Deal !!!   >>> http://www.aircraftbargains.com/ad/ad350.asp  ~swd

[Stephen W. Desper]

Stephen,
Also, I know its been a while, but how many instruments do you think were used for Bruce's 'The Nearest Faraway Place'? To me (not including the guitar playing) it sounds like it was done all with just one keyboard synth...

I thought you were joking with this question.  First, sampling forty years ago?  NOT!  Second, suggest you listen real hard.  Amid others you should hear a Grand Piano, Fender Rhodes, Bass Guitar, Tuned Timbale, Timbale return, Violin section, Viola section, Cellos, Harp, Vibs, and a Celista. ~swd

seriously, I hear all these instruments, but I swear it sounds like he did it all in one sitting on one of those neat all-in-one keyboards...obviously the technology back then isn't as good as it is now..but you catch my drift.

good stuff

No, the technology back then was just as good as now, except that now who wants to afford an orchesta for a pop album when the samples are in the software?  ~swd

[Susan]

No, the technology back then was just as good as now, except that now who wants to afford an orchesta for a pop album when the samples are in the software?  ~swd

I would...give me the real and the organic every single time!

[Rocker]

No, the technology back then was just as good as now, except that now who wants to afford an orchesta for a pop album when the samples are in the software?  ~swd

I would...give me the real and the organic every single time!

I agree ! Real instruments are the best imho

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

There's something to be said for a group of musicians playing together, rather than one man at his keyboard being each person individually.

Not even talking sound, talking about feel.

Something I lose in every recording, being one person.

[Aegir]

I agree.. one time I recorded a track which I had intended to be this massive production; by the time I added two guitars, bass, ocarina, maracas, and backwards breathing wind effects, it sounded so cold and empty (not ideal for a love song).

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

I agree.. one time I recorded a track which I had intended to be this massive production; by the time I added two guitars, bass, ocarina, maracas, and backwards breathing wind effects, it sounded so cold and empty (not ideal for a love song).

I know that feeling all too much. I plan out my productions with such grand ideas, which would actually be quite nice if I had the lead of an orchestra of people. But, through the excessive overdubbing to attain the results, all feeling just flies out the window.

I'm thinking about just recording as myself and the one instrument I choose for the song.

[Jonas]

Stephen,
Also, I know its been a while, but how many instruments do you think were used for Bruce's 'The Nearest Faraway Place'? To me (not including the guitar playing) it sounds like it was done all with just one keyboard synth...

I thought you were joking with this question.  First, sampling forty years ago?  NOT!  Second, suggest you listen real hard.  Amid others you should hear a Grand Piano, Fender Rhodes, Bass Guitar, Tuned Timbale, Timbale return, Violin section, Viola section, Cellos, Harp, Vibs, and a Celista. ~swd

seriously, I hear all these instruments, but I swear it sounds like he did it all in one sitting on one of those neat all-in-one keyboards...obviously the technology back then isn't as good as it is now..but you catch my drift.

good stuff

No, the technology back then was just as good as now, except that now who wants to afford an orchesta for a pop album when the samples are in the software?  ~swd

I dont know...synth technology has gone a long way with pads/strings/other instruments...but I agree with you guys...Ill take the real deal over anything else any day...

Its just that one darn song that sounds weird to me...reminds me of Bruce's 'Endless Harmony' tune...

[Stephen W. Desper]

It would be nice if we could just pop in next door and record a song or two in the hall:



But that's a pie-in-the-sky wish . . .

So here you go . . .

PUNK ROCK ORCHESTRA RECORDING SESSION AT SKYWALKER RANCH

Take a look at these players (78 photos). Not your average orchestra look.

Then here are some session photos from real instrumentation.

TSUNAMI ORCHESTRA

~swd

[Jonas]

hahaha, good stuff, stephen, good stuff...

[Bean Bag]

Yeah, you know...some of my most favorite recordings (that I've done) are the ones that have no fake reverb.  I'm always recording in a dinky carpeted room, etc...so everything's dry and in your face...but hey...that's what I was given.  It's hard to resist the tech...but if and when I do, it's just so much more character in every bite!!

[Stephen W. Desper]

Yeah, you know...some of my most favorite recordings (that I've done) are the ones that have no fake reverb.  I'm always recording in a dinky carpeted room, etc...so everything's dry and in your face...but hey...that's what I was given.  It's hard to resist the tech...but if and when I do, it's just so much more character in every bite!!

"recording in a dinky carpeted room"  Why not try a room mic -- a stereo room mic?  OR  take your finished mix and play it back in your "dinky carpeded room" using a couple of mics to pickup the room sound and mix it in with the "dry and in your face" sound.  OR make a deal with whomever you live with to use a larger room for a "one-time" playback in that room to get a larger room sound.  ~swd

[absinthe_boy]

Some of the chicks in that orchestra are HOT!