I've been recording the Eric Mintel Quartet through 3 CD projects now. I feel honored to participate, as an engineer, in their
musical artistry. The band is nothing but the best in the studio…usually putting a song down in one-take. (Okay sometimes two!)
Eric decided to come along on a new adventure I presented to him this time around. I proposed to go old school (with new gear)
and do this as a 2-track real time project. To the uninitiated this means a once-around performance. No Pro Tools, punch-ins, no
fixes, no auto-tune…just one raw performance. Instead of going for the "audiophile" approach where minimal miking is used we
close mic'd everything for a more intimate sound. The result was a very engaging stereo analog tape recording, mixed on the fly
by yours truly, on my 1/2" Frankensteined custom Sopex machine, half Sony/half Ampex. Enough technical jargon. Pour a cocktail,
sit back, crank up the stereo and come on the ride that I enjoyed so much. See what lies ahead ...Just Around the Corner.
Jim McGee
Recording Engineer
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