Dobson Orchestras

This evening, Dan was on-location at Dobson High School with the Dobson Orchestras as they performed their last concert of the season.

Dobson Percussion, Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensembles

This evening Dan was on location at Dobson High School for a life recording of three of their ensembles. Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble were featured as a prelude to the Band of America send off concert this coming Thursday.

This evening is also the first opportunity that Mouse recording has had to use our new Apogee analog to digital converters.

This evening’s setup uses our Royer SF-24 Stereo Ribbon Microphone and our True Systems P2 analog Microphone Pre-Amplifier. From there one set of analog out puts is taken to a Tascam CD-RW2000 CD Recorder. The Second analog output from the Pre-Amp was taken to our new Apogee AD-16x, and then the signal was sent digitally to another Tascam CD-RW2000.

The differences are simply amazing. The Tascam recorders do a wonderful job on their own, with the addition of the new converters; the sound they are recording is much more open and lively.

Once our new site is up, we will post some examples of the music recorded.

Dobson Chamber Orchestra

While recording the Dobson High School orchestras concert last Thursday, I kept thinking how great it would be to capture a great ensemble without the…..audience.

Don’t get me wrong, the audience is great and they provide an important element to the performance. But a cough here and a paper ruffle there doesn’t add to the work being recorded.

I spoke with the orchestra director Rob Nichols and he thought it would be a great experience for the students to be part of a more formal recording process as well as make a recording after they have had the chance to be adjudicated at the local festival.

So….This morning, early morning Dan and Mike were at Dobson High School with their 20 member chamber ensemble. Their performance is exactly what we have come to expect from Dobson, nothing short of first rate. I have worked with many professional organizations and I can say with confidence that Dobson is on par with all of them.

This recording, pending copyright permission will become part of our demo package that we send out to showcase the work we have, and are capable of doing.

Thanks Dobson Chamber Orchestra for a wonderful performance.

Dobson Orchestras take the stage

This evening, Dan was on-location at Dobson High School to capture the sounds of their Orchestras first performances of the season. Under the direction of Rob Nichols the ensembles are already demonstrating competence not seen my most ensembles until later in the performance season.

As posted earlier, the Dobson Symphonic Orchestra had accepted an invitation to perform at Music for All, also known as Orchestras of America. For this prestigious honor, the ensemble will travel in tandem with the Dobson Symphonic Band to perform in February 2007 at the National Concert Band Festival.

Great things are always happening….. in the words of Rob Nichols "I tuned them......"

www.dobsonmusic.com

Peter Manning Robinson...it's a wrap

Today Dan and Mike were back in the studio with Otto and the group to wrap up the recording sessions for Peters tracks entitled “In the Forest” and “Razor Dance”.

The works are “for Peters own use” and they sound great. The works contain many textures and take the listener on a great journey.

Today we started with the same 16 member string section as yesterday, and continued the afternoon with Clarinet, Horn and Trumpet Solo parts. Once the tracks were captured, Otto and Peter spent some time Mixing the sessions.

At this point Peter will journey back to LA to finish up and mix the works.

Peter Manning Robinson at Chaton

Today Dan and Mike joined Otto D’Agnolo at his Chaton Studios in Phoenix Arizona for a recording session with Composer Peter Manning Robinson.

Robinson has had a good deal of success as a composer for film and TV, most notably for his work on “With out a Trace”. Today was the first of two sessions at Chaton, involving a 16 member string section as well as a small brass and wood wind section under the direction of Warren Coen, who was also the conductor for the Arnell Symphonies project last year.

For the tracking session, we used:
Royer SF-24 Stereo Ribbon Microphone
Royer R-122 (Pair) Ribbon Microphones
DPA 4021 (Pair) Condencer Microphones
Beyer Dynamic M-160 (Pair) Ribbon Microphones
Neumann U87 (Pair) Condenser Microphone
Neumann U89 Condenser Microphone
Millenia Media HV-3D-8DC Pre-Amplifiers
True Systems P2 Analog Pre-Amplifiers
API 512 Pre-Amplifiers
Pro-Tools HD @ 192kHz

The session ran extremely smooth with Dan taking care of the microphones, placement and pre-amps, Otto taking care of the control room, tracking and pro-tools and Mike……well….taking care of EVERYTHING else.

Well be back again tomorrow to finish up.

Rhodes Choir Year in Review

For the past several years we have the great pleasure of working with the Rhodes Jr High School Orchestra. At the end of the performance season we spend a couple of hours recording music that the ensemble has performed through out the year.

This year, Michael Markowski took on the task of the recording project. It seemed only fitting, since he is an alum of the Rhodes Performing Atrs Department.

Every year I am amazed at how much the ensemble values this experience. It also gives me a great opportunity to hear what Dobson has coming it’s way.

Karl Schindler's Ghost Voices & Kendra D'Ercole's Wie Die Blatter des Herbstes Herabfallen

Tuesday Mike and Dan were at Paradise Community College to record works by composers Karl Schindler's & Kendra D'Ercole's.

The evening did have some interesting challenges to it, the first work, Schindler’s Ghost Voices: Songs from a Cemetery, used a choir in costume and a chamber ensemble in the orchestra pit. Unfortunately, the Paradise Community College Theater was not designed with me in mind so we had to get creative. Since there was a live audience, we were not able to place microphones in more traditional locations. Instead, we used the bi-directional ribbon microphones and had one side facing the choir, while the other was facing the chamber ensemble.

For D'Ercole's work, Wie Die Blatter des Herbstes Herabfallen, we had to reset, and accommodate a larger ensemble that was placed entirely on the stage.

Both works were enjoyable and received well by the audience.

Musica Nova Returns......

Dan and Mike returned for another fix-up session with Musica Nova. After the project was mixed, mastered and submited, the desision was made to redo to sections of the 4th symphony, before it gets released.

Stay tuned....once we know of a release date, I will post it here.

Phoenix Symphony Performes Messiah, Part Two

This evening Dan and Mike were on-location at Camelback 7th Day Adventist Church in Scottsdale, Arizona capturing the second performance of The Phoenix Symphony’s Messiah performance. Through out December each year the ensemble under the direction of Robert Moody, takes their performance of Handel’s Messiah on the road for 10 performances around the entire valley. Performing to sold-out housed, night after night the ensemble receives well deserved standing accolades.

Now that we have two complete recordings from the ensembles favorite venues, we will now mix each individual performance for Mr. Moody to listen and evaluate. Once the best sections are selected we will takes the chosen selections from each performance and compile them to a final master recording.


Once the broadcast date has been determined, I will post it here.

Phoenix Symphony Performes Messiah, Part One

This evening Dan Malone and Michael Markowski were on-location at Velda Rose Church in Mesa recording a spectacular performance of Handel’s Messiah with The Phoenix Symphony Chamber Orchestra and Phoenix Symphony Choir. Under the direction of Bob Moody, the ensemble performed this legendary work in the baroque style. With a smaller ensemble, and a 65 voice choir, the work becomes more intimate, and passionate.

This was the first of 2 recordings. The second recording will take place tomorrow. Following the recordings, Bob Moody will select the best selections from each performance and we will mix them to a final master to be broadcast on KBAQ.

Dobson Orchestra's Holiday Concert

This evening, Dan was on-location at Dobson High Schools Auditorium capturing the sounds of the Dobson High School Orchestras. Under the direction of Rob Nichols and Rob Lubbers, the 3 ensembles played a great selection of music, including some holiday medleys. Most of their selections are not considered standard works for a High School, but rather college level ensembles. As a result, it is very common for Dobson students to receive scholarships to prestigious universities and conservatories to continue their musical studies. Without a doubt, the contributions the school makes to their students, last their entire lives.

Arnell Symphonies Tracking Sessions Completed

300+ Takes, 70+ Musicians + 52 hours of recording time = 49GB’s of Audio Data Captured during 13 Recording Sessions using 8 Microphones and 8 24bit/192kHz Digital Audio Tracks.

This evening Dan Malone and Mike Markowsi were on site at Holy Spirit Church in Tempe, Arizona for the last recording session of the Arnell Symphonies Project. This session was a fast paced plethora of music used to capture sections from the previous recordings needed for the editing process.

Project Producer Marc Parella (http://www.marcparella.com/) has been behind the driver’s seat of this project since the beginning. His work has been critical to the success of this entire project, even more now that this project is entering the post production phase.

Currently this project is on track to have the first of three CD’s released by Toccata Classics (http://www.toccatapress.com/) early 2006.

Dobson Orchestras Concert Season Begins

Dobson High School Orchestras have begun their season with their Debut concert in the Dobson high School Auditorium.

Under the direction of conductor Robert Nichols, the 3 ensembles performed some great works. If this evenings performance is any indication for the rest of the year (and it usually is) we are in for a real treat.

Arnell Symphonies Project

Producer Marc Parella

Getting close.....

Today Dan and Mike worked on some sections from the live performance that was recorded last Saturday. Today’s session moved incredibly fast, and the ensemble tracked about 1 hour and 30 minutes of audio in a 3 hour period.

If all is well, we should be able to wrap up the tracking sessions for this project with one more session…

Arnell Symphony Live

MThis evening Dan and Mike were back working with Marc Parella and Musica Nova as they recorded the 3rd Symphony in front of a live audience.

The session went well, the audience was suprisingly quiet, and the symphony gave a performance not yet captured durring any of the sessions.

Currently the first CD of this project is scheduled to be released Febuary of next year. Well keep you updated as this progresses.

Arnell Symphony Project

Over the past several days Dan has been working in Mouse Recording's new offices sorting through and converting all the files for the Arnell Symphonies so that Marc Parella and Warren Cohen. So far we have a total of 49 Gigs covering 9 Sessions that the two will be going over to determine what sections need to be captured for the touch up sessions as well as for the up comming editing sessions.

Producer Marc Parella had indicated on his web site, www.marcparella.com that the first CD of this project is to be released early 2006 by Toccata Classics (www.toccatapress.com).

This Saturday the 8th, the Symphony will be performing a live concert, that we will be recording to acompany this CD collection.

Yun-Ting's Fellowship Project

When people ask what I like about recording music, the best way to answer is simply to play one of Yun-Ting's performances.

For the past 2 years, Yun-Ting's Summer Fellowship concert has been one of my favorite projects to record. Its concept is simple, being friends together and play music. Granted, the friends come from the Cleveland Institute, ASU and study with some of the finest professors around. The result is great music by those who play because they love to perform.

This week, we have been duplicating copies of the past 2 years performances for limited sale. If this project continues with the same momentum, this next summers performance should be to a packed house. Once the date is set I will be sure to make everyone aware.

Arnell Symphony Project

Today we completed the tracking of the 4th and 6th symphonies for the Arnell Symphony Project. With a more contemporary composition, various musical elements from the ensemble came to life. The percussion section was filled out with two additional members to compliment Mark Sunkett. This evening’s session went much better, simply because the tympani heads remained intact. On a side note, most of the percussion instruments used for these sessions, including timpani are from Mark’s own private collection.



This evening’s recording session with Warren Cohen and Musica Nova marks the beginning of a short break for everyone. We will resume sessions in October to put the finishing touches on this project. This break should also give us a great opportunity to listen and recap what we have captured so far to date. Both Marc and Warren definitely have a lot of audio to listen to.

Arnell's Symphony Project

With Waren back from his trip to london we are back in session working on the Arnell Symphonies Project.

This evening the Arnell project took a slightly different turn with the introduction of a grand piano and celeste for the recording of the 6th symphony. This particular work was composed about 10 years ago and is more contemporary then the works we have been recording. Other then the additional instrumentation, the 6th symphony also offers more dynamic parts for the percussion section.

We will continue work on the 6th and 4th symphonies tomorrow.

Arnell Symphonies Project

As we enter September we finished up with the 8th session for the Arnell Symphonies project. Next week we will continue back with the Full Symphony and start in on a new work. The next few sessions will bring a few new instruments to the table. For the up coming 6th Symphony, a grand piano will be brought in to the performance hall. We will also have the introduction of a celesta.

Arnell Symphonies Project

Today we embarked on the 7th session of the Arnell Symphonies Project. This week’s session is a nice breath of air from the previous sessions. The sessions are focused around a smaller chamber symphony with single winds. With fewer members the recording was able to progress at a faster pace with less takes. Less takes=less editing in post=less time getting the final product out.

All in all this project is enjoyable. As our faces become more familiar, we are making more and more friends within the ensemble. It’s nice to be in a room with 70+ performers and be able to name many of them. It’s also interesting to learn who makes up the symphony. Many of the musicians are prominent local musicians with a rich history of performing with various ensembles thought the valley, country and even around the world.

As we move on we have a few date changes and possibly a few more tracking sessions to add. Well keep you posted as to the progress and with permission maybe even post some samples of the recording sessions.

Glories of the Strings

This evening Dan is putting together the CD masters for the Glories of the Strings, Chamber Music Workshop recordings.

The Glories of the Strings is a wonderful experience for children from the 7th grade thought college. It offers students a one or two week opportunity to study chamber music with 4 of the valleys prominent string musicians: Dr. Phyllis Skoldberg, Joy Pan, Dr. Carolyn Broe and Dr. Zheng.

Following the week of master classes, on June 10th and 17th, Dan was on-location to record the annual Glories of the Strings performances. These performances provide the students an opportunity to showcase what they have learned durring the week.

Arnell Project Update

Wednesday and Thursday we spent our evenings in session with the Arnell Symphony Project. This week we finished up the 2nd and began working on the 4th symphony. So far I think the 4th has been my favorite to capture. It contains some very powerfull sections and yeilds to some very nice brass sounds.

This project has some very interesting characteristics to it. English Composer Richard Arnell composed these 12 symphonies over the past 5+ decades. As we move from one symphony to another, it is facinating to hear the different influences the music carries with it.

If you would like to learn a little more about the people involved in this project, check out these links:

http://www.scoretrak.com/
http://www.marcparella.com/
http://www.musicanovaaz.org/

Arnell Symphonies Project

Dan Malone and Mouse Recording with the assistance of Mike Markowski (http://www.michaelmarkowski.com/) are currently working on a two and a half month project with producer Marc Parella and Musica Nova under the direction of Warren Cohen. We are recording 12 symphonies composed by Arnell to be released by Naxos, the worlds leading classical label (http://www.naxos.com/).

To date we have 4 sessions completed with 8, possibly more to go.

For these sessions we have a great line up of equipment:

Microphones:
Deca Tree
Royer SF-12
Royer R-122 (x2)

Microphone Pre-Amplifier
Millenia Media HV-3D-8DC (modified with DC coupled inputs)

Recorders:
Nuendo DAW @ 24bit and 192kHz
Motu 896HD interface (modified with Burr-Brown Digital converters)
Tascam DA-38 (backup) @ 16bit 44.1 kHz
Tascam CDRW-2000 for 2-Track reference mixes

Power Conditioning:
Monster Cable Pro 3500 Power Conditioner


After a rough start the ensemble is coming together in good form. While 80% of the ensemble is made up from Music Nova, about 20% of the ensemble is made up of new individuals to fill in the missing members. With a few sessions under their belts, everyone is finding their groove and things are moving along well.

Next session is Wednesday August 24th.