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Roger Moutenot

RSR070 – Roger Moutenot – Producing Yo La Tengo & Paula Cole

RSR070 – Roger Moutenot – Producing Yo La Tengo & Paula Cole

My guest today is Roger Moutenot, a multi platinum Grammy nominated producer and engineer here in Nashville. Roger started out in Cliffside Park NJ with a view of Manhattan recording bands in his basement studio before attending the Institute of Audio Research in New York and landing a job at Skyline Studios in 1975.

During his time at Skyline Roger recorded many important artists including Laurie Anderson, They Might Be Giants, and 10,000 Maniacs. Making the inevitable shift to freelance Roger began working at Chung King House of Metal with Run DMC, Heavy D, and Stetsasonic, and also recording greats from the the NY jazz scene John Zorn, Bill Frisell, and Don Byron.

Moving to Nashville TN in the 90s I first met Roger when he was mixing Jill Sobule at Woodland Studios where I was interning. And then we got a chance to work together at Alex The Great studio owned by Robin Eaton and Brad Jones recording a cool indi band Toy Bean.

In 1993 Roger produced Painful, for the college radio favorites Yo La Tengo, which began a long relationship with the band going on to record seven full length albums. These included the critically acclaimed albums I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One in 1997, and 2000’s And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out.

Roger continued to make records in both Nashville and NY until building his own Haptown Studio, where we are today. He has a long list of credits which include: producing Paula Cole’s double platinum, Grammy Nominated album, This Fire, Joseph Arthur, Lambchop, Josh Rouse, Jefferson Airplane/ Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, Lou Reed, Rosanne Cash, John Cale, Jeff The Brotherhood, Son Volt, Mindy Smith, Cheap Trick, Gillian Welch, and John Mayer. The list goes on…

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You can reach Roger at: haptown491@gmail.com

Here’s Roger with his recommended reading for the studio:

Roger Moutenot

I just cant believe I get to do this. I get to come in to the studio and music. - Lou Reed via Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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The Edison wax cylinder.

Tricking for the sake of tricking? It can be pretentious sometimes. - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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Brand New Noise – cool noise boxes!

What does the song call for and what does that band sound like? What are you trying to achieve in that song? Thats the essence! - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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The Advent Cassette Deck

It was never lockouts back then. You might have two or three sessions at the daytime. And then the crazy people come in at nighttime. - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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Back then working as a tape op it was pass or fail. - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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If you're going to make a mistake, make it big! But maybe not the technician. - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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I use the console. I try to use anything I put my hands on as opposed to the mouse. - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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Have instruments in your studio... - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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I like a session where you don't feel like you're pounding, and recording. It just happens. - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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The rest note is so important. It's as important as your note note. - Jim Keltner via Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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Start with one, and then see how things sound when you move that one mic around. - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh@PaulaColeMusic
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I think the stuff thats a little quirky and maybe not perfect is what touches our hearts. More than the even tempered thing that just sounds the same throughout the whole scale of the instrument. - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh@PaulaColeMusic
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Bring everything about the world that turns us on and turns us off. Bring that into that knob, and make that come through the speakers. Then you're on to something. - Roger Moutenot @TheRealYLT @Marsh @PaulaColeMusic
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Leave a comment at the bottom of the post and let us know what you think, and thanks for being a Rockstar!

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Matt Mahaffey

RSR069 – Matt Mahaffey – The Band sElf & Composing Music For Cartoons

RSR069 – Matt Mahaffey – The Band sElf & Composing Music For Cartoons

My guest today is Matt Mahaffey, probably the most talented multi instrumental song writer, composer, and producer I know. Matt formed his own successful rock band, sElf and then cofounded Spongebath records an imprint of Zoo records. From 1995 on sElf and Spongebath became a shining beacon of hope for indi bands in middle TN wanting to shake the stereotype of country music.

After a decade in Nashville Matt moved to LA to be closer to his next label Dreamworks where he developed his production career continuing to write and record for his own band. He has a long list of artists in the studio including: Pink, Beck, Liz Phair, Tenacious D, Lupe Fiasco, Phantom Planet, Beyoncé, Butch Walker, Hellogoodbye, Forever the Sickest Kids, Miranda Cosgrove, The White Tie Affair, Keith Urban, The Sounds, L.E.O. and Smash Mouth. And recently Matt just played on Beck’s Grammy winning Album of the Year 2015, Morning Phase.

Matt has also created music for many filmmakers including Ivan Reitman, Michael Mann, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Andrew Adamson, and Hans Zimmer. And he also wrote music for Shrek, Shrek 2, and Shrek 4. And contributed music for the cartoons Ni Hao Kai-Lan and Sanjay and Craig. And other TV credits include: CSI Miami, DanceLife, Entourage, MTV, E! Entertainment, Weeds, and 60 Minutes.

He has even spoken at TEDx Nashville, and notably created the famous jingle for Expedia.com, and appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live as the Muppet character “Animal” in a drum off with Blink 182 drummer, Travis Baker.

Free mix training with Lij at MixMasterBundle.com – Get yourself a T-shirt at: RSRockstars.com/Tshirt  – Theme music: SkadooshMusic.com – Join the Rockstar Facebook group! RSRockstars.com/FB

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 Cool stuff we talked about on the show:
  • Matt’s studio Fresh Imperial Studio in Franklin TN.
  • Rehearsing in his parents basement and recording his first multi tracks with a dual cassette deck.
  • Shooting signs in WV and a pop up coffeeshop concert with Beck Hansen.
  • Jeff Turzo and the Overstayer Master and Servant. Using 808 in a rock band.
  • Composing for cartoons and film & producing bands in the studio.
  • Lots of other cool stuff! Including a the plugin Lethal for creating EDM.

Lij Shaw & Matt Mahaffey

Its the wizard not the wand - @mattmahaffey
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Your studio just has to be comfortable, and I like pretending that I'm on the Death Star. - @mattmahaffey
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U4xhf9fuYg

You have to do the same thing everyday. It's called Shojin. - @mattmahaffey
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVBwb8dmOGA

Everyone starts out wanting to be a Rockstar. - @mattmahaffey
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn49IDcTpFE

My mantra was to never have a traditional chord progression and that was my thing. - @mattmahaffey
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I'm the chiropractor of cartoons and rock n roll. - @mattmahaffey
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Cartoon characters go from extreme elation to utter despair in two seconds, and you have to musically make that work for the story. - @mattmahaffey
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Many times you think of throwing in the towel, but your heart wont buy it. And if your heart wont buy it. then you're meant for it. - @mattmahaffey
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I find the smell of coffee even if youre not a coffee drinker just inspires creativity. - @mattmahaffey
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Try watching a cartoon without the music and it is a completely lame experience. - @mattmahaffey
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The thousands of decision we make as producers and engineers are transparent. The listener doesn't even understand. - @mattmahaffey
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Leave a comment at the bottom of the post and let us know what you think, and thanks for being a Rockstar!

FREE Mix Training with Lij Shaw
Get The Mix Master Bundle with over two hours of mix videos, multitracks, ebook, and mix template.
Pat Sansone

RSR068 – Pat Sansone – Recording with The Autumn Defense & Wilco

RSR068 – Pat Sansone – Recording with The Autumn Defense & Wilco

My guest today is my good friend Pat Sansone, a prolific, and talented multi instrumentalist, songwriter, and Grammy nominated producer.  Pat’s early bands included playing guitar with Beagle Voyage and Stretch Armstrong, a rock band influenced by Black Sabbath and the Butthole Surfers, and then his own power pop band Birdy. In 1999, Pat formed The Autumn Defense, in New Orleans, with his friend John Stirratt of Wilco.

They went on to record four full-length albums: The Green Hour in 2000, Which I helped record at Alex The Great in Nashville, and then Engine in Chicago, and then Circles in 2003, which I recorded right here at The Toy Box Studio when it was in my house, with cables running all over the place. In fact it was Pat who aptly named my studio The Toy Box Studio after recording here while surrounded by my collection of toy instruments. The Autumn Defense then went on to make their self-titled album The Autumn Defense in 2006, and Once Around in 2010.

While living in both Nashville and New York, Pat working as a producer and studio musician. He contributed to albums by Joseph Arthur, Andrew Bird, Josh Rouse, Mavis Staples, Swan Dive, Jenifer Jackson, Ryan Adams, The Clientele, and others.

In 2004 Pat joined Wilco following the departure of multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach. And now Pat plays guitar, keyboard, maracas, and several other instruments, as well as singing backup vocals with Wilco. He was also involved in the writing and recording of Wilco’s albums: Sky Blue Sky, Wilco, and co producing The Whole Love in 2011.

Pat has also created a book of photography called 100 Polaroids, a collection of polaroid photographs taken with an SX70 camera, from his travels with Wilco and The Autumn Defense. And he has worked with many great musicians and artists along the way including: Dawes, Jamie Lidell, Phil Selway of Radiohead, The Future Monarchs with Josh Shapera, Elizabeth Cook, Garrison Starr, Richard Julian, and Will Kimbrough.

Free mix training with Lij at MixMasterBundle.com – Get yourself a T-shirt at: RSRockstars.com/Tshirt  – Theme music: SkadooshMusic.com – Join the Rockstar Facebook group! RSRockstars.com/FB

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 Cool stuff we talked about on the show:
  • Pat’s musical beginnings in Meridian MS.
  • Peavey headquarters.
  • Recording Heartbreaker with Ryan Adams.
  • Recording at the Wilco loft, at Easley Studio, and with Josh Shapera at the Mixin Administration.
  • How to record fantastic drums on your record.
  • Recording Wilco acoustic guitars with an iPhone.
  • Why Freddie Mercuries sound great in the mix.
  • Working with Richard Dodd
  • Recording Hammond B3, Leslie, piano, and Wurly.
  • Why Jeff Tweedy prefers recording his vocals with an Shure SM7.
Just listen with your ears. - Pat Sansone @Wilco @AutumnDefense
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Somebody presses the spacebar to play something, and people just stare at the screen. -Pat Sansone @Wilco @AutumnDefense
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Part of your job as a producer is to trust your instincts. -Pat Sansone @Wilco @AutumnDefense
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This is the great video showing you how a Shure SM57 sounds on electric guitar in 7 different mic positions!

Listen with your ears and work with your heart. -Pat Sansone @Wilco @AutumnDefense
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Here is Brand New Song from Americanitis by Will Kimbrough and co produced by Lij Shaw using the iPod mic for vocal and acoustic guitar.

Some singers just sing better with a guitar in their hands. -Pat Sansone @Wilco @AutumnDefense
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Jeff Tweedy Sukierae with more demo guitars recorded on iPhone that became part of the record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvc6EFUx9Xo&index=1&list=PLxpRNq5SCAvJvS6-nqJjbCmaibbUgKdHJ

If you're singing in headphones it can affect your pitch center -Pat Sansone @Wilco @AutumnDefense
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Here is Jack Ashford from the Funk Brothers of Motown showing us how Tamborine is really done right!

If the vocal is tying to fight through the rock then it makes the whole mix sound more exciting. -Pat Sansone @Wilco @AutumnDefense
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Tack Piano

If I'm playing a mix for people, Ill just turn the monitor off. -Pat Sansone @Wilco @AutumnDefense
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Autumn Defense performing at East Side Manor, a beautiful studio in East Nashville.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h72IUSsXq1w

Leave a comment at the bottom of the post and let us know what you think, and thanks for being a Rockstar!

FREE Mix Training with Lij Shaw
Get The Mix Master Bundle with over two hours of mix videos, multitracks, ebook, and mix template.
Carl Nappa

RSR067 – Carl Nappa – Producing and Mixing Hip Hop with Nelly & The Hit Factory

RSR067 – Carl Nappa – Producing and Mixing Hip Hop with Nelly & The Hit Factory

My guest today is Carl Nappa with over 30 Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum records as an engineer, mixer or producer. He has worked with a long list of high profile artists in Rock, Hip Hop, R&B & Pop. In his 20+ year career Carl is credited as engineer or producer for more than 50 million records sold.

He has been a staff engineer at The Hit Factory in NYC, owned and operated “Hell’s Kitchen Recording and Social Club” In NYC for 4 years, is a voting member of NARAS and now also teaches in St Louis at the Ex’Treme Institute by Nelly.

Carl’s extensive discography includes many names that you will recognize like: Nelly, Chris Brown, R. Kelly, N’SYNC, Limp Bizkit, Ice Cube, NRBQ, Blondie, Moody Blues, John Mellencamp, Mariah Carey, Prince, Wyclef Jean, Run DMC, Pet Shop Boys, Alan Parsons, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Missy Elliot, Madonna, and the Manhattan Transfer. And the list goes on and on…
 Cool stuff we talked about on the show:
  • Stealing donuts to make a big impression on the studio as an intern (we don’t recommend this!)
  • Recording with Extreme
  • Mixing on various consoles
I write notes to future Carl of what I do like in the mix! - @CarlNappa @Nelly_Mo
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Recording gear is supposed to sound good first, and we don't have to worry about the name, or what it looks like. - @CarlNappa @Nelly_Mo
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  • Working with Prince at The Hit Factory.
  • How to mix from careful notes.
  • How to know when your mix is done.
A studio is like a boat. But instead of being on water you are trying to keep the sound out or in depending on how you look at it. - @CarlNappa @Nelly_Mo
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If you have just one hard drive in your studio you might as well take it and throw it against the wall right now, because it doesn't exist. You need a backup!- @CarlNappa @Nelly_Mo
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  • Recording Sean Pelton on drums.
  • How to soundcheck drums like a pro!
  • Setting up Nelly’s Home studio.
When building you home studio just do the things that are necessary to allow yourself to work.- @CarlNappa @Nelly_Mo
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The best thing you can do is practice. If you mix a song for a client mix it ten times. - @CarlNappa @Nelly_Mo
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When you are listening to your mix stop looking at the screen. Just listen. - @CarlNappa @Nelly_Mo
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Listen to the songs and don't get in the way of whats supposed to be happening. - @CarlNappa @Nelly_Mo
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  • How to get great Low End in a mix.
  • Sample level bass management.
  • How to get better fast at recording and mixing when you are just starting out.
My attention is on that person singing 20 feet in front of me. I believe they are the most important person in my life at that particular time.- @CarlNappa @Nelly_Mo
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Guess what? If you yell at somebody you're going to the back of the line every time your invoice comes up... - @CarlNappa @Nelly_Mo
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Leave a comment at the bottom of the post and let us know what you think, and thanks for being a Rockstar!

Carl’s mixes:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TegGJsIzB0o

 

Carl Nappa

Executive Director & Campus Director EI

Vatterott College ex’treme Institute by Nelly

800 North 3rd Street St. Louis MO. 63102

314.657.4410

314.241.1089 fax

314.637.4908 cell

carl.nappa@eibynelly.com

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FREE Mix Training with Lij Shaw
Get The Mix Master Bundle with over two hours of mix videos, multitracks, ebook, and mix template.