In the studio with Depeche Mode recording ‘Sounds of the Universe’

14 DM studio vids

1. unknown

Martin Gore, acoustic GTR tracking

2. unknown

kick drum enhancement with vibrating floor tom

3. unknown

Martin Gore, more acoustic GTR tracking

4. fragile tension

Dave Gahan vocal tracking (with new mic, AKG C414 with foam windscreen?)

what’s Proposition 8? elimination of same-sex marriage in California.

IMO, the state has no business deciding who and who cannot get married.

proposed solution? maybe take religion out of it (separation of church and state), call them “civil unions” instead of marriage, and allow anyone who wants to participate… too easy?

5. unknown

Martin Gore backing vocal doubling, sponsored by Smart Water™

6. wrong

Dave & Martin tracking vocals.  pitch correction, the old skool way…

points of interest

1. notice how much direction Dave Gahan and Martin Gore take from the producer…
2. they’re working on variations in the vocal for repeat listenability
3. also interesting how far off the mic (and pop screen) they are.  one of my complaints when i see ppl record is that they put the mics too close.  close-miking is a SOUND REINFORCEMENT TECHNIQUE used to minimize spill.  when overdubbing in the studio there is no reason to be concerned about spill, since you’re recording one track at a time.  so using a SOUND REINFORCEMENT TECHNIQUE in the studio makes no sense. know the techniques you’re using.  understand WHY you’re using that particular technique WITH PURPOSE. we want success to be a product of CHOICE not CHANCE. file this one under sound reinforcement vs studio techniques

7. jezebel

Dave Gahan vocoder fun…

8. unknown

Martin (keyboard), Dave (GTR), and Ben Hillier (piano) idea gathering…

9. wrong

effected synth tracking with Martin Gore, Ben Hillier with the ringmod pedal

10. what a wonderful world

Martin Gore on acoustic GTR singing Louis Armstrong…

11. unknown – miles away?

Martin tracking fruit bowl effected slide GTR… which turns into irish folk music

12. ghost

mixing session with Tony Hoffer… gear fest & eye candy from Chung King Studios

13. stand by me

Sam Cooke?

14. light

Dave Gahan vocal tracking