Studio diary
Studio diary to work on our forthcoming album "Schattenwelten"
When: 16 - 19/08/2008
Where: HORUS Sound Studio
Who: André
Instrument: drums
Getting started - finally!
16/08/2008
After long and intensive preparation, the recordings for my drum recordings started. Christian and I left Oldenburg quite early to arrive at the HORUS Studio at 10 a.m.. Benni welcomed us and I directly started with the setup of my drums in the so-called ´Record Place´. An incredible sound will blast me away, I am deadly sure about that :)
After a quick setup, the drumtuner arrived to adjust my drums, and its result was a very powerful sound. Our technician, Benny, started to put the mics in its right place and built up portable walls to dam the drum´s sound.
I started to warm up myself by playing various stuff on the drumset. Finally, we started with the first takes. Our aim to complete a couple of songs on the first day was fulfilled.
17 - 19/08/2008
The following days were quite samey. We started off at 10 a.m. (almost every day, that is) and I played some practice takes for the song in line. Then the real takes began and the songs were divided into small parts that were played over and over again. With this strategy, we reached our workload for each day. At the end of the drum session, I can say that my expectations have been overtopped and one can be very excited how the final album will sound.
Where: HORUS Sound Studio
Who: André
Instrument: drums
Getting started - finally!
16/08/2008
After long and intensive preparation, the recordings for my drum recordings started. Christian and I left Oldenburg quite early to arrive at the HORUS Studio at 10 a.m.. Benni welcomed us and I directly started with the setup of my drums in the so-called ´Record Place´. An incredible sound will blast me away, I am deadly sure about that :)
After a quick setup, the drumtuner arrived to adjust my drums, and its result was a very powerful sound. Our technician, Benny, started to put the mics in its right place and built up portable walls to dam the drum´s sound.
I started to warm up myself by playing various stuff on the drumset. Finally, we started with the first takes. Our aim to complete a couple of songs on the first day was fulfilled.
17 - 19/08/2008
The following days were quite samey. We started off at 10 a.m. (almost every day, that is) and I played some practice takes for the song in line. Then the real takes began and the songs were divided into small parts that were played over and over again. With this strategy, we reached our workload for each day. At the end of the drum session, I can say that my expectations have been overtopped and one can be very excited how the final album will sound.
When: 01 - 05/09/2008
Where: HORUS Sound Studio
Who: Christian and Michael
Instruments: rhythm guitars
01/09/2008
We arrived in Hanover at 10 a.m.. After a small introduction, we moved into our apartment, including several bedrooms, a living room (with a TV, a DVD player, a sound system etc.) and a small kitchen. Well, just the usual stuff.
At first, our amps were set up and wired. Afterwards, Benny, our technician, helped us with the sound until everything was ready for the recordings. We ended that day with two finished songs, which matched with our set aim.
02 - 04/09/2008
We also achieved our workload these days. The procedure was as follows: one of us recorded a song. Then it was the other one´s turn. Repeat. This way, we both had time to relax a little in between and to get ready for the next song.
05/09/2008
Things didn´t work out too well on our last day as we had problems with the songs for which we had to tune down the guitars. We had to leave one song undone, but its recording will follow after some arrangements are being made.
The rest of the songs sounded great, we had a blast listening to the still raw guitar lines. We can´t wait for the final results :)
Where: HORUS Sound Studio
Who: Christian and Michael
Instruments: rhythm guitars
01/09/2008
We arrived in Hanover at 10 a.m.. After a small introduction, we moved into our apartment, including several bedrooms, a living room (with a TV, a DVD player, a sound system etc.) and a small kitchen. Well, just the usual stuff.
At first, our amps were set up and wired. Afterwards, Benny, our technician, helped us with the sound until everything was ready for the recordings. We ended that day with two finished songs, which matched with our set aim.
02 - 04/09/2008
We also achieved our workload these days. The procedure was as follows: one of us recorded a song. Then it was the other one´s turn. Repeat. This way, we both had time to relax a little in between and to get ready for the next song.
05/09/2008
Things didn´t work out too well on our last day as we had problems with the songs for which we had to tune down the guitars. We had to leave one song undone, but its recording will follow after some arrangements are being made.
The rest of the songs sounded great, we had a blast listening to the still raw guitar lines. We can´t wait for the final results :)
When: 13 - 28/09/2009
Where: DoNotDream rehearsal- and recording room
Who: Thorsten
Instrument: bass
After the drums and rhythm guitars have been recorded, it was time for the bass. Since I had to work during the week, we could only record on the weekends.
On Saturday the 13th, Christian and I began with the bass recordings. After long soundchecks and settling in periods, we only slowly proceeded. The weekend ended with three completed songs.
The following Saturday, we started early again. But now I was familiar with the procedure of the recordings and we accomplished a total of seven songs at the end of that weekend.
On the third weekend, we completed the bass recordings. But we needed the lot of our planned time since some longer songs were still undone. In the end, we were very happy that the results were more than satisfying - the work was well worth it!
Now it was up to Simon and his key recordings...
Where: DoNotDream rehearsal- and recording room
Who: Thorsten
Instrument: bass
After the drums and rhythm guitars have been recorded, it was time for the bass. Since I had to work during the week, we could only record on the weekends.
On Saturday the 13th, Christian and I began with the bass recordings. After long soundchecks and settling in periods, we only slowly proceeded. The weekend ended with three completed songs.
The following Saturday, we started early again. But now I was familiar with the procedure of the recordings and we accomplished a total of seven songs at the end of that weekend.
On the third weekend, we completed the bass recordings. But we needed the lot of our planned time since some longer songs were still undone. In the end, we were very happy that the results were more than satisfying - the work was well worth it!
Now it was up to Simon and his key recordings...
When: October 2008
Where: DoNotDream rehearsal- and recoding room
Who: Simon
Instrument: keys
Finally, it was up to me to record my parts after almost everyone else completed their recordings. I did not have to travel to Hanover since the keys can be recorded in our very own rooms here in Oldenburg.
As usual, we needed more time for the recordings as planned. We spent most of the time looking for good sounds or creating them. There are always bits and bobs that we changed to give the songs a unique touch, but everything had to fit again in the end - which was not always too easy!
All in all, we learned a lot while recording and we had lots of fun, everything was quite relaxed - probably also because of not having to worry about finishing the intended workload. If a song took longer than expected, we worked half the night through - so no problems here. Luckily, Christian and I were quite familiar with each other´s functioning which was helpful for our work.
Meanwhile, the keyboard recordings are done and we are more than happy with the results!
Where: DoNotDream rehearsal- and recoding room
Who: Simon
Instrument: keys
Finally, it was up to me to record my parts after almost everyone else completed their recordings. I did not have to travel to Hanover since the keys can be recorded in our very own rooms here in Oldenburg.
As usual, we needed more time for the recordings as planned. We spent most of the time looking for good sounds or creating them. There are always bits and bobs that we changed to give the songs a unique touch, but everything had to fit again in the end - which was not always too easy!
All in all, we learned a lot while recording and we had lots of fun, everything was quite relaxed - probably also because of not having to worry about finishing the intended workload. If a song took longer than expected, we worked half the night through - so no problems here. Luckily, Christian and I were quite familiar with each other´s functioning which was helpful for our work.
Meanwhile, the keyboard recordings are done and we are more than happy with the results!
Date: 23 - 28/10/2008
Where: HORUS Sound Studio
Who: Lars, Tina, Sebastian and Christian
Instruments: vocals, violin, acoustic guitar
Day 1)
Our train arrived at the Horus Sound Studio in Hanover on Thursday 23rd just in time - unfortunately, Sebastian was a bit dizzy that day, due to a bad cold and lots of medicine. Our producer Benni Schäfer introduced us and showed us our apartments - very comfortable :) Nico, a trainee of the crew, presented our stone-made dinner table (see pic). This renovation seemed inevitable after some "pure inventory destruction parties" of a coupe of previous tenants. Day 1 was all in all quite relaxed, only Sebastian had to be kind of busy as he started to record his violin parts. We others spent time to fill up our fridge with lots of unhealthy stuff. Christian turned up later that evening since he had to work throughout the day. He was responsible for the acoustic guitar parts the following days. The day ended with watching POPSTARS on TV and eating cheese sandwiches.
Day 2)
A hail to our violinist! His hard work the night before was very successful, so we already started with the vocals on Friday afternoon. Our vocal coach Julia from Oldenburg visited us, mainly to support and guide us through the lines. Thanks for that! Due to our disciplined method, we could finish the vocals for two complete songs - that deserves some reward! So we blessed the kiosk at the train station with our visit and enjoyed some Jägermeister - cheers!
Day 3)
Saturday was also very successful: we finished three additional songs and celebrated our achievement in a small but cosy restaurant. Benni came with us and enriched the evening with various stories from his time at the Horus. Unfortunately, Sebastian and Julia left earlier that day and travelled back to Oldenburg. So it was just the four of us. The next day, Christian´s guitar parts were scheduled, so Lars and I were happy to have some free time...well, that´s what WE thought! So we drank a couple of Jagdstolz, which should turn out to be ´a bit´ of a mistake...!
Day 4)
Sunday was wasted - bloody hangover! Luckily, it was up to Christian to record his guitar parts first. We tried to do something helpful to be back on track in the afternoon and decided to take a nice, long walk. During lunch break, Christian and I (Lars) were blessed by a young missionary in Hanover´s pedestrian precinct. Thanks, but no, thanks! Not quite converted, but full of optimism, Tina and me completed another song that day. After Sebi´s and Julia´s abandonment, Christian also left the Horus to drive back to Oldenburg. So it was up to the two of us to shape the last days into something useful.
Day 5)
With a refreshed mind and in a good mood, we were confident to achieve our set workload of at least two songs. Well, what´s left to say? We finished three! Damn, are we good ;) Perhaps our success was also due to the nice blue light of a Swedish furniture shop (what was it called again...er...can´t remember...). Somehow it created a warm, cosy tune in our recording room and helped us to succeed during the production. Our inner silence came to a sudden end when we entered our apartment that night: the Horus crew decided to beautify our room by hanging up a larger than life-sized poster of our producer over my (Tina´s) bed. Well, good night and sweet dreams!
Final Day)
No nightmares or other disturbances during our last night at the Horus. Only one more song to go - incredible! We were longing so much for our final recording. At first, that is. During its recording, melancholy came over us which was a pretty obvious sign that the time at the studio was very nice and we definitely would like to come back sometime! Thanks to everybody at the Horus Sound Studio for this partially exhausting but wonderful experience!
Where: HORUS Sound Studio
Who: Lars, Tina, Sebastian and Christian
Instruments: vocals, violin, acoustic guitar
Day 1)
Our train arrived at the Horus Sound Studio in Hanover on Thursday 23rd just in time - unfortunately, Sebastian was a bit dizzy that day, due to a bad cold and lots of medicine. Our producer Benni Schäfer introduced us and showed us our apartments - very comfortable :) Nico, a trainee of the crew, presented our stone-made dinner table (see pic). This renovation seemed inevitable after some "pure inventory destruction parties" of a coupe of previous tenants. Day 1 was all in all quite relaxed, only Sebastian had to be kind of busy as he started to record his violin parts. We others spent time to fill up our fridge with lots of unhealthy stuff. Christian turned up later that evening since he had to work throughout the day. He was responsible for the acoustic guitar parts the following days. The day ended with watching POPSTARS on TV and eating cheese sandwiches.
Day 2)
A hail to our violinist! His hard work the night before was very successful, so we already started with the vocals on Friday afternoon. Our vocal coach Julia from Oldenburg visited us, mainly to support and guide us through the lines. Thanks for that! Due to our disciplined method, we could finish the vocals for two complete songs - that deserves some reward! So we blessed the kiosk at the train station with our visit and enjoyed some Jägermeister - cheers!
Day 3)
Saturday was also very successful: we finished three additional songs and celebrated our achievement in a small but cosy restaurant. Benni came with us and enriched the evening with various stories from his time at the Horus. Unfortunately, Sebastian and Julia left earlier that day and travelled back to Oldenburg. So it was just the four of us. The next day, Christian´s guitar parts were scheduled, so Lars and I were happy to have some free time...well, that´s what WE thought! So we drank a couple of Jagdstolz, which should turn out to be ´a bit´ of a mistake...!
Day 4)
Sunday was wasted - bloody hangover! Luckily, it was up to Christian to record his guitar parts first. We tried to do something helpful to be back on track in the afternoon and decided to take a nice, long walk. During lunch break, Christian and I (Lars) were blessed by a young missionary in Hanover´s pedestrian precinct. Thanks, but no, thanks! Not quite converted, but full of optimism, Tina and me completed another song that day. After Sebi´s and Julia´s abandonment, Christian also left the Horus to drive back to Oldenburg. So it was up to the two of us to shape the last days into something useful.
Day 5)
With a refreshed mind and in a good mood, we were confident to achieve our set workload of at least two songs. Well, what´s left to say? We finished three! Damn, are we good ;) Perhaps our success was also due to the nice blue light of a Swedish furniture shop (what was it called again...er...can´t remember...). Somehow it created a warm, cosy tune in our recording room and helped us to succeed during the production. Our inner silence came to a sudden end when we entered our apartment that night: the Horus crew decided to beautify our room by hanging up a larger than life-sized poster of our producer over my (Tina´s) bed. Well, good night and sweet dreams!
Final Day)
No nightmares or other disturbances during our last night at the Horus. Only one more song to go - incredible! We were longing so much for our final recording. At first, that is. During its recording, melancholy came over us which was a pretty obvious sign that the time at the studio was very nice and we definitely would like to come back sometime! Thanks to everybody at the Horus Sound Studio for this partially exhausting but wonderful experience!
