Life changing experience: Part II

Thursday,
Time we are supposed to be at the lab: 6pm-12am, Time I was working: 5pm-6am

After fighting with my boss in Diversity (which btw, I am done with that job! w00t!) about missing an event, I decided to stay the night at the lab. Honestly, this is a once in a lifetime chance to work with amazing people and top equipment in a studio. I was going to do all I could to spend more time in the lab.

Went to class and then inbetween classes I grabbed my sleeping bag, pillow, change of clothes, pjs, and such. Had a TON of stuff and went to Hernietta's GIS class.

After GIS class, hopped on the Buff Bus, got my car, and drove to studio. On the way I listened to Caroline's show, called her up and let her know she was doing a great job. She rocked the air waves with Senior Coconut and Fischerspooner, etc.

Go to the studio and got myself settled. Worked on my track for a while. Was interviewed by the Daily Camera reported about the program. It was a interesting experience.

Lorin did a bunch of lecturing. Taught us some moe basics to drum machines, looping, and synths. We bagan to work on sampling.

Around 8:30 Lorin told us that next door they were doing some sweet re-mastering of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon if we'd want to take a feild trip next door. So at 9pm we walked next door and was completely amazed. The studio was beautiful. It has moveable sound proof walls in the recording area. The production area had the biggest mixing board I have ever seen (with ProTools up on the computer) and giant lava lamps (both red/purple and blue/green) which is just essential for a recording studio, Mo and I decided they improve the sound.

While we were getting a tour of the studio we could hear the sounds of Dark Side coming from the backroom. We got a full tour and then Craig and our tour guide (can't remember her name) decided to take us back there eventhough they couldn't find Gus (who is doing the remastering). We went into the stuido which has five Sony "DS9" surrond sound speakers and a desk and computer in the middle of the room. Gus has the orginal analog masters for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and is creating a recording of them that is better than the orginal pressed record. We listened to "Money" which is a song I've heard a million times but this was like nothing I have ever heard in any recording. For the audio geeks (aka audiophiles) this is obvious but I will try to explain. If you ever listen to a recording on vinyl and then listen to that same recording on CD, you can tell the difference. CDs have a "tin-y" metallic sound, like if you hear clapping, it sounds like pebbles being thrown into a can. Vinyl has a much warmer sound, more depth.

This was like listening to orginal recording as it was being done in the studio, like as if Pink Floyd was standing in the room. The sound was crystal clear, there were parts in the song that are completely lost in the recordings on to vinyl or CD. Gus found us and told us about the technology. We also listened to Joni Mitchell singing "A Case of You" with the London Philharmonic and then another recording by her. These were also master recordings that Gus has made sound amazing. You'd swear that an invisible Joni Mitchell was standing 5 feet in front of you with and invisible orchestra. You could pick out where the individual players of the instruments were sitting. Super sweet.

This technology of the amazing sound can be burned to CD with no loss in quality. They burn a master glass CD. The CDs made from that are dual layered CDs that can play in your regualar CD player or if you have something like a PS3, the uber special Sony technology remastering can be played and sound as good as what we heard but on your home sound system.

After that we went back and worked on our tracks. Mo and I were having a hard time concentrating cause our minds were just blown.

Lorin taught us stuff until 12 and then we were free to leave or stay. Mo, Jorge, Ian, and I stayed. Mo left at about 1am. Jorge, Ian and I worked on stuff and messed around. I ended up going to bed (which involved sleeping on a comfy cot upstairs in the loft area) at 6am but those two stayed up until 7 or 8am.

I woke up around 10am....ready to start another day of music...

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To be continued....(when I am less sleepy)