Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Equipment File #26: Peavey amp

Peavey Bandit amplifier

Equipment File 26

This is the guitar amp the Studio used for many years, as far back as 1990.

In the early days, this amp was used for the electric guitar, the drum machine through, and vocals. Many of the early Mune Mud songs have reverb on the drums and vocals, that reverb was from this amp.

As the Studio acquired more equipment, the amp was used less and less. When the sampler pedal was bought in 1991, that was the new unit to use for vocals. When the 4-track recorder was also purchased in 1991, drums were then recorded directly into the recorder. But the one piece of equipment that was most responsible for the amp becoming a huge paperweight was the Alesis effects unit. The guitar could go through the Alesis and get all of the amp sounds and effects, plus a whole lot more.

The amp was eventually used only for live jams. It was used to record some of the Isthmus albums and various other projects.

For the last several years the amp has been in the Studio's basement, exposed to cool damp conditions that have aged its weathered vinyl skin beyond its years. It probably still works, it just doesn't look great. Until a specific need arises, the amp will remain in the basement keeping much of the older equipment company.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Ethical Travels #7: Arun Molivar Man

Ethical Travels concludes with "Arun Molivar Man"

Click here to enter. . .

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Blog News: 1 Year Anniversary

Happy 1st Anniversary


1 cake

This blog is one year old today! 365 days and 315 posts!

I was going to open the Studio and have all the fans come over today for cake and grape juice but I forgot to buy grape juice, so I decided to cancel the celebration. Maybe next year.

Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Equipment File #25: Sony receiver

Sony STR-D665 receiver

Equipment File 25

This is the second receiver the Studio has owned. The first one was also a Sony and it was bought from Studio associate Brad P in the late 80's. When that unit died, this one was bought to replace it.

The flow of audio in the Studio goes like this: all audio is funneled through a mixer into the computer. From the computer it goes into the receiver. From the receiver the audio goes to the speakers. Fairly straightforward.

The unit is still going strong today. And with a little luck it will be around for a long time to come.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Collector's Corner #28

On September 18, 1992, one of my biggest dreams (at the time) came true... I met the group Faith No More.

Collector's Corner 28

I had a friend at the time that worked for a rock music magazine. He usually got a "press pass" when bands came to town so he could go backstage and interview them. This night he had three backstage passes. He invited me and another friend to go with him.

At the time, they were the band that influenced me the most. They are mentioned in this and this previous post as a major musical influence.

The pictures we had for the band to sign were 1'x1' pasteboard album covers that were hung in music stores when new albums came out. It was a treat for fans to be able to collect those squares of their favorite bands.

So when I met them, I had each of them sign mine as such (from left to right):
  • Mike Patton (vocals) - I had him sign it to Mune Mud. I also mentioned I liked his other band, Mr. Bungle. So for that band he put the "B" in front of him.
  • Billy Gould (bass) - I had him also sign it to Mune Mud.
  • Mike Bordin - He misunderstood me when he asked how I wanted it signed. I said "To Jason... how original, huh?" and he thought I said "To Jason the Original".
  • Roddy Bottum (keyboard) - He just signed his name.
  • Jim Martin (guitar) - The band was having problems with Jim at the time, so he wasn't in with the rest of the band meeting fans. In fact, shortly after this concert he left the band. So Mike Patton drew the circle over Jim's face when I asked where Jim was.
So this little artifact is now hanging in the Hall of Fame Wing of the Metal XOR Studio Museum.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Ethical Travels #6: Temple of Ustonu

Ethical Travels continues with "Temple of Ustonu"

Click here to enter. . .

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Article: Web Log Omnibus

What is the Web Log Omnibus? It is a printed copy of the Web Log feature.

Web Log Omnibus 1

What is the Web Log feature? It is a weekly feature posted every Friday that contains twenty-five posts from this blog in .PDF format. The .PDF file is embedded in the post so the reader can scan through and read the file on the site, they can make the file full-screen so it is easier to read, or they can download the file and have a hard copy for themselves.

Each week when another post is made, the Studio prints out a hard copy. These pages are placed in two 3-ring binders which has become the paper copy of the website, organized by category. And these two binders make up the Web Log Omnibus. It also serves as a backup in case the website should ever crash.

Web Log Omnibus 2

As new Web Log features are posted (every twenty-five posts), the Web Log Omnibus will grow. Hopefully it will grow to three binders some day, then four, etc.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Web Log #12: Posts 276-300

This twelfth entry contains posts #276-300.

Read this document on Scribd: Web Log 12 (276-300)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Equipment File #24: Yamaha mixer

Yamaha MC802 mixer

Equipment File 24

This is the third mixer the Studio has used. At one point when the Studio was redesigned, it was decided to use a smaller mixer than the EV board it was had at the time. So this 8-channel board replaced it.

This is the board still in use at Metal XOR-E Studio today. After the streamlined redesign the Studio underwent in November of 2008, this board is actually overkill. But until space becomes an issue again, this will remain the Studio's mixer.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Ethical Travels #5: The Manor Court

Ethical Travels continues with "The Manor Court"

Click here to enter. . .

Friday, August 8, 2008

Web Log #11: Posts 251-275

This eleventh entry contains posts #251-275.

Read this document on Scribd: Web Log 11 (251-275)

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Equipment File #23: EV mixer

EV BK-1242 mixer

Equipment File 23

This is the second mixer the Studio used. The first was an old blue 8-channel mixer that Jason's place of unemployment was going to throw away in 1990 (no pictures are available of the first mixer). It was used for years until he was able to acquire this one several years ago.

This mixer was used to run all instruments and equipment through to the main amplifier in the Studio. It was a good board, just too big for what little space the Studio had set aside for a mixer. It has since been replaced by a smaller Yamaha mixer.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Collector's Corner #27

It was a catalog like this one that was the inspiration for the ORC song "Flying Cloud Drive" from the 1999 album Purging the Great Abyss.

Collector's Corner 27

The song was a walk through the world of new age, full of terms and lingo that they still don't fully understand to this day. They opened the catalog and chose random words that "sounded cool" for the song lyrics. The name of the song came from the company's address, it was located on Flying Cloud Drive. But the catalog pictured above is a newer catalog and has a different address.

The original catalog is believed to still be somewhere within the walls of the Studio, misplaced at the moment. But the one above is being held in its place in the Metaphysical Wing of the Metal XOR Studio Museum.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Ethical Travels #4: Club Jungle

Ethical Travels continues with "Club Jungle"

Click here to enter. . .

Friday, August 1, 2008

Web Log #10: Posts 226-250

This tenth entry contains posts #226-250.

Read this document on Scribd: Web Log 10 (226-250)

State of the Studio #12: August '08

A milestone was recently reached and another will be reached this month. The recent one was the blog's 300th post!!! That's crazy! And the upcoming milestone is the blog's one year anniversary on August 23! Watch for a special post on that day.

The biggest project at the Studio right now is the Ethical Travels feature. It will conclude at the end of the month and the first Equinox Dulcet CD will be released in the near future collecting all seven of the songs from Ethical Travels. In case you've missed it, click here to visit the Equinox Dulcet website.

The Collector's Corner feature returns this month with a few new entries. Be sure to watch for those, they're always fun to read.

The Equipment File feature will continue through this month and into next month. The list of equipment used by the Studio throughout the years is a long one, but it will be coming to an end relatively soon.

And the Web Log feature gets caught up this month. And watch for an article that will be posted explaining what the Web Log Omnibus is.

So it's business as usual here at the Studio. I'm waiting for the brutal heat of summer to leave, then fall and winter projects can be considered. See you on the first of September.