Posts

Recording vocals is no easy task, and since vocals are one of the most important components of any track, it is important that it is done right. One of the biggest advantages of availing the services of a recording studio is that they have the right equipment and enough expertise to ensure that the vocals are recorded optimally. Here are some of the best practices for recording vocals.

Best Practices for Recording Vocals 1

Choosing the right microphone

You will generally have three types of microphones to choose from as a vocalist. The large diaphragm condenser microphone is a popular choice since it is able to capture the loudest and softest sounds with unparalleled clarity. Alternatively, you can pick a dynamic microphone, which is ideal for loud singers who their voice to create an impact. The third option is a ribbon microphone, which are great for bright or harsh sounding voices that are in need of slight mellowing.

Getting the visual sightlines perfect

Although this is not entirely necessary, it is useful to maintain eye contact with the control room while you are singing. Since the professionals in the control room are going to be watching you, you might as well seek reassurance and emotional feedback from them while you, as the artist, are recording your vocals.

Finding the ideal position for the microphone

It doesn’t matter how good a microphone you have to record your vocals with – it must be positioned properly. This is where professional recording studio technicians can come in handy, since they generally know the distances and angles that work. Trial and error is normally needed though, since no two singers get the best results at exactly the same distances and angles.

Best Practices for Recording Vocals 2

Wearing headphones

The importance of wearing good-quality headphones while recording vocals is often understated. Artists should ensure that both their ears are covered with phone cushions so that spill is eliminated altogether. It is equally necessary that the headphones are hooked onto a powerful amp and that they fit perfectly.

 

At the Record Shop, we make sure that vocalists are briefed about and guided through the best practices for recording vocals. What do you think is the most important thing a singer should keep in mind while in the recording studio? Let us know in the comments section!

The drum-kit is perhaps the most frustrating and time-consuming instrument in terms of recording. If you manage to get it right, the rewards are significant because everyone knows that the core of a fantastic mix is a great drum sound. We have compiled four important drum recording techniques and secrets that we think could help you deal with the challenge of drum recording. Drum Recording Techniques and Secrets

Tune the kit

It’s quite unsettling how many people forget to tune their kits before they start drum recording. No drum can produce its optimal sounds unless it has been properly tuned. The skins must be neither too tight nor too slack, and the tension should be even too.

Get your overheads right

It is useful to put a stereo pair in place to check out how the kit sounds and make sure everything is balanced. It is important that you hit the toms with the right intensity and the cymbals with the right frequency so you should fine tune your drumming skills before you even think about getting your overheards right.

Set the mics steep and close

Not everyone agrees on this, but it is often extremely effective to set the mics straight down into the drums at a steep angle of approximately 70 degrees. This way the mics will be able to capture maximum body and weight to the sound. Move the mic around the drum head marginally if you’re not getting your desired results until you find the right spot.

Tune the recording space Drum Recording Techniques and Secrets

Much is often spoken about the importance of tuning instruments, but people often forget that recording spaces also need to be fine-tuned for an optimal result. If the room where you are planning to record your drum has carpeted floors and walls, make sure you make arrangements for some reflective surface such as plywood sheets to place on the walls.

If you want to know more about our drum recording services, visit our Drum Recording page today. What are your drum recording techniques and secrets? Get involved in the discussion below!

Cari logoHey y’all!  Music City is one of the greatest hubs of creativity in the World, not just for the music for which the city gained its nickname from but for artists of every cree.  The Record Shop is very excited to get to share some of the great local talent that Nashville has to offer.  We had the privilege of chatting with Cari Gray, a local artist who specializes in hand-carved, vinyl record sculptures.  A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Cari moved to Nashville back in 2005 to complete her degree in the Music Business from MTSU, and currently works at Sony Music Nashville.  The Record Shop first met Cari a few weeks ago at the Tomato Art Festival in East Nashville.  Our Master in Chief, Sean Giovanni, saw a piece Cari had carved in the shape of his home state Michigan that now proudly hangs in the confines of our Nashville Recording Studio.

The Record Shop: How long have you been an artist?  What got you started?

Cari Gray: I have always been pretty creative and crafty and I would rather be doing something productive than watching tv or reading a book.  Unless it’s shark week.  Then all bets are off.  I just started cutting records this past December; I’ve made record bowls and bracelets out of vinyl in the past but never just cut one up.  CariI made the state of Texas for a girl at work and it turned out pretty good.  She put it up at her desk and before I knew it 10 other co-workers wanted their home states cut.  Tomatofest was the first time I displayed my records and it was a blast and was super successful. It’s nice being appreciated for your work, especially when you just fall into it like I did.

 

RS: Who are some of your biggest inspirations?

CG: I like all kinds of art and there are so many talented people in Nashville. But I don’t know anyone who hand cuts records like I do. I’ve heard of people laser cutting records because people always ask me if I do, but every record is different because they are hand cut.  And, I honestly wouldn’t know what to do with a laser anyhow.

RS: Do you spare certain, special records from becoming pieces, or are they all fair game?

CG: Everything is fair game.  I try to match the state with the artist or a track on the record as best as I can.  For instance, if I cut a Texas record I would try to find an artist from there like Willie Nelson.

RS: Do you remember the first record you carved?

CG: I don’t remember which artist was on the first record I cut.  I know it was an RCA Victor record though, and we work for RCA.  So, that’s why I chose that one.

RS: How do you decide on what to carve out of a record?

CariCG: I like to cut states out of the records because I feel like most people that I’ve met here aren’t from Nashville so people like to represent their home state.  I know I do.  But, that’s the great thing about Nashville.  Artists come from all over for music and whatever else.  I was a 20 year old once who moved up here to be a singer too, like a lot of other people.

I also like to cut out random silhouettes, animals, and musical artists.  I love Michael Jackson so I’ve cut a few out of him.  I honestly just cut out whatever I like.  It could be a unicorn if that’s the way I’m feeling that day.  I just google whatever I want and try to find an outline for it, and if I can’t Find what I want I just free hand draw it.

RS: What records have you playing, instead of carving?

CariCG: I listen to all kinds of music, literally.  I work in country music, but my husband [Jeff Shields] is the lead singer of two rock bands (Stereoside and Stone Glory) so I listen to his stuff a lot also.  So if I finish something cool, I go in the music room to make sure he thinks it’s just as cool because I am so new at this whole record cutting thing.  Then I return to the craft room with my safety glasses covered in vinyl dust.  So it works out pretty well.  I  have a good collection of vinyl, mostly rock n’ roll, Sam Cooke and Michael Jackson.  Lately, I’ve been listening to The Wild Feathers and a lot of other local bands.  We are so spoiled here in nashville.

Spoiled indeed.  Nashville is a truly remarkable town full of incredibly talented artists like Carilyn Gray.  If you like Cari’s work as much as we do, and how could you not, you can click HERE to go to  her website where you can view and purchase her work!

 

Cari

 

Thank you for spending some time with us here in The Record Shop!  Be sure to follow and chat with us on Twitter, @therecordshop, for daily updates from Gio & the Henchmen.  We’ll see you next time!

Getting the most out of your vocal sessions is essential. If you are working on your first record, the process is likely to hit at least a few road bumps if you haven’t done your homework. Here at The Record Shop, we make sure we handle all Record Production to enhance your vocal session experience. Here are some tips on what you can do to get the most out of your vocal sessions.

Learn the song in advance

Lyricists may continue making changes to their songs minutes before they begin their vocal session, but if you have your song ready, it helps if the vocalist is familiar with the song in advance. Not only does it save a lot of time if the vocalist knows the lyrics by heart, but the quality of the recording will also come out better. If you don’t know a song, you may end up constantly moving your head to look to and away from the lyrics sheet and not end up singing into the microphone element. Getting the Most out of your Vocal Sessions

Practice before your vocal session

Remember not to take practice sessions too seriously, especially if you’re not actually practicing in the recording studio. No two venues are the same, so the acoustics are going to vary. However, what you should focus on is the melodic range so that you know you are able to hit all the right notes, as high or low as they may be.

Avoid dehydrating agents

How frustrating would it be if you spent a good dollar on a vocal session at a recording studio only to have to sing with a notably dry throat? Very. That is why it is so important that you avoid any food and drinks that dehydrate your throat at least six hours before your appointment. A dry throat may prevent you from hitting the right notes in your vocal session. Getting the Most out of your Vocal Sessions

 

Those are just some things you should handle on your end. We can help you out with all the technical aspects of vocal sessions at The Record Shop Nashville. Just leave us a message and we will do everything we can to make your vocal sessions perfect.

 

Windows Phones are becoming more and more popular, especially among budding musicians. Having the right apps on your phone can make it easier to record music no matter where you are. There are several useful apps that one can download that will help with editing, tuning and writing music.

SEQUENCER

Sequencer is a powerful music tool that is useful for anyone looking to record music. It comes with several samples, customizable synthesizer wavetables and 7-channel mixing are just some of the features that make this app one of the most robust Windows apps for musicians. It’s most common use, however, is simply to create smooth drum loops.  This app is free of cost.

screen-2

SOUNDFLAKE SYNTH

If you want an app that lets you create loops very easily, SoundFlake Synth is worth a download. Although you can’t save sequences, it’s great fun playing around with the block and seeing just what you can create. This app costs $0.99

GUITAR CHORDS

Guitar Chords is a useful reference app since it gives you easy access to both standard and not-so-standard chords. It’s fairly easy to use. This app is free to download.

ACCURATE TUNER

Accurate Tuner is fantastic for tuning 126 different instruments. Whether you play a guitar or a hammered dulcimer, Accurate Tuner will make tuning your instrument extremely easy. You can choose between a free version and a paid version $2.99, which comes with a tone generator.

windows apps for musicians

ONENOTE

How frustrating is it when you have a brilliant idea for a song but don’t know quite where to write it down? ONENOTE, which comes preinstalled in Windows Phones, gives lyricists the opportunity to create a note specifically to write ideas about songs in. You can pin the note to your Home page and start recording moments of inspiration before they escape your mind.

 

Do you own a Windows Phone? Which Windows apps do you use for your music needs? Let us know in the comments section!

A live video of you, or your band, performing is one of the most useful tools an artist can have; shall I count the ways?  For starters, you can attach it as part of your EPK.  This adds a level of professionalism, gives talent agents, promoters, or venue owners a better idea of what it is you do, and may help you book more awesome shows where you can then get more live footage!  It can also function as a promotional tool.  For instance, if you have some upcoming gigs or any record releases, you can post this sucka all over your social sites and blogs thus gaining new fans.  Hell, slap this video on the ol’ YouTube; maybe you’ll be hit the lottery and your video will go viral!  Now, if you’re going to take the time to record yourself live head our advice.  Multi-Tracking your performance is the absolute best way to get the high end audio for synchronization.        (The Godfather of Multi-Tracking, Les Paul)les paul multi-tracking

Multi-Tracking Your Audio

Multi-Tracking your performance is the only real way to go when it comes to live videos.  Yes, these days everyone has their handy cellular telephonic device with a decent camera built in it that can also microwave popcorn in a few minutes.  These cameras though do not provide you with high resolution video, and they definitely do not provide you with high end audio.  Multi-tracking gives you the gift of isolating your sound sources, which in turn will give your audio clarity.  Even better than that clarity is that ability to then take those live tracks into a studio to get properly mixed and mastered before having every synced together!  Be prepared to invest in your video and yourself.  The gear required to multi-track a live performance can get rather expensive.  Luckily there are plenty of wonderful videographers and companies devoted to giving artists the best possible content.  For more information on what gear may be needed, and some helpful tips, follow this link HERE! If you are ready to get started with your next live recording process, we’d love to help. Shoot us a message or visit or Live Production page here…

The Exclusive

We’ve already mentioned a few ways that having a great live video of a song, or a whole concert, is a fantastic tool for an artist, but let us not forget that live videos are also great products for you to sell.  Packaging a whole concert onto a DVD or to be downloaded is a gimmie, but there are new methods to monetizing these videos that have been proven successful by the likes of Jack White and Trent Reznor.  On their websites, Reznor and White each have great content of all ilk for anyone to see, but what these guys also do is reward their fans with exclusive content that only the die-hards who are willing to pay for it can see.  Reznor made history in the early 2000’s with Nine Inch Nails’ album packaging, where the more you pay per package the more exclusive content you get.  White has joined the same ranks with The Third Man Vault, where you can pay for a 3-month subscription that makes exclusive content and products available for Vault Members.  A solo artist or band should look at what these rock n’ roll legends have done with their content to generate hype and reward those fans who care the most.  These of course aren’t the only means of rewarding, or giving fans incentives, to buy your music.  There is a new kid on the block, that The Record Shop and many of the artists we have worked with use to help spread their music and get fans involved in the process.  Have you heard of FanDistro?

FanDistro Multi-TrackingFanDistro And You

FanDistro is a fun, new platform to get your music into the hands and social networks of your fans.  After setting up an account, you can use FanDistro to create gift programs that give your fans and listeners incentives to Share and purchase your music.  For example, if a fan gets X-amount of people to Share your song then that fan gets rewarded with that awesome live music video (which sounds amazing thanks to multi-tracking, right  ;-)), band wallpapers, exclusive tracks, a signed poster, t-shirts, or whatever incentives you want to give people.  FanDistro is one of the best, and easily the most fun, ways of engaging and interacting with the people that make doing what it is you do worthwhile.  Your fans want to be a part of your success, so let them!

 

logo-final1

 

Thanks for spending some time with us in The Record Shop!  Be sure to keep up with our blog, and HEY!  don’t be a stranger.  Follow and chat with us on Twitter @therecordshop for daily updates from Gio & The Henchmen inside our beautiful Nashville Recording Studios!  We’ll see you next time!

Welcome all to the latest installment of The Record Shop Nashville Recording Studio’s audio-fueled, music extravaganza AKA our BEHIND THE GEAR series!!!   Today we’re very happy to talk with y’all about two very neat gizmos in our creative arsenal; our two A Designs P-1 Pre-Amp Modules.   We’ve already talked about a few of our many different Pre-Amps – please click the link above to read about them! – and the wonderful qualities each one adds.  What sets the P-1 aside from the rest of our outboard gear is it’s incredibly simplistic layout and functions.  Strap yourself in, loyal reader, and let’s dive into the A Design P-1 Pre-Amp!A Designs P-1 Mic Pre

A Designs P-1 Mic PreQuality Without Compromise

“Quality Without Compromise,” is A-Designs motto, and boy do they mean it.  Their dedication to creating high-quality audio equipment for live performances and studio recording is only matched by their determination to keep their amazing products as affordable as they can.  As you can see from their website’s About Us Page here, they understand the changing landscape of the audio market and they wish to aid those in need.  A Designs also maintains a fantastic relationship with their customers.  This, along the amazing sound and clarity of A Designs products, is why these modules have been used by professional engineers like Al Schmitt and Dave Pensado to musicians like Rob Wasserman and Justin Medal-Johnson!  Check out who else uses A Designs here!

The P-1 & A Designs’ 500 Series

A Design P-1 & the 500 SeriesA Designs did the world a favor by creating their signature 500 Series Mic Pres.  Though similar in their lunchbox look and minimalist features, each one of the five different mic pres (the blue box, second from the left excluded) was tailor made to capture the timbre of certain instruments and to attenuate specific frequency ranges.  To achieve these separate functions each lunchbox is equipped with its own custom-wound transformers.  The P-1 was designed to emulate the very popular Pacifica mic-pre.  The fidelity of the P-1 is incredible; in fact, it has the highest fidelity of all the 500 series mic-pres.  It mostly accents the low and high-end frequencies with tremendous accuracy, but don’t fret, there is still a fantastically noticeable presence to the mid-range.  The P-1 is so versatile too; you can use it on practically any sound source.  The Record Shop’s henchmen are quite keen to the way the P-1 brings out vocals and hi-hats; it’s perfect for capturing transient sounds.  As you can see from the photos, the P-1 has 5 main components: +48V phantom power, a 20dB pad, phase reversal, mic/line compatible input jack, and a big ol’ red gain pot.  For more information on A Design Audio’s 500 Series click HERE!

 

 

logo-final1

 

That wraps up today’s chapter of Behind The Gear!  Thanks for tuning in.  We hope it was informative.  Please feel free to roam around the rest of our blog.  Click here to see The Record Shop Nashville’s complete gear list.  And hey!  Don’t be stranger!  Follow and chat with us on Twitter @therecordshop

 

NashvilleOver the last few years, Nashville’s music scene has elevated itself into international recognition due to the density of both the music business and the creative guitar-pickers, ballad belters, and session gods whose music graces the ears of locals and visitor alike.  The Nashville Skyline is alive with the sound of music!  Everywhere you go you are bound to hear music radiating from the local bars or some beautiful soul busking on the street corner.  Music is love.  Music is life.  We’d go so far as to argue that there is no other city in the world that is more involved, entranced, and obsessed with music than Nashville.  So as a budding artist who bravely wants to venture into the world of the music industry, here are 6 reasons why Nashville is the right place for you to be!

 

1) The Industry Lives Here

Nashville has been immersed in the Music Biz since the turn of the 20th century.  Since then, the Nashville Sound, and the massive amount of hard work put in by this town’s locals, has lifted Nashville’s rank to that of NYC or LA.  In recent years, Nashville has even surpassed the coastal giants in regards to industry involvement.  According to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s analysis, found HERE, the Music Industry contributes $5.5 billion to the local economy and is responsible for around 56,000 jobs.  Everything an artist could need is here, and anyone an artist may need to help build their career is easily found here.  What are you looking for?  A Manager?  A Booking Agent?  A studio to record at?  A Publisher? An Entertainment Lawyer?  A PRO to join?  A quick Google search will provide you with lists of professionals who want to help make your career take off.  Nashville also has a very large film and photography scene for when you or your band are ready to shoot some music videos or get some photos from your next show.

2) It’s Called Music City for A Reason

Come down for a visit, and you will immediately be greeted with audible bliss emanating from someone with an instrument and a dream.  On any given day, at any given time, one can hear and see live music.  Step onto the fabled Broadway Strip where every bar and honky-tonk you pass has sweet music pouring out of it like electric sugar!  Continue your search for live music, and you will come across Nashville’s many music venues too.  Spring Water, Mercy Lounge, Station Inn, The Cannery Ballroom, Exit/In, Marathon Music Works, The Belcourt Theater, 3rd and Lindsley, The Basement, and 12th & Porter are just a few of the great venues in Nashville to check out great touring acts and local bands.  Then you have the Legendary Ryman Auditorium, TPAC, and Bridgestone Arena housing big name Jack White Nashvilleacts.  Are you a singer/songwriter or solo act?  Then you’re in luck, because Nashville also has many open mic’s and writer’s nights all over town; Bluebird Cafe should be first on your list! 

Once you spend a few hours you will also come to learn that everyone you meet in Nashville plays an instrument!  In his AMEX Unstaged concert footage, Nashville immigrant turned music-ambassador Jack White talks about finding musicians to record and tour with during his Blunderbus-era debut.  “The thing about Nashville is that everybody’s from all over the place.  I mean, you’ve got people who are like playing hillbilly, Appalachian music since they were little kids.  I’m from Detroit, so this is very different for me, having access to that many musicians around, you know?”

 

3) There is Creative Inspiration Everywhere

MLK Nashville QuoteNashville is the new Grenwich Village; a true bohemian hotspot oozing with creativity, vibrant colors, and a style all its own.  Each street you walk down has retro coffee shops, vintage clothing outlets, houses that have been turned into independent businesses (shout out to the Pfunkey Griddle!), and each one has endless racks for hipsters to lock their fixed-gear bikes too.  Good vibes are always being spread from the beautiful people of Nashville.  Spending time roaming Music City and interacting with it’s inhabitants is bound to get your creative juices flowing.  More of a night person?  Perfect, because Nashville’s night life is completely our of this world bonkers!  From the great bars on Broadway and Division Street (there are so many more too), to karaoke, dance clubs, dinner theater, and more, Nashville has it all.  Follow this link HERE to the Nashville Scene’s website where you can get a better idea at all the great places and events Music City has to offer.

 

4) Nashville is Much Friendlier & Affordable

When people think about breaking into the Music Industry, their first thought is to move to the NYC or LA.  We say NO!  Move to Nashville instead where Southern hospitality is alive and kicking.  Many professionals have moved here to get away from the blunt, fast-paced world of the coasts.  In the South, people are genuinely interested in you.  It is very common for meetings to start off with 15-20 minutes of getting to know each other, asking how your mother is doing, before getting down to business.  There is a low tolerance for rudeness round’ these parts, and having polite manners will gain you more brownie points than having a good song.  Speaking of manners, ladies, when dealing with Southerners do not be offended if they refer to you as “Ma’am.”  They ARE NOT referring to your age whatsoever!  In Nashville, like the rest of the South, calling people “sir” and “ma’am” is one of the first social cues that children are taught.  It becomes instinct.  

Rogers NashvilleNashville is also much more affordable to live in than NYC or LA ever will be.  While moving into the heart of the city is still pricey, it is still very doable with new apartment complexes and developments being built everyday.  Many of these new developments have even been tailor made specifically for career artists.  However, if big city life isn’t for you there are many fantastic neighborhoods only a stones throw away from Music City.  Franklin, Hermitage, Green Hills, Hillsboro Village, Belmont, and Vanderbilt are just a few great areas to go house hunting in!  Follow this link HERE for a Nashville living/housing guide.

 

5) Education

I believe in nashvilleAccording to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s analysis from earlier, Nashville is slighted to become world’s “premier music education center”.  Besides having Belmont University and MTSU, two of the best four-year institutions for Audio Production, Music Performance, and Music Business education nearby, Nashville also has created many educational programs.  One of the largest is “Music Makes Us“.  Mayor Karl Dean, the Nashville Public School system, and many industry professionals joined together to provide high quality musical education to children K-12 by incorporating traditional musical schooling while also tackling newer genres, styles, and technologies.  Other fantastic education programs can be found at SAE, The Recording Connection, and BlackBird Academy!  It is also very pertinent to mention that the studios, publishers, labels, etc all have internship opportunities! 

“I don’t see us as being a farm team for the music industry,” he said. Instead, Dean said, the effort is a recognition that music “enriches a person’s life, makes them a well-rounded person and helps them academically.” –Mayor Karl Dean

 

6) The Record Shop is here!

We know how excited you are about starting your career in the music industry, and we want to help!!  The Record Shop Nashville’s mission is to provide the best quality product and service for our clients whether they are looking to record a simple demo, an LP, EP, or voice overs.  If you want something visual (that’s not to abysmal) , we also provide high quality video and photography.  Pack your bags, call the movers, and head down south to Nashville where good music, people and food are abundant.  

 

 

logo-final

 

 

Thanks for spending some time inside The Record Shop’s Nashville Recording Studio!  Be sure to follow and chat with us on Twitter @therecordshop for daily updates from Giovanni & The Henchmen.

Hey y’all!  Welcome back the The Record Shop Nashville Recording Studio for another installment of BEHIND THE GEAR, one of the most splendiforous, titillating gear blogs on this rock we call Earth!  Well…we love it anyways.  Today we want to share some information about one of the most prolific pianos in music history.  The one…the only…Fender Rhodes Mark II electric piano!  The Fender Rhodes has been a coveted piano since it’s creation in 1960, when its inventor Harold Rhodes teamed up with Leo Fender to begin mass producing these fine instruments.  From Ray Manzarek to Herbie Hancock to “The Ruler of the Rhodes” Billy Preston, pianists alike have been performing live and recording the songs of their generations with these pianos.  So come on in, and lets talk about the Fender Rhodes!

harold rhodesHarold Rhodes: Inventor & Humanitarian

Before we dive into the instrument itself, we at The Record Shop want to shed a light on Harold Rhodes.  A Los Angeles native, Rhodes began teaching piano when he was 19, where he developed what is now called the “Rhodes Method” of teaching.  Harold aimed to combine classical piano’s reliance on written sheet music with jazz improvisation.  During WWII Rhodes, now one of the top piano instructors in the U.S., joined the Army Air Corps where he continued to teach piano to his fellow soldiers.  Harold was soon asked by the Air General Surgeon to create a music-therapy program for injured GIs.  Rhodes then built several “lap-top” pianos, along with kits that soldiers could build themselves. These portable, 29-key pianos were made from used aluminum from B-17 airplanes and functioned almost like a xylophone.  “Make and Play”, as the program was named, became the the most successful music-related program ever implemented by the United States government!  After he returned from War, Rhodes continued teaching and developing pianos with his new venture Rhodes Piano Corporation.  Then as history goes, Leo Fender bought RPC in 1959 and mass production began. 

 

Rhodes Mark II

The Rhodes Stage Piano

Harold stayed with the Rhodes company after the 1965, CBS acquisition of Fender and developed the first Fender Rhodes piano.  These 73-keyed pianos were made up of two parts – the actual piano and a built-in power amplifier and speaker.  5 years later the 73-note Stage Piano was released!  The Stage Piano was marketed for its light-weight portability, detachable legs, sustain pedal, and single output jack.  From 1970 – 1981, Rhodes put out The Mark I Stage Piano, which was modified several times over the 1970s, and the Mark II Stage Piano.  Of the Mark Series (I-VII), the Mark I and II seem to be the most sought after by pianists.  There other pianos in the series seem to be used more for specific sounds and tastes, but they are mostly purchased as collectors items.  The Mark II is essentially a Mark I stage piano after all the design changes made during the 1970s.  It has the same black suitacse look, removable music rack, flat hard cover, volume-control & tone-control (bass boost) knobs, tuning fork principle sound generation, sustain pedal, and adjustable legs. 

fender rhodes mark IIThere really isn’t much we can say to describe the Mark II’s tone in words.  Follow this link HERE for a video demonstration by Neville Styke’s YouTube channel where he showcases the full audio spectrum of the Mark II.  In closing, the Rhodes Mark II Stage Piano has a completely unique tone that can add so much richness to your track and arrangement that is simply unparalleled.  Harold Rhodes gave the world an amazing gift by creating these instruments, and he will forever go down in history for his revolutionary designs for pianos and sound creation.  So, the next time you find yourself in Nashville give us here at The Record Shop a call and tickle the keys of our Mark II. 

 

 

 

logo-final1

 

Thank you for joining The Record Shop Nashville for another Behind The Gear.  We hope we’ve been informative.  Click HERE for a complete list of our Nashville Recording Studio’s gear.  And HEY!!! Follow and chat with Gio & the crew on Twitter @therecordshop!  See y’all next time!

Nashville Recording Studio Steinway Baby GrandpianoBrace yourselves people because The Record Shop is tackling one of our Nashville Recording Studio’s most prized possessions in today’s BEHIND THE GEAR: our 1923 Steinway Baby Grand Piano.  You heard me.  A 1923…Steinway…Baby…Grand…Piano!  Just look at this gorgeous piece of music-making heaven.  LOOK AT IT!  It’s hard to describe just how incredible this piano sounds.  The slightest tickle on those ivories sends the hair on the back of your neck straight up while it covers your body in goosebumps.  It’s no wonder that these pianos were the preferred piano by past music greats like George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, and Cole Porter.  Even today, Steinway pianos are beloved by artists like Henry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, and Billy Joel.  Check out their Steinway’s website for a full list of artists.Henry Steinway

 Steinway & Sons

In 1853, Heinrich Englehard Steinway and his five sons C. F. Theodore, Charles, Henry Jr., William, and Albert founded Steinway & Sons.  Over the next three decades, these six men revolutionized the modern piano to what it is today.  During this long, developmental period they patented almost half of the company’s 127 inventions based off of the acoustical research done by one of music history’s favorite physicists Hermann von Helmholtz.  If you want to dive deeper into the pure awesomeness that these six men radiated check out these links to their History page and their 161 Facts page!

Peter KeysPeter Keys & His Steinway

 Like our Hammond Organ, The Record Shop’s baby grand was entrusted to us from Rock n’ Roll great Peter Keys!  “..[I]t was my parents, and when I was a baby, I’d crawl under it and fall asleep while they played classical duets.. It was the first piano I ever played. When my father passed away in 1989, I inherited it, had it shipped from New York to San Francisco where I lived until 2000, when I shipped it to Detroit and had it in my studio there until 2008. I then moved to Nashville, and brought it to The Record Shop. I have written and played it on thousands of tracks over the years. It was fully restored and restrung in 1975, and refinished in 2006. I had a new set of bass strings put on last year.”  The Record Shop is very fortunate to have such an incredible instrument within out Nashville Recording Studio, and we are lucky to see and hear the new songs that continue to be played on it.  

Thanks for tuning in for The Record Shop Nashville’s Behind The Gear!  We hope it was enjoyable and informational.  Feel free to check out the rest of our site, and please, don’t be a stranger.  Follow and chat with us on Twitter @therecordshop for daily updates, photos, and videos!  Have a nice day y’all!