Just because you didn’t track in my studio does not mean that I can’t help improve your album! It can all be done remotely via the internet!

Most recently, I mixed and mastered the new record for Canadian math-rockers The Bulletproof Tiger, all from my home studio near Chicago.

The process for online mixing is simple:

(Please make sure they are properly named [kick IN, kick OUT, etc])

This same process can be done for mastering.

If you have an unmastered mix you enjoy, and want it to have that professional volume level, sparkle, sheen that your favorite albums have, let me know!

If you’re like a free sample song mixed or mastered, please e-mail me and we can discuss it further!

There is now a low-cost option to improve your tone!

Re-Amplify your sound!

The process is simple:

In return, you will receive the raw files of your guitar tone through top quality high end and vintage guitar gear! These files will be ready for you to throw in your DAW to complete your record.

Check out the Gear List to get a better understanding of how many wonderful options you have to create a lush array of tones for your record.

Re-Amplifiing your sound starts at the low cost of $20, but will vary based on the scope and size of the project. A true bargain to take your record to the next level.

Here is a great video of Eddie Kramer (known best for his in-studio work with Jimi Hendrix & Led Zepplin) talking about re-amping.

For both instruments, before anything, make sure it is setup by a professional. Ensuring that the action is comfortable, the intonation is accurate, the pickup height is adjusted, and the electronics are clean. You should have this done annually anyways, but especially when you’re recording.

For bass, if it is an active instrument, make sure it has a fresh battery, and consider bringing extras.

For guitars, it’s very important to KNOW YOUR PART. I know that sounds obvious, but if you’re aiming for modern big guitar tones, you’ll likely want to double track your parts. When doing that, you need to be able to replicate what you play as closely as possible.

Understand that the tone that you use live rarely works in the studio.
Example: Jimmy Page is known for the Marshall full stack and a Les Paul, but the majority of those ‘classic’ tones were actually recorded on a tiny 5 watt combo amp.

Be prepared to try new things in order to find your tone. Chances are your engineer (or myself) will know the studio’s amps, cabs, speakers, mics, preamps, and room. Trust them to help find best recorded tone for your record. A lot of bands just bring their guitars, and leave their amps at home. Although, if you have a special, unique, or rare item, it’s worth bringing it with.

Lastly, it’s smart to plan out extra guitar parts that act as additional production tracks. The core of the latest Green Day single may just be 4 power chords, but there are layers of additional tracks, to help provide the depth to their mix and help them get such a huge sound. These parts aren’t necessarily leads, nor are they something that you’d play live. They are just little things that would help expand the sound of the arrangement.

Good Luck!

Read How To Prepare For Recording Parts 1 2 3

Top Records:

Cloudkicker – Let Yourself Be Huge
Cloudkicker’s latest effort proves that a good songwriter is a good songwriter, regardless of genre. the songs are stripped down, and are mostly acoustic. The final track has his first exploration into vocals, and it’s one of my favorite tracks of the year.

Into It Over It – Proper
Into It Over It is really firing on all cylinders for me right now. Evan Weiss’ crew has picked up where Mock Orange’s The Record Play left off. Mathy pop rock with great hooks. Love the production on this too.

Owen – Ghost Town
Mike Kinsella’s latest may be his best yet. Clever, witty, smart songs, with beautiful guitar work, and terrific arrangements. that guy does no wrong in my book. he really sets the standard out of what i’ve come to ask for in an acoustic singer/songwriter.

Thrice – Major/Minor
i love thrice. they are one of the few bands i feel like i have moved in parallel with over the last decade. every record they release has a stylistic change, and it always seems to be EXACTLY what i’m in the mood for at that moment. This is no different. This is just a solid (alt)rock record. Great songwriting, clean production, and execution of the songs.

Town Portal – Vacuum Horror
AWESOME. very much like 09’s top 10 band Shelflife, but darker, heavier, and possibly baritone guitar users. Progressive indie instrumental music, but with their own midwest rock vibe. More arpeggiated than chuggy, more melodic than riffy. Great stuff.

Electric Hawk – S/T
These guys….i had written something about how awesome their american horse meat ep was, and how it was near the top of the list. They managed to release their full length just in time, which now replaces the ep on the list. Great production, great musicianship, great songs. Following the path of Russian Circles, and Pelican before them, it won’t be long before Electric Hawk are the new instru-metal darlings of chicago.

Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
I couldn’t tell you the last time i cared that foo fighters put out music. The hype about the process of how The Foo’s recorded the lp (in grohl’s garage, no computers) had piqued my interest. I picked up the vinyl version on record store day, and was blown away by this record. It’s just a kickass rock record. front to back. highly recommended. throw out any preconceived notions you may have. awesome lp.

City and Colour – Little Hell
If this list was in order of favorites, this may be in the top 3. A very simple, yet beautiful indie folk rock record. The songs are so great, you can look past that they are all the same chord progression (in different keys). Dallas Green’s unique voice is truly made for this style of music (compared to his old heavy band, alexisonfire)

The Dear Hunter – The Color Spectrum
I thought writing a 6 album concept was a hefty task. But Casey Crescenzo (the man behind TDH) wanted to take a break from his decade long concept, in hopes to do a one time, 36 song concept. One 4 song ep for each of the 9 colors in the color spectrum. Each of the songs on that album trying to capture the mood and feel of that color. Black is a heavier record with a darker mood. White is packed with tons of instrumentation, reminiscent of the Beatles. While i do think that his normal 10ish track count records are more consistent front to back, there are some great songs in this collection. But ultimately, i’m as fond of the concept as i am the songs. well done.

Bon Iver – S/T
Just a great indie, folksy record. Dense instrumentation, great arrangements, great melodies, and well crafted songs. Awesome.

Runners up:

Opeth – Heritage
Opeth is one of the few metal bands that i can rely on to stay fresh and have their own fingerprint. This is a little more laid back, progressive, and layered. Very cool record.

Junius – Reports from the Threshold of Death
I hate using sub genres, but when I do, it’s usually to say that i love me some space rock. junius’ latest record is a solid space rock outing that’ll fit nice in a playlist with the most recent constants. It almost has a lighter deftones feel to it.

Songs of Farewell and Departure: A Tribute to Hum
I think this is the first compilation i’ve ever had on any list. The bearfort ms. lazurus is terrific. If you like Hum, the record is worth a spin.

Braid – Closer to Closed
braid’s comeback ep was a contender to be on the best-of list early on, sadly, there was just a lot of music released this year. just a great midwest indie / emo sound, recorded by j robbins from jawbox. the last song was one of my favorite tracks of the year.

Connectedness Locus – Terraforms
Local experimental electronic musician. Not normally my cup of tea, but the record is produced really well, and the arrangements are great.

Moving Mountains – Waves
A killer modern alt / space rock record. Big sounds, good progressive tunes.

Mastodon – The Hunter
This is not their best work, but it is their best production. the sonic fingerprint of this record is awesome. The songs (for the most part), are not. There are some cool parts, and a couple decent tunes, but i can’t give them a free pass because they wrote ‘hearts alive’.

The Appleseed Cast – Middle States
Progressive indie spacerock? Sure. This record has a very dark diy feel to it. There are some killer improv jams-turned epic tunes. if it was a full length, it would probably make the top 10.

Puscifer – Conditions of My Parole
Maynard’s latest release. This record is VASTLY superior to the previous effort. The album has some great tunes, and it’s far more serious than the almost comedic debut. A few tunes have instrumentation similar to A Perfect Circle.

Russian Circles – Empros
I wanted to love it. I didn’t. It’s not a bad record, but it just didn’t grab me. The math rock post rock trio wrote some big dynamic tunes for this record, but they just don’t do it for me these days, the way they did in 04. I don’t know if the genre is getting saturated, or their songs just aren’t as riveting.

Office of Future of Plans – S/T
Falls somewhere between channels and jaw box, with cello. J Robbins, you’ve done it again.

Honorable Mention:

Cloudkicker – Loop: Album of DL4 loops. Worth a listen.
Bleaklow – big post rock record for fans of pelican and russian circles
Polygraph – Ends of the Earth – sweet instrumental progressive indie rock band.
Apparat – the devils work – somewhere near radiohead and electronica.
National Skyline – Primitive Parade – these days, a more rocked out coldplay
Generations of Vipers – huge riffy doom rock record
Sequoia – Couple Two Tree – good rock with great pop hooks
True Widow – doom gaze with female box?
Thursday – thursday’s final record. mighty synthy.
Radiohead – sounds like they are learning ableton.
Mogwai – Hardcore will never die. Not their best work, but worth a listen on Spotifiy.
Glassjaw – not bad music, but not really a follow up to a desert island ‘ worship and tribute’.

Records I Feel Bad Not Listing Above:

Wilco – The Whole Love
Zombi – Escape Velocity
Mock Orange – Disguised as Ghosts
Battles – Gloss Drop
O’Brother – Garden Window

Meh:

August Burns Red – Leveler
i don’t get it. everyone tells me to listen to this band. i do. it’s just not good (metal) music.

Death Cab For Cutie – Codes and Keys
i love death cab, but they don’t get a free pass. this feels like it was phoned in.

Cave In – White Silence
this band has two records in my top 20……which makes this record an even bigger disappointment. Just a bunch of disjointed tunes that don’t belong on the same album. ‘Sing my Loves’ is a cool tune, which pisses me off even more, as i know they have the potential to write awesome music, they just choose not to.

The Lonely iIsland.
another record i don’t get. i tried, but it’s not good music, and it’s not funny. not for me i suppose.

Dredg – Chuckles and Mr Squeezy.
good effort guys, just not your best work. nNt a bad album as much as it was a disappointing one (for me).

Metallica (and Lou Reed) – lulu
jesus christ. this is the worst thing to happen to music.

First up, part performance and preparation.

* Can the drummer play to a metronome?
** (Always have the song tempo’s documented BEFORE you go to the studio).

* Have the drummer practice with headphones on. It’s worth accounting for any variable that may impact the performance.

* Have the drummer prepare by playing with their kit a little more spread out than what they consider normal. If they have a cramped setup to begin with, it only gets worse when you throw up a bunch of microphones. Additionally, having the drums and cymbals setup with a little more space can allow for a better recording as the bleed between microphones will be reduced.

* If the drummer has a drum rug, have them mark it with tape to indicate placement of drums and stands. It helps the setup process go a little easier.

* Put new drum heads on the drums, and make sure they are stretched and tuned. They will be returned in the studio, but it’s nice to have a bit of a head start. A Drum Dial is a nice investment for this.

* While all of the heads are off, tighten down all screws that could potentially rattle

* Bring extra drum sticks. Recording isn’t a gig, if a tip cracks or gets mashed, that will impact the sound.

* At my studio, there is a 73 Ludwig Vistalite kit available, should you want to use that. If you’re tracking more than 5 songs, please bring new heads!

Read How To Prepare For Recording Parts 1 2 3

First things first, you need to dissect your music.

* Look at your parts and structures. Are they mapped out?
* Does everyone in the band know their parts, and can play them securely?
* Is the band well rehearsed for the songs on the record?
* Can the drummer play to a click?
* Are all lyrics and melodies written?
* Are you planning on an outside influence (producer) being involved?

To help put all of that together, I always recommend attempting some form of pre-production. Try and record a cheap version of what you’re planning on doing at a ‘pro’ studio.

Luckily technology allows us to do cool things with applications like garageband. You can demo your record at home, and try out things like extra guitar parts, vocal harmonies, or miscellaneous percussion. If you’re diligent about it, and take notes as to what works and what doesn’t, you can have a very seamless studio experience.

I always recommend getting a notebook to document everything. Make charts of song structures will all parts documented. Write down amp settings you want to try. Just be organized.

Lastly, try to avoid bringing distractions. This could be friends, significant others, portable gaming devices, etc. If you have a friend or two who act as roadies, or your video-crew, that’s fine, but beyond that may impact the workflow or the band’s focus.

Next up, we’ll take a look at preparing the drums and drummer for their day at the studio.

Read How To Prepare For Recording Parts 1 2 3

If you have this kit with you, you will never have that problem again.

Rubermaid Box with Lid
This box will house the rest of the goodies. I’d recommend one of the thick grey / green variants over the clear plastic. The clear plastic tends to get mighty brittle in the cold temps, and there is a better chance it busts.

Extra Strings/Sticks/Picks
This should be obvious, but it isn’t. If you use something during a gig, try to have a backup. If I see one more show where a drummer only bring 2 drum sticks, I may just quit music

Backup Guitar
This is much harder, because of the increased financial obligation. But, if you break a string, and you can grab the other (pre-tuned) guitar that is sitting off stage, the show can continue without skipping a beat. Don’t be that guy on stage timidly pleading into the mic do any of the other bands have a guitar I can use?

Tools
Look at your guitars/drums/amps. If they have a screw, nut, bolt, etc, bring the tool required to fix them. A cheap screwdriver set and wrenches can be had for under $10.

Fuses
Who knows what the power is going to be like from venue to venue. Backup fuses that your amps use are always a cheap and safe purchase.

Extra Cables
Personally, I have one extra cable for each cable in my rig. If that means ordering a custom amp footswitch cable, so be it. One extra (of each).

Notebook
Who knows what you’ll need this for. Set-list’s, merch table, contact list, or bored doodling.

Sharpie
This goes along with the notebook.

Duct Tape
This single most useful thing in this kit. Rebuild a drum kit, a makeshift guitar strap, seat-belts for your old van, and so much more, all for $2!

Strap
A cheap guitar strap is $5, if you don’t have one already. Toss it in the box, because they day you don’t have an extra strap will be the day your strap breaks on stage.

Cheap Tuner
You may already have a tuner on your pedalboard, but it’s not always practical to unbox and turn on the whole thing. Cheap battery operated tuners allow you to sit in a corner and tune your guitar BEFORE you get to the stage.

Mic Windscreen
Mic windscreens for a Shure SM58 (the most common stage vocal mic) can be had for $5 or less. When you hop on stage, change out the windscreen on the mic for your own. If the previous band(s) have a cold / ebola, this is just an extra step to make sure you make it out alive.

Extension Cable (black)
Who knows how the venue shoe-horned a stage into the back-room. Power is rarely in a convenient location, so be prepared by having multiple extension cables available. Additionally, if they are black, that tends to help, as nothing is worse than seeing a pile of huge orange cables reaching across the stage.

Power Strip
For the end of the extension cable, should you need it.

Towel
Maybe the venue has huge lights that could cook an egg on the stage. Maybe a moshpit breaks out and water gets thrown on stage. Maybe your bass player’s five 18″ speaker cabs vibrated your beverage off of your amp. Who knows.

Batteries
Wireless rigs? Guitar Pedals? Active Pickups? Acoustic Guitars? Have extra batteries for everything you use.

Water
This may seem odd, but not all venues will help you out here. Grab a few bottles of water, just in case.

1. Cloudkicker – Beacons, ]]][[[
A rare two way tie at #1, both records released this year. A great blend of technical riffs, and wonderful melodies. This is perhaps the best instrumental music I have ever heard.

2. Deftones – Diamond Eyes
After the last couple Deftones records, I wasn’t sure what to expect with Diamond Eyes. From the first ten seconds in, I knew it was a keeper. Well written songs, and great production. Awesome.

3. Lybria = Cycles
A great nod to 90’s rockers shiner, failure, and hum. Awesome songs. Extra special, as they are music students of mine.

4. Oceansize – Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up.
Another great release from uk’s Oceansize. The first song is a tip of the cap to torche, but the remainder of the record is the heavy proggy sound I’ve come to know and love.

5. The Felix Culpa – Sever Your Roots
Local heroes The Felix Culpa finally released their chinese democracy. A very solid record with a series of five minute (plus) midwestern rock epics. A must listen.

6. Minus the Bear – Omni
Minus the Bear is back to their poppy sound. The songs are a little less king crimson, and a little more 90’s hip hop. The introduction of the Omnichord synth was terrific.

7. TesseracT – Concealing Fate ep
A cool project of guitar-gear-forum-nerds. Their use of ominous clean guitar tones, Maynard-eque vocals, and Meshuggah inspired chug riffs make it a great genre crossing mutant.

8. Weye – Friends Family Others
Another band of students. They have the technical abilities of piglet, the heaviness of pelican, and the poppiness of battles. It’s the most ‘fun’ record on the list.

9. Autolux – transit, transit
When I first listened to this, I thought it would be on the biggest disappointment list. But as time passed, and I dug deeper and deeper into the record. Get past the Beatles tributes, and there are some cool things happening here.

10. Amusement Parks On Fire – Road Eyes
This record just snuck in under the radar. I definitely prefer their more upbeat tunes, but the album is solid, front to back. They know their niche, and they do it well. Kind of like a shoegaze smashing pumpkins.

Honorable Mention
Circa Survive – Blue Sky Noise
Coheed & Cambria – Year of the Black Rainbow
Del Rey – Immemorial

Biggest Disappointment
Open Hand – Honey
This band has such great potential. Their 05 release (you and me) is still in regular rotation. They spent 4 years working on their follow up, only for it to be incredibly mediocre. A pile of female backup singers dubbed ‘the angels’ are shoehorned into every song. A song with KID (from kid and play) is on the record, for what I assume is ironic humor. It is not funny. What’s especially sad is that the title track is among the best songs of the year.

Best Discovery of 2010
Exeter – Grey Noise, White Lies
If I would have known about this record at it’s release, it may have been #1 last year. It is incredible. Very much akin to Failure, and pop-era Cave-In. The songs are perfect, and the production is killer. An absolute must listen. Go. Listen now. GO.

Why would anyone use Twitter? I don’t get it.

Then one day, it hits me. Use twitter for guitar lessons.
Students could have instant access to available lesson times, the moment the times become available.

If you need a make-up lesson or are just in the mood for a single, one-off guitar lesson, you have a pair of options to get the most immediate updates.

• Check my website daily. The little bird to the right has the most recent ‘tweets’ of lesson times.
• Subscribe to the Greg’s Guitar Lessons Twitter.

The useful feature of subscribing to the Twitter account is that you can choose to have my posts delivered as a text message to your cell phone. This will provide instant updates of all available times.

This is also useful if you use Twitter related desktop or smart-phone applications.

I am averaging at least one day-of cancellation per day. This means a lot of lesson opportunities for you!

So, keep your eye open for a lesson time that works for you.
When you see one, contact me using any of the options listed in the contact tab above, to secure that time slot.

• What is the Grayslake Oasis?
• What is my involvement?

The Oasis is a teen center / music venue in Grayslake, Illinois, next door to the ever-popular Tastee Freez (151 Hawley, Grayslake Il, 60030).

I got involved in late 2004, when my insurance agent (Joyce Campbell) she started a new NFP fundraising group, The Grayslake Youth Center. Their goal was to open a music based teen center.

At the time, over 20 local all-ages venues in the Northern Illinois area had been shut down, often due to the lack of village support, so I thought this could be a cool opportunity for the local scene. I offered to help put together a music festival (Rock in the Park) as a fundraiser. This both raised awareness for the cause, as well as started developing the bond with the local music scene. From that point forward, I was the music director for the Grayslake Youth Center board.

We spent the next 2 years hosting various fundraisers to help get us to the objective of opening a facility. In 07, it was announced that the city of Grayslake was to hand over the former Grayslake Park District building to our cause. This kick-started the progress to opening the doors of the student named teen center, The Oasis.

In late 2007, we started the renovations of the building, knocking out walls, and rebuilding it to suit our needs. We took donations from all over the state for things like chairs, desks, tables, booths, and more. By spring 08′, we had a fully functioning social center, with high speed internet, cable tv,
xBox, PlayStation, Wii, pool tables, foozeball, pinball, flat screen tv’s, and the best stage and sound system for any all ages venue that I’ve seen.

I had the task of procuring the sound system, installing it, and training employees how to use it. My close friend Pete Hansen (edge audio services) helped really ensure that it was accomplished on time, and that we utilized every piece of our gear purchase to it’s full potential.

Our doors opened up in April of 2008, and we’ve been a mainstay venue in the northern Illinois area ever since. I’m still involved, and I help oversee operations. This includes event booking, band relations, running sound, and system maintenance.

The Grayslake Youth Center board is still operational and continues to host fun events in the area. In fact, as of writing this blog, there have been two highly successful events within last two weeks. This includes the Grayslake Car Show, as well as the golf outing at Stonewall Orchard. Additionally, our float in the Grayslake’s Got Talent just took the award for Best Use of Theme.

We have some great things planned for 2011, so keep checking in at the Oasis website!