Friday, August 16, 2013

Master in Hand!

The last couple of weeks we revisited the album and Adam tweaked a few and remixed a couple and today I happily picked up the final master for replication. Yahoo!! We started the process in April and we are now officially finished production.

In the meantime there is still alot that goes on behind the scenes in preparation for the release. Last Monday I had a photo shoot for the album with Alex Waber who did the photo for 99% and he took some great shots and I also received the final proofs on 4 possibilities today. There is a pensive shot of me in red, gazing downward and I like the feel though the album is a more joyful,  one could anticipate many emotions toward what might happen next in the image. There is also an intense shot of me looking directly into the viewer's eyes I like that one as well.
The graphic designer Gisele from eyeteaser is onboard as well she has done most my cds from Crow onward, her husband Terry did evolution of the blood star. I really like their work. I have started to compile the artwork and still need to take some pics of the cover and work on the credits, lyrics, logo, layout of the cd etc. will send that to her Monday.

I hired a freelancer to update my bio and press release as well this week and already have that in hand. I am outsourcing from fiverr and it is a godsend to indies like me. I hired a claymation animator from Ontario for the song Lightening Strikes twice and wow is it ever great! Very playful and funny that video is all done now. I have another documentary style one on the go for Boy from an American filmmaker and a very young videographer in Mexico is working on Dizzy. I am editing for the conventus video and will hand it over to an astromoner-video editor in Sweden once I compile everything probably at the end of this month. I decided How Would We Know to be the first single released and I am doing a video with Will Stelfox again we are shooting Monday. Will shot and directed Drift Away (nominated for Best Folk Video at Rightouttv awards) and Sprack Chica Boogie. I love his work. I have a couple more filmmakers in the works for 2 more videos. Still deciding on the remaining 3 songs. I have decided to release a video every week following the release of the album for 11 weeks and hence the reason for my major video undertaking. I really love  the project management aspect and relaying my ideas and watching how their ideas and creativity enfolds.

As well I have been talking with press and publicity people this week, planning the marketing campaign as I intend to hire professionals for this album instead of DIYing it. I have done a good job in the past and will do some of the work of course but would someone else to take it to the next level.
I have also been in contact with venues for the cd release and getting the band lined up for rehearsals.

There is much administration to take care of in the next few weeks too, such as registering the works with SOCAN, direct deposit with the library of Canada ( they hunted me down twice when I neglected to send copies of previous albums lol). CDBABY, itunes, bandcamp etc.

And then I have also been updating social media daily with the pre-order campaign the past few weeks. I am proud to say I am at 54% of my goal and so very grateful for all the support for the new album!! Having a list of people who have already purchased the new album without hearing the songs  and trusting they will like my music because they like my past music is huge and means so very much to me.

I did my final newsletter today to my elist and have to say to you dear reader:

The Conventus pre-order campaign is ending in just 4 days and I want to make sure you have a chance to be involved!

For those days when you need a lift, a joy, a smile Conventus will be your cure all, it's emotional, heartfelt and eclectic. Be the first to open your eye of the heart.
Go to http://www.kapipal.com/norinebraun and order your copy now.

Well that's been the past couple of weeks working on the new album.
From my heart to yours much love,
Norine
Here it is! The final master of Conventus The Eye of the Heart  Adam producer and Norine artist August 16. 2013

Monday, August 05, 2013

Studio Day 20 and 21 MIXING AND MASTERING

Friday July 26 Alice and I sat in as extra ears for the mixing of 5 songs for Conventus. Adam worked on How Would We Know, Dizzy, Boy, Perfect Love Affair and Fire Flames.

Monday July 29 we returned for the mixing and mastering of the remainder. Adam had been setting the mixes as we progressed so this really saved time at the end. He also didn't need to reconfigure his studio as he did for No.8 and mastered all the songs as well.

So what is mastering? Discmakers describes the process well. "Every major label release is mastered to prepare it for radio play and retail sale. The reason? In the studio you record one song at a time, resulting in songs that all peak at different levels and have different EQs. A mastering engineer can unify your album with skillful use of EQ, gain, and compression to give it a consistent sound from track to track. This process also allows the mastering engineer to pump up the volume of your overall album so it’s as hot as can be and make it sound unbelievable."

and mixing according to wikipedia

In sound recording and reproductionaudio mixing or mixdown is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, for instance 2-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such asreverb may be added. This practical, aesthetic, or otherwise creative treatment is done in order to produce a mix that is more appealing to listeners.
Audio mixing is done in studios as part of creating an album or single. The mixing stage often follows a multitrack recording. The process is generally carried out by a mixing engineer, though sometimes it is the musical producer, or even the artist, who mixes the recorded material. After mixing, a mastering engineer prepares the final product for reproduction on a CD, for radio, or otherwise.
Prior to the emergence of digital audio workstations (DAWs), the process of mixing used to be carried out on a mixing console. Currently, more and more engineers and independent artists are using a personal computer for the process.

The final phase is here, Adam and I sat with the mixes and listened to the album over a week and then made a list of notes. This is my list I sent Adam today and we will discuss his thoughts and findings as well. You can see recording is quite a process!

- Boy on ipod and headphones the song starts in just one ear and seems a little disorienting, it sounds fine over big speakers...I wonder too you said about the band sounding small on this one and I think if you could bring the band up it might be better.

- Dizzy sometimes seems quieter than the other songs depending on the systems too though it could be the systems. 
also CHECK OUT  at 2:16 in the song when I sing the word FIND does it sound like something flies out of my mouth?

- SLeek train is abit bass boomy or muddy on big speakers but sounds awesome on ipod so not sure if its the mix or the system playing if you could check that out too.

- on Today the acoustic guitar at the intro could use a boost it seems quiet in relation to the strong opening
as well the vocals are a tad on the dry side overall on the track they could be more slicker 

- also check out the transition from acoustic to electronic on conventus I can hear a swoosh or sweeping very softly at 1:08

- when playing the album quietly,  the acoustic songs I found you and the intro on conventus seem much quieter than the others and I am compelled to turn them up

THIS FLOW IS STILL WORKING FOR ME TOO any thoughts?
Lightening Strikes Twice
How Would We know
Dizzy
No More
Boy
Today
99%
SLeek train
fire flames
perfect love affair
i found you
conventus

Thanks again and look forward to your notes.
luvnb

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