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Over the past year, in between workdays and perhaps while occasionally procrastinating, I’d sometimes surf over to the Slate Digital page and salivate over the ML-1 microphone and its many emulations. The Slate Virtual Microphone System self-describes as a “hybrid system that utilizes an extremely transparent condenser microphone, a sonically-neutral preamp, and state-of-the-art digital processing suite that recreates the tone of classic microphones and preamps.” I’ve always enjoyed the recording sessions where I’ve been able to use a 1073 Neve pre-amp or a Neumann microphone that’s more expensive than my car. But, can an emulation system approach the quality of expensive reality?

I picked up an ML-1 last month because they were on sale. I have been using the Slate Virtual Mix Rack for a number of projects, but I hadn’t yet ventured into using Slate hardware. Lately, my go-to microphone has been the Shure SM-7B. How does the ML-1 compare?

The Slate Virtual Microphone System Graphic User Interface

This past week, I tried the ML-1 on three different projects. I’m recording vocals on a new collaboration called “Anchors,” I’m revisiting some older songs on the piano, and I’m prepping this month’s podcast. I was very pleased with the ML-1 on straight singing applications. One of the emulations is the SM-7 and, honestly, I couldn’t tell the difference between the emulation and my own SM-7B. If anything, the ML-1 is constructed differently than the SM-7B and sound arrives at its capsule differently, but that affects the mechanics of things more so than the actual sound. While I liked all of the emulations, I particularly admired the Neumann 67 model on my voice. The top is much clearer than the Neumann TLM 103 I have in my mic locker.

I also tried the ML-1 on spoken word. I didn’t prefer the ML-1 on spoken material. Here is where the broadcast pop filter of the SM-7B comes in handy. I’m sure I could put the huge foam filter over the ML-1, but I didn’t try that. In the ML-1’s defense, I wouldn’t use a tube condenser on spoken word either. I bet the ML-2–the Slate mic designed for “instrument” applications–would produce a more favorable result for spoken word.

Bravo to Slate Digital for creating a wonderful piece of gear. I’m sure audiophiles could nitpick the ML-1 and tell us all why the originals are so much better. But for most of us who have lives, families, and a limited budget, emulation systems like the Slate VMS are a dream come true.

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On New Year’s Eve, Jonathan Ferreri and I posted a teaser image for our upcoming co-written single, “Anchors.” The new song arose from the same process that created “Comatose,” our last single. Although the singles are credited under my brand, both arose from the spirit of collaboration.

Our process begins with a musical idea from Jonathan. He arranges a sound bed with guitars, drums, and bass. Often, the idea will contain a hint of melody or perhaps a countermelody for me to develop. We agree on the title of the song by way of a poll–we each come up with five proposed titles and then the title with the most votes wins. Working from a title helps me frame the lyrics around the provided sounds. “Comatose,” for example, invited sleep imagery where “Anchors” suggested a deep ocean scene. I develop a chorus first, trying to place the title within the main hook, and then I write verses and a bridge. The writing process ends with me sending a recording of a rough vocal over the original demo back to Jonathan.

Next, Jonathan builds, revises, and edits the original demo to the point where it’s ready for a final vocal. Often, this involves replacing MIDI drums with live drums. Here, Jonathan enlists the services of Chris Broome, a drummer and engineer who facilitates the transition and recording. Chris will enlist a bass player and Jonathan will re-record some guitars at Chris’s studio. Meanwhile, I’ll be working on recording a final vocal in my studio. Being tasked with vocal production, and only vocal production, has been liberating. When I’m tasked with doing everything, I find myself focusing on the big picture to the point where important minutiae gets overlooked.

Once we have all the parts ready, Jonathan and Chris mix the song at Chris’s studio. Although I am not present for the mix, I am in the loop and approve the final. With “Comatose,” there was just one blemish that I requested a polish on and volume ride in a section. With “Anchors,” I anticipate a similar process. After we have the final mix, we send the track to Joe Bozzi in Los Angeles for mastering.

Collaboration produces less revisions because more ears are working on the project. It’s probably the same number of personnel hours, but those hours are divided by the number of people working on the project. The end result is more efficient and more balanced, reflecting the views and tastes of several people rather than one, myopic view.

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As we played our set on the Waterfall Stage at the NC State Fair, I thought about time travel. Between songs, I announced, “We’re Collapsis, a band from the year 1998. We’ve traveled here to the future to play for you.” To me, the essence of that statement is true. There, at 7 pm, on October 23, 2021, a band that was moderately popular some three decades prior reunited to play the same songs it played long ago. A synergy from the past traveled through some kind of conceptual wormhole only to appear years in the future through the vessels that created it.

Having played the NC State Fair twice now, I can confirm that the greatest obstacle a band faces when playing anywhere near the fairgrounds when the fair is in full swing is getting to the stage. We attempted to caravan to the stage after meeting up at Sushi Nine, only to fail in that simple one mile distance. Our caravan fell to pieces, first because of the size of one of our vehicles and second because of poor pedestrian management near the vendor admission gates. Note to future self (and any musician reading this): arrive on the fairgrounds in one vehicle and allow and extra two hours for transit.

Once we got to the stage, the production and production management was world class. Crisp clear monitors and an exciting stage made for an excellent show all around. Special thanks to Deep South Entertainment for doing such an excellent job with the Waterfall Music Stage.

We only omitted the Big Star cover from our planned set. We substituted “Seems” by QSS at the very end.

  • What I look at: set list, cheat sheet, amp/fx selection board.
  • Mid-Atlantic Wrestling probably used this particular dressing room back in the 80s.
  • I don’t know what this is.
  • We achieve the Collapsis font by placing “Council” font in all caps and putting an extra space between the letters.

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When I was seven years old, I saw the video for Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” on MTV. I was into metal, but Def Leppard was about as heavy as I got at that age. Something about the “Ace of Spades” video bothered me; as I look at it now, Lemmy’s vocal microphone was at a 45 degree angle downward, rather than the traditional 45 degree angle upward. Knowing nothing about Motorhead or live sound at the time, this was an odd prejudice. As far as I can tell, one reason Lemmy’s mic is pointed downward is because the band’s stage volume was so loud that anything else would result in massive feedback. Although, in later interviews, Lemmy stated that he just liked it that way because he’d have to look at the audience less. While I had heard many individual Motorhead songs over the years, I never gave Ace of Spades a spin in its entirety until recently. 

Produced by Vic Maile and released on November 8, 1980, Ace of Spades reached gold certification in the UK soon after its release. The album contains the successful and recognizable single “Ace of Spades” as well as a tour-de-force of relentless, anthemic, big, loud, rock songs. 

As for their sound, Motorhead defies specificity. They likely were the loudest band around in the late 70s/early 80s. Their songs are fast and heavy, but not dark, gothic, or political. Lemmy is a powerful singer, but not operatic like his contemporary British metal frontmen (see Rob Halford or Bruce Dickinson). The guitars are distorted and crunchy, but the solos never take on a virtuosic spotlight. 

What I like most about Ace of Spades is it’s straight-ahead approach to rock’n’roll. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it doesn’t compromise either. Adrenaline sounds like Ace of Spades and vice-versa. Motorhead enthusiasts often recommend Ace of Spades as a fine introduction to the band. The performances are well produced and accessible, while never straying from what makes Motorhead one of the most awesome bands in history. 

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The first Joe Jackson song I ever heard was “Steppin’ Out.” I saw the video on MTV back in 1982. There, Jackson portrays a song smith in some kind of New York nightlife story. Back in 2003, I picked up a 20th Century Masters “best of” Joe Jackson that spanned his career. The first two songs on the best of collection were from his debut album, Look Sharp!. I never ventured further into Jackson’s catalog, but Look Sharp! was as good of a place as any to start. 

Produced by David Kershenbaum and released on March 5, 1979, Look Sharp! sold over 500,000 copies in its initial commercial run. Look Sharp! contains the singles “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” and “Sunday Papers” as well as the anthemic “Got the Time,” which metal band Anthrax covered on their 1990 album Persistence of Time.

I imagine if I were a record connoisseur in 1979, I might compare Look Sharp! to something by Elvis Costello & the Attractions. But with time, and when viewed through a long lens, I find Jackson’s debut as more of a precursor than a clone of Costello. Something about Look Sharp! is much more smug than Costello’s work. If smug rock were a thing, we could trace it back to this record as its origin. 

My favorite part of Look Sharp! is the guitar arrangements, which comes as a bit of a surprise, seeing as how Jackson was the piano player in his own group. There isn’t as much piano on his debut album as with later offerings. I’m glad I included this album on my exploration of albums I had not yet heard. His “best of” collections are superb, but Look Sharp! is a masterpiece in its own right.