RSR078 - Steve Albini - Electrical Audio, Recording Nirvana, & Shellac

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RSR078 - Steve Albini - Electrical Audio, Recording Nirvana, & Shellac

Рет қаралды 36,626

Күн бұрын

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Steve Albini is often referred to as a producer, although he prefers the label of recording engineer. Steve owns and operates Electrical Audio, and has been making records for four decades recording other bands and his own band, Shellac.
Steve has recorded over 1500 records on analog tape with a full spectrum of bands, from those that you have never heard of, to some of the biggest names in rock and roll: The Pixies, Nirvana, Robert Plant & Jimmy Page, Pj Harvey, The Breeders, Superchunk, Helmet, The Stooges, Cheap Trick, and Veruca Salt.
I had the great pleasure to work with Steve at Electrical Audio on a couple of different records while staying at the studio in the dorms. I learned a ton from Steve about recording, running a professional studio, business, and believing in people and their music, and I’m sure you will too here on this podcast.
Get the full show notes at RSRockstars.com/78
Also
Free mix training with Lij at MixMasterBundle.com
Get yourself a Rockstar T-shirt at: RSRockstars.com/Tshirt
Download the theme music at: SkadooshMusic.com

Пікірлер: 70

@MifuneYoutube 6 жыл бұрын

goes on and on about people not answering the phone, then ignores the phone call at 53 minutes lol I love Albini

@RecordingStudioRockstars 5 жыл бұрын

Lol!

@MrRmuse 5 жыл бұрын

As an old school musician/engineer, I embrace Steve Albini’s mindset completely. It’s a legitimate sin that he is an anomaly in the industry.

@RecordingStudioRockstars 5 жыл бұрын

+MrRmuse thanks for your comment. Steve is an inspiration to me and reminds me that the art of recording music is still alive and healthy! It’s not all about commercialism. :) Cheers! Lij

@RobertNaik 6 жыл бұрын

This interview should be saved to master tape and put on a safe shelf for prosperity.

@RecordingStudioRockstars 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! And of course analog tape would be the choice right? :-)

@kilimmosh 5 жыл бұрын

@@RecordingStudioRockstars Too transient. Each word should be carved into stone ;)

@allgrainbrewer10 4 жыл бұрын

As long as you don’t keep it in universal studios vault.

@OrangutanTradeSalesmen 5 жыл бұрын

Steve has a crazy vocabulary. The way he describes things is right out of a technical manual. Also, Lij Your interview skills are top notch. So glad I found this channel.

@RecordingStudioRockstars 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Stay tuned Ive got Steve coming back on the podcast again this summer for more great studio tips. Cheers! Lij

@ivannio4783 4 жыл бұрын

Spot on! ;)

@TheTeekayes 7 жыл бұрын

This was an awesome interview. Usually Steve gets asked the same questions all the time and gives similar answers. This one really branched off into some interesting stuff. Awesome. Thanks.

@RecordingStudioRockstars 7 жыл бұрын

TheTeekayes Thanks so much! It makes my day to know that I'm asking the right questions. I'm uadually afraid I should be asking different ones. So thanks for your positive feedback. :-)

@plateoshrimp9685 Жыл бұрын

the free time thing is real. I've seen many musicians quit because they don't have the free time to play. They never seem to realize that you don't do music in your free time if you're a musician. You schedule time to make music because you prioritize doing it.

@RecordingStudioRockstars Жыл бұрын

Soooooo true! And it’s one of the hardest things to do at times.

@VVVHHHSSS 5 жыл бұрын

Steve Albini is an inspiration, I really appreciate his contribution to the music continuum. It's also funny how many of the recs he recorded I love without even realizing it was him behind it.

@RecordingStudioRockstars 5 жыл бұрын

+DREAM STORIES So true! He’s done so many records, that I couldn’t possibly even put them all into a KZfaq playlist :-) but if you want to check out some more go here: kzfaq.info/sun/PLbJhbD1bWQswCez1lYcsU5l3cyuTPHrli Cheers! Lij

@drofnoise555 3 жыл бұрын

love the tech talk as opposed to just philosophies

@RecordingStudioRockstars 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for saying so!

@Ryanbrio 7 жыл бұрын

Awesome interview! Very in-depth. Love Steve.

@RecordingStudioRockstars 7 жыл бұрын

Eric Lamar Thanks Eric! Glad you enjoyed it and happy that my super long interviews aren't too long for you. Cheers! Lij

@Ryanbrio 7 жыл бұрын

Definitely not! Listened to the whole thing.

@RecordingStudioRockstars 7 жыл бұрын

:-)

@aethylaether 6 жыл бұрын

Super big thanks!!

@RecordingStudioRockstars 6 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Thanks for listening.Cheers! Lij

@HukkitukkiUK 3 жыл бұрын

Albini is my fav archivist ever

@JSGH-JOE 4 жыл бұрын

At 11 minutes Mr. Albini convinces me to keep my day job, even if I make enough $ to quit someday, in order to keep the value of Mystery in Music as a hobby. Maybe he'll let me do a summer internship someday.

@themagicianofsound 3 жыл бұрын

At around 25:00 I like what he mentions because I recognize myself perfectly there, when he mentions that a while ago he was attached to the records that he was working on and that he wanted each record he worked on to be the "greatest thing" because he was feeling like "owning a part of it", and then he mentions that he became more productive when he was able to "detach" from that way of thinking and when he rather considered himself as "just the guy helping the band to make THEIR record". But as a mastering engineer, it's difficult to detach from this philosophy (congrats to Steve for having done it haha!) when your artists tell you explicitly "I want YOUR sound on my record". I may just not be made for "line production" but rather for slow "artisanal production" haha 😂😂😂 Or maybe I love too much the artists I work it, I don't know... 😂😂 Interesting interview, thanks for sharing! Make sure that you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy during these crazy pandemic times! Kindest Regards from your friend François in Montreal, Canada! 🎼🃏🎶🎵🙏😁🌠

@RecordingStudioRockstars 3 жыл бұрын

Great point! I love the attitude that Steve brings to records but I also love the producers that really dive into a production with a "sound". I think the only thing that matters is that you do what is true to your heart and style. Make great music! :-) Cheers, Lij

@jp1527 7 жыл бұрын

Great interview, and yes, please get Bob Weston on!

@RecordingStudioRockstars 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'll do it. Bob is awesome :-)

@werdna3891 4 жыл бұрын

Who is the band in the picture with him smiling? Gotta be a good band to bring a smile like that.

@alexxander808 Жыл бұрын

Why Don't they ever mention Bush. That album was huuuuuuuuuge!!!!! I love Me some Razorblade Suitcase!!! It and In Utero are pretty much my favorite albums ever.

@jejealin 9 ай бұрын

because Steve doesn't like bush music

@alexxander808 9 ай бұрын

@jejealin I dont know he seemed pretty psyched to have in his possession some of the instruments used to record Razorblade Suitcase. Like the drum set etc.

@smtnnthn5024 4 жыл бұрын

Man shaped like a number 5.

@els1f 7 жыл бұрын

It's ridiculous how nice of a guy he is. What was the question you asked him regarding vocals in "Rid of Me" by PJ Harvey? I love that album (and her in general) :)

@RecordingStudioRockstars 7 жыл бұрын

Yeah Steve has a funny rep as a bad ass when really he is just a super considerate person. :-) I had asked him how he got the vocal sound on "Rid Of Me" and his answer was that they ran the vocals through a guitar amp. It was 20 years ago so I've forgotten which amp . Though I seem to remember it was maybe a Fender Deluxe or something like that.

@els1f 7 жыл бұрын

That sounds about right for that album :) Great interview, btw!

@zyxwvut4740 6 жыл бұрын

"Make you lick my angel face!"

@bingolo_ 4 жыл бұрын

we need to get rid of that vocabulary, man. Now with all respect, i know what you mean but...how come "ridiculous how nice he is"?? Fucked up and ridiculous the world in which that phrase makes sense

@douglasbatley1907 2 жыл бұрын

Would love to hear Steve engineer St. Vincent.

@vvessel_ 2 жыл бұрын

Why?

@drewhensley9299 3 жыл бұрын

woah ya can see Alicia Bognanno from Bully in the background from when I assume she interned at electrical

@mauro2097 3 жыл бұрын

Can somebody help me ? the snare trick with compression and Expander keyed to the top snare. Is that compressor and expander apply in the snare buss?or a copy of the snare top?

@RecordingStudioRockstars 3 жыл бұрын

I think you could use it on the snare track directly or on a copy in parallel if you want to. As long as the parallel track is in phase with the original it might sound very cool! If you just mean using the top mic only with this trick but not on the bottom mic I would say try that too and choose which method you think sounds best. Cheers! Lij

@mauro2097 3 жыл бұрын

@@RecordingStudioRockstars Thank you , when i tried to use it directly the compressor doesn´t show me the snare top to key it. I´ts only showing this option when i buss the snare and in the buss i trigger the compressor with the top snare.

@johnvalencia9927 5 жыл бұрын

It's nice to see a pic of Steve smiling, but you can still tell it's a very difficult thing for his face to do.

@RecordingStudioRockstars 5 жыл бұрын

Lol!

@fridaymiles 7 жыл бұрын

WOW!!!

@RecordingStudioRockstars 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@rlbradish 7 жыл бұрын

CHicago BOy- does us proud

@RecordingStudioRockstars 7 жыл бұрын

Bob Bradish indeed. I love Chicago!

@stringedassassin 7 жыл бұрын

Just let the guy talk please. I do appreciate the interview.

@RecordingStudioRockstars 7 жыл бұрын

ExRepro Guitaro Lol. Too much interviewer not enough interviewee? No prob. Thanks for the feedback! And thanks for listening. Cheers! Lij

@stringedassassin 7 жыл бұрын

Recording Studio Rockstars It's not too bad... just a few times I was listening to where he was going and there'd be an interruption, and then he'd stop. And there would be a second of confusion (because it sounds like you guys were in separate places).

@RecordingStudioRockstars 7 жыл бұрын

Yeah this interview was conducted over Skype and I think Steve had to use his computer speaker and mic. So it causes a bit of a delay.

@Happyvalleyband 5 жыл бұрын

22:00 in.

@tatehuesmann 4 жыл бұрын

Is this the interview were he says “how do you make the bass better? Turn the bass up. How do you make the kick better? Turn the bass up”

@RecordingStudioRockstars 4 жыл бұрын

No that was a Jeff Turzo. Here you go! :-) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m8-pdsaBmdetqac.html

@tatehuesmann 4 жыл бұрын

Recording Studio Rockstars thank you! Did you know that Kevin Parker samples your interview in his new album on the song glimmer?

@Koettnylle 5 жыл бұрын

About the phone bit: Answering the phone during a live, face to face interaction can be considered rather rude to a lot of people. For instance, a band paying for sessions by the hour would probably appreciate making them your priority as an engineer.

@RecordingStudioRockstars 5 жыл бұрын

+Koettnylle Yeah that’s always been my attitude too. I was surprised when Steve brought that up. And totally loved hearing his perspective. Thanks for your comment! Lij

@RecordingStudioRockstars 5 жыл бұрын

+Koettnylle Haha. Well that was my thought too. But I love Steve’s bold perspective and he answered the phone the first time I called (many years ago) which later resulted in us booking months at his studio! Cheers, Lij

@auserisnoone722 3 жыл бұрын

They’re not paying by the hour though. Check the rates at Electrical Audio: rhey are charging by day and define a day as lasting as long as it needs to be (but ideally not longer than 10 hrs).