by Peter Wolf

The musical instruments industry is full of individuals who are in this particular industry for one main reason: They are first and foremost musicians. Whether they are working in retail, distribution, manufacturing or media within MI, or whether they are engaged in creating, producing, distributing and marketing music, most people in this business were at some point in their life musicians. I think that this is a wonderful thing and I believe it sets our industry apart from any other. The development of technology in recording and producing music and the tools used to do so, as well as the improved marketing opportunities through the web, have helped create a different environment in the past 3-5 years.

When I finally moved to the United States in 2003 after traveling back and forth for years, the music project with which I'm involved, Supernatural, had to deal with a new set of problems not encountered before. Thomas, the other half of Supernatural, a skilled engineer, songwriter, keyboard and bass player, programmer and producer, and I have been working together for 16 years now. We played together in bands, we recorded and toured with other musicians in a variety of projects and musical styles throughout the years, and we were writing recording and producing our own music. Many weekends and evenings were devoted to getting together to create something that is important to us, in the midst of everything else we were doing.

You all know how difficult it is to find the time to get together and rehearse, write, record and produce, but, nevertheless, it usually works out somehow. But imagine the difficulty of trying to do this when you and your music partner don't live on the same continent. Since Thomas continues to live in Germany and faces an intense traveling schedule (he is, among other things, the main sound man for Germany’s prime time TV show Wetten Dass) and I now reside in the U.S., we had to change the way we approach the writing and recording of songs. While our recent album Bad Day (released May 2005) was mainly recorded in Germany (we only recorded a couple of tracks in Annapolis, MD in fall of 2004), the new album, Never Give Up, will be a true ‘across the pond’ or ‘virtual’ production.

I’m sure there are a few people around the world who are dealing with the same situation or there may be a few people who are trying to figure out how to do this, which is why I thought it may be of interest to write about it and encourage you to try.

The process

First of all, I would like to say that I’m grateful to have somebody like Thomas at my side since I’m not really a wizard when it comes to recording and recording technology or operating the appropriate tools, programs, computers, plug-ins, e.t.c. We have completed 10 tracks for Never Give Up so far and there are a few more in the making as we speak.

Basically, it all starts where it always starts. One of us has an idea and ‘hears’ a song. It can be a subject (the lyrics will be based upon) or it can be music that we hear in our heads and hearts we’ll then arrange and develop. Depending on who’s coming up with the original idea, the process can be different each time. Throughout the creating process, we usually communicate via email. Later, in the mixing and producing stage, we talk personally if possible or on the phone across the pond. Sometimes I receive an MP3 of one of his song ideas, sometimes I email him MP3s of what I’m working on.

Music from Thomas

Whenever he sends me something he came up with, I usually burn a CD and listen to the playback in my car (which is the only place I’m really alone) as often as I can to get a feel for the tune and to get a feel for what I think he might hear or have in mind.

To me, it is really interesting and exciting to receive a piece of music that is entirely somebody else’s creation. I usually take it in as is initially, without paying too much attention to arrangement, sound, instrumentation and such things. All of that stuff comes into play at a later stage. Once the tune has settled in and I understand the format and structure, I start developing melodies and vocal lines and begin working on the lyrics. Sometimes this process takes weeks, other times it only takes days before I have something I think may work.

When that moment has arrived, I schedule time to record vocals and guitar tracks. The majority of vocal tracks for ‘Never give up’ have been recorded at PRS Guitars in Stevensville, MD. Marc Quigley, our Art Director and a very talented young man in many fields, has been helping me to record over the course of the past 18 months. We use a basic Pro-Tools set up, Neuman U47 mic and record ‘as is’ without adding any effects.

Once the lead vocal and harmony tracks are recorded, we bounce them individually and upload the tracks onto an FTP server. Thomas downloads the tracks in Germany and starts plugging them into the playback. I figure that must be a very interesting moment for him since he is receiving vocal tracks from someone else, lyrics from someone else to his music. Thomas is a true master of editing (everything is done on computers, we do not use any tape machines at all) and I usually can’t wait to get the edited version back from him after sending the vocal tracks.

After we're satisfied with this stage, we start working on fine tuning vocal tracks (which sometimes includes re-recording them), laying down final guitar tracks and/or adding other colors (instruments, guest musicians) to the piece and start working on arranging the song until we’re finally happy with what we’ve got.

Music from Peter

Since I do not own my own recording studio or set-up (I have never really gotten into that part, I can’t do everything at the same time and there are better operators than myself), coming up with music, much less coming up with a song on my end, is a lot more basic.

I usually play around with my guitars and develop riffs or progressions, starting with a basic ‘verse - bridge - chorus’ approach. Other times, I have lyrics first and write the music later. Once I get to a place where I think I got something that might be worth recording, I schedule a session and record basic guitar tracks first. I’ve been using a combination of different set-ups to record guitars lately. Part of what I’m using to record guitars are my PRS Hollowbody Piezo (all acoustic guitar sounds lately are recorded with the HB Piezo), my 88 Signature and my little SE Singlecut, a Soldano Hot Rod 50 amp, a Mesa Boogie Ace Stiletto, Waves GT2 software and Native instruments guitar rig software.

Since I can’t read or write charts (too lazy, really), it all happens from memory first. Everyone who has ever tried to record a 3:30 minute song, starting with one guitar track and only listening to a click, knows what I’m talking about. Of course, most of what I end up recording will be re-recorded or improved later, but sometimes the original guitar tracks make it onto the record after editing and applying effects during the mix.

After I have what I call ‘the frame’ of the song, I record vocal tracks so that Thomas gets the idea of what the song is about, musically and lyrically. While we bounce and upload tracks, I usually email him information about the structure of the song and give him basic ideas regarding drums and percussion, instrumentation and dynamics I have in mind.

Once again, it’s incredibly interesting and challenging to hear what he’s coming up with on his end after receiving one of my basic song ideas.

After I have received his full-blown playback, we talk about all the details that can make a difference and get the tune to a ‘pre-mixed-rough-completed’ stage. From there, it is a question of time until the completion of the final mix.

To give you an example of what it sounds like when we have reached the pre-mixed-rough-completed stage, I’m adding 2 tracks that will go onto our upcoming album, Never Give Up. If all goes well, we should have it done by the spring of 2007.

Track one is called "Encryption". Track two is "Never Give Up" (we wrote this song for the German National soccer team for the World Cup 2006 in Germany), and our latest track is "Down to the Wire". If you are interested in hearing more music from us, please go to www.iacmusic.com (search for Supernatural).

Track 1: "Encryption"

Track 2: "Never Give Up"

Latest track: "Down to the Wire"

I continue to be amazed and excited about new opportunities to create music and about using ever improving technology to work together on music pieces without physically being in the same place at the same time. Although I prefer the personal interaction with other musicians (nothing beats a sweaty rehearsal or recording facility in which direct interaction is part of creating), I am grateful that intelligent minds continue to provide tools for musicians who are living apart that give them a chance to do their thing.

Next month I’ll talk about my take on the status of the recording/record industry and the opportunities for promoting independent music through an increasing number of web portals such as musicsponge, iacmusic, indie911 or myspace.