Just in time for Christmas, Kimberly Adams‘ demo CD is wrapped up and ready for the listening pleasure of merry-goers every where. Featuring Kimberly Adams spectacularly clear vocals, she is accompanied in studio by Jazz Pianist Ted Phillips, Guitarist Charles-Etienne Doucet, Bassist Michel Dansereau and drummer Basil De Souza. Recording and mixing this demo leading up to the Christmas Holiday was an inspired and motivating experience. LV’s mandate was to track and mix a professional grade demo cd for soliciting shows … Kim and her band-mates cetainly came through with flying colours to make this demo a particularly enjoyable experience. Kim and Ted are no strangers to working together musically as Mr. Phillips also happens to be the orchestrator of the Ted Phillips Vocal Ensemble, of which Kimberly is an active member as soloist and administrative assistant … so returning the favour to come onboard as keyboardist and band leader for Kim’s project was a natural course of action. This creative and professional familiarity paid off in kinds as the band quickly laid down their tracks in record time with very few retakes.

DAW: Cubase
Analog/Digital Conversion: MOTU 8-Pre
Preamps: Peavey Mk VI – Behringer Ultravoice VX2000 – MOTU 8-Pre
Microphones: Shure SM57, SM58 – Rhode NT1A – Audio Technica MB 5k – Audio Technica MB 6k

My_Country_Man.mp3 (Sample)

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Eggs_In_One_Basket.mp3 (Sample)

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Finally wrapped up production of Cindy Cote‘s 7 song demo CD featuring the very talented Ms. Cote on Guitar & Vocals and Oliver Roussy on Drums. Providing the accompanying bass tracks was an honour and a treat as working with Cindy is always such a pleasure … she knows exactly what she wants, is professional and very polite in her criticisms … sharing the editor’s chair with her is never a chore. LV’s mandate for this project was to record and produce a simple 7-song demo for Ms Cote that showcased her great singing talent and very funky rhythm guitar playing, and then to package it in a sell-able CD jewel case format for local distribution. Originally accustomed to a much louder aggressive blues environment, Cindy eventually saw the advantage of trimming back on unnecessary noise and accoutrements … which would mean overcoming her shyness and showcasing the real talent hidden beneath. Using LV’s traditional tracking techniques, throw-away guide tracks were used to establish tempo and placement. Keeper tracks started with Oliver on drums, followed by my bass tracks, then Cindy’s rhythm guitar. The final push consisted of recording vocals however as often seems to happen, singer/songwriters who have spent several sleepless nights ar e rarely in true form by the end of the recording timeline when it’s their turn to shine and what is arguably the most important take of the song. Cindy came through with flying colours … although very critical of her own performance, with reassurance she eventually became a believer and the end result is a proud accomplishment.

DAW: Cubase
Analog/Digital Conversion: MOTU 8-Pre
Preamps: Peavey Mk VI – Behringer Ultravoice VX2000 – MOTU 8-Pre
Microphones: Shure SM57, SM58 – Rhode NT1A – Audio Technica MB 5k – Audio Technica MB 6k

Justification.mp3 (Sample)

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Feel_Me.mp3 (Sample)

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Lie_With_Me.mp3 (Sample)

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Shake_My_Tree.mp3 (Sample)

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Good friends should always watch out for one another, and this was the motivation behind one particular drum session that took place at LV Studios in the winter of 2007. Songwriter Kris McDougall invited close friend and session drummer Oliver Roussy to record drum tracks at LV for 2 of McDougall’s original songs. The sessions were booked last minute and recording was done a bit hastily as time was very limited but the end result seems to have met the mandate: a clean drum track with little or no effects to be used in a future mix at the songwriter’s discretion … ask and you shall receive!

DAW: Logic Studio
Analog/Digital Conversion: MOTU 8-Pre
Preamps: MOTU 8-Pre
Mixers: 2x Behringer Euroracks
Microphones: Shure SM57, SM58 – Rhode NT1A – Audio Technica MB 5k – Audio Technica MB 6k

Just_Cause_I_Can.mp3 (Drum Sample)

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Step_Out_The_Door.mp3 (Drum Sample)

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One of my own working bands is the Montreal-based Touchwood Acoustic Trio featuring Enzo Trimboli on guitar and Gilbert Francis on the traditional djembe drum. Recording and mixing our demo was part of a new promotional effort in 2007 and we made a concious decision to create an actual studio demo for bookings. The process was smooth and seamless since all 3 members of the band have been playing for decades, so experience was key in helping record the demo in as little as one or two takes per track. Opting for a click track with a guide guitar/vocal to lead the session, we recorded each final track seperately saving lead and backing vocals for last. Some harmonica and percussion elements were added for flavour and just a minimum of effects and EQ to round out the overall sound.

DAW: Cubase – Sonar
Preamps & Analog/Digital Conversion: MOTU 8-Pre – MOTU 2408mk3
Microphones: Shure SM57, SM58 – Rhode NT1A – Audio Technica MB 5k – Audio Technica MB 6k
Touchwood_Oct_2007_Demo_Crazy_Train.mp3 (Sample)

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Touchwood_Oct_2007_Demo_Take_It_Easy.mp3 (Sample)

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Touchwood_Oct_2007_Demo_Highway_To_Hell.mp3 (Sample)

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Utterly self-indulgeant in nature, LV puts its arsenal to work recording preproduction tracks for the company’s founder Paul Thibault, aka Tebo. A series of tracking sessions with a wide variety of styles and experimentation that paved the groundwork for Tebo’s future recordings and collaborative musical projects.

DAW: Cubase
Analog/Digital Conversion: MOTU 24 i/o – Echo Layla
Amps/Preamps: ’63 Fender Deluxe Reverb – Peavey Mk VI
Microphones: Shure SM57, SM58 – Rhode NT1A – Behringer C2 – Audio Technica MB 5k – Audio Technica MB 6k – Audio Technica ATM25

Outta_Here_Preproduction.mp3 (Sample)

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