GEAR:
Acoustic Guitar: Alvarez Model AG71OCE
Acoustic Guitar Strings: Martin Marquis 80/20 Bronze – Light Gauge
Amp: Peavey Ecoustic 110EFX
Drum Sounds (and Keyboard on the three Selah tracks): Yamaha PSR-E403/YPT-400
Vocals Microphone: Rode NT1
Vocal Sound: Boss VE-2 (although I can’t use the harmonist part because the vocal mic picks up the guitar, too)
Live Instrument Microphone: Shure SM58 (although I never could tell for sure if it was really picking up any sounds or not)
Recorded on: Zoom Q8 Handy Video Recorder
RECORDING:
1244 Teall Avenue, Syracuse NY, 3rd Floor bedroom on the Melrose Avenue side.
I was rather pleased with the sound of …And Let the Hills Hear Your Voice, so I set up almost exactly the same as that (see Recording Page of that CD for details), with the exception of placing the amp up a little bit higher and a bit more behind me by using a slightly higher table (see old photo below from …And Let the Hills for reference). And the music stand was on the left side of the vocal mic this time with the live mic where the music stand was last time. But otherwise just the same.
The big difference this time was that I was getting a bit of a hum/buzz that I could hear in the headphones and see in the record levels, but I was so geared up to get started (and to keep going) that I just kept playing with the record levels and inputs to try and get everything as loud and balanced as possible, but without too much of that annoying hum/buzz that I couldn’t figure out the source of. I should have known that it had something to do with the fact that when I plugged into the two inputs of the guitar each time, that the sound would cut in and out… So I’d have to jiggle the cords where they went into the guitar until the full sound was there. I kept expecting the sound to cut back out as I was recording – but it never did throughout any of these recording sessions!
After I finished the entire project, I took the guitar to a guy who someone had once recommended to me. He tested the electronics and told me that not only was the pick-up on the body not working properly, but that all of the wiring was bad and creating extra noise!
Just before I press “record” for each-and-every take I whisper “For Your Glory, Lord…” That’s the only way I can explain how I got these recordings with a faulty pick up and bad wiring…
Again – 100% Live / No overdubs / Whenever you hear a drum fill or the drum sound change (other than the first intro measures), that’s me reaching over with my right (strumming) hand and pressing the buttons for “fill” or “ending” on the keyboard (while trying to avoid hitting the “stop” button which is right next to the “fill” button!).
Here are the two photos of the set up from last time (with chair pulled back). The recording device is on the tripod. Oh, and I used a black folding chair this time – instead of the green one… 🤔
KEYS:
To One Another – Key of D
Hymn to the One and Only – Key of A
Done in Love – Starts in Key of E & Ends in Key of D
Hold Me…For Eternity – Key of A
Holy and Awesome – Key of Gb
Praising the Name – Key of E
Selah III – Key of C / (Keyboard Setting 064 – Air Choir)
The Mystery of Godliness – Key of E / (Capo on 2)
As You Therefore – Key of F / (Capo on 1)
And Now, O Lord God – Key of C / (Capo on 3)
If We Walk in the Light – Key of G
Fill Me Up – Key of Eb / (Capo on 1)
Selah II – Key of C / (Keyboard Setting 091 – Sweet Pan)
To Him Who Is Able – Key of E / (Capo on 2)
All Heart – Key of Db / (Capo on 1)
Tell Me About This Jesus – Starts in Key of Eb & Ends in Key of F / (Capo on 3)
Jesus Washed the Feet of His Betrayer – Key of C / (Capo on 3)
Selah I – Key of C / (Keyboard Setting 001 – Grand Piano)
Doxology – Starts in Key of Ab, Rises to Key of Bb & Returns to Key of Ab / (Capo on 1)
Now May the God of Hope – Key of D