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A Productive Day 3 at Noble Street Studios

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It was a very productive Day 3 at Noble Street Studios today. We tracked 4 songs: “Cançåo para Aaron”, “East”, “Sparrow” and “Mother’s Kiss”. We are all settling into a good rhythm and pace.

So far, I have only tracked on my two electric violins: the Cantini Midi 5-String and the Ned Steinberger 5-String. We ran two takes of “Cançåo para Aaron” (one on electric and the other on acoustic) and we chose the electric version – a better fit for that song.

The focus has not been on my violin tracks from these Noble Street Sessions. The nature of “bed tracks” however is to keep the best Drum, Bass, Piano and Rhythm Guitar takes (in that order of priority). For the most part, though, the space is very inspirational and I may keep a lot of what I am laying down which will save a significant amount of time later with regards to overdubs.

This album is not a safe album – it’s edgy, experimental and challenging material to play. The band (Steve Heathcote, Will Jarvis, Tony Lind and Brad Toews) are laying down some stunning performances. Spirits were high at the end of the day today. It is wonderful to capture these songs “live off the floor” in such a wonderful “noble” space!

“Digging in” in one of yesterday’s tracking sessions (click on the photo to access the full library of photos)

Day 2 at Noble Street

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Another productive day at Noble Street Studios, tracking the “New World” project. We were aiming to record four songs today, but completed three (“African Sun”, “Prayer for Peace” and “Perpetual Existence”)  for a total of five songs thus far. This is difficult world music material and we have been making some slight changes to groove and feel until each song sits just right. I am pretty tired today … a fair bit of soreness in my left shoulder (repetitive stress, rotator cuff pain etc) which I manage through stretching, self massage and some tylenol.

I tracked my new Cantini MIDI violin today on “Perpetual Existence” and was impressed with some of the fat tones I am getting. We certainly are getting a great sound at this studio … I continue to be very impressed. Here is my signal chain in photos.

VIOLINS -> PEDALS


PEDALS -> PRE-AMPS


PRE-AMPS -> MIXER (SSL 4056 E/G Console)


= GREAT SOUND!

Day 1 at Noble Street

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A great Day 1 with the Band at Noble Street Studios today. We rolled into Noble Street at 11:15 a.m. for our set-up and line checks and were tracking by 2 p.m. after a quick break for lunch.  We then had a productive afternoon tracking two songs: Change the World and Wonderful New World. I am very happy with the sound – beautiful warm, clear crisp tones off the floor of this new world-class down-town Toronto studio. We plan to track 4 songs tomorrow, starting with a new original composition called: African Sun.  Here is a group shot at the end of tracking today. You can also link to, engineer, Richard Cleaver’s site for more pics from Day 1.

From left to right: Richard Cleaver (engineer), Will Jarvis (bass), Brad Toews (keys), Trevor Dick (violins) and Steve Heathcote (Kit and Percussion)

Noble Street Recording Session :: Input List

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Yesterday, recording engineer, Richard Cleaver,  forwarded me the following working input list for the start of tracking at Noble Street Studios on Monday: an impressive list of mics and pre-amps – a good starting point!

The working title of this new recording project is NEW WORLD. We are feeling prepared and ready to go for the studio sessions. I will keep you posted with photos and video. Until next time … T

“New World” Project at Noble Street Studios

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Tomorrow we have our final rehearsal in my home studio before entering  Noble Street Studios in Toronto next week with engineer, Richard Cleaver, to record the bed tracks of our next CD: “New World”.

The primary purpose of Noble Street Studios is to provide the best music recording environment possible for musicians and producers in downtown Toronto.

It is hard to believe that we are here once more as a band …

As many of you know, we have been hard at work over the last year writing, arranging, rehearsing and charting the material for this recording project. Honestly, the process has been grueling and exhausting at times – but rewarding as we have persevered, tweaked, sifted and seen the vision and material for the album take shape.  I am really excited to see how the new songs come to life at Noble Street.

Above all, we are truly thankful and humbled for this opportunity to once more record in one of Canada’s premiere studios –  another gift to us by a generous Flyingbow donor.

Noble Street Studio A – Main Live Room (above) and Control Room (below). This will be our home for 5 days starting May 27/13.