California Stars - hooper

[hooper]

California Stars
Words written by Woody Guthrie 60-70 years ago and then put to music in the late 90's by Billy Bragg and Wilco.

This song has been around for a few years. I finally got on to it after reading Bob Dylan's Vol. I Chronicles, which lead to re-reading Woody's book, Bound For Glory, which lead to finally hearing California Stars on the album Mermaid Avenue by Wilco.

And part of the reason for this project was to get some practice using a new Tascam DP-24, learning how to use the new machine as a stand-alone, and looking at ways to use it along with my DAW setup with Sonar.

On this one, I did tracking by plugging a mic or a guitar into a DP-24 Input channel... Adjusting the Pre-amp,EQ, compression, FX for that channel and then sending audio out the back of the DP-24 and into the I/O converter (a Tascam 4x4) to record tracks in Sonar.  Was Using the DP-24 to get a sound, actually recording that sound on a track in Sonar, then mixing and wavform editing in Sonar.

Then sent a mixed-down stereo WAV from Sonar back to the DP-24 to use the on-board Mastering tools.  I had some fun trying this out and will probably continue playing with it.
 

California Stars

[Flash Harry]

I'm expecting this to be excellent..  but I'm on a mobile phone with no headphones so I'm saving it till later, nice to see you recording Ken.

Hope you're keeping well. 

****Update****

This is fab, a great recording and mixing, superbly played as always. You are the master of production Ken.

[Greeny (No longer active)]

Hey Ken! Long time. Nice to see you posting. I knew this would be a fab performance and production, and I wasn't wrong. So beautifully balanced and arranged with such class and taste - you really are a mixing master. Some superb guitar work going on, but what really got me was that amazing slide tone: so smooth and rich. I didn't know the song, but I love it. I can't believe anyone would do it better than this though. Amazing!!!!

[Ferryman_1957]

Good to hear some music from you after all this time, and what a pleasure it is too! Really lovely production, I don't know the song but I did get a bit of a Wilco feel from the way you did it. Excellent guitars and lovely vocals, and overall a great feel to it. Up to your usual quality, a real pleasure to listen to.

I am similar but a bit different in workflow these days. I like using the BR800 to record tracks because there's no latency and you can use the onboard effects if you want. But rather than have this hooked to my DAW, I just transfer the tracks as .wav files once I am happy with them. This allows me to try different things, do many retakes and develop the song on the BR800 without the faff of hooking it up to the PC. I then mix in my DAW but also master on the PC using Ozone 9.

[StephenM]

This sounds wonderful just on my phone speaker sitting in the mountains on the back porch...later I'll listen on phones....seems a fitting track for where I am.
Interesting to hear your process.  Sounds like it worked well.
I like all the instruments...you play so well...your vocals fit like a glove here... congratulations on a great track

[Ted]

So well done. This is the kind of song that sounds so relaxed – like it just came into existence, without any worry or expectations that anyone might like it. Have a seat and listen. Or not.

[Four minutes later...]

This Song: You still here?

Me: Don't stop.

[cuthbert]

Beautifully done, hooper. Not a song I knew previously either, but your version sounds aces. And it looks to be an excellent setup you have there for this kind of production!

[maxit]

super cool rendition (I lost myself at the tech details of input outputs lol but I can say this song seems naturally yours, that's a super good achievement for a cover ... I'll go for the original album (and billy bragg / wilco I've listened separately with great pleasure: I'm very curious of them together)

[thetworegs]

Throughly enjoyed perfect for this sunny morning in Yorkshire

[StephenM]

I just listened on my presonus monitors....this sounds great...I love all the twinkling strings.... sounds like banjo at times...and the vocals are super duper...

good stuff... and for me it has a bit of an old Fleetwood Mac vibe to it...especially the driving bass and rhythm