How Photographs was recorded
One of my favorite aspects of modern recording is how easy it is to record and manage tons of tracks. But for this recording, little of that convenience was available. The technology in the Listening House studio at the time I recorded this was limited. The studio was only equipped with a first-generation sound design program.I was able to create several tracks. But every time I wanted to create a stereo mix, the original tracks were destroyed. And there was no way to preview the mix before I mixed it down. (If you've ever worked in the studio, you'll appreciate or curse the challenge of syncing tracks and mixing levels in the blind.)After creating the stereo mix for the rhythm tracks, if I wanted to add more layers, I would have to cut a track, bump it into place manually, then mix it down.There are a ton of sounds added one layer at a time, sounds I created from ordinary household objects, some sound effects, and instruments I played and manipulated in that cheesy sound design program. While the recording process was tedious, I came to realize that it reinforced the organic quality I was looking for in the soundscape. Living with the imperfections added to the authenticity of what I was trying to convey in this music..