Recording Keyboard and Reflection

 Hello!!

My final recording session for this track - the keyboard/synth!!!

Recording the synth and keyboard was generally a success, however, it took a little trial and error. Initially, I couldn't figure out how to get a signal from the synth into Pro Tools / the Avid desk. First, I connected the "Live Room 2 Lines" (3 and 4 for left and right output of the synth) into the "SSL AWS Direct Outs"; however, that meant that the output was coming out of the speakers, and not coming through as a signal to the desk. So then I moved the "SSL AWS Direct Outs" into the "SSL Line Inputs" (Channel 21 and 22, as there were the ones closest without straining the cable) and got signal into Pro Tools and the Avid desk - success! Here is a photo of that below (red cables):

I used the "Tubular Synth" preset on the Nordwave Synthesiser as it added a lot of texture and more electronic aspect to the sound, which aligned with the style of Portishead at the time of releasing their album "Dummy". I also changed some details around after experimenting, such as adding the tube amp and adjusting the drive, as well as adjusting the attack, decay, sustain and release to make it not too attacking, but not too pad-like either - somewhere between a pad and a lead, but more of a textural and layer-able element to the track.

I also recorded the keyboard in this session! I switched the cables for the synth and keyboard and placed a room mic to capture the ambience and space of the keyboard, too. I placed the microphone above the right end of the keyboard to try and highlight the higher frequencies more, as I felt the track may be lacking that slightly, due to all the increased mid-frequencies and tones. As my performer was more classically trained, they didn't want to wear headphones and listen to a reference track, but rather read a score sheet, so I gave them one and an audio file as a reference as to how I want it to sound, and she was able to perform it just from that! Below is the score I gave the pianist and the setup for the keyboard recording:

Similar to the recording of the electric guitar, the performer struggled to play in time due to the difficult timing of the melody, and so we recorded a couple of whole takes, and then some takes of the first and second parts of the melody separately. We were able to get a good take of the keyboard recording, which only toook some minor flex-time editing to get it right; however, with the synth, I had to combine and flex-time the first and second sections of the melody. This wasn't too much of a struggle, though and sounds as if it was recorded whole.

In post-production, I added no effects to the synth and added quite a few to the piano. Listed in order are the effects I added: Tube EQ (to give the piano more body and a more lo-fi feel), Compressor, reverb, tape delay and a bitcrusher. All of these gave the piano a more vintage sound and gave it more ambience and space to. A big focus of the track for me was making sure it had enough space!

The synth plays in the drop after the first chorus, and from the beginning of the final chorus, and is used to build tension and texture as the track progresses. The keyboard, however, plays during the first chorus, in the first drop and after the final chorus. I like how much they impact the tension and space of the track - it really adds depth and character!

Well, that is all in this one - see you again soon!

-D.