Hey there!
We've had a fantastic time in Portland, Oregon, but before we share about it (you'll have to wait for our next post for that), we have been itching to tell you about a truly unique stop we made during the second half of our stay in San Francisco.
As we mentioned in our last post, we began our time in San Fran with a day at New, Improved Recording, laying down most of the bass and a few keys tracks with the help of our friend Shawn and the engineer Jay Pellicci. With those in place, we were ready for the next step of fleshing out the synthesizers.
Let me just tell you that synthesizers hold a special place in both Ben and I’s hearts, so we were a bit giddy when we decided to try out the Vintage Synthesizer Museum. Aka: Synthesizer Candyland.
You guys, what an experience. As our first time in the same room with some of the most classic vintage synths in the music world, we could've easily spent days just tweaking knobs and messing with faders. But amidst out kid-like enjoyment, we did actually get some work done, taking advantage of the extensive collection by recording parts on the Prophet 5, Minimoog Model D, Jupiter 8, and Oberheim OB-X (among others).
Needless to say, we were amazed at the subtle depth and richness that the analog signals added to our mixes, creating dynamics and interest without demanding too much attention. The results sound wonderful, and we are already looking forward to the next time we get to go back. Thank you Lance for opening up such a great resource to musicians in the Bay Area, and thank you Shawn for your input and suggestions along the way!
Before we had to leave San Francisco, our friends Shawn and Sierra took us on a day trip across the Golden Gate Bridge and up the coast to Point Reyes. After a scenic drive and a short hike past flowering succulents to see the lighthouse, we ended the day on the beach, watching the sun set over the most beautifully intense waves that Ben and I had ever seen.
