Session #309 features a range of activities, from full-on jam sessions to meticulous rehearsals. Specifically, there are only 1.5 complete song performances, with the rest dedicated to rehearsing Canon Rock, a complex and intricate composition.

During the mixing phase, I had a blast applying finishing touches with EQ, Reverb, and Tape. Unlike previous sessions where I shaped the tone during recording, this time I focused on post-recording adjustments. The initial recordings were made with dry amp settings, using either distortion or overdrive but leaving out reverb and other detailing for later.

In terms of gear, I switched things up by using UAD Oxide Tape instead of the usual UAD Studer A800. I'm also experimenting with custom settings on the UAD Pultec MEQ-5 to transition from a semi-clean to a crunchier distortion.

For Canon Rock's fourth track, I had to tweak the EQ settings to prevent excessive loudness and distortion, particularly for the power chords. The result? A great tone, albeit a bit dry on the reverb, creating a room-like echo, particularly evident on the low/mid power chord segments.

By the 11th track, I reverted to using Studer to explore different tonal variations for the heavier sections. Again, a bit dry but highly effective in achieving a room-like echo on the low/mid frequencies.

The 12th track is more of an exploratory phase, as I played around with post-recording sound shaping. Overall, this isn't just about full playthroughs; it's a learning curve, an exercise in rehearsing, and an adventure in mixing and mastering. Enjoy the journey!

Session #309 -#9 - Finding Distortion Tone

Kyle Abent