jon

I find that a de-esser can sometimes be guilty of giving the vocals a lisp, so I'm pretty careful about my pop shield etc when I record. That way I can usually avoid using the de-esser for the most part. On Faith Healer (my first laptop recording effort mentioned previously), I just ran a compressor, a limiter and and exciter on the master. I've no idea what an exciter is, but I wanted my mix to be exciting so it was a no brainer really.

What sort of settings do people apply to their master track? I'm adding compression and a limiter just now, but leaving a flat EQ. Any tips? J

No grid on the version I have. It's actually pretty intuitive, once you get your head around how the different expressions, fills etc sit (and get on top of the general controls - I've been a PC man for years and years). EDIT - Oh wait, do you mean the "loud/simple" thing? In that case, yes!

Oops, I should have said that all guitars and vocals are recorded through a wee Focusrite thing but the drums are Garageband's onboard program.

In the spirit of things, here's my first attempt with the new set-up too: Paper Rifles - Faith Healer (full band home demo)

Snap! I've finally stumped up the cash for a MacBook Pro (and a Focusrite interface). Getting use out of all my old recording gear again is great. I'm still using Garageband as the recording programme though. Seems to do everything I'm looking for, and even the onboard drum programme is pretty decent. That said, most of my recording is Paper Rifles stuff and so largely acoustic.

Thanks, guys. I've been pretty blown away with how folk have responded to this. Restores your faith!

No fanfare, no tour, no launch night. Nonetheless, I'm equal parts proud and angry to release my new single into this increasingly desperate year. Pennies For The Dead and Bad Blood were both recorded by James Johnson and mastered by Martin Robbie. Nige Barnes is responsible for the brilliant artwork. The shouting and banging a guitar is all me. There is a digital download of both songs, but there are also 30 pieces of silver up for grabs (seems appropriate somehow, doesn't it?) in the form of a very limited edition run of USB pennies loaded with both songs plus three exclusive bonus tracks, artwork, liner notes and two vinyl penny stickers. One they're gone, they're gone. Protest songs might be seen as naïve, old-fashioned, overly worthy or simply out of place in 2016, but they bloody well shouldn't be. Bring out your dead. https://paper-rifles.bandcamp.com/album/pennies-for-the-dead

That's an excellent post. I'm absolutely gutted by the result. Wales and Cornwall have committed suicide, England has drifted even further to the right, old Irish issues resurface and Scotland has once again learnt that even a unanimous decision means fuck all if it doesn't agree with England's. There is very little that is "United" about this Kingdom. I've already heard a lot of my colleagues who were staunch "no" voters in 2014 say that they have reluctantly switched to "yes" as part of their original rationale was protecting EU status. What an absolute cauldron of shite this all is. Demonisation of the other is where fucking fascism begins. Britain is a fucking shambles. Fascists are applauding the result. Actual fascists. We have become an inspiration for fascists. Farage, Johnstone, Gove, all dancing with the BNP and Britain First. FUCK.

Aberdeen's own Struck Dum Records have just released the "Punks vs. Depression Vol.1" compilation, with all proceeds going to the Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH). There's a limited run of 100 cds and there's a digi download too. Get involved here: http://struckdumrecords.bandcamp.com/album/struck-dum-records-vol-1-punks-vs-depression-2

It took ages to get, but totally worth it!

We had the launch night for this on Saturday night in Edinburgh! Here's a couple of videos: The Barricades Built (full band) Four Hours (full band)

The vinyl is looking pretty bloody brilliant!

Aberdeen's very own Struck Dum Records are releasing my new 7" "And Then Came The Tourists". The preorder bundle has ten bonus tracks as well as a chance to win a test pressing. The launch night and release date is April 9th. https://paper-rifles.bandcamp.com/album/and-then-came-the-tourists-ep

Thanks very much! We're hoping to do another in a similar vein later in the year. Physical copies of the single are now up for sale too.

Afternoon folks, Billy Liar and I have been working away on a benefit single and we had the launch night last Saturday, raising £600 for the RST. All subsequent proceeds will go to the RST as well. You can buy the single at https://paper-rifles.bandcamp.com/album/what-weve-got-four-hours and watching the "making of" video here:

My new live record is out now through Aberdeen's Struck Dum Records! It's free/pwyw download and you can stream/buy it here: https://paper-rifles.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-tape-studio

I played a live set at Edinburgh's Tape Studio as part of the inaugural Tape Nights. It was recorded and exists in super-hifi glory at https://paper-rifles.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-tape-studio I'm pretty proud of how this turned out!

Evening all! I've got two releases coming out on Struck Dum Records this year. The "And Then Cane The Tourists" EP will be out on 7" later in the year, and the digital single "Songs For Ophelia" came out today. You can nab it at https://struckdumrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Bloody hell, it's a right annoying interface on my aged laptop. Nevertheless, Tolbooth Wynderers are go. Falcao's got to be good this year, right?

And another: https://youtu.be/8ixzamnONw0

Live video from Dundee last night:

I'm playing the Lemon Tree tomorrow night (Sat 4th) supporting Hjearts and Watchfires. If you're coming down, I'm on at 8 sharp!

What noise did the revving existentialist German car make? Warum? Warum?

Are you old like me and like actual things to hold and look at? Then pick up the Politics Maxi-EP at https://paper-rifles.bandcamp.com/album/politics Cheaper than a posh pint, and delivered straight to your door!