HOME RECORDING - TIPS, TRICKS AND TRADE SECRETS

JIMI HOCKING
Jimi Hocking, an old friend to this magazine, creates his roots based rhythms in the comfort of a home studio. We asked Jimi about his recording experiences ...

Explain the recording gear involved in your recordings?

I use modern technology with old school mentality. I keep it very simple so my focus remains on the music and the creative process.

The sound goes from the mic or line, into a valve preamp, then a valve compressor (very light) and direct into my D-160 digital hard drive recorder

I mix it back through an analogue Mackie desk and a pair of Bose monitors.

In what order do you record (ie guitar parts first?) and why?

I record everything to click, I am more often than not playing multiple parts on my projects, so I need a strong reference.

I usually record a rough demo or guide track first up, just on one track usually just a room mic, with me singing and playing guitar.

Then I'll do a good rhythm guitar part, bass, and rough vocal then if it's a band thing I get a drummer in at this point.

The drummer plays to the existing parts, I'll have a bass handy to change things where necessary. After the rhythm section is established I may re-do the rhythm guitar, then do Vocals and solo's.

What's the process of recording your guitar parts and which guitars did you use on 'Give Jimi Some Love'?

I really spent a lot of time getting the right sounds for GJSL.

I love the Blues approach but I want those natural swingin Jazz sounds.

I'm really into the sound of a hollow body arch top guitar these days. I want to hear the acoustic sound from the instrument as well as the pickup through the amplifier.

I had one mic about two feet away from the 'f hole' of the guitar and another mic facing the amp· not too close, I want to hear the wood of the amp too, not just the speaker cone!

I played mostly clean, a little overdrive here and there. The main guitar on the album is my 1952 Gibson L4-C, it looks like an ES-175 but it has a solid spruce top, so it sounds good acoustically. I think there is only one song that has an alternative guitar set up, for that I used a 1964 175-T and my old faithful Les Paul Gold Top, I try to put Goldie on all my recordings for luck.

What about recording your vocals, do you have a reasonable 'dead' sounding room?

My studio is quite dead, I have learned a lot of techniques from David Briggs over the years, and in keeping with one of his concepts I try to use good distancing techniques on the mic itself, ie: main vocals are 'closer' and backing vocals are further away.

What type of mics do you use?

I have some bits and pieces, but my main mics are a pair of Rhode NT-2's.

What do you do in regard to bass and drums?

I usually DI the Bass through a Sans Amp for some edge, sometimes I run it through a small amp, but not often. Drums are rarely close miked at my place I put a mic in the Kick drum, one between the snare and hats, then I use the NT-2's as left and right room mics, I move them around till I find the sweet spots. I want the kit to sound like a holistic instrument, not like 8 separate channels of compressed sounds, let get some vibe in there!

Do you use effects at all?

Yeah, basic stuff, some different reverbs· usually to distance things in my sonic picture, and of course compression.

Why do you prefer to play throughout the whole track rather than cutting and pasting files as many are doing now?

Actually my rig is not 'on screen' so I don't know if I can cut and paste.

I grew up hearing great players, and I am aware of the benefits of cutting good parts in that's fine and all, but I am very focused on quality playing.

I also want to feel a track progress. I guess it can depend on what style of recording you are making. Hey maybe I just love to play!

When setting up your home studio, how much consideration was there to positioning of gear within your room and also to which room the gear would go in?

Well my studio room is kinda purpose built, and is a decent size. So a lot of things are in there in places I can simply get to them, it's all about the creative process. I have a large table and amps a long one wall, I can spin from the mixer to a Fender Rhodes to play ideas, it's a matter of function.

There are also inspirational items around· there's growing collection of old school skateboards on the wall, as well as guitars and posters of BB King and T Bone Walker.

How much importance do you place on the quality of monitors?

Well you really do need good monitors, but you can tune your ears to anything, I A/B my recordings constantly with mastered Cd's through the same monitors to make sure I am 'on track'.

What's the one thing about recording at home that gives you the most grief?

The phone.

With the convenience of having your own recording gear, how often do you find yourself recording ideas?

I'm out there almost everyday for one reason of another. I have a hectic lifestyle, but it is a great luxury to have your own recording set up, I spend a lot of time doing projects for work, career and just plain fun. I don't really have the ultimate set up, but I'd rather record at home than anywhere now.

What's Jimi the Human up to for rest of 2004?

The last 12 months were pretty full on for me, I have done a lot of playing interstate, some great festivals, and spent more time over in the USA once again, playing in New York City and down in Philadelphia.

I want to go back over soon, but I have some recording projects on the slab right now. I'm writing and recording demo's for a new Blues album to follow up GJSL.

I am also closing up a long time pet project of mine· a Mandolin album titled 'VooDoo Grass'

I'll also do another tour in Tasmania before the years out, and some dates in NSW. My next festival looks like being the Blues At Bridgetown Festival in WA, then maybe an appearance at The Queenscliff Festival VIC. I really have done a lot of live playing this year so I'd like to spend time writing new material and getting it onto tape … well digital tape that is!

BISCUIT BOY STUDIOS
www.jimihocking.com