Chris Bell’s Weblog

Phoenix Hart CD to release in Oct 2010

// August 9th, 2010 // No Comments » // General

We’ve been working really hard on this project with Phoenix Hart. I want to share a few of the tracks with you. The project will be released in Oct on C.D. and vinyl.

Phoenix Hart by Chris Bell Productions

The Mojave MA-200

// May 26th, 2009 // No Comments » // General

It isn’t very often I run across a mic I’m blown away by, but the Mojave is high on my list. I was introduced to the Mojave MA-200 during a Grammy P&E event at Luminous Sound last year. I thought well it’s under a grand so why not try it out for a while. Well it turned out I’ve used it on just about every vocal session I’ve had since that time. This mic has blown me away on many occasions. I have access to mic’s that our worth $5000 and above, but I keep going back to the Mojave MA-200. It has character for days and reminds me of one of my favorite mic’s the U67. I have found whether it be male or female vocals it really let’s the voice sit nicely in the mix. I rarely even Eq it if any on the vocal. I’ve been matching the MA-200 with a V72 Mic Pre and either an Avalon 2044 or LA-2A. It has a smooth top end, nice mids, and good low end.

I recently got back from a session in L.A. with Erykah Badu at Red Bull Studios. We had the whole band setup live which is 11 people. I remember the last time I did a setup like this was on the “Mammas Gun” album about 10 years ago and we use to use either a Neumann U67 or a Telefunken U47. I thought just for an experiment I would try the Mojave Ma-200. We had a 47 available if it wasn’t working. The first day we were still dialing in headphone mixes and getting sounds. The second day Erykah came in sat down “The Mic sounds great” and we had a great session.  Believe me she will let you know if a mic isn’t working for her. This particular session I was running it through a Neve 1081 to an LA-2A, into a Tube Tech PE 1c. Just barely adding some more air to the sound.

But vocals aren’t the only thing it works well on. I’ve so far used it on Cello, Piano, Drums, Percussion, Choir, Upright Bass, and Harp. So if you’re in the market for a large diaphram condensor tube mic, and you’re on a tight budget, the Mojave MA-200 would be my first recomendation.

Nominated for TEC Award from the Mix Foundation

// August 11th, 2008 // No Comments » // General

I got some great news today. Myself along with Luminous Sound and the team that worked on The Eagles “Long Road Out of Eden” have been nominated for a TEC  Award from the Mix Foundation. It is for Best Record Production/Album. You can check out the nominee’s at this link:

http://www.mixfoundation.org/tec/08nomineescreat.html

Icky Thump, The White Stripes, Warner Brothers
Recording Engineer: Joe Chiccarelli
Mixing Engineers: Joe Chiccarelli, Jack White
Mixing Facility: Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN
Producer: Jack White
Recording Studio: Blackbird Studios
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller
Mastering Facility: Universal Mastering Studios, New York City

Just A Little Lovin’, Shelby Lynne, Lost Highway
Recording Engineer: Al Schmitt
Mixing Engineer: Al Schmitt
Mixing Facility: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA
Producer: Phil Ramone
Recording Studio: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA
Mastering Engineer: Doug Sax
Mastering Facility: The Mastering Lab, Ojai, CA

Long Road Out of Eden, Eagles,Polydor
Recording Engineers: Chris Bell, Steve Churchyard, Mike Harlow, Jason Lader, Hank Linderman, Jim Naper, Mike Terry
Mixing Engineer: Elliot Scheiner
Mixing Facility: The Doghouse, Los Angeles, CA
Producers: Scott Crago, Richard F.W. Davis, Bill Szymczyk
Recording Studio: The Doghouse, Los Angeles, Samhain Sound, Malibu, CA, O’Henry Studios, Burbank, MoosePodge, Calabasas, CA, The Panhandle House, Denton, TX, Luminous Sound, Dallas, TX
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Mastering Facility: Gateway Mastering & DVD, Portland, ME

Raising Sand, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Rounder
Recording Engineers: Stacy Parrish, Mike Piersante, Jason Wormer
Mixing Engineer: Mike Piersante
Mixing Facility: Electro Magnetic Studios, Los Angeles
Producer: T-Bone Burnett
Recording Studios: Electro Magnetic Studios, Los Angeles, Sage & Sound Recording, Hollywood, CA, Sound Emporium, Nashville, TN, The Village Recorder, Los Angeles
Mastering Engineer: Gavin Lurssen
Mastering Facility: Lurssen Mastering, Hollywood, CA

Revival, John Fogerty, Fantasy
Recording Engineers: Jim Scott, Ryan Freeland, Seth Presant
Mixing Engineers: Jim Scott, John Fogerty
Mixing Facility: NRG Recording Studios, North Hollywood, CA
Producer: John Fogerty
Recording Studio: NRG Recording Studios, North Hollywood, CA
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Mastering Facility: Gateway Mastering & DVD, Portland, ME