Durgin Concert Hall, University of Massachusetts Lowell
March 2009
A special visit from Gerald Fabris of the Edison National Historic Site inspired a coordinated set of activities from students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. It produced an original composition, an all-acoustic band, and a vintage and challenging arrangement. It was simultaneously recorded live to both wax and high definition digital. Four takes are presented, as the band was re-arranged around the horn of the wax cylinder recorder each time for a better balance on playback. With each iteration, the band arrangement drifts out of balance, as heard through contemporary technology, but sounds better on wax cylinder playback.
COMPOSER:
Brian Corey, BM:SRT ’09
RECORDING ENGINEERS:
Gavin Paddock, MM:SRT ‘10 and BM:SRT ’07
Connor Smith, MM:SRT ‘10
PRODUCER
Alex U. Case, Sound Recording Technology Professor
Compare these 4 mono digital recordings, made by a single DPA 4006 front and center of the band, to the wax playback, also into a DPA 4006, on axis of the playback horn. Stereo mixes and close-miked recordings were also captured. Stay tuned for a chance to hear those.
Take 1:
Live to Wax
Live to Digital
Take 2:
False start. We move on to take 3.
Take 3:
Live to Wax
Live to Digital
Take 4:
Live to Wax
Live to Digital
Take 5:
Live to Wax
Live to Digital
THE BAND:
Lindsey Sherman, Flute, BM:Music Ed/Performance ’09
Philippe Lesaux, Alto Sax, BM:SRT ‘09
Alex Flinkstrom, Tenor Sax, BM:SRT ‘09
Michael Littlehale, Trumpet, BM:Performance ’09
Chuck Sherwin, Slide Trombone, BS:ME ’09
Brian Corey, Tuba, BM:SRT ‘09
Craig Peura, Banjo, BM:MusicEd ’09
Brian Westbrook, Percussion, BM:SRT ‘09
Nick Allen, Percussion, BM:SRT ‘09
Some general reactions from audience members present at the event:
- Nothing will prepare you for the wonder you’ll feel when you first hear your recording played back from wax. Nothing is plugged in. No Microphones. No Amplifiers. Yet the essence of your music is captured.
- It’s inefficient and noisy, but it really works.
- That’s what Wow & Flutter sounds like
- It’s severely band limited, but each instrument can be identified
- We need more Flute (We never thought we’d say that)
- We need more Banjo (Nobody’s ever said that)
- We need more snare (OK, we always say that)
- The tuba certainly cuts through, though it’s lacking deep lows
A 1-camera, hand-held, Wax-umentary was shot and edited by Brandon Noke (MM:SRT 2014), giving a good sense of the day.
