Darrin made alot of good points against basement and bedroom studio recording, but I quickly became disapointed when he began talking recording formats.  He talked about how important they are and proceeded to list them… pro tools, nuendo, radar, etc… everything was mentioned but analog tape.  This is very surprising in the bluegrass genre and I immediately spoke up… “what about analog?”  He dismissed the notion like it was a long gone thing of the past and quickly moved on. Very disapointing!

This is very puzzling to me, being that Darrin’s longtime former band leader Ricky Skaggs records to analog tape.  Ricky, unpleased with the sound of digital recording, quit using certain Nashville studios when they switched to digital in the 90’s.  Ricky’s own studio now records to a 16 track analog machine and trasnfers into iZ Radar.

Darrin then spoke of producing the Cherryholmes band.  He mentioned that at times Jere Cherryholmes was not satisfied with the sound, asking why it didn’t sound like Ricky Skaggs’ album he brought in as a reference. Darrin explained that without the expensive guitars and such, it simply could not sound the same… which I suspect is only partially true.

Obviously it’s going to be hard to sound anywhere near as good as Cody Kilby,  but… considering that Ricky’s album would have been tracked to tape, this may have been much more of a factor that an inferior guitar.  Although I have been unsuccessful at finding out what recorder was actually used and I regret not asking Darrin at the time, I would guess that Jere Cherryholmes was missing that extra magic tape can add to your tracks… especially acoustic bluegrass tracks.  He was missing the warm tone and smooth dynamics that properly driven tape can give… not to mention the overall blend of instruments.

Contrary to popular belief,  tape is still available and some studios are still using it frequently and understand the benefits.  Combined with the new tools digital has given us creates one of the most powerful set of tools engineers have ever had.  Track in analog and mix in Pro Tools… The best of both worlds!  The difference is worth it.  Shocking in the bluegrass world to find a bass player who dismisses analog in front of a room of bluegrass industry professionals.

The following from bluegrassblog.com… makes me sick to even think about.  Chris is a great player and I was admiring his mandolin during his official showcase.   You can’t hide that mando for long, let’s find this petty theif!  Help spread the word.

 IBMA is mostly an old family homecoming, but there are a few bad apples in the barrel, so to speak. It seems one of them was wondering around the Renaissance Friday morning.

Chris Harris, who plays mandolin with Junior Sisk and Rambler’s Choice, is reporting that someone stole his Gibson Adam Steffey Model mandolin Friday morning around 5AM. The instrument was stolen from the 18th floor of the Nashville Renaissance Hotel.

The mandolin is a limited edition, number 29 of 50.

Chris has the Bill of Sale, Certificate of Authenticity, and has filed a police report with the Nashville authorities. The instrument is not only expensive, it carries a great deal of sentimental value as well.

If anyone has any information or spots this instrument for sale, please contact Chris immediately at 336-613-6998.

The Bluegrass Blog » Stolen Instrument: Gibson Adam Steffey #29: bluegrass music news

The previously unremarkable rap-rocker Kid Rock had a huge worldwide hit this summer with the single All Summer Long. The album it came from, Rock’n'Roll Jesus, has now sold more than two million copies.

It didn’t escape the attention of his record label, Warners, that Kid Rock’s career-high sales have been amassed without the single or album being available on Apple’s iTunes music store.

Full Article:
iTunes under threat as bands take their business elsewhere - Telegraph

“The two gals don’t mention the RIAA, Best Buy or any label. They are thanking Facebook. They are thirteen years old.”

Full Article:
Rocking or reeling? Record labels adapt to a world of online music - CNN.com

It’s no secret that the music industry has not made an ideal transition into the digital era.

Album sales are falling, P2P file sharing is rife, and a plethora of new artists are using the Internet as a platform for gaining international exposure.

With the introduction of MySpace Music, three major record labels — Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group — are hoping to launch a counter-strike to the technological developments and online activities that have rocked their industry.

Full Article:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/09/25/music.debate/index.html?eref=rss_latest

Original Digg:
Digg - Metallica & Death Magnetic - Loudness War Claims Another

The final nominees for the 2008 CMA Awards are:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto
Kellie Pickler

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eagles
Emerson Drive
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
“Don’t Blink”
Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney
BNA Records

“Gunpowder & Lead”
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Records

“I Saw God Today”
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville

“Stay”
Sugarland
Produced by Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles
Mercury Nashville

“You’re Gonna Miss This”
Trace Adkins
Produced by Frank Rogers
Capitol Records Nashville

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
Carnival Ride
Carrie Underwood
Produced by Mark Bright
19 Recordings Limited/Arista/Arista Nashville

Cowboy Town
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks
Arista Nashville

Good Time
Alan Jackson
Produced by Keith Stegall
Arista Nashville

Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney
BNA Records

Troubadour
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Songwriter and Primary Publisher)
“Good Time”
Alan Jackson
EMI-April Music/Tri-Angels Music

“I Saw God Today”
Rodney Clawson/Monty Criswell/Wade Kirby
Big Red Toe/Extremely Loud Music/Steel Wheels Music/Blind Mule Music

“Letter To Me”
Brad Paisley
EMI-April Music/New Sea Gayle Music

“Stay”
Jennifer Nettles
Jennifer Nettles Publishing

“You’re Gonna Miss This”
Lee Thomas Miller/Ashley Gorley
EMI Blackwood Music/New Songs of Sea Gayle/Noah’s Little Boat Music/Songs of Combustion Music

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award to each Artist)
Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood
“Another Try”
MCA Nashville

Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney
“Every Other Weekend”
MCA Nashville

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
“Gone, Gone, Gone”
Rounder Records

Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen
“Life In A Northern Town”
Mercury Nashville

Kenny Chesney (duet with George Strait)
“Shiftwork”
BNA Records

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
“Don’t Blink”
Kenny Chesney
Directed by Shaun Silva

“Good Time”
Alan Jackson
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

“Stay”
Sugarland
Directed by Shaun Silva

“Waitin’ On A Woman”
Brad Paisley
Directed by Jim Shea

“You’re Gonna Miss This”
Trace Adkins
Directed by Peter Zavadil

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar

Creative Caffeine’s Telefunken U47… The U47 is perhaps the most legendary microphone in history.  Ours is completely original, pre-war tube and all… Sounds fantastic!!!

This presentation was aired on GAC television last year when Alison’s A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection CD was released. It was a live, in-studio recreation of several tracks from the CD, including guest appearances from some of her duet partners - James Taylor, Brad Paisley and John Waite.

Her own band, Union Station was also featured throughout (Jerry Douglas, Dan Tyminski, Ron Block, Barry Bales) along with Tony Rice, Sam Bush and Stuart Duncan.

Full Article:
The Bluegrass Blog » Alison Krauss DVD: bluegrass music news

Jerry Douglas is nominated again for Musician Of The Year, and award he has won three times previously - in ‘02, ‘05 and ‘07.

Alison Krauss received nominations for both Female Vocalist, and with Robert Plant in the Musical Event category for the song Gone, Gone, Gone from their Raising Sand project.

Full Article:
The Bluegrass Blog » CMA Awards: bluegrass music news