Mix with the Masters
Creating sound textures with contact mics and tape
Shawn Everett experiments with various contact microphones, including a spring contact mic and a waterproof mic, to craft unique sound textures. He utilizes the Culture Vulture to add edge and character, followed by a tape machine to manipulate and enhance the sound further. Shawn emphasizes the distinctive vibe that analog processing brings, allowing for creative manipulation of sound that digital methods can't quite replicate. This approach showcases the potential of combining unconventional mic techniques with classic analog gear to produce innovative audio textures.
Apogee
Creating unique sounds with contact mics and speakers as mics
Shawn Everett explores the idea of exclusively using contact mics and speakers for the recording of the song "Blurred View" from Big Thief, bypassing traditional microphones to craft a distinctive sonic palette. This approach allows him to capture unique, organic sounds that emphasize emotion and creativity. During the recording sessions, Shawn mixes live, ensuring that the rough mix at the end of each day is album-ready. This workflow requires him to adapt his mixing techniques on the fly, maintaining a focus on emotion and immediacy. Shawn employs unconventional methods, such as using a rewired speaker as a contact mic on a kick drum, to achieve unusual textures. He also creatively repurposes old Apple headphones as contact mics for guitar amps, demonstrating his innovative approach to sound capture. For vocals, Shawn tapes headphones to the singer's throat, resulting in a lo-fi vocal sound that adds a unique character to the track.