MCTS Abbey Road


Alan Parsons ‘Got Back’ to Abbey Road for two MasterClasses!

Alan Parsons Session1

MCTS Chicago


Date (Session 1): November 16-17 2015
Date (Session 2): November 18-19, 2015
Country: England
Venue: Abbey Road Studios, London
Event: MCTS Level 3
Artist (Session 1): Edward - Winner of New Recording Artist Challenge
Artist (Session 2): Fish On Friday, featuring Nick Beggs
Engineer And Producer: Alan Parsons
Web Feed: MusiciansGuild.com
Event Manager: Charlie Steves
Assistant Engineers: Toby Hulbert
Event Producer: Julian Colbeck for KEYFAX NewMedia.


Overview

Alan Parsons finally got back to London's Abbey Road studios—the location where he trained as a young engineer, working alongside Geoff Emerick, Ken Scott and Norman Smith on The Beatles final two albums, Let It Be and Abbey Road—for two of his unique Master Class Training Sessions.

On November 16th and 17th and again on November 18th and 19th, a small and select number of people were part of this history-making reunion of great producer and great studio, where the magic happened all over again.

Session 1 saw Alan recording Swedish band Edward, who had won the first New Recording Artist challenge set up specifically for this event in conjunction with Musicians Guild (www.musiciansguild.com).

Edward's song 'Dogs' (not about dogs, as such!) was a perfect blend of accomplished songwriting and vocal skills from leader Johan Lagerstrom supported by sensitive playing from not only the rest of the band but also several attendees, who got to contribute component parts of the guitar solo passage. Alan also decided to record the tracking session on 24-track tape as well as digitally on ProTools and it was fascinating that, in a blind shootout, tape actually won the day, providing not only the somewhat expected degree of 'warmth' in the low end but also clarity and zing in the top end!

The wildlife theme continued on Session 2 when Alan recorded another European band, Fish On Friday, who hails frm Belgium, with an intricate prog rock number complete with multiple instrumental and vocal breaks and sections.

Both sessions were streamed live from Musicians Guild, allowing night owls in the USA and elsewhere to be part of the proceedings. A full report will be posted shortly.

The Artists

Alan chose Belgian prog rock luminaries Fish on Friday as the International Artists for Session 2. "My head is reeling pleasantly at the prospect of recording progressive rock again." Alan had said before the session. And the pace and intensity of the two days did not disappoint. Alan had worked with Fish On Friday's most recent recruit, the irrepressible Nick Beggs, on the Steven Wilson sessions he engineered two years ago.

Formed by Belgian producer and musician Frank Van Bogaert and keyboard player William Beckers, Fish On Friday has released three highly acclaimed albums since 2009. The band’s second release ‘Airborne’ featured the virtuoso bass playing of Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo, Ellis Beggs & Howard, Steve Hackett, and Steven Wilson), who has since become a full time member of the band.

For the Abbey Road sessions the band will be augmented by another British progressive rock stalwart John Mitchell, singer and virtuoso guitarist with It Bites. Fish on Friday

The full line-up:

Nick Beggs—Stick, Bass Guitar
Frank Van Bogaert—Keyboards and Vocals
William Beckers—Keyboards
John Mitchell—Guitars
Marcus Weymaere—Drums, Percussion

A Life In The Day
What it’s like working in the studio with Alan Parsons

The key ingredient in any Master Class is hang time with the Master. Not hang time in terms of swapping jokes or sharing the peanuts but considered, observational hang time where you’re able to pick up on the vibe, the pacing, the approach to the day’s proceedings.

These days it can seem everyone has the same information available to them and to some extent we have. How to mic a snare (“use a 57”), how to record upright piano (“point a pair of AKG C12’s at the back from a foot and half away”) but exactly where to point the 57 on ‘this’ snare, how much stereo to shoot for on the upright are the details on which the devil bases almost all his levels of success.

The beauty of MCTS events is that there’s time and opportunity to ask and get answers, to live and learn. And also to contribute.

Validation is often quoted as one of the most valuable take-aways from an MCTS. “I was just going to suggest a little boost at 12k” said one Attendee. “And then Alan comes up and says ‘I think we need a little more at 12k’ and I was like YES!” Hearing can sometimes just be believing in yourself. At the other end of the spectrum are those “You’re right but I’d never have thought of that” moments like when Alan stunned a session in Buenos Aires by physically EQ-ing the left and right overheads and not simply ‘copying’ left and right settings and reminding them: “Recording is about how it sounds, not about how it looks.”

MCTS events are both hands-on and feet on the ground affairs. In fact knees on the ground as often as not. Alan is not averse to plonking himself down n the floor to nudge a mic a half an inch to the right so that it’ll escape the worst of the spill from a neighboring sound source.

There will be many moments in an AP session where the muse and the magic starts to flow. Often you’ve got to be quick and really pay attention to ‘what just happened’. Alan is not going to bang a gong (literally or figuratively) and either telegraph every move he’s making or make some big deal of it after. So much of what makes a great producer or engineer is taste and instinct that the observer needs to keep their wits about them in order to distill a particular moment into tangible lesson form.

Much of what Alan Parsons is all about he learned at Abbey Road, be it overarching concepts like ‘value for money’ or the particular such as miking a concert Grand piano. At all levels, benefiting from Alan‘s lifetime of experience in two day’s worth of work is an exhausting and exhilarating experience for everyone involved.


  • Session 1: The Winner of Alan Parsons / ASSR New Recording Artist 2015 and featured artist for this session is Edward, from Gothenburg, Sweden.

    The New Recording Artist 2015 Challenge attracted more than 100 entries and the standard was incredibly high. Edward, led by Johan Lagerstrom has a traditional bass, drums, guitar, keyboards line up and has been active on the Gothenburg gigging scene for several years. They are all about the song and Alan picked up on that right away. Asked about their influences they say: "Everything that comes in your way turns into an influence one way or another. Edward grew up on a very limited diet of mainly English and American music from the 1960's and 70's. Since then the rest of the world has been discovered. Good music, movies, books and love have added exciting new dimensions to Edward.

    Edward Some years ago Edward was almost violently struck by love, leading to music in the shape of feather light pop songs becoming the immediate way to express feelings. The songs streamed into a recording machine, luckily without any consideration or hesitation."

    The full line-up:

    Johan Lagerström Pollak—Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Lead Vocals
    Daniel Jägerholt—Drums, Lead Guitar, Vocals
    Owe Almgren—Bass, Great Karma

Abbey Road MCTS Session 1 & Session 2 Event Details

Both Session 1 and Session 2 are 2-day Level 3 MCTS events.

Attendees at all Master Class Training Sessions are encouraged to participate, not simply observe. This includes mic setting, EQ-ing, processing, and mixing but is strictly on an 'if you want to' rather than 'compulsory' basis. The spirit of an MCTS event is one of action and discovery. Although the recording media is a DAW, Alan demonstrates the value of using a large format console, the power of constant human interaction and decision-making, plus many 'old school' recording techniques and approaches that tend to get lost in the shuffle of the wholly 'in-the-box' digital world.

Platinum seats: £1900 pounds Sterling / $2800 US Dollars.

AES/APRS Members qualify for a 10% discount.

Attendees experienced the workshop in the main control room and performing areas of Studio 3 with Alan and each received

  • A signed Certificate of Completion personally presented by Alan Parsons at the end of the session.
  • Choice of a signed copy of Alan Parsons’ Art & Science Of Sound Recording – The Book, or DVD set.
  • Session Files.
  • Ticket to the Champagne Reception in the Bar/Restaurant at Abbey Road studios at the end of ‘Day 2.’

Schedule for MCTS Session 1 November 16/17 (New Recording Artist)

Session 1 DAY 1 (Monday, November 16th)

  • 09.30–10.00 Welcome, Registration. Coffee and pastries will be served.
  • 10.00–10.30 Alan Parsons introduces the musicians and sets goals for the session.
  • 10.45-11.45 Miking the drums, miking and placement of other instruments for initial live tracking in Studio Three live room.
  • 11.45–1.00 Tracking session with drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and guide vocals.
  • 1.00–2.00 Lunch will be served at the Abbey Road restaurant with Alan and performers.
  • 2.00–4.15 Instrumental overdubs
  • 4.15–4.30 Tea Break
  • 4.30–6.30 Further instrumental overdubs.
  • 6.30–7.00 Formal Q&A with Alan Parsons.
  • 7.00–8.00 Informal drinks in the Abbey Road main bar

Session 1 DAY 2 (Tuesday, November 17th)

  • 09.30–10.00 Coffee and pastries will be served.
  • 10.00–11.30 Completion of instrumental overdubs/solos.
  • 11.30–1.00 Vocals.
  • 1.00–2.00 Lunch with Alan and performers at the studio.
  • 2.00–4.15 Additional Vocals or Mix
  • 4.15–4.30 Tea Break
  • 4.30–6.00 Continuation of mix.
  • 6.00–7.00 Possible Surround Mix.
  • 7.30 Champagne Reception, presentation of Certificates in the Abbey Road main bar.

* Schedule for MCTS Session 2 November 18/19 (Fish On Friday)

Session 2 DAY 1 (Wednesday, November 18th)

  • 09.30–10.00 Welcome, Registration. Coffee and pastries will be served.
  • 10.00–10.30 Alan Parsons introduces the musicians and sets goals for the session.
  • 10.45-11.45 Miking the drums, miking bass guitar (amp + DI), guitar, placement of other instruments for live tracking in Studio Three live room.
  • 11.45–1.00 Tracking session with drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and guide vocals.
  • 1.00–2.00 Lunch will be served at the Abbey Road restaurant with Alan and performers.
  • 2.00–4.15 Guitar overdubs
  • 4.15–4.30 Tea Break
  • 4.30–6.30Recording keyboards (B3, Steinway Grand).
  • 6.30–7.00 Formal Q&A with Alan Parsons.
  • 7.00–8.00 Informal drinks in the Abbey Road main bar

Session 2 DAY 2 (Thursday November 19th)

  • 09.30–10.00 Coffee and pastries will be served.
  • 10.00–11.30 Completion of instrumental overdubs/solos.
  • 11.30–1.00 Vocals.
  • 1.00–2.00 Lunch with Alan and performers at the studio.
  • 2.00–4.15 Additional Vocals or Mix
  • 4.15–4.30 Tea Break
  • 4.30–6.00 Continuation of mix.
  • 6.00–7.00 Possible Surround Mix.
  • 7.30 Champagne Reception, presentation of Certificates in the Abbey Road main bar.

All enquiries to the event organizers—info@artandscienceofsound.com or to KEYFAX NewMedia on 1-800-752-2780 (In USA)

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