Groupeze Music

19/08/2026

So we have a 50" tv tucked up out of the way, so we can record downstairs, as if you were in the next room. The screen does have a blindspot, where all middle finger activity can go on without causing offence!

19/08/2026

So downstairs, I have a stage box on the wall, going into the control room.
( I also have another one going to upstairs, but I digress!)
The stage box may not be where you want the drums to go? So I'm making a multicore stage box to plug into another stage box!
It is only experienced that make you pre think problems!

17/08/2026

So? Studio 2 at " Rule 91" is a small digital set up, to allow local home recordist to record real drums, for their home projects, with access to an outlandish mic collection! Obviously at an affordable cost!
I would suggest importing a rough mix( minus drums), and a click track into the daw, and using mic positioning to shape the tones, rather than eq'ing and compressing whilst recording. You will be engineering yourself.....keeping costs down. I will be there for emergencies and minimal guidance..
The interface is a behringer x32!
Would you prefer to connect your laptop and loads the x32 drivers?
Or would you be happy to crack on with the mac we have? It will have " Tape 16"....Luna and Pro tools loaded on it? (I'd prefer not pro tools as I will be using that upstairs! Lol!
Tape 16 can now do real time export and is so simple to use....
Let me know your opinion?.....you just email yourself the waves at the end of the day....or put them on a USB stick?
I have just put Mackie 626 monitors into Studio 2, and IK Multimedia room correction is in place.
Multi video screens to the big room.
Looking at £100 a day....but only open to people I have a rapport with.....and damage to microphones is chargeable! Big time! I have 6 Beta 98s for toms, but Shure have a minimum charge for repairs for those. Starting at £120!
I have the Lauten snare drum mic, Dr Alien Smith and Earthworks bass drum mics, and the most amazing sdc for overheads ever.....plus a Rode NT4 for room.
Serious kit at a very reasonable cost.....but.....don't blow it!
An incredible facility for the area that can be magnificient...... if respect is shown? For both me! And the facility.
The room will also be available for vocal tracking. I have several £1k plus microphones plus valve channel strips.
The 626's are serious monitoring.......I believe they were £900 each in their day!
They are not the " Focals" that are upstairs, but still seriously superior to what most people monitor through at home.
Studio 2 is the price compromise for the bit you can't do at home!
I believe it will be the perfect market answer for the people who don't want to rent a studio, or own a stupid mic locker for occasional drum recording.....

17/08/2026

If I ever see this again it will be too soon!

16/08/2026

So! I would love to tell you there is a massive feeling of achievement! Nope! And it has totally destroyed my neck, for some reason? That! Off the shelf......is about a grands worth......! If I had the money I would happily have paid someone else to do it! But.....if you come here? You will not see a single one of those! They will be tucked out of the way.....but that is why proper recording studios charge money.....is it 100 times better than what you knock up at home with your laptop? NOPE! Will that tiny difference get you the edge to be spotted above the masses posting to Spotify daily? NOPE! BUT..... although I had some bad experiences around Gary Stevenson......I will quote you one of the most invigorating statements he threw at me!

" We're making funking records here Rhys!"

And " We Are Spectacular" was definitely record standard, (as us old bustards remember the statement to be!)
Next......Plumb is the Antelope and the SSL summing mixer.....and start mixing album 2....." Rule 91!"

16/08/2026

So next month I have to have a whole body CT scan to try to find a bit that doesn't hurt......if I get bitten by a spider during it....I think Logan Phillips might adore me more!

13/08/2026

So! My amazingly, talented son had an offer to go to Bristol last year...... but felt he needed a bit more time before leaving home.....he had done two years of performing arts and smashed it..... but decided to do a year of dance......one bloke on a course of 16 ladies.......he got a Merit today! I can see some dark fruit being guzzled in celebration today! Very proud Blippi Dad here! Going to miss him big time when he goes to Bristol.....but I so want him to have the fun I didn't.....love you big time Logan James Phillips!@

13/08/2026

My shoulders are in agony though!

08/08/2026

I have grabbed this picture as a thumb nail......Write Sea would never agree to that statement!
I am no expert! I do not have the money to play with the real thing......
But when Gary Stevenson used his very expensive desk to record my drum kit.....the controls were so, so musical.....the stuff we use is not, and you have to battle good sound out of it!
When I encountered a Warm audio 412 I was blown away by the magic of the tone.....and this is not in the " magic section" of audio equipment.
But it did teach me I like the API sound they are based on..... I will never afford that! Capi is the best I can hope for.....and my trusty soldering iron...

But it does suggest to me I love transformers.....and neve too would be attractive to my earholes?

So....despite this clever bloke making this clever video, proving scarletts are as good as anything? I know what I've heard!

But here is the important thing!
A £5k microphone is not 50 times better than a £100 microphone!
The difference is in your own interpretation!
Which is why I am happy driving my Suzuki....but will constantly be chasing a better album.....and learning how to do it!

07/08/2026