Total Annihilation Studios

12/24/2021

Spent a few days with @strangeimperial recording 6 songs straight to tape. Nice way to end the year.

Spent a few days with @strangeimperial recording 6 songs straight to tape. Nice way to end the year.

11/14/2021

Got to spend the weekend tracking and mixing 7 songs with this fun group of fine people. It was great having an excited, enthusiastic band to work with. Heads up for the noise @crissxcrossedpk

Got to spend the weekend tracking and mixing 7 songs with this fun group of fine people. It was great having an excited, enthusiastic band to work with. Heads up for the noise @crissxcrossedpk

10/16/2021

Anthym, featuring a few folks some of you may have heard of..see previous post. @alainjohannes

Anthym, featuring a few folks some of you may have heard of..see previous post. @alainjohannes

09/05/2021

The happy family. Matching heads and cabinets. @jetcityamps JCA100H, @soldanocustomamplification Decatone, @ampeg SVT Classic and @gallienkrueger 800RB

The happy family. Matching heads and cabinets. @jetcityamps JCA100H, @soldanocustomamplification Decatone, @ampeg SVT Classic and @gallienkrueger 800RB

08/12/2021

When both mics sound great… use both! Recording vocals with @alferpacker69 using @ribbonmics N22 and Beesneez M49.

When both mics sound great… use both! Recording vocals with @alferpacker69 using @ribbonmics N22 and Beesneez M49.

08/09/2021

The @draliensmith Alien 8 on @ttgopp kick drum along with @valleyeyewear two Australian companies..gonna have to visit there soon tracking @fatsojetsonband today once again.

The @draliensmith Alien 8 on @ttgopp kick drum along with @valleyeyewear two Australian companies..gonna have to visit there soon tracking @fatsojetsonband today once again.

07/09/2021

Got to put the @draliensmith Alien8 dual capsule dynamic mic on bass today. Reminded me of a Beyer M380 on steroids! Great mic!!!

Got to put the @draliensmith Alien8 dual capsule dynamic mic on bass today. Reminded me of a Beyer M380 on steroids! Great mic!!!

06/25/2021

These guys came in to the studio excited and energetic today! @eljessesoriano and Pedro thanks for the great session.

These guys came in to the studio excited and energetic today! @eljessesoriano and Pedro thanks for the great session.

06/19/2021

Thanks @therhythmhowlers the last couple of days have been really fun. Nothing beats a headache free session. 23 songs tracked!!!

Thanks @therhythmhowlers the last couple of days have been really fun. Nothing beats a headache free session. 23 songs tracked!!!

06/18/2021

I love days like these. First session of the (almost) summer. A few more on the way. Thanks, @therhythmhowlers !!!

I love days like these. First session of the (almost) summer. A few more on the way. Thanks, @therhythmhowlers !!!

06/17/2021

Bands, artists, musicians, noisemakers, music lovers, I’ve been thinking about the position the pandemic has left many of us in. I know that many have struggled to remain hopeful, I know of the toll of not being able to play shows, see other bands, and most of all be around friends and likeminded people has taken on us. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to keep the studio open, thank God and thank LAUSD for hiring me as a full time teacher during this time..so I’m happy to still be here, but I want to let you know that I’m very aware some of you are not in the best financial and maybe even emotional place. I’m willing to be very flexible with finances over this summer. If getting a few songs recorded will help you get gigs, go on tour, put some music out, but you just don’t have the funds at the moment let’s see what we can do. Also, if you would like to donate to pay for a musician’s studio time please contact me. I’d like to start a fund to help our local musicians. Best to all of you. Looking forward to making music with you again soon.

Bands, artists, musicians, noisemakers, music lovers, I’ve been thinking about the position the pandemic has left many of us in. I know that many have struggled to remain hopeful, I know of the toll of not being able to play shows, see other bands, and most of all be around friends and likeminded people has taken on us. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to keep the studio open, thank God and thank LAUSD for hiring me as a full time teacher during this time..so I’m happy to still be here, but I want to let you know that I’m very aware some of you are not in the best financial and maybe even emotional place. I’m willing to be very flexible with finances over this summer. If getting a few songs recorded will help you get gigs, go on tour, put some music out, but you just don’t have the funds at the moment let’s see what we can do. Also, if you would like to donate to pay for a musician’s studio time please contact me. I’d like to start a fund to help our local musicians. Best to all of you. Looking forward to making music with you again soon.

04/12/2021

Please inquire about future bookings. Very much looking forward to working with you.

Please inquire about future bookings. Very much looking forward to working with you.

03/31/2021

on-air guest eddie rivas from east l.a., ca via skype - The Watt from Pedro Show

I was just on The Watt From Pedro Show! Take a listen! https://www.twfps.com/past-episodes/on-air-guest-eddie-rivas-from-east-l-a-ca-via-skype

03/08/2021

Technical post alert! This is Rudy’s home-made mixer that was used on many of the famous live recordings of the fifties and early sixties (including Sonny Rollins at the Village Vanguard). It had four inputs initially, and four extra ones were added later to allow for stereo operation. No panning. Microphones were connected to either the A or the B buss. No master fader, either (the input gain on the tape recorder was sufficient). Built inside an Ampex 600 suitcase. Now, anyone want to record live to two?

Technical post alert! This is Rudy’s home-made mixer that was used on many of the famous live recordings of the fifties and early sixties (including Sonny Rollins at the Village Vanguard). It had four inputs initially, and four extra ones were added later to allow for stereo operation. No panning. Microphones were connected to either the A or the B buss. No master fader, either (the input gain on the tape recorder was sufficient). Built inside an Ampex 600 suitcase. Now, anyone want to record live to two?

03/05/2021

Total Annihilation Records

No fees today on bandcamp, please support our label and buy done stuff!!!

Los Angeles based record label.

01/21/2021

A couple of Total Annihilation Studios exclusives! Thanks @rageone !!!

12/10/2020

If any of you out there would get a boost out of receiving a few Total Annihilation stickers please send me your address (USA only unless you’d like to pay international shipping...). I know how cool these little gestures can feel and right now we need these small bumps to support each other. Stay safe and hopeful.

11/28/2020

First session in quite a while with my friend @edule_ we caught upon material she recorded with me over 10 years ago as well as new music. Good things on the way. Im available for tracking, mixing, tape transfers, having your mixes hit tape and audio advice. In the last few months many of you are recording at home and have picked my brain about microphones, software, dealing with tricky room acoustics, techniques and technical issues. Keep creating and feel free to reach out. Stay safe

08/29/2020

Another repurposed addition to the studio...

07/24/2020

I’ve been reading about Burger Records, some of their associated artists, studios and engineers treatment of women and young girls. It disgusts me to hear of the culture of sexual predatory behavior and abuse.
I know how vulnerable artists are in the studio of all genders and sexual identity but women have historically had to endure a “boys club” culture in the studio where their thoughts, opinions, and creative decisions are ignored, undermined and dismissed, let alone have also had to endure sexual harassment and pressure by an industry that, much like the rest of the entertainment industry, uses a power structure to coerce, groom and pressure women and girls at the threat of jeopardizing their careers and goals.
Young fans have also been preyed upon by musicians and it’s simply been accepted as part of music culture.
I hope that as a musician and recording engineer I’ve done my part to create a safe, respectful, appropriate, and aware space for the many women and young girls that are musicians, band mates, and few fans I’ve met and worked with.
Especially at my studio I want women to know they are safe, respected, listened to, and most of all dictate what is done with their music.

07/16/2020

Had a great time recording this ep a while back with @tropamagica it includes covers by Nirvana, Dick Dale, Shocking Blue, and Sinatra. Fun stuff and as pure as it gets. We mixed it and the guys had me send it off to the pressing plant, no mastering so what you hear is exactly what came off the recording console.

07/12/2020

Timeline Photos

07/10/2020

Dear Friends and Clients, I hope you and your loved ones are all doing well. I know it's been a difficult time. I truly miss being at the studio working with you. I was hoping to open this month but the numbers in our area have shot up immensely. I have had a few family members and friends contend with this terrible disease. I cannot reopen until things are safer, whatever that looks like yet I don't know. I cannot put myself at risk and that of my family, let alone any of you. It would destroy me to know that I had something to do with you getting ill or worse. I am willing to work on projects on my own such as mixing, editing, transferring etc..So if you have anything you'd like me to take on please feel free to ask. Of course I can use the work financially but also mentally it'd be great to work on more music. The few projects I've worked on during this time really help me feel a sense of purpose and hope.
Be safe. I hope to be back in the studio with you soon. If it helps, make some music so we can get it on tape and share it with the world.
Best,
Eddie

05/30/2020

1958 @ East Los Angeles, California

03/23/2020

For those of you that have the interest we (Distorted Pony) put up the tracks for the song “Gutbug” on our page. Grab them and have fun with them, please share any remixes. @distorted.pony #distortedpony #stevealbini

03/04/2020

Abandoned artifacts from when @chicasrockerassela were here.

02/28/2020

Finally got the pedalboard setup down thanks to Pippi lending a hand..well paw. I guess I’m a @bossfx_us guy but I have to say @earthquakerdev #avalancherun is one of the greatest pedals ever and @jimdunlopusa makes a perfect power supply. @ East Los Angeles, California

01/27/2020

Spent a full day with @chicasrockerassela recording their theme song. They run a music camp for girls teaching them how to rock out! Awesome endeavor! I had a really fun time and was glad to contribute in a tiny way to what they’re doing. Chicas Rockeras!

01/15/2020

Studio friends/clients anyone who has worked with me at Total Annihilation please take this survey for me. You can remain anonymous so please be honest. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks https://s.surveyplanet.com/32WcId9u

01/15/2020

Booking up the next couple months. #analog #recordingstudio #audioengineer #music

01/13/2020

The Suedes came in to the studio on Saturday. They're a local rockabilly band that I caught at a bar in Downey a while back.
I went with a small setup for them since they wanted to retain some of the classic 50's era sound/techniques.
Here is the input list:
1. kick drum- Beyerdynamic M380-SCA A12 (API style)
2. snare - Altec 175-SCA A12 -MC77 (1176 style compressor)
3. overhead- AKG 451 -Sytek
4. room hat side -Ashman SOM50-Sytek
5. room ride side-Ashman SOM50- Sytek
6. guitar amp- AEA N22- SCA N72 (Neve style)
7. upright bass- AEA N22 -Sytek -Peavey optical tube comp
8. Vocal -Beeznees M49 (clone) set to fig 8 - API312- EL8 set to LA2A parameters

Once we got the tracking done the mixing was simply balancing the levels. There was no additional eq except for a tiny bump on the kick drum to give it just a little more attack. We added a slap back to the vocals using the Space Echo and that was it. We setup, recorded and mixed two songs in about 4 hours.

I'll be playing the tracks on my podcast "O, Lo Siento" soon on radio espacio.org.

01/04/2020

Wishing you all a great 2020! Start a band, make some noise, and come and record something!

12/14/2019

The story that lead to my involvement with this album is one that I’m very moved by. I began learning how to play guitar at 15...quite a while ago. I played in a band in high school, later in another in college and a few others over the years. Sometime in ‘92 I went to see Distorted Pony at Jabberjaw and they instantly became one of my favorite bands. They broke up not too long afterwards. I’d become friends with them and we’d run into each other at shows or make time to catch up. Fast forward to late 2009, they decided to reform and asked me to join in on guitar and occasional vocals. In 2010 we played a few shows not much else. Finally, in 2018 we had the opportunity to do a two week European tour and we managed to pull it off, thanks to the hard work of Manuel Veniani and our tour mates Cani Sciorri. It was a really fun tour and we all became good friends. At some point someone in Distorted Pony mentioned I was a recording engineer and had my own studio Total Annihilation and Cani asked if I’d be into recording their next record (they didn’t really ask, but rather simply stated, “Eddie, we are going to come to Los Angeles and you are going to record our album, OK?” They’d never heard anything I recorded but simply put trust and faith in me and about a year later there they were at LAX. We recorded the record in about four days and here is the end result. The title “Ten Tacos and One Burrito” came about when, when I took them to my local taco spot, Alessandro ordered exactly that...just for himself. When I think about all the awesome moments, and most especially, the great people I’ve met and have become a part of my life it blows me away. I’m proud of that 15 year old kid that was driven to learn how to play guitar and get over his self-consciousness and play in front of people and enjoy it, eventually decide to open a recording studio, join one of his favorite bands and have friends in far away places. It’s really, really a cool thing. There are people trusting me to create these artifacts of their existence of which I’m very honored and grateful to be a part of. Thanks all of you! @distorted.pony @canisciorriband #distortedpony #friendship

12/11/2019

It's been a while since I've posted on here. Life got a bit hectic for a while back there. Anyway, I thought I'd start to post notes on sessions on here as a way to get back into it and also as a reference and archive of musicians that have worked at the studio.
So, last night I finished working with a band called Magmamind. They came in recently and did all the tracking and we mixed last night. There were some unique elements to this session and I'll go over those with you.
First off, they wanted a really dry drum sound so we set up the kit in the Punishment Room, it's a small about 10x10' space with a lot of sound absorbing treatments as well as a low frequency absorbing membrane that runs along one of the walls. This was only the third time I've recorded drums in that room. The other occasions were when I record Dorian Wood's Rattle Rattle and we had Frank in there. Another time there was a high school rock band with multiple drummers playing different elements so we had a few in there.
The other aspect that was a bit different was when they tracked, the played to a click but they recorded the bass first, then drums on top of that and then two separate guitar tracks and finally the vocals. Usually, it's as many live instruments as possible tracking live and then doing a few fixes, if any and finally the vocals. So it was a different way of working for me. They were used to it so that was fine, they were happy with the results.
Mixing was pretty much balancing levels with a little eq and compression on the kick, snare, bass and boosting the treble a little on the guitars, nothing drastic.
The vocals took a bit of time to nail down the effects, we tried the Space Echo but it was a bit murky, so finally we went with the H-Delay plugin. I ran some parallel compression on the vocals and blended the raw and compressed signal (Purple Audio MC77) in there to get the vocals to sit but still maintain a bit of dynamics. There was a bit of flanging added to one of the guitars and some other little production tricks that you can figure out if you listen to the track once it's released.
It was an enjoyable mix in that, especially when it comes to effects, I had to figure out what combination of effects would get us the end result they wanted.
This was one of those sessions where the band wanted to follow a method that would have been distinctly different to what I normally do but I was fine with it because at this point I feel pretty confident in my skills that I can execute any request made of me. There are some insane things that I've seen done in protools and I've kept away from going down that pit and being a protools jockey, it's just not whatt I am interested in doing. Don't get me wrong I'll do pretty much what the band requests but I won't sit and edit every single beat of a song so that it sits in the "grid" perfectly and takes away every element that makes music human from the song and sucks away any sense of a person expressing themselves and having their own identity and style in a band. If that's what you need, then why are they in the band....have someone else play it the way you want or better yet, program the drums so that you don't murder someone that has put in the time to learn the songs, play the shows, haul their set around, and committed to being in the band. Or go to a different engineer or producer that will do that before you even ask anyway...
Well, I'll try to post when the song comes out. My buddy Manny said it reminds him a bit of Cream...