Walking into the recording studio, there are two rows of different models of guitars, two bookshelves of different models of drum surfaces, and all kinds of musical instruments, but they still can't steal the eye, and the behemoth in front of them firmly catches the eye.

The three-meter-wide audio console, with hundreds of buttons on it, would make people with dense phobia faint, and the wood-colored oak was tightly edged, with a beautiful glow under the creamy yellow light, and two ashtrays full of cigarette butts were randomly placed on it, as well as microphone sponges, so that you could clearly feel the traces of what had just been worked. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

That's the famous Neve-8028!

The reason why the City of Sound has such a strong attraction has attracted countless great singers to come here to record, especially rock bands. The reason for this Neve-8028 recording console is also their outstanding recording drum beat technology.

At the moment of the new century, with the rapid development of digital technology, an amateur singer standing in front of the recording microphone, even if the five tones are incomplete, the recording engineer can also use computer technology to repair it frame by frame, and the recorded product will not have any problems, which also makes the proportion of idol singers rise sharply, as long as the appearance is good enough, the tone, pitch, and timbre are all not a problem, and the recording studio can turn decay into magic.

On the contrary, those singers who lack characteristics in appearance, but have exceptionally good singing skills, do not get a chance to get ahead. This is also an important reason why the "Voice of America" was so popular later.

But in the era of traditional record production, the recording studio did not have such technology, and could only rely on a huge recording console, complete the recording over and over again, and then look for every flaw in the sound, the singer learned the lesson and experience, and re-entered the recording, over and over again, tirelessly. The power of Neve-8028 lies in this, presenting the most essential, original and delicate sound effects, interpreting the singer's mystery to the extreme, which is also the greatest charm of the city of sound.

In the modern digital age, it may only take an hour or even half an hour for a singer to record a song, leaving the rest to the computer, but in the traditional era, a song needs to be repeated and repeated, and it may not take a week to complete a three-minute song.

Lan Li's stunned and surprised expression was barely concealed, and the middle-aged man who came over caught it at once, and turned his head to point at the audio console, "This is really a beauty, isn't it?"

Lan Li nodded vigorously, "Of course, I want to go out on a date with her now, do you think I have a chance?"

The middle-aged man was amused, "No problem, then let me see how the spark between you is." He turned around and politely introduced himself, "Herbert-Jones, you're Lan Li, so, are you ready to record a little exciting?"

Lan Li rubbed his palms, "Can't wait." But then there was a pause, "But can I ask for a glass of hot milk before I record it?"

"Haha, you sound like Kurt Cobain, except he wants alcohol. Herbert laughed heartily, "Young man, this is not Century City, and if you want anything, you have to find it yourself, even if it's a cigarette butt." ”

Andy walked up and asked, "Lan Li, are you okay?"

Lan Li nodded, "I just need a glass of hot milk." "Milk can more or less relieve the tumbling of the stomach, which is still helpful for decanting.

Andy took a deep breath and looked left and right, "God, you really need to hire an assistant." Then Andy saw Lan Li's surprised expression, as if this was a fantasy, and Andy immediately realized that he was a little too advanced, and shook his head, "I'll go buy hot milk, and you can start working first." With that, Andy strode out of the studio.

"Cat version of Cobain, you should know that the City of Sound can only record physical singles, not digital sound sources, right?" Herbert sat down in front of the audio console, skillfully pulled out a cigarette from the cigarette case, and lit it directly, "Just now Andy said that you are going to record two singles, and I was about to tell him about it, but I was interrupted." ”

Cat version of Cobain......

Lan Li said that he was powerless to complain, but now the focus is not here, "I know now." Looking at the recording equipment in front of him, Lan Li felt not surprised.

Lan Li has very limited knowledge of the history of music development in the previous life, but he remembers that the City of Sound gradually declined, and he doesn't know what year it was, and finally closed down completely.

Now it seems that the reason for this could not be more obvious - the inability to record digital audio sources, and that is the root cause.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, album sales in the U.S. market have been declining, and by around 2013, single sales have gradually begun to overtake, and the focus of artists' development has gradually shifted from albums to singles. Digital sources play an irreplaceable role in this. Therefore, a recording studio that cannot record digital audio sources will inevitably be obsolete by the times.

"So you're like Christopher Nolan?" said Lan Li half-jokingly, Christopher Nolan has always insisted on the most traditional and original way of making films, which has been criticized by many in Hollywood, but Christopher has always been able to shoot wonderful works, and naturally does not care about these controversies.

Herbert looked puzzled, "What?"

Apparently he didn't understand Lan Li's joke, Lan Li rubbed his nose and shook his head with a chuckle, "It's okay. I mean, physical singles are no problem, but now that computer technology is so advanced, CDs can be converted into digital sounds, and it couldn't be easier. ”

It's just a nuisance. If everyone makes an album like this, recording a physical version and then transcribing it into a digital version, it will not only be troublesome, but the cost will skyrocket, and I guess the record company will riot. Fortunately, Lan Li only recorded two singles, so it wasn't that troublesome.

"Good. Herbert took a hard puff of his cigarette, "I haven't heard of the mastering, can you play it live now?"

"I can play the original song once. Lan Li walked to the guitar rack and picked up the guitar unhurriedly, each guitar will have a subtle difference in tone, and everyone has their own habits and preferences, which are carefully selected by real professionals.

Herbert was not in a hurry, he quietly watched Lan Li audition, and after briefly trying four guitars, Lan Li picked an acoustic guitar and turned around, "Shall I go directly into the recording studio?"

It can be seen that Lan Li is an insider, and he is very clear about his style, preferences and habits, but he is also a new studio player, and there are fewer and fewer such independent musicians now, just like the current situation in the city of sound. "yes, you can just go straight into the studio. I'll take care of the rest. ”

Lan Li pushed open the glass door next to him, and then the whole person was bathed in the warm yellow light, the spacious space was almost half the size of a basketball court, messy connecting lines were piled all over the floor, and there were even some messy musical scores, a microphone stand was placed in the center, and a large pile of musical scores were stacked on the music stand next to it......

"The barstool is next to it, you can move it over. Herbert's voice came from the speaker, "Those scores are all David's, you just throw them aside, their own new songs, they remember." ”

Lan Li glanced at the stack of sheet music and asked in a loud voice, "This is the Spitfire's new album?"

But Herbert didn't respond, he pointed to his ear, and then pointed to the microphone next to the music stand, Lan Li reacted, and asked the question again into the microphone, Herbert heard clearly, "Yes, it's been more than a month of recording, and only three songs have been completed, and the progress is slow." After complaining, Herbert then said, "You can get ready and get started." ”

Lan Li moved his chair to the microphone, adjusted the height, and then sat down in the chair and began to tune the strings, and it was ready in a short time, he looked left and right, there was a headset hanging on the music stand, pointed and gestured to Herbert, "Do I need to wear it?" Herbert shook his head, which made Lan Li light his voice - in the past, they had to wear a headset in the studio when watching movies, and he thought it was a must, but now it seems that he is obviously an absolute rookie.

Adjusting his sitting position, and then his fingertips began to sketch the strings, he chose "Cleopatra", the light melody seems a little thin without any accompaniment, but the graceful melody wafts throughout the studio, and every note seems to be injected with life, making people really feel its presence.

After the song was finished, Lan Li did not pause, and then played "Ophelia" again on the guitar. Compared with the keyboard version, the guitar version is too bright, lacking the loneliness and coldness hidden in the keyboard sound, and lacking the accompaniment of the drum beat, and the melody is also a bit monotonous and not rich enough.

Still, Lan Li enjoyed it, recalling the purity of last night's street performance. Lan Li felt that this was a new discovery, he had never performed on the street before, and that simple happiness and simple touching were indeed a kind of enjoyment.

After the two pieces were played, Herbert didn't speak immediately, but thought about it seriously, "The first one...... Wouldn't it be more appropriate to use an electric guitar, the tone is a little less clear, but more rich, and then with some drum beats, the whole emotional level will become richer. ”

"I also thought about whether the chorus could be replaced with an electronic keyboard, and the rhythm could be slowed down and the monotony of the guitar could be replaced by the richness of the keyboard, and it would be nice if the guitar could be accompanied by a little bit of bass tone and control the rhythm. Or do you think it's enough to use a bass guitar?"

Both songs were originally original versions and had not been arranged, but it doesn't mean that Lan Li hadn't considered the arrangement. Now that you're in the studio, it's time to put the ideas in your head into action.