Almanac
Answer to Yourself
A Pragmatic Practitioner's Inquiry Into Professional Recommendations & Creative Considerations Within Audio Production.
This inquiry into the field of audio production has oriented around the identification, implementation and development of professional standards of practice. In aiming to bring into focus and operate in association with these recommendations & considerations in production undertakings. Industry accredited sources, statements from professional associates, and primarily developed standards have been reviewed and implemented into a variety of dynamic production circumstances.
Presenting Exploration Into The Ocean of Motion.
An associative flux of visual & audible expression.
In bringing together these animated visual elements in accompaniment with the musical tracks, polymorphous & symbolic interpretations may be made across it’s circular composition - inspired by and dedicated to the artist’s whose works constitute the ephemera, namely Suzan Pitt (1979), Keiichi Tanaami (1975), Alex Toth (1972), the following pages are also committed.
The Ocean of Motion - Creative Artefact
Continuing on from the PDS Portfolio Component - Revisiting The Ocean of Motion LP Post-Production - which saw through the audio post-production & event showcasing of this LP soundtrack. Development has moved into more of a creatively considered artefact piece over the usual professionally oriented production approach. This counter-stance, providing a contextual alternative into the discourse between associated recommendations & considerations - has provided insight into how these two frames of references may be conjuncted.
Googie & The Imaginary Band - Creative Production
In undertaking this project - inquiry has explored the production paradigms given by Geoffrey Hull, in “Malcolm Chisholm: An Evaluation of Traditional Audio Engineering” by Linden P. S. (2013). Hull details the distinction across eras of audio production with the separation between each being technologically defined by the advent and subsequent departure of tape as a recording medium. Set out as : pre-industrial (1897-1925), industrial (1925-1985), post-industrial (>1985). These each contain differing traditional & modern methods to studio productions, notably : single microphone / input source record productions (pre-industrial), live to tape record production (industrial), and in-the-box record production (post-industrial).
NZanZu - B-Sides & Radio Edits - Studio Post-Production
Entering into this mastering production, I received the brief of mastering 10 tracks + 1 B-side of an alternative electro acoustic LP. Receiving reference for levels consisting of - “Search Party” & “Royal Blue Walls“ by Jane Remover, and “The Last High” by The Dandy Warhols.
The Kites “Just Say When” - Studio Production
Being a developmental continuation from the PDS project The Basement Tapes, Jacaranda Records (2024) - I have carried on working with the merseybeat band “The Kites” who I’d brought onto that. In aiming to develop their repertoire with a debut single release, we arranged to work together again in a studio production, for which I planned and produced their debut record as detailed here. Spanning the full scope of production, I was the sole recording / mixing / mastering engineer - and supported them in the afterwork effort of the release stage. This has been a milestone for myself, as it is the production which I would most qualify as a professional undertaking - being that I was hired to work for this client, fully engineering & producing their track.
Portfolio Update Presentation - Research Inquiry
Speaker transcript from presentation seminar, (Sharp, 2024) :
“This is my portfolio update presentation for the major project practical work that I have been doing this term. These have followed production paradigms across pre-industrial, industrial, and post-industrial approaches, and have been within either professional and commercial circumstances, or creative circumstances, or a mix of both. The purpose is that they supplement the research to develop and deepen my own understanding of the application of that research in practical circumstances.”
Production Project Scopes & Planning - Research Inquiry
Embarking on this research inquiry - into the professional standards required of the role of engineer & producer for working in tandem with artist service record labels - it is reflectively apparent that my interpersonal view on this endeavour has altered since it’s initial proposal.
Precursory Documentation Overviews
Herein are summary excerpts from each agile documentary account, denoted “Entry” [E], from the precursory Major Project Proposal (Sharp, 2024) & Professional Development Scheme (Sharp, 2024) components to this research project - from Jan 2024 to Aug 2024 - for the purpose of full contextualisation of production practice in reference.
A Pragmatic Practitioner’s Inquiry Into The Practical Landscape of Audio Production
The aim for this module is to encompass learning around project activities associated with the main research question : What are the professional standards required of engineers & producers in a practical audio production setting?
For this purpose, I will be doing preliminary inquiry into professional standards that are required of audio engineers working in tandem to an independent record label. My research project will be to undertake practical audio production & engineering work, within the vocational circumstances of working with a record label. Being pragmatic in approach, findings will be drawn from primary accounts of practical experience.
Mastering Post-Production For LP
Entering into this mastering production, I received the brief of mastering 10 tracks + 1 B-side of an alternative electro acoustic LP. Receiving reference for levels consisting of - “Search Party” & “Royal Blue Walls“ by Jane Remover, and “The Last High” by The Dandy Warhols.
Professional Development Scheme Midway Reflection
Going into week 5, I am at the stage in my research where I have begun inquiry into a large directory of resources on occupational standards. Through this directory I have collected qualitative data, detailing relevant subject topics and practical areas of work relevant to the research topics regarding audio engineering, music production, and record label operations.
Conference Follow Up - Label Business Plan
Following the conference event, it has been identified from a group consensus that a number of business aspects need to be developed, organised and established for professional operation going forward from launching as an independent music publishing label.
Label Personnel Conference Meeting
As a part of the label’s organisational activities, a conference meeting had been arranged including current department heads and personnel. Taking place on May 20th between 12pm-2pm, the meetings format consisted of a plan to address :
Release Project Event - 23rd May Release Gig
For the release project coordinated between the band [1] and record label detailed in Entry 1, a launch event to promote the second release had been planned and run. Requiring event management responsibilities, liaison with the headline and support acts - as well as the venue team - was undertaken by the Department Heads label team.
Production Project Ideations
For a production project I aim to produce a number of tracks for an LP working with Googie and his Imaginary Band, as a part of a collective of artists - Sociodelic. In this role I will undertake the responsibilities of production including recording & mix engineering, as well the responsibilities of a producer and project management. This project has come around following the introduction to our collective of an artist and their album concept / demo material, working under their moniker Googie and his Imaginary Band.
LP Post-Production Rework for Release Project
A personal production project which has been recently initiated consists of back catalogue material originally intended as two separate releases - an EP and an LP - being reworked into one conceptually continuous LP delivered for surround sound playback intended for event showcasing.
Basement Tapes Audio & Video Recording Production Project
As a part of The Campus Label’s output, the Jacaranda’s basement tapes is a recurring production undertaken by a team of audio / film personnel from SAE Liverpool’s student base. Being an AV production, there were numerous roles to fill across production crews including detailed above. More specifically, the audio crew consisted of stage hands assisting in setup followed by recording operator roles during filming.
Vocal Artist Production Project
Following a short brief of working with a client to record vocals over backing tracks for a performance showreel - a studio recording session was arranged through liaison with the studio owner and client. In preparation for this recording session, the recording setup was familiarised along with the choice of backing tracks for contextual consideration when recording.
Organisation of Artist Label Onboarding & Release Project
From the inception of working within an artist’s service record label context, there is the expectation that artist onboarding / client acquisition is undertaken through AnR roles. As given in NOS CCSMB15 (2015) - This is about being able to spot artists with commercial potential and being able to develop that potential. Requiring a good knowledge and understanding of genre distinctions, crucial trend spotting of what is popular & well received by audiences, and the ability or resources to develop their repertoire.