You’ve read the descriptions and you’ve heard the tracks, but how do I do it?
Skills
First of all, I have the book: The Beatles: The Complete Scores. I also can play a number of instruments and studied both performance and recording in college. This makes it all possible.
Gear
Computer and recording:
Everything is recorded on my 2006 MacBook (black), which is outfitted with a 2.1ghz processor and 2 gigs of RAM. It also runs Intel Dual Core.
The actual recording and sequencing is done via a 2007 copy of Ableton Live! v6.0 which I learned about at a Certainly, Sir show in Cambridge many years ago. This program allows me to do amazing things from recording on various mediums to importing samples to mixing and mastering (on a basic level).
For playing, I’m using an M-Audio 49 Key MIDI Keyboard that I got off of Craigslist for cheap. This covers ensemble parts, piano, and sometimes bass and drums. All of the sounds are generated by Ableton’s impressive array of Instrument patches, samples and effects. I use a Yamaha Sustain Pedal as my sustain pedal for the keyboard.
The electric guitar, bass and electronic drums are run through a Live6 Toneport UX2. This runs “GearBox” which creates the various old British amps and guitar sounds that I need. This allows me to be rather versatile without having to have a few Rickenbackers, some Gibsons, and a Gretsch or two running through myriad amps (I have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe) I bypass it to run the drums.
Whenever I need a microphone I use the super awesome stereo/surround sound mic: Zoom H2 Digital Recorder. I can’t say enough about how amazing this thing is. Just listen to the fidelity I can get out of it. If you can only have one mic, it’s a great one. I run it directly into my computer.
I only use the AKG k240 Headphones, they’re the industry standard and they rock.
Instruments
For electric guitar parts I play my beautiful 2002 Gibson Les Paul DC (double cutaway). It has orange-ish maple top and was Gibson’s response to the PRS’ success. I run it through the Toneport.
For acoustic guitar I use a black 2000 Ibanez acoustic/electric (the link is a new updated version, very close but not exactly the same). I play it into my microphone rather than wire it through. Because the mic is stereo I sometimes record me and the guitar at the same time (e.g. Blackbird).
For classical guitar (e.g. And I Love Her) I use a Cordoba Solista which is, by far, the finest instrument in my collection.
For bass I use either my midi input and keyboard (under the “P-Bass Finger” setting with some added reverb) or I use my friend Danny’s Carver (not sure which model?). I use this for more challenging parts, more rocking parts (Back in the USSR), or bass sections that rely on slides (e.g. Get Back). I run the Carver through the TonePort.
For drums I either use the “Impulse > Backbeat” setting on Ableton with altered cymbals with my MIDI input or I use Danny’s Yamaha DTXpress V2 Electronic Drums with the included “Drum Brain” computer controlling the tones, run through a bypassed TonePort.
For the assorted other instruments I use whatever I can get my hands on. I also call in my friends when I need some help (Pat on Ukulele, Mike on violin, Danny on drums, etc…)
If you have any questions, feel free to post them below and I’ll do my best to answer them.
