Author: Astrakan Project

DIY Album

Recording & mixing guitar : My own recipe

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Even if there might be a perfect way to record electro-acoustic guitar and electric guitar, I assume mine is not perfect. Below I explain the way I recorded and mixed the acoustic and electric guitar on the album, with extremely cheap gear and stuff.

What I used for the recording itself :

  • USB soundcard (E-MU tracker pre, probably the cheapest one ever) with two Jack/XLR input and a stereo output for direct monitoring (i.e. without latency).
  • Headphones
  • Korg ToneWorks Pandora Box (a very cheap multi-effect device that I got from my guitar teacher Yann-Guirec Le Bars almost for free, some years ago)
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The USB soundcard, the headphones and the Pandora Box
  • Of course a Laptop (Mine is 2GHz AMD Athlon Dual Core, 4GB RAM, Windows 7-32bits)
  • Microphone : Behringer B-1 (Also used for percussions and vocal, actually for all the instruments of the album !)
  • One microphone stand.
DSC_0286
The microphone listed above.
  • 2 Jack cables, one XLR cable
  • And the music recording software, the wonderful Cubase SX3 !!

Of course the microphone has to be put in a suitable way next to where the right hand will touch the strings… Listening carefully with isolated headphones can help to find the best setting.

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Microphone setting for acoustic recording

Okay, now let’s talk about the recording itself, for acoustic guitar first. I record two mono tracks, one with the microphone and one from the Pandora Box.

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Two guitar tracks

The upper track is the one from the microphone, the lower is that from the Pandora Box. See for each track the routing I used (Microphone on right-in, Jack on left-in).

Then, each track will be doubled. Jack track 1 will be sent to the right output, and its copy to the left output. Then Microphone track 1 will be sent to the left and its copy to the right. The levels of the two copies have to be reduced in order to separate them in the stereo output. I also add a time delay of say 15-20ms to those two tracks to enhance the stereo effect.

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Then both tracks get doubled, a time delay of 15ms is added to the two copies.
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The mixer shows the routing and levels used for each track…

And of course, basic effects such as compression should be added to each track…

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“Multiband compressor” effect.

Reverb, delay, flanger etc… are also possible, only your ears can tell you what is missing, in case something is actually missing !

And what about electric guitar ? Let me show mine :

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My electric guitar ??

Yes, I know, this is not really what we can call an electric guitar, I have a nice Kort electric guitar but I left it in Brittany, we have to reduce the amount of luggage when travelling from Brittany to Istanbul ! But here is the Pandora Box, EXTREMELY helpful ! So, Pandora has a stereo output, I use a special cable to split it in two mono outputs that will be connected to the soundcard as follows :

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The way Pandora is connected to the soundcard, see the two thin cables on the left.

Then, I only use two tracks, one for each mono output. From Cubase, one is sent to the left output, the other to the right. Some examples of what it sounds like here or here !

I used exactly the same kind of procedures for electric baglama and electric ‘ud. For acoustic ‘ud I only used the microphone and two tracks.

Well, I’m quite satisfied of the result so far, even if this surely has to be improved ! Would you have any useful advice, please let me know, all suggestions are welcome 🙂 !
§ Yann

Buy Astrakan Project debut album

DIY Album

I pealed the potatoes : recording@home advantages

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A recurring question is “Should we record at home or in a studio ?”. Both have obvious advantages, I won’t try to say that you shouldn’t go to a studio, but I’ll try to highlight the advantages of home recording…

Okay, let’s assume your songs are ready, and that time has come to record them for your next CD :

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The raw songs

When you start recording, you may realise you need some more practice in order to make the songs “cleaner”… If you’re already in the studio, it simply means this is too late, because you have paid to be there.

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The songs are ready !

Now, if you record yourself, you can choose whether you want to record instruments in this order :

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Instruments order, first proposal.

or this one :

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Instruments order,  second proposal.

The only way to make sure the order will be yours is to do it yourself ! Or if you don’t know, at least you’ll have enough time to try different possibilities. Don’t forget also that in a studio, one more person at least (the sound engineer with his own tastes, preferences, experience) will probably get involved into your project. This can be your own choice since he can be VERY helpful to you and make you highly benefit from his own experience and technical knowledge. This is something you have to take into account very seriously before taking your decision.

And what about the tools / softwares / hardwares you will be using ? Those of the studio are most probably far better than yours !

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Tools and hardwares, can you guess which one belongs the studio ?

The good point is that you will make all your best to get the best from your own tools (the yellow one) ! Also, it depends on what you need to record. A guitar or a voice can be recorded at home very easily. If you plan to record black metal drums with double pedal, I would strongly advise you to go to a metal experienced studio, definitely !

You need also time for recording, and the more time you spend in the studio, the more you pay, unless a powerful label is doing it for you 🙂 . And you NEED time to try different things, sounds, effects, mix etc… When time gets shortened, in most cases the final result will not sound as good as expected…

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Available time for the recording is extremely relevant !

At the end, with home recording you may end up with this :

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Your home made recording is over !

But by going to the studio you may end up with that (which is also good by the way but maybe not exactly what you had in mind) :

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The studio recording.

And the same advices should apply for the mastering !

DSC_0267
Did you make your mastering yourself ?

§ Yann

Musicians' Diary

What our music could have been like. If…

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If we were born Turkish or from some Balkan village, being musicians could have been like that:

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Traditionally, at least if we refer to the last century, musicians had a rôle to play within Breton society. They were the ones present at weddings, for baptism ceremonies, to celebrate harvests, big fairs, departures to the army any major social events, even for elections.

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Breton wedding around Vannes Area in 1906
Image source >here<

Nowadays, it is more than unusual for people to hire traditional musicians for a wedding. There are meaningful exceptions. But I haven’t heard of any musicians making a living out of wedding playings like it can be in Turkey, or like it used to be in Brittany too. Unless they are DJ’s, or maybe a retro-cover-band?

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Breton wedding music
Image source >here<

Although we sing the same songs and tunes, as well as dances as singers used to about 60 years ago, we can’t really say we make the same music. We play for concerts, we play for festivals, we play for videos, we play for recordings. But in most of cases, even in Brittany, we play for people that don’t understand our language.

But… it’s only up to us to find & invent our own Tradition.

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Until the next generation will take over.

§ Simone

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Astrakan world music album on band camp

Album Songs and Lyrics

kreñv ‘veld ar garantez

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[lyrics, translation & facts for the 3rd song from our album >here<]

Kreñv ‘veld ar garantez means “as strong as love can be“, is a tragic-romantic song (a young man choosing to let himself dye so that he can be with his beloved one again) that we both treasure, for many reasons.

krenv veld ar garantez2 iwan gamus madame bertrandThe song itself is best know as Iwan Gamus, this version being recorded in 1959, and is part of wonderful and incredible Marie-Josèphe Bertrand‘s repertoire. When recorded, she was over 70 (she died in 1970), and still, she had a powerful and very expressive voice. She’s quite well-known among Breton singers, and a CD from her has even been recently released:

Marie-Josèphe Bertrand chanteuse du Centre-Bretagne

When Yann started to work on this song, there was also a big part of magic and mystery. Indeed he didn’t intend to “work” on this song, he got the idea of the all musical part, and when almost all the structure was done, sounds, rhythms, and the little saz notes. Then he remembered about this song, played it together with his composition… and that was it!!! You can hear her voice at 4’34.

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Instruments used : Turkish saz & programming

Keñv ‘veld ar garantez

Iwan Gamus a Blouvino
Eo ‘r glac’haretañ mab ‘zo er vro
Eo ‘r glac’haretañ mab ‘zo er vro

A-greiz kano ha c’hwitellad
Ac’h ae da gas e saout d’ar prad
Ac’h ae da gas e saout ya d’ar- prad

A greiz kano…
E kreiz c’hwitellad ha kano
Komañses e fri diwedo

Ajen a reas war ur men gwenn
O c’hortoz e c’hoar vari da dremen
O c’hortoz e c’hoar vari da dremen

****

Ma c’hoer Vari din a laret
Peseurt neventiz a poe klevet
Peseurt neventiz a peus klevet

Neventiz awalc’h am eus klevet
‘vid lakaad ho kalon baour glac’haret
Ho muiañ karet a zo nouet

Gant an hent braz, pan avañse
Gweloud a rae an dud, ar veleien,
ar veleien gwisket en gwenn
Da gas e dous sa Sant Jelven
Da gas e dous sa Sant Jelven

Iwan Gamus ya pa gleva
Sa Sant Jelven moned a ra
Sa Sant Jelven moned a ra

****

En Sant Jelven pa ‘n arruvas
War gornig he bez a daoulina
Razig e galon a ouela

Ma c’hoer Vari mar ma c’haret
Gwele ma c’habinet a riet
Gwele ma c’habinet a riet

Zavet ma breur dag alese
Merc’hed awalc’h a gavit c’hwi

Stang eo merc’hed en Plouvino
‘veld ar sablenn war an heñchoù
c’hwi ‘zo yaouank hag a gavo

****

Ma n’eo ket graet, o, graet anezhañ aes
Kar birviken ne deuin er-maez
Nemed ur wech da liano
Hag ur wech all da intero

Vimp laket en ur beziad
Pa n’omp pas bet n’ur gweliad
Pa nonpas bet n’ur gweliad

Vimp eurujet gant Doue
Pa n’omp pas bet gant ar c’hure,
Pa n’omp pas bet gant ar c’hure

Personal translation, may be incorrect or incomplete regarding English or the Poetic effect.

As strong as love can be

Iwan Gamus from Plouvino
Is the more afflicted boy in the country

Singing and whistling
He was leading the cows to the fields

He was singing and whistling
When he started to nosebleed (*)

He set on a white stone
And waiting for his sister Mary to come over

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“Mary my sister will you tell me
What kind of news have you heard

– I heard some
That will sadden your heart
Your beloved one just passed away”

Walking forward on the main road,
He saw the crowd and the priests
The priests dressed in white
To carry his beloved to Sant Jelven

When Iwan Gamus heard that
He headed to Sant Jelven

****

When he arrived at Sant Jelven
He knelt down on the grave’s corner
And cried all his heart out

“Mary my sister if you love me,
You’ll prepare my bed in my room (**)

Stand up my brother,
You’ll find other girls

They are as many girls in Plouvino
As there is sand on the tracks
You’re young and you’ll find

****

If my bed is not ready, get it ready
Since I’ll never get out again
Only once to lie on the shroud
And once more to be buried

We’ll lie down in the same grave
Since we haven’t in the same bed

We’ll be united be God
Since we haven’t been by a priest

(*) this is how he “knows” something happened, he interpret it as a sign (bad in that case).
(**) according to me it as not really a “bedroom”, but it has been translated so into French, and so far I couldn’t find any proper explanation.

Hope you enjoyed! § Simone

Album Songs and Lyrics

5 Breton words you’ll find in our songs

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5 breton words from our songs

And you’ll find them more than once…

breton word kanan to sing

Kanañ [‘kã:nã] is “to sing”, you can find it in the first sentence of >1932<, and other words from the same roots like in >barzh an ifern<, kanaouenn, song, used in plural, kanaouennoù. This is also where the “kan” from Astrakan comes from, meaning singing. More about it in the >FAQ< section.

Breton words from songs Berjelenn

Berjelenn : is a Shepherdess (or also maybe a cow-girl 🙂 ) you’ll find this word in many Breton songs, and sometimes even in their titles. She’s taking care of sheep but also of cows. The word however never appears in Breton dictionaries, it might be because it’s from French origins, but anyway, this is the word I most commonly use, and songs too! You can find a nice love story between a Shepherdess and a Prince in this video from >7 Hills< with all the lyrics hand-written. On stage we also play another song called Berjelennig lazhed, or the murdered little shepherdess.

Breton word yaouank youngYaouank [‘jɔwãŋk] : young, it is found very often in typical sentences like “young and old people, listen to my song”, but also in in >3 Martolod an Orient<, in >1932<, in >barzh an ifern<, in this last song it’s the word “yaouankiz” that is used, for youth. It’s a very common word in Breton, and even people that don’t know Breton know it, maybe also because of a very well known fest-noz band from the 90’s called Ar Re Yaouank (the young ones)

Breton word Marv death

Marv [marw] : death, we have a certain addiction to sad songs, and they are also quite common in Breton culture, so, this word is also to be found a lot… In >Pemp Bolot<, a few times for example. On stage we also play a very famous song called “Marv eo ma Mestrez“, my beloved is dead.

breton word kalon heart

Kalon [‘ka:lɔ̃n] : a beautiful word meaning heart, used in most of songs, like our >Kreñv ‘veld ar garantez<, >Pemp Bolot<, >1932< and also >O Soñjal<, in this last song, the exact word used is “kalonad“, which basically is “the content of your heart”, in that case fear and sadness.

§ Simone

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Musicians' Diary

Portuguese interview + French review…

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A short review from our album in the Belgian magazine Le Canard Folk (for printed May edition… It’s rather positive ! Says something like:

“warmth, fullness, richness, energy, […] fusion seems perfectly natural after the first surprising impression”

Canard folk mai 2013 album du mois

While in Portugal, I made this interview for the radio show Terra Pura, Portuguese readers may listen to it >here<, others can check out I really do speak Portuguese!

Hopeful, this nice impressions will lead us to some live shows?

§ Simone

 

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Musicians' Diary

Beltain Fire

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Tonight and tomorrow, it’s Celtic festival Beltain (or Beltan, Beltane, “tan” in Breton meaning “Fire”), on the years wheel, it’s on the opposite of Samhain, and together they are the major celebrations where the borders between worlds are thinner, so thin that it gets easy to travel from one world to another.

It’s a great period to ask about your future too, and we’ll do some Tarot reading to know if we’ll manage to get some tour dates, some (nice) reviews or even some festivals appearances? 🙂

We’re taking advantage of all the strong energies surrounding these days to offer you a 50% discount on our digital album edition, valid for 50 hours only, meaning, running until may the 2nd, 2 pm (GMT+2)

How? One click on this link : http://astrakanproject.bandcamp.com/album/astrakan-project-digital-edition and use code “beltain” to get your discount.

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Beltain Fire discount campaign on astrakan download

Musicians' Diary

Yes, this is the band… yes, the 2 of us…

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A couple of days ago, I was digging into “old” paper work from the band, and I found this:

semaine de la francophonie istanbul saint joseph   .

This is the very first program where I and Yann appeared only the 2 of us, and it was in March 2011. When we initiated the project in June 2009 in Istanbul, we recorded a few tunes together, with the purpose of then finding extra musicians to play with in Istanbul. Then from January 2010 on, we started to rehearse and make little shows around Istanbul with one or two percussionists, Ali Dojran (on the right) and Volga Tunca.

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astrakan project live with percussions
2011 – Seyr-î Mesel, Beygolu, Istanbul

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We loved the music we were making together, but none of us being full time musician, which means, all of us having jobs, it was indeed not so easy to organise. We accepted this particular 1st show without knowing none of our percussionists would be available. Then, when we realised it, we really wondered what to do… “how can we play only the two of us? Shall we not cancel?”… but not for too long, we started to practice again the two of us, adapting some songs, making changes so that they’d keep some interest still, working on new ones.

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world music band  .

Our little son was born shortly after, and by the time we started recording, there were two options: either record together at home, either try to record with percussions, which would have meant extra rehearsals, extra-transportation in the city, extra-recording time, all these extras to be translated into time AND money… and we feared that with the limited free time we had it would have taken years. Obviously we chose the first one! But it is rather interesting for us to notice how our music evolved just because we constantly adapted to the conditions we had.

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if the door is closed try the next one.

We still think it could be nice to record a part of our repertoire with loads of different and powerful percussions, it’s a project we still have in mind, but we prefer to wait for the right time and conditions to make it happen.

§ Simone

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DIY Album

Why don’t you buy our nice-wonderful-beautiful album ?

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We are musicians, artists, and as any artist, totally passionate about we are doing, and sometimes… well, we forget about reality, we forgot we were in 2013…

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Astrakan project world music album on bandcamp

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Long before we released our album last September, we had long talks before deciding to release it digitally or physically. Mainly for promotional reasons, including in short words “you don’t exist if you don’t have an album”, we went to the classical album. Then we did a lot of work on the cover, we also bought them all from the manufacturer, and still haven’t sold enough of pieces to get our return on investment. All that said, we somehow got very narrow-minded about the way we wanted people to access our music. We got so attached to our “album” that, kind of, we didn’t want people to get our music in any other way that on the physical CD… Sounds *silly* put that way… but it really was that way…

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Download astrakan project world music digital album on bandcamp

So, yes, we know, they are loads of very good reasons to get only digital music, including lack of space, environmental concerns, … So…

it’s now available for download, for 6€

We added single covers so that they’ll display nicely when you play them on your favourite smart phone. And we’ll lunch a very special offer of 50% on Tuesday the 30th, to celebrate the Celtic festival Beltain. Any comment? Of course you may share!

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Album Songs and Lyrics

Singles covers

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As we will shortly advertise around a digital edition from our album, we’ve been preparing some single covers for each track, since they might be downloaded and appear on your play-list to. And it was quite fun to do! It’s a little bit like going back to the 80’s… And it’s also a good opportunity to use some (strange) pictures we have been taking there and there.

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