Today was a truly special day in the studio, capturing the magical sounds of the Bass Veena – a unique hybrid fretless bass that blends innovative design with acoustic brilliance. Crafted by Canadian luthier Les Godfrey, this extraordinary 10-string instrument features four playing strings and drone strings that sing with incredible depth.
The recording setup was nothing short of extraordinary. We leveraged multiple pickup sources – including piezos on the bridge and harp, and a magnetic pickup – each routed through separate outputs to preserve the instrument’s pure, nuanced sound. Our signal chain included a Radial PZ Pro for summing, a pedalboard with Source Audio effects, and a Ventris reverb to create stunning stereo depth.
The real magic happened when we brought the room into the equation. Using two Mark Bass amps and a seven-plus-four channel Sheps array, we captured not just the instrument, but the entire sonic environment. The U67 microphones and immersive recording technique transformed this from a simple tracking session into a truly three-dimensional musical experience.
A game-changing moment came when switching to LCDI four semi-open back in-ear monitors, which allowed for an unprecedented blend of direct sound and room acoustics, helping to truly feel the instrument’s voice. This recording is more than just tracks – it’s a sonic journey that I can’t wait to share with the world.
Justin Gray is an award-winning mix engineer, mastering engineer and producer based in Toronto, Canada. He works with artists from around the world in a wide range of musical styles, in his world-class facility equipped for stereo and immersive audio music production.
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