Sound City

Posted by: joerand on 25 October 2013

I just saw the movie "Sound City" on the Palladium channel. It traces the trials and triumphs of the southern Cal recording studio legendary for its acoustics and its Neve mixing board that achieved a distinct and sought-after analogue sound. Quite an amazing list of LPs were recorded at the unassuming studio between 1970 and its closing in 2011 http://soundcitystudios.net/recordings-by-year. Dave Grohl, who produced the movie, bought the Neve mixing board and is using it in his sound studio.

 

The movie is based on interviews with artists that recorded at Sound City (Neil Young, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, John Fogerty, and others). It also emphasizes an important distinction between digital and analogue recording and it's not so much about the sound, but the process. Analogue recording requires more hands-on work and live performance interaction resulting in more artistry and energy in the recordings. In contrast, the film implies, digital allows any point of any recording to be modified at any place or point in time, by essentially anyone with a computer. Only a handful of the Neve mixing boards are still in use and the movie ends with performances using the board at it's new home in Grohl's 606 Studio.

 

I thought this was an enjoyable movie worth watching and would recommend it to anyone who owns an LP listed on the link, or anyone interested in rock history.

Posted on: 04 November 2013 by osprey

I saw this document yesterday - thanks for the heads up Joe without your tip I might not have noticed this one among the programs of the local TV channels. The film was great although the way how Sound City finally ended was actually quite sad (ProTools took over the music).

 

... and indeed the list of albums recorded there is very impressive. 

Posted on: 04 November 2013 by BigH47

Doesn't always mean a great sound though does it?

I seem to remember the outrage directed at, Metallica, Death Magnetic's balls to the wall production.

 

Really must try and see this film though.

Posted on: 04 November 2013 by osprey

I highly recommend that if you have a chance watch the film. As Joe mentioned it was not so much about the sound but the process - how the music was made/recorded in the past, atmosphere and the people.