AMERICAN MUSIC SERIES                                                                                          67 a-c

Frank Zappa

with David B. Fischer

"The Art of Recording Music"

August 17, 1977

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Side a:                                                                                                                        pp. 1-19

Accessibility of listeners to new music as the most important effect of the invention of recording upon the world of recording--interest in "import" music--how recording affects the compositional process--the nature of producing concerts today--difficulties with sound amplification in live performance--brief history of process of recording in studios (circa 1950-1977)--impact of recording upon musicians' repertoire--discussion of technology in the recording process--discussion of Varèse--European composition and recording--viewpoint regarding attitude of professional classical musicians toward new music--viewpoint regarding "Composer-in-Residence" syndrome [composers in academic settings]--attitude toward improvisation in composition [including 'diagram'-style composition]--discussion of function of broadcast music and its effect upon the economics of recording--discussion on why people like certain music.

Side b:                                                                                                                       pp. 19-38

Discussion of recording production and role of producer in recording--Evolution of sound concepts in recording--economics of recording--study of record production--technology in studio--composition with the recording studio in mind--miking (microphone placement) the ensemble [rhythm section]--legal action against Warner Bros.--detailed discussion:  miking drums [Overnight Sensation-Ralph Humphrey; Jim Gordon; Ian Ainsley]--consistency in rhythm section sound--equalization--compression--miking piano--miking guitars [Penguin in Bondage-guitar solo, Rocks in Elsewhere album]--explanation of how guitars work--guitar articulation--approaching the process of recording--reverberation chambers and echo--Record Plant anecdote--experimentation--miking vocals--The Torture Never Stops--Slap (repeat echo)--Digital Delay Line (DDL).

Side c:                                                                                                                                    pp. 38-56

Uses of repeat echo--doubling, tripling, quadrupling a vocal--Variable Frequency Oscillator--explanation of harmonizer and usage--loop repeat--special effects and placement planning--explanation of stereo and quadraphonic mixing--disk (LP)-recording--mastering--equalization--disk-cutting equipment--Dolby and direct to disk recording--discussion of economics of pop music recording industry--favorite produced pop music group--Queen--recording strategy for an orchestra--computer-assisted mixdowns vs. manual mixdowns--practical advice for budding producers and engineers--involvement in the final product--opinion regarding record companies--opinion regarding broadcast radio.