maybe a mono room mic !
Every mic is meticulously checked for phase using a phase checker . He ’ s even discovered patch panels completely wired out of phase in studios at the pinnacle of state of the art . Using so many microphones is a task filled with land mines for those who don ’ t have Chuck ’ s ability to hear perfection . His dedication to getting everything right , starting with the instrument or voice and working all the way down to the final mix , is inspiring . Check out his work with Mark Knopfler , Miranda Lambert , Peter Frampton , George Stait , Dire Straits , and Lyle Lovett . These albums are stellar !
Chuck ’ s sensibility about balance and blend is incredible . I listened to his work on Lyle Lovett and His Large Band over and over when it came out . It ’ s a masterful demonstration of blend and balance . However , it also creates a very vibey feel — I guess if you ’ re going to record several albums with Lyle Lovett , you better be good at finding the vibe !
HERE ’ S WHAT I LEARNED FROM ED CHERNEY Heartbreakingly , we lost Ed to lung cancer on October 22 , 2019 . We started working on this book in 2019 and released it at AES last month , so Ed and Al ’ s chapters are a little shorter than the rest , but their contributions are massively important . Ed was instrumental in starting the organization that became the Producers and Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy — the largest segment of Recording Academy members . He always had a great way of bringing people together for a cause bigger than themselves .
Ed developed the foundation of his recording chops in Chicago . When it was time for him to move to Los Angeles because that ’ s where the action was , he started applying for studios , going through the phone book backwards because he assumed that everyone else started at the front . He started with Westlake Studios and was hired ! That was at a time when studio gigs were very difficult to get .
Within a couple weeks of starting at Westlake , Ed went to work and was told which studio to report to . When he walked in he saw that he was assisting Bruce Swedien on Quincy Jones ’ production of Michael Jackson ’ s first solo album , Off the Wall . What ?! He assisted for Bruce and Quincy for the next six years , getting his Doctorate in how to make the biggest hits ever sitting behind the pinnacle of music production teams . In addition to winning multiple Grammy Awards , he also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the TEC Foundation .
Check out his credits . They , too , are unbelievable .
I learned that life was always more fun when Ed was around . With his Chicago sensibility and a wickedly fast wit , he could have everyone roaring in laughter in a second . At one video session we did at Universal Studios in Hollywood , Ed , Chuck Ainlay , and Al Schmitt were all gathered around a guitar amp talking about Al ’ s approach to recording electric guitar . Ed was on a roll and at one point he made a comment that caused all three to hysterically laugh for about five minutes . It might have been 10 more minutes before any of them could make it through a take without breaking back into the giggles . Thanks for that , Ed . You are very much missed .
Quincy and Bruce . Ed approached his work like it mattered ; like he could play a part in something incredibly impacting to society . He succeeded . From work he did with the Rolling Stones to his Grammy-Award-winning work on Bonnie Raitt ’ s albums , he absolutely created art that made an impression on hearts and souls .
HERE ’ S WHAT I LEARNED FROM ELLIOT SCHEINER Multi Grammy winner , Elliot Scheiner has been the mix engineer on several benchmark recordings — recordings used by almost all other engineers as a sonic reference for their own work . Most manufacturers of audio products use Elliot ’ s work to show off their gear !
Elliot came up in New York at A & R Studios under one of the most respected and revered engineers ever , Phil Ramone . Phil , also a member of METAlliance , engineered the first commercially released CD , Billy Joel ’ s 52 nd Street . Sadly , we lost Phil to a heart condition in 2013 .
Elliot has gone on to produce , engineer , and mix an eclectic selection of extremely talented artists , such as Trey Anastasio , Phish , Foo Fighters , Beck , Nine Inch Nails , Faith Hill , Steely Dan , Van Morrison , Queen , Fleetwood Mac , Sting , The Eagles , Eric Clapton , Aerosmith , and many others . On the film side , Elliot has worked on such films as The Godfather , The Godfather II , Tarzan , and Godspell . On top of that , Scheiner is considered one of the world ’ s foremost authorities on surround / immersive mixing .
Elliot is the creator of the ELS STUDIO ®
Ed Cherney
Ed had a soft heart and he was constantly serving the needs of the music . To him , it was all about making sure his work helped the music reach the hearts and souls of the artist ’ s listeners and fans . He knew it was all about a great song and an inspired performance . He ’ d often said , “ Nobody ever goes home whistling the console ,” something I also heard from
Elliot Scheiner