Band Reviews: Queen

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

Sound and Recording - blogment -
National News wire - The Infinite Echo

Band Reviews: Queen

It’s difficult for me to imagine seventeen years could have passed since the death of Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury. When I close my eyes, I can still hear him singing ‘Lilies of the Valley, as if he were standing right in front of me. His contributions to Rock n’ Roll can only be measured in broad, grandiose strokes, of creative genius. His loss will be measured in the pure poetry of time.

When Freddie passed, he left behind an insurmountable legacy. It seemed unlikely the remaining members of Queen would continue without him. Ultimately, a replacement has been found in the form of Paul Rodgers, himself, one of the greatest male vocalists in the history of Rock music. Rodgers, vocalist from ’Free, and later ’Bad Company, prospered in the music industry for five decades before joining forces with Brian May and Queen. Having now toured together throughout the world, this line-up will soon release an album of all new material, under the combined title, ‘Queen + Paul Rodgers. Look for it to be out soon. Queen also has a collection of classic Queen material available on I-Tunes.

Queen, known for their extraordinary harmonies, and breathtaking anthems continue to awe throngs of mesmerized fans with this new line-up. The Band was originally formed by Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and John Deacon in London, England back in 1970. The ‘seventies were good to Queen. The band released a number of successful albums, including the seminal ‘Night at the Opera, containing the incomparable opus, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody. Although popularity of the band dropped off somewhat during the mid eighties, Queen arguably stole the show with their adrenaline fueled performance at ‘Live Aid In 1985.

Today, the band continues to perform many of the hits that made them famous, including ‘One Vision, The Show Must Go On, We Will Rock You, and of course, the anthem of all Rock ‘n Roll anthems, ‘We are the Champions. Indeed, they are. John Dean has since retired, but his contributions to Queen are obvious. Roger Taylor remains in the band, and the addition of Paul Rodgers is a better mix than one may readily expect. I must admit, I am looking forward to the new queen album with great anticipation. It may not be the Queen we left behind with the tragic death of Freddie Mercury, but it’s a fresh sound and a fresh start for one of the greatest bands in the history of modern music. Queen, you are indeed, the champions. Long live ‘Queen.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

Sound and Recording - Sound Foundation - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo - Impeachment Now! - Skate the Razor -
Skate the Razor Blog - blogment

More Tips For Recording Vocals

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

Sound and Recording - blogment -
National News wire - The Infinite Echo

When it comes to recording vocals, misconceptions abound. So many wonderful singers, so little dependable information. We are all instantly capable of recognizing a strong vocal performance, but what goes into capturing that performance usually isn't so obvious.

It all starts with a good singer and a good song. From there, choose a reliable microphone. Many engineers prefer using large diaphragm condenser microphones, but I have no preference. After thirty years of intensive studio experience I have learned to rely on the vocalist, not the microphone. While working as a staff producer at the world famous Power Station Studios, I had at my disposal, nearly every mic imaginable. One quickly learns that not every vocal should be captured with an expensive ribbon mic. Think hard about what it is you're trying to accomplish. Feel free to experiment.



Remember, good microphone technique and proper singing habits will profoundly effect your vocal performance. A mic can only capture what you produce. Once the performance has been captured, it can be enhanced through various means, including reverb, compression, etc. but all the reverb in the world will not drown out a bad performance.

Singers tend to be a finicky lot, a fact I can personally attest to. Still, no two vocalists are alike. Do whatever it takes to make the singer comfortable and confident. A good headphone mix is crucial. If you can't hear what your doing, you stand little chance of doing it well. I can honestly say the Power Station had the best headphone systems I have ever experienced. It is little wonder to me why the studio produced so many hit records.

From here, things get somewhat slippery. A producer like Terry Date will not approach a vocal for the Deftones in the same manner Jim Steinman might approach a Meat Loaf recording. Even at the highest levels of the industry, approach can be radically different.



Unless all indications suggest to the contrary, go with the flow. In other words, don't rock the boat. Learn all you can about recording, and keep an open mind. A vocal track can make or break an otherwise average recording. It is our goal to recognize the difference.

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

Sound and Recording - Sound Foundation - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo - Impeachment Now! - Skate the Razor -
Skate the Razor Blog - blogment

Product Review SONY MDR-V600 Dynamic Stereo Headphones

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

Sound and Recording - blogment -
National News wire - The Infinite Echo

Product Review

SONY MDR-V600 Dynamic Stereo Headphones

This is a fine offering by Sony, a sturdy set of headphones, with firm, comfortable ear pieces and a warm, desirable frequency response. In simple words… a good investment for anyone looking for a reliable set of headphones.



I purchased my first pair of few years ago, and have really appreciated their durability and sound quality. After unconscionable abuse, the material on the ear pieces was beginning to wear thin, so I went in search of a new set, not really expecting to settle on another pair of Sony V600’s. However, once I’d listened to about two dozen different sets, I found myself eager to lay down the very reasonable ninety-nine dollar retail price. I suppose I could have saved myself some time and money by ordering the MDR-V600’s online, but hey, it was well worth getting out there and hearing for myself what was available. The result is that I now own two pair of MDR-V600‘s. I rate the product very highly.

Driver (40mm Aura-Normic Designed Driver)
Impedance (45ohms)
Frequency Response (5Hz to 30,000Hz)
Rated Power (500mW) *1/2 watt*
Max Power (1,000mW) *1 watt* (not recommended)
Cord Length (9.8 feet)

B. Thomas Cooper - Editor

Sound and Recording - Sound Foundation - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo - Impeachment Now! - Skate the Razor -
Skate the Razor Blog - blogment