>> from the RPM Direct desk...

The print edition of our Producer/Engineer Directory is in the pipeline. Watch this space or your inbox for more information about how to order your copy. Meanwhile, if you have recording industry related press, studio sessions news, announcements, producer client updates, product news, music for review or something else to contribute, send it to News@rpmdirect.com. Have a great summer!

>> Tsunami Entertainment Producer Roster Updates

The Tsunami Entertianment Producer roster has been cranking things up. Recent highlights include: Bernd Burgdorf is currently mixing Kelly Osbourne for Sanctuary with Linda Perry producing. He recently produced Sunshine for Custard/Elektra and mixed 2 tracks for Sierra Swan for Atlantic. Robert Carranza is currently mixing Nervous Return (Lasalle) and recently engineered and mixed the forthcoming Los Lobos (Hollywood). John McEntire is producing, engineering and mixing Teenage Fanclub and Spoon. Swiss American Federation's new remix of Nelly Furtado's "Forca" will be serviced as the European single to compliment her performance of the track at the championship game of the Euro Cup 2004. Other recent mixes include Sarah Brightman and Cyndi Lauper. Bjorn Thorsrud is currently co-producing Billy Corgan's debut solo record for Reprise. David Tickle is currently engineering and mixing tracks for Mick Jagger and Dave Stewart for the Paramount Pictures film "Alfie". He slated to mix the Dandy Warhols in 5.1 when he returns from London. Dave Trumfio is currently mixing Earlimart (Palm). Dave just delivered the final mixes for the new Elkland record (Columbia) which he produced, engineered and mixed. Chris Walla is producing, engineering and mixing the new Nada Surf record, will be mixing the live Death Cab For Cutie DVD and producing, engineering and mixing The Decemberists. His production of The Thermals will be released by Sub Pop in May. For more information on all Tsunami Entertainment producer clients, contact: Adam Katz Tsunami Entertainment (323) 210-2525 x129

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In the early 1970s this Craftsman house gave birth to what would become Twin/Tone records, Minnesota's most prestigious independent record label. By 1977 it became Blackberry Way, a Minneapolis recording studio Mecca, producing records for The Replacements, Husker Du, The Suburbs, Soul Asylum, and many other Minnesota music legends. This Dinkytown landmark was purchased in 1994 by 3 time Minnesota Music Awards Producer of the Year Alex Oana and became known as Citycabin, giving birth to recordings by Spymob, Storyhill, Kid Dakota, Alva Star, Romantica, Cathode Rae, Bubblemath, Bobby Llama, Olympic Hopefuls, Brenda Weiler, Friends Like These, and many more. Citycabin is a modified 1922 Craftsman with recording studio, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, hardwood floors, gas stove, private deck, lots of trees, finished basement, new laundry room, and 4 offstreet parking spaces. For more information call l 612 414 7755 or email citycabin@alexoana.com.

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>> L.A. Engineers/Producers Check Out First API Vision in North America

Some of L.A.'s well-known engineers and producers recently converged on the media production and publishing house mediaHYPERIUM Studios in Torrance, CA for an all-day and night celebration of the studio's new API Vision console. mediaHYPERIUM has purchased the very first API Vision large-format, analog multichannel surround mixing console in the U.S., making them the first and only complete Direct Stream Digital/Super Audio CD studio in North America capable of recording, mixing and authoring DVD/SACDs. Artists, producers and record companies now have a single facility in Los Angeles where they can shepherd their SACD and surround projects from recording through mixing, to the authoring process and duplication. Studio owner Herbert Waltl, who has produced hundreds of records and DVDs, has a long-standing relationship with Philips Electronics that goes back to the dawn of DVD. Waltl commented, "We started with DVD video authoring and, with the introduction of SACD, mediaHYPERIUM Studios was established to specialize in recording both formats. We recently started using Philip's new ProTECH software-based format converters (PCM/DSD and DSD/PCM) along with their full set of SACD authoring tools. In addition to our API Vision Console tracking/mixing room, we have two other rooms for DSD/SACD editing and DVD Video authoring." mediaHYPERIUM has a total of eight, eight-channel Merging Technology Pyramix systems along with large Pro Tools HD and Nuendo rigs. Both emmLabs/Meitner and dCS converters are used throughout the facility. mediaHYPERIUM Studios www.mediahyperium.com

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>> Grammy Surround Music Alliance Has A Star-Studded Premiere In Nashville

The Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers (P&E) Wing premiered its Grammy Surround Music Alliance on May 19, 2004 in Nashville, Tenn. The Grammy Surround Music Alliance was established as an unprecedented summit of Surround Sound's major proponents in conjunction with the Recording Academy, whose goal is to help increase awareness and promote the musical experience of 5.1 Surround Sound. Legendary nine-time Grammy award-winning producer Phil Ramone hosted an exciting two-hour presentation filled with music and entertainment. Among the special guests were some of today's leading artists, producers, and engineers who are on the cutting-edge of the Surround Sound music explosion, including: Chuck Ainlay, Tony Brown, BT, Ed Cherney, Mick Jones of Foreigner, Ken Jordan of The Crystal Method, Bob Ludwig, George Massenburg, Elliot Scheiner, and Eric Schilling. The event was held in two well-attended sessions at Nashville's prestigious Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in the grand Symphony Ballroom. The day's festivities were launched with a tradeshow exposition where leading manufacturers displayed the latest technology in Surround Sound to prominent industry figures, members of the press, and audio enthusiasts. "This debut presentation by the Grammy Surround Music Alliance proved an extraordinary platform for Academy members, music professionals, students, and consumers to have a direct dialog with many of Surround Sound's leading manufacturers, artists, and music makers, and to experience first-hand the future of entertainment," said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow. With a stated objective to clarify and advance Surround Sound, the Recording Academy's P&E Wing partnered with 11 music manufacturers and organizations that are the most active proponents of this format and created the Grammy Surround Music Alliance. These manufacturers and organizations include: Audio-Technica, CEA, Guitar Center Professional, Dolby, DTS Entertainment, Genelec, JBL Professional, Lexicon, Microsoft, Panasonic/ELS Surround, and UMG/SONY/Philips. "It was important to bring together these Surround Sound leaders as audio-visual technology evolves towards complete and total immersion into sound and picture," noted Academy P&E Wing Director Leslie Lewis. "We’re grateful to all of our Alliance partners for their commitment and support, and we’re excited to further the public’s understanding of the concept and reality of Surround Sound." Additionally, all attendees of the Nashville event received a copy of the Academy Producers & Engineers Wing's "Recommendations For Surround Sound Production" paper, which provides all of the supplemental and in-depth technical information about 5.1 Surround Sound. For more information, please visit www.grammy.com/pe_wing.

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>> Mike Hedges Joins Nettwerk Producer Management

Nettwerk Producer Management is pleased to announce that Mike Hedges has joined the roster for North America. Mike produced songs on Dido's new album "Life For Rent" which has now sold over 8 million Worldwide. Mike also produced tracks on U2’s “All That You Can’t Leave Behind,” several albums by The Cure, Manic Street Preachers, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Everything But The Girl, The Cooper Temple Clause, tracks on Travis' album “The Man Who” and many more. Mike is currently in the studio producing Drive Blind for A&R/Interscope and then will head to Los Angeles to produce Tome McRae for BMG. For more information on Mike Hedges or other Nettwerk Producer Management clients please contact Alia Fahlborg at alia@nettwerk.com or via phone at (310) 855 0668.

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>> Sir Elton John Returns To Work At Atlanta's Tree Studios

Sir Elton John returned to Tree Studios to self-produce his own full-length album, a first for the legendary performer. Lyricist Bernie Taupin was also in residence throughout the project as he, John, and the band created their unique magic in Studio A. All Elton John band members were in attendance with Davey Johnstone on guitars, Nigel Olsson on drums, keys by Guy Babylon, percussion by John Mahon, and Bob Birch on the bass. The album will be titled Peachtree Road and is scheduled for release in early November, 2004. The sessions were engineered by Grammy award winning engineer Matt Still who was assisted by Tree's own Mr. John Holmes. Elton returned to Studio A again shortly after they wrapped the album sessions to track a duet with RCA's Australian sweetheart, Catherine Britt. The song, produced by Keith Stegall (Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson), will be featured on her upcoming album due for release later this year. Engineer John Kelton was at the desk assisted by Tree's Zack Odom. Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti also recently worked in Studio A, tracking his new solo record with mega-producer Ben Grosse. The album features familiar faces such as Scott Phillips on drums and Brian Marshall on bass. Grosse also handled the engineering duties with Pro Tools guru Michael "Blumpy" Tuller running the rig. While in town for Atlanta's music festival, Music Midtown, Los Angeles based rockers Trapt stopped in to Tree. The band vibed out in Studio #11 and The Cave writing and tracking for their next album, which is due for release next year. Tree Sound's Josh Monroy engineered the session with expert assistance rendered by Jonah Merrell. For more information visit Tree Sound Studios at www.treesoundstudios.com

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NRG Recording has named Ashley Arrison as Studio Manager of its Los Angeles-based recording facility. Arrison joined NRG in March after serving in studio management roles in Nashville and Los Angeles. Her career began in Nashville at Woodland Studios where she served as Studio Manager. In Los Angeles, Arrison was Assistant Manager at Cello Studios for three years before joining NRG. "I am pleased to be working at a studio as successful as NRG. It is quite rewarding to be a part of the stellar staff here. It is through this staff and my experiences that I plan to maintain and build upon the successes that Jay Baumgardner and NRG have enjoyed for years." In NRG sessions news, Studio B was occupied the whole month or May with Dreamworks Records recording artist, John Fogerty tracking with producer/engineers Ross Hogarth and Rob Jacobs and assistant Dave Colvin. Gavin Rossdale was in recording his first solo album (Interscope) with producer Page Hamilton, engineer John Ewing, and second assistant Mark Kiczula. At month’s end, producer/composer Gustavo Santadalla recorded songs for the movie Broke Back Mountain with engineer Tony Paluso and assistant engineer Casey Lewis. In Studio C, NRG owner Jay Baumgardner was busy mixing Helmet, Colombia Records band Midtown, and Interscope’s Gavin Rossdale. For more information contact Ashley Arrison at (818) 760 7841 or send email to Ashley@nrgrecording.com.

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>> Larry Crane, Editor and Founder of Tape Op Magazine Hosts Recording Workshops

Larry Crane, editor and founder of Tape Op Magazine and owner/engineer of Jackpot! Recording Studio is offering two of his now famous "Weekend Recording Workshops" on June 12-13, July 17-18, and August 21-22, 2004.
The event is limited to ten students, and is geared towards home recordists, beginning engineers, musicians, and anyone who wants to further their understanding of the music recording process. Sessions will be ten hours long, starting at 11 AM and ending around 9 PM and are to be held at Jackpot! Recording Studio, 1925 SE Morrison, Portland, OR 97214. Classes are $300 for two days, and include handouts and lunch. During the workshop questions will be encouraged. This is an opportunity to be in a real studio with lots of gear, with an experienced engineer who likes to educate people, and it will be a special event. Previous classes have gone very well, to full attendance, with enthusiastic response. Topics Covered: Recording Gear, mics, preamps, compressors, EQs, consoles, gates, effects, DIs, and other special stuff Mic Placement tips, styles, pitfalls and starting points for drums, vocals, guitars, piano, amps, and many other scenarios Using Outboard Gear mic preamps, compression, EQ, effects, plug-ins and more Recording Medium tape decks, hard drives, backup of digital and analog tracks, etc Console Use channel strips, basic routing, patchbays, aux sends, bussing, mixing techniques Special Tricks mixing and tracking tricks not commonly taught, using gear to it's utmost potential, thinking outside the norm, making cables, etc. If you are interested email larry@tapeop.com to reserve a space (email is preferred and much easier than phone). A $100 deposit will be requested to hold your space. www.jackpotrecording.com.

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>> "American Jobs" Documentary Film To Be Released On DVD On Labor Day, 2004

The documentary "American Jobs" by first time filmmaker/MTV producer/producer manager Greg Spotts will be released on DVD on Labor Day. The film features interviews with a variety of American workers who have recently lost their jobs to low-wage foreign competition, and explores the impact of economic change on cities and towns across the nation. "American Jobs" began as a personal exploration of the widely reported "jobless recovery." Disturbed by the news that three million American manufacturing jobs had disappeared between 2000 and 2003, Spotts, 36, took six months off from his job as a freelance television producer and hit the road with a video camera. "I had a hunch that the American economy was going through structural rather than cyclical change," he explains. "So I went directly to the front lines to talk to the families who are most affected." From January to April 2004, Spotts traveled alone to over fifteen cities and towns in eight states, interviewing workers in their homes with a Panasonic DVX-100 digital video camera and a few lights. "The whole kit fits in two heavy suitcases," explains Spotts. "It's the very smallest amount of gear you could use to make a decent-looking film, and about the maximum amount of luggage one person can handle in an airport." In his travels, Spotts saw firsthand the new perils faced by American families, as multinational corporations use "global sourcing" to replace middle-class Americans with lower-wage foreign labor. The film reveals common experiences amongst blue collar and white collar workers, and explains how manufacturing's shift to Mexico and China has provided a blueprint for new layoffs in product design, engineering, computer programming and customer support. While politicians and corporate leaders extol the virtues of "competition" and "efficiency," Spotts' nonpartisan documentary reveals families left behind by the brave new world, facing bankruptcy, foreclosure, and no health insurance while they struggle to retrain for an uncertain future. Interviews with local high school students, politicians, teachers and clergy round out each major segment. The film also features a segment covering Spotts' visit to Juarez, Mexico, illustrating the cross-border social costs of the new global supply chain. A variety of public-policy implications are explored in interviews with economists, academics and politicians including US Members of Congress Robin Hayes (R-NC) and Hilda Solis (D-CA), and videoclips from the 1993 congressional debate on NAFTA. Spotts is currently editing the entirely self-funded film on an Apple Powerbook, driving towards a completion date of July 15, 2004. Music Direction for the film was handled by Chris Douridas (Shrek 2, KCRW's "New Ground"). A companion soundtrack album is in the works that will feature original songs inspired by the film. Spotts will be showing the movie in nontraditional venues during a nationwide speaking tour throughout September and October, including stops in the cities and towns where the movie was filmed. Distribution arrangements for the Labor Day release of the DVD will be announced shortly.

>> Sevendust & Default FOH Engineers Demand Crest Performance

Front of house engineers for major touring rock bands have adopted the new Crest Performance series CPS-1203 processor to beef up live performances around the world. The popular spectrum enhancement system is currently on the road with Sevendust and Default, and can be heard on the new Sevendust live album, Southside Double-Wide: Acoustic Live. Sevendust FOH engineer Andy Meyer of E-Tech Systems Inc. cues the CPS-1203 to punch up bassist Vince Hornsby's rhythmic wallop during the band's shows. "I have the CPS-1203 set up on an aux box so I can blend it into his overall sound," he says. "It has a solid, fat bottom end, and it gives me some additional low, low sub energy that I really like. I drive it hard during breakdowns when he's playing soft to get a nice underneath, sub-harmonic bass - very deep and rich and flowing." In operation, the CPS-1203 spectrum enhancement system tracks the existing bass line and generates additional bass frequencies one octave above and below without the muddying the mix. It also dramatically increases the clarity and stereo image of the material - whether program or live, single instrument or entire mix - to add dimension, atmosphere and detail to musical performances. Russ Giroux with multi-Platinum rock band Default uses multiple CPS-1203 systems in his FOH rig and runs separate units on aux signals for bassist Dave Benedict and drummer Danny Craig. Giroux says that the CPS-1203 adds an "album-like" quality to the mix through its low end boost and spatial imaging. "It's nice to have that full low end on a big rig," he says. "The CPS-1203 gives me versatility and allows me to really exploit the low end of a good P.A. The Frequency Shift control really lets me tailor the sound." It also doesn't hurt that the CPS-1203 is built in the Crest Audio tradition—that is, like a tank. "We need something to be roadworthy or it's not going to work," adds Giroux. "Crest has a solid name in live audio." Crest Performance is a division of Crest Audio. Established in 1975, Crest Audio builds and markets power amplifiers, speaker systems, signal processing equipment and a complete line of live performance mixing consoles for the pro audio, MI, touring and fixed installation markets. Crest continues to be the first choice of tour and installation companies worldwide. Visit us on the web at www.crest-performance.com and www.crestaudio.com.

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>> Gearbox Expresses Committment to London Soho Media Professionals

GearBox Sound and Vision has launched a London Soho-based equipment rental service designed to provide the ultimate combination of rapid delivery and highly competitive rates. GearBox Express is based within the headquarters of world-renowned film and TV post facility Goldcrest Post, in heart of Soho, and is guaranteeing within the hour delivery to local facilities and media editing professionals. “We founded GearBox on the basis that professional users who are hiring complex video and audio systems need the highest level of service and support,” said GearBox managing director Richard Eastwood. GearBox Express offers a wide range of professional products available from any equipment rental company in Europe, from Sony and Panasonic HD and SD VTRs, Apple Final Cut Pro HD and Avid Media Composer picture editing systems, to Digidesign Pro Tools|HD audio production systems. This makes GearBox Express a true 'One Stop Shop' for video and audio post-production requirements. Eastwood emphasised that the new focus on delivery and affordability was not being achieved by cost-cutting elsewhere. Every item from GearBox £5m-plus hire inventory would continue to be fully checked before dispatch and was supported by the GearBox 'No Down Time' guarantee, he pledged. “GearBox Express is fundamentally the same service that post-production professionals have learned to rely on – but faster,” Eastwood commented. “Obviously, delivery costs can be a significant element in our business, so clients can expect some benefits from switching from their current supplier to the GearBox Express service too.” GearBox Express is operational from 1st June 2004, for further details please visit: www.gearbox.com/express.

>> Global Entertainment Media Summit, June 12 In Los Angeles

There's no doubt about it, the entetertainment business is going through a radical transformation. Doing business the way we once did no longer works. Record companies have consolidated, media has been controlled by major conglomerates, it's getting harder to secure distribution for films and digital videos - and what remains constant is people create, and people buy. The Summit brings together great talent and great minds - dedicated and passionate entertainment industry visionaries, executives and artists together from the music, film, digital video, media, new media and gaming worlds - to work together and create new relationships dedicated to integrity and new possibilities. Keynote speakers include: Lee Abrams, XM Radio, Larry Kasanoff, Threshold Entertainment, Miles Copeland, Andre Fisher and more. Panels/Sessions include: The Record Company of the Future, New opportunities for entertainment in gaming, Alternative placements for music and film, ASCAP Presents Music, Money and the Movies, Alternative ways of financing your project, Creative Alternatives for Exposure and Distribution, P2P: How Peer to Peer File Sharing is Helping the Industry add more. Registration is only $99 per person in advance and $129 at the door, days of show. To register on-line, click the following link: www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=60165. Doors open at 9:00 a.m., events start at 10:00 a.m. both days. Special VIP opening night party on Friday, June 11th at 8:00 p.m. For more information visit GEMS online at www.globalentertainmentnetwork.com

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>> Bits & Pieces...

Philip Steir remixed Seals and Crofts "Summer Breeze" which is featured in The Gap's summer ad campaign.
See the ad and hear the remix here: http://www.gap.com/html/spring_tv_04.asp. This track is from the forthcoming remix album which Philip executive produced with Leah Simon. The album features remixes of classic songs by Devo, Todd Rundgren, America, Rod Stewart, Doobie Bros., Alice Cooper, Ambrosia, and others. For more information contact Frank McDonough, McDonough Mgmt at (805) 446-3370 or email fmcd@earthlink.net

In a move to strengthen the company's commitment to developing new business models, Warner Music International, recently announced that Jay Durgan, will spearhead the company's Business Development and Strategic Partnership division to ensure WMI has the ability to deliver consumers more options in a digital world. "I am very excited to take a leadership position in bringing a new WMI into a world of tremendous possibilities, many now tangible. We are committed to capturing value via new avenues and this organizational change demonstrates a clear focus on building new business, and hopefully represents a competitive market advantage," said Jay Durgan.

A rising star in the world of hip hop, Waxploitation is pleased to announce that Danger Mouse, fresh off his appearance at Coachella, has been officially added to the already Lollapalooza lineup which includes Morrissey, the Flaming Lips, the Pixies, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, Le Tigre, Modest Mouse, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Von Bondies, The Walkmen, Datsuns, Sparta, String Cheese Incident, and Polyphonic Spree amongst many others. Danger Mouse, who NME hails as “The Hottest Hip-Hop Producer in the World”, received global attention for his production of the infamous, controversial Grey Album For more information please check out www.waxploitation.com

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