The songs on the new LIVER album are mostly all new originals. We've gone back to a couple of old songs to re-record them with up-dated equipment, but we wanted to make this album as original as possible. So
far the only two songs we have re-visited are "Ginger's Chevy" and "Formfitted Ass". It's quite possible that there will be a few cover songs on the album as well (Pending the compulsory license for those songs).
The Equipment:
This album is the first LIVER CD to be recorded with Pro Tools. We are using Pro Tools LE with an M-Box Mini running on a Windows machine. Yes I said WINDOWS! I need to have more peripherals and external devices running at one time then the new Mac-in-trashes can handle. You'd think that for the money you pay for a MacBook Pro they would give you more then 2 USB ports and, I don't know, maybe a firewire 400 port? But that's a whole other discussion.
The laptop we are using is an ASUS machine with 5 USB ports, 1 Firewire 400 Port, 1 Firewire 800 port, HDMI out, DVI out, and VGA out so I can run my second display to whatever type of monitor I want without the need for any kind of conversion dongles. (the most convenient machine I have ever owned) Hope Steve Jobs doesn't read this, it might be the last you ever hear from ol' Claudio.
The Instruments
As always, this album is using the standard "Rock Band" instrumentation. Guitars, Bass, Drums, and keyboard.
The Keyboards play a much smaller roll this time around as opposed to the last two albums. (Date Repellent and Brownspeak) There is absolutely NO MIDI being used this time. Everything is played live and tweeked a little after the recording. That being said, the keyboard parts are still provided from the same Kurtzweil K2000 that we have been using since 1995, the only difference being that Claudio is actually playing the parts this time.
Here's something that LIVER hasn't done in a while; the drums are REAL!!! Yes! Real drums! We took a few days to sample a couple of DW kits to give the songs a more personable feel.
We are tracking the guitar parts with several different guitars.
Statzell Guitar Company Hooker Model HSH six string electric
Statzell Guitar Company Muther F*R Seven String Electric
Hohner ST Pro six string electric (the original LIVER guitar)
Statzell Guitar Company SKS Six string electric
The bass guitar we are using is still the Fender Lite PJ split. Quite
frankly, I have never heard a better sounding bass for what we do.
The Effects
We are still playing the guitars through a Peavey Backstage Plus 35watt amp, however, the list of effects has grown.
Zoom G7.1 UT Multi-effects
Mesa Boogie V-twin tube preamp
DOD Flanger Pedal
Boss DS1 Distortion
Boss MT2 Metal Zone Distortion
Boss OC3 Super Octave
ART Tube Compressor
Boss CH1 Chorus
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Wah
The amp is mic-ed with one Shure SM57 in the center of the cone and one Shure SM58 pointed at the edge of the cone. Keyboards and Bass are recorded direct through a Mackie 1202 and ART Tube compressors when needed.
The final mix on the album will be done inside Pro-Tools. So, LIVER fans, YOU will be in for a real treat this time. It will make you WANT to show us your cans. No man cans or man ass, please.
