 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2020-08-14 01:46
Well I've always liked Julian Bliss as a very nice and classy man with talent which can't be measured. He keeps getting better and better and there doesn't seem to be a limit on achievements. This is a recording every clarinetist should keep and admire. He's always had the best technique ever and now his sound is nothing short of perfect.
The last time I saw Julian was a few years ago at the NAMM convention. We had a very nice time talking shop about mouthpieces, and reeds, as well as his own Bliss horn. He's still playing on the same horn.
Enjoy fellow artists!
https://youtu.be/JmviwkFY0Y0
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-08-14 03:55
Cudos to Julian! The production really drew me in.
I think this one could have easily been facilitated by a click track (and/or one person laid down the initial track that everyone else followed).
Great audio engineering. I've seen some "Zoom" performances that just sound incoherent. Easy to do when everyone is in a difference space (and usually different mics, amps etc.)
Anyone know what "cans" Julian was using? It was not one of the usual suspects you'd see here in the States.
.....................Paul Aviles
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Author: EricBlack
Date: 2020-08-14 04:41
Julian always sounds great and the production quality for this is significantly better than most mashup/zoom internet performances. Big props to the Carducci quartet as well! Paul, the headphones look like Beyerdynamic DT-100 or 150 studio monitors.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-08-14 13:57
Thanks for the ID.
Funny I'd never run across those before.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2020-08-15 07:17
Does anyone know what software was (or could be) used to capture this performance?
Bob Barnhart
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-08-15 12:04
To do a professional job on the audio one needs a DAW or Digital Audio Workstation. There are many, but the recording industry standard is ProTools. Within that program there are others, called plugins that help smooth and shape the final audio product (various EQs, compressors, delays, reverbs, tuning programs, etc,).
You can easily sync up the audio once complete to video using a video engine in ProToos. The video.......I can't help you with that, but ......I believe IMovie will allow the multiple vews and all that stuff. Personally I have only generated single view video on my wife's IPad and synced that up to a full on audio production. I will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into video production......."that's not my bag baby."
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: JulianBliss
Date: 2020-08-17 03:07
Hi Everyone
Thanks for the nice comments! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Firstly, the Quartet are amazing. I love working with them and they are awesome people. I was very grateful they agreed to do this video!
We realised the easiest way to do it was to actually have the Quartet record their parts while listening in one ear to the commercial recording we’d made together in 2018. I then put their parts together and had that in my headphones while I recorded my part on top.
In regards to gear, I use a pair of Royer R-122 MkII’s which I love. I’ve always been a fan of the ribbon sound. These go into a UA Apollo Twin X Interface and then I record into Logic. There are so many good options out there but I’m pretty happy with this set up.
Those headphones are Beyer DT-150’s. A decent closed back headphone that doesn’t spill into the microphones. They’re also very durable and pretty much every part is replaceable. Sometimes I use in-ears too. For listening/mixing I tend to use a pair of DT990’s alongside monitors. The majority of producers and engineers I’ve worked with on the classical side use Sennheiser HD-600’s which are also really nice sounding headphones.
In regards to mixing and mastering I didn’t do a huge amount. I used a couple of UA audio plug in’s which helped it sound more homogenous. (EQ,reverb and a mastering plug in) The challenge was to match the sound since the Quartet all recorded audio on their iPhones. Once that was all done I put it all into Adobe Premiere to create the video.
It was fun to work on and I’ve enjoyed learning and getting better at home recording. This forced time at home has meant we have to adapt and find new ways to create music with others. I’ve been working on some more home recordings and hope to put some more videos out pretty soon.
Stay safe everyone
Thanks!
Julian
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-08-17 03:58
Dear Julian,
Thank you for the detailed description of your "studio."
Ribbons are wonderful for clarinet because they are so quick and the polar pattern helps pick up much needed room interactions.
Wow, iPhone sound! Don't be modest about your mixing.......GREAT SOUND!!!!
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Globus
Date: 2020-08-17 18:15
Hello Julian
Your playing of the Weber last movement is marvelous in every way, as is the playing of the quartet. I've been a fan of yours since the very beginning and I have to agree with Bob Bernardo that you seem to just get better and better -- with no end in sight. I guess you are an example of what happens when exceptional talent meets years and years of hard and focused work.
You're an inspiration, young man. Keep it up.
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2020-08-18 15:28
As you know, Julian, I’m an admirer of your playing – particularly now, when you have to overcome this sort of difficulty.
In 1975, I played the Bartok Contrasts in the middle of a BBC Prom in the Royal Albert Hall, together with Marcia Crayford and Clifford Benson. The two of us who could stood up to play; but it was still a strange experience in that huge space.
Afterwards, I saw Alan Hacker, who’d been in the audience. With a glint in his eye, and in that voice of his, he said, “It was very FLUENT, Tony.”
It was true.
Tony
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Author: EbClarinet
Date: 2020-08-18 18:34
Is this where I can get the Weber Concertino for Eb Clarinet? If u have a copy can u loan me a copy?
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/mbtldsongministry/
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Author: JTJC
Date: 2020-08-18 18:43
I was at that Prom, in the arena a few feet from you. It struck me at the time how weird it must be for the three players doing that piece in that place. Large audience and if my memory serves the three of you were quite widely spaced out, of necessity I suppose. Ok for listeners at home, but I doubt most of the audience received good sound in most of the seats.
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Author: Paul Globus
Date: 2020-08-19 20:18
By the way, Julian, I have been listening with delight to your recording of the Nielsen and Mozart Concertos.
These are works that have been recorded a great many times by top artists around the world yet you have managed to bring something fresh to the table. This speaks to the depth of your musicianship, which is the equal I would say of your technical mastery.
The last time I can remember such a breath of fresh air was when Tony Pay recorded the Mozart Concerto on a period basset clarinet with the late Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music decades ago, It was a real "wow" moment for me.
Tony Pay's attainment still stands. I have no doubt that yours will too. Take good care.
Post Edited (2020-08-19 20:19)
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The Clarinet Pages
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