My first 'pro' DP project - a 12-piece Cuban-style charanga

BobK · Post by **BobK** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:56 pm

This is my first 'pro' project in DP, a CD for a 12-piece Cuban-style charanga orchestra. You can download two mp3s from the CD, 'En Canto', at the band's web site:

http://www.danzon.com/eng/sounds/sounds.htm

(You can listen via streaming, but the quality is pretty low.)

'Cenizas' is an old Mexican ballad which our director re-arranged as an up-tempo 'guaracha.' 'Soy Matancero' is a Cuban danzon, the arrangement transcribed from a classic recording of the group led by Cuban flute master Antonio ArcaÃ±o.

I recorded, edited, and mixed this CD with DP4.61, except for the rhythm section (piano, bass, conga, timbales, guiro) on tracks 1 and 5, which was tracked by a friend. I also played piano and sang some background vocals (the ones you can't hear well but which fatten it up...).

It was quite an ordeal - lots of overdubs, (three or more violins, often done one at a time; flute, clarinet, extra percussion, lead vocals, and a bunch of background vocals). Add to that the complex arrangements, and it turned out to be a great project to cut my engineering teeth on.

Tonio · Post by **Tonio** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:06 pm

Hey Nice work Bob!! Very balanced overall and true to the genre.
BTW , who's your friend?
I'm sure Antonio was happy with the results. Whats your front end chain?
T

BobK · Post by **BobK** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:08 pm

Thanks, Tonio. Glad you liked it.

The front end for the rhythm section basics was a combination of a Metric Halo 2882 and a Presonux DigimaxLE, which were borrowed from a friend.

All the overdubs were done through the preamps in my Allen & Heath Mix Wizard 16:2 DX mixer. The mixer's direct outs were run into a MOTU 1224. That's it!

For privacy's sake, I'll answer your question about the other engineer via a PM.

BTW, we'll be posting some more clips in the future at our web site. CDbaby just posted clips from every song here:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/orquestalmt

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:29 pm

Really cool, man!

BobK · Post by **BobK** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:31 pm

Thanks, Chris!

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:27 am

Sounds very pro to me all around: good production, excellent musical and vocal performances.

Suggestion: There are thirteen or more Play links on that page, and I had to go back and forth from your post to the web site to find the mix that was the topic of your post.

This is the direct link:

http://www.danzon.com/music/32/cenizas.m3u