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The technical development of Cloud Of Dust can be traced
through several studio relocations, from humble beginnings in
the Bovet Studio to the technical breakthroughs at the Bolham
Sound Stage. Cloud Of Dust certainly began with more enthusiasm
than equipment, but the early roots still show through in today's
high-tech midi setup.
The Bovet Studio (Wellington Studio)
It all started in October 1983 in the Bovet Studio with a
Philips F4110 integrated amplifier, Philips F5112 stereo cassette
deck and Prinzsound radio cassette player. The Prinzsound was
soon replaced by a Sharp GF-7450 stereo radio casette player.
The microphones were intially condensed, but were replaced with
two Audio Technica Pros. The sounds were provided by a Casio
MT70 and Casio VL1, plus acoustic guitar and assorted percussion.
The original Cloud Of Dust method of recording, which
involved bouncing the tracks backwards and forwards from one
stereo tape player to the other, limited the number of tracks
which could be recorded to five as a maximum. The quality of
the tracks using this method were limited, as the initial track
(and noise) had been re-recorded up to 5 times on the first generation
copy. The other limitation was that each track had to be performed
in one take, with no opportunity for punch-ins or alterations
to previously recorded tracks.
However, this didn't stop Volumes 1, 2 and 3,
Excalibur, From Behind Closed Doors and New
Domain from being recorded in this manner, which were well
received by Cloud Of Dust fans.
The Mill Stream Studio
The move to the Mill Stream studio saw the aquisition of
several new pieces of equipment. A Philips double cassette recording
unit, known affectionately as the 'black box' was used to recording
and a new keyboard (Casio HT3000) replaced the (now lost) MT70
and VL1.
The Mill Stream Studio saw the creation of the New Domain
album, and, after moving to another recording room and aquisition
of the Yamaha MT120 four-track, My Sahara Life was recorded.
During the recording of My Sahara Life, a new PC based
midi-based music system was obtained, which was to revolutionise
the style and direction Cloud Of Dust was to take.
Bolham Sound Stage
Bolham Sound Stage is owned by a Cloud Of Dust contributor
Simon Pratt, who loaned the use of his set-up for recording several
live drum kit and guitar tracks on the My Sahara Life
album. Although this studio is some eight miles from Wellington,
the advantages of extra space and additional equipment were put
to good use.
The Springfield Studio
Coming bang up to date, Cloud Of Dust is now working
in the midi-based Springfield Studio. The projects have all been
midi-based to date, but there is excitement that further recording
will be happening soon, as a new collaborator has appeared on
the scene. There will be more news about this as it happens... |
