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The Gear

Here is my personal view on some of the equipment and instruments in my studio that I used to record this album.
Many musicians and producers are gripped with a frenzied condition that some call 'Gear Lust'. That is the constant need for new gear and I mean need, as soon as something updated comes on to the market...and I'm no different!
I try not to be too techincal but just offer my opinion and sometimes recommendation on THE GEAR...

Enjoy
CHAPMAN

Apple MacPro Quad
My MacPro Quad with 10GB RAM gives me all the power I need for production. I bought it just before I began work on the album and a few months before the 8-core became the standard configuration! I’ve been a Mac user since 2002, PC doesn’t compare for any application.

Apple MacBook Unibody (2008)
When I was away from the studio I was able to work on ideas and get the remix album going with my MacBook. Loaded with 4GB RAM and using my OWC Bus Powered USB drive to run the samples I was able to use all my native soft synths as well as run large libraries in Kontact and Stylus RMX. Really kept the project moving.

Logic Studio
I love Logic, I’ve been on board since version 5.5. The improvements in version 9 have been of real benefit. I know people say that Pro Tools is the industry standard or that Logic is just for songwriters, but I tried Pro Tools and I just couldn’t get on with it. The interface wasn’t intuitive and seemed old fashioned after using Logic for so long. Logic does everything I need – it’s perfect for me.

RME Fireface 400
I sound like I’m in relationship with every piece of my equipment, but my RME Fireface is such a quality piece of engineering, fantastic analogue-digital converters, I use this for recording electric and acoustic guitars and of course as a converter for other analogue preamps. I used to use it for vocals before I got the DAV (see below). Before I bought the RME, I used a Presonus Firepod but by reducing the number of mic pres and paying a bit more I really increased the quality at my disposal.

DAV Broadhurst Gardens No.1
Hand-built by former Decca engineer Mick Hinton. I got a special feeling when I rang to order one, spoke to the man himself. When I asked him how long it would be, he told me as soon as he’d built it! It only took 5 days to arrive. Old-school service and a real quality mic preamp. I use it for all vocals and some acoustic guitar miking. I had it recommended to me and wondered what all the fuss was about, once I had recorded my first vocal with it I realised!

Studio Projects C1
DO NOT BUY THIS MIC! DO NOT BUY THIS MIC!
I was looking for a good quality vocal mic that wouldn’t bust the budget. In tests some rate it up against the famous Neumann U87. While I used it for every vocal on the album, once the album was finished the diaphragm on the mic went and it wasn't even 18 months old. I expect a mic to last a lot longer than that especially when it hasn't even left my studio or travelled more than 5 metres to a mic stand! It may feel sturdy but the build quality is obviously poor. The cost to repair was almost the same as the mic originally cost, with no flexibility from the distributor PMI Audio - very poor support.
DO NOT BUY THIS MIC! DO NOT BUY THIS MIC!

sE Electronics SE2200a
Fantastic mic used on all the vocals on The Bare Bones of Mr Ballad. So rich and lovely especially through the DAV BG1 (see above). My vocal can be prominent in the 5K frequency range but this mic handles it really well. Wish I'd bought one years ago but so glad I own one now

RODE NT1A
I bought this when I was in New York in 2005, and used it extensively on the first album, the NT1A and C1 are often compared because of their price, but I can only describe it like this; the NT1A is rounder (!) while the C1 emphasises the frequencies around 5-10Khz, making it more direct. The C1 is also unreliable as you will see above.

Oktava MK -319
This Russian mic was given to me, by the UK distributor, for a video. The video was shot in very low light so the mic, which is black, wasn’t used but I’ve used it a lot since then, for some vocals, but on this album for acoustic guitar miking where I found it is excellent. In fact their whole range has a great price point and a variety of uses. My Oktava has never let me down and always gives great results.

SE Electronics Portable Vocal Booth
Anybody who is looking to record some quality vocals should have one of these. It cuts out unnecessary sound reflections and really puts the vocal in the right space to be worked with. I actually have an auralex ‘booth’ built around it to really enhance it’s qualities.

Frontier Design Tranzport
If you are producing and recording your own sessions I found this piece of kit invaluable. I can control Logic with the simple interface from the other side of the studio. I can repeat and perfect vocal and guitar takes from inside the booth without going near my MacPro keyboard.

Line 6 Variax 300
The Swiss Army Knife of guitars. If you haven’t experienced the convenience of quality digital guitar modelling then I recommend you try one of these. Want a Les Paul Sound…I’ve got it…Telecaster….I got it…Gretsch….Electric Sitar...yes that’s right, they’re here. I’m not a guitar snob and I love playing guitar and the Variax 300 meets my needs in every department. They do sound like the real thing, I combine it with Native Instruments Guitar Rig 2, with it’s excellent set of dedicated amp models and guitar effects
I also have the Workbench software which allows you to build you own custom guitars and upload them to your Variax.

Travel Sitar
A present from my wife, I’d always wanted one. As much about the ritual as the practicality. Takes time to tune and set-up every time you use it but it’s always worth it. Used it on 'Raffi's Song' for the sympathetic strings.

Yamaha APX500
I shopped around a lot before I finally decided on this guitar. I like a narrow neck on my guitars which this has, the body isn’t a deep as on most acoustics, but these two aspects make it much more playable for me personally.
Great built in tuner and the pick-up and EQ are very effective. When I record it I always mic it up but also DI straight in and use the effect I get from the piezzo pick-up to add a little treble and bite to the overall guitar mix.

Westfield B1000 Bass Guitar
For studio work I can’t fault this bass, I’ve never had any problems with it and always found it has a rich tone and is really playable.
You can decide for yourself it’s the bass used on all my albums.

Ovation Balladeer 1111-4
This guitar was made sometime between 1968- 1970 and was once owned by Irish folk legend Val Doonican! He gave it as a gift to my sister-in law when she was 14, as he was a friend of the family. She passed it onto me when it needed some TLC. This is the guitar I use to play the main arpeggio throughout Raffi’s Song, the last track on the album. I'd never use it live as it's a bit temperamental, but it's a quality instrument.

M-Audio ProKeys 88sx
My midi controller and stage piano in one. Excellent full size semi-weighted keyboard with a nice action. At 17kg and with an excellent piano sound it was perfect for playing live when I was promoting ‘Bombshell’. The perfect studio midi controller and portable performance tool in one.

Kontakt 3
The ultimate soft-synth sampler in my opinion. Interfaces with all my sample libraries perfectly with simple multi-output control. Now in version 4.

East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Gold
In the digital age this series is one of the greatest orchestral libraries available. I use this for all my strings. Used correctly it can match much of what a real orchestra can do…without the cost of course and the need for a concert hall.

Synthogy Ivory
If I want a quality piano sound I turn to Ivory, I always use this fantastic range of famous pianos.

EZ Drummer
Toontrack have been at the forefront of drum software since dfh superior. The EZDrummer range gives high quality and realistic drum sounds with a wonderfully intuitive interface and multi-output support. Sound excellent basically, especially the vintage rock kit.