Do you want a computer? Get a Mac. Are you editing music, photos or video? You may want to spend a little more and get a pro. Do you want a car? Go to the consumer reports and find out what’s going to last a little longer than your loan duration. Do you want a really great drink? Get a Peppermint Black and White Mocha—because it’s yummy.

What I’m trying to say is that, it doesn’t matter what you want, there is usually some good advice to follow that will lead you to the best product possible. That being said, there is—apparently—no right answer when it comes to buying studio vocal mics. What the crap!

Over the last 2 months, I have talked to 6 pretty great producer/engineers, who I have connections with, and I cannot get a straight answer from any of them. “Hey, Colbie, Danny, Woody, Damian, Brian, & the other Brian! What do you guys think is the best Mic and Preamp combo for my studio with this budget?”

“I don’t know bro. Just use what sounds good.”

Hmmmm…

I really was not expecting that.

Where’s the Magic formula?! XYZ equipment = Platinum CD production? (Now that’s Algebra I can get into)

And from there I got told all kinds of stories: Amazing artists (names of which evade me) that got Grammys for songs that they recorded holding a $100 mic in their cupped hands, the $5000 mic left in the closet (and othere stories that were good. I wish I remembered the details).

Well I confess that in the beginning of this process I was a little bit confused. Now I am quite confident that I am a lot confused. But it’s cool because I now know that as I keep trying out and testing, borrowing and sneaking mics to try out, I will eventually find what works best for me. It’s a crazy idea but I think I get where these producer friends of mine are coming from.

So what about you? Are you thinking long and hard about any upcoming purchases? Are there any gear people out there who can chime in on mics that they have found to work for them. Let me know. Cheers!

Yes, yes my friends, no matter how I try to spin it, shame is a part of the reason—the reason why my blogging has been so minimal.

For the last few weeks I have expected that I would have a song from my album ready to preview to you wonderful friends of mine. I have expected this pretty much everyday! Every time that I had something wonderful to blog about I would simply set it out of my mind. “I don’t need to blog about that crazy thing that happened today because I am surely going to be able to post one of my really wonderfully produced songs today; that will be so much cooler than that ridiculously crazy thing that just happened.”

I have had so many wonderful things to blog about that were simply lost to moments passed by. Shame. Even now. I had thought for sure that at least one song would be mixed and mastered so that the next thing that I posted would be a tune.

Now my dilemma still remains: Bloggable moments are so trivial in comparison to the music that I am aching to post!

(this is the part of the blog where I am supposed to say “BUT…” and either produce the light at the end of the tunnel or the song that is actually done.

…but lets be more real than that).

To be continued…

• kill.mp3

It’s cool though! Wipe away the frown. Since you wont be spending money on my CD, you will clearly have extra money to go out and buy the new Soulja Boy album. See! Light! Immediately! You didn’t even have to wait for the end of the tunnel. So it’s clearly a positive thing that we are delayed. And if you aren’t into good Hip Hop then maybe you’ll be able to use that extra money on some of the great movies that are out right now like Bed Time Stories. (Australia was good too).

At any rate, the project is moving forward very well and we should have it complete soon enough. The ruff mixes are already blowing my mind. Thanks for your patience and support. And thanks so much for being excited with me. You guys are awesome!

Love, Elijah Stephen-

Yes! I am home and the CD is rolling! I got back from Des Moines on Saturday afternoon having wrapped up an incredible week of recording goodness and I am just now starting to recover from the trip.

Like I was saying in my posts from the studio, the recording was going great all week. Pretty cool stuff was getting tracked but I still didn’t have my voice back. I was still Bronchitis riddled; in fact, I was getting worse. Determining that a good vocal take for four songs was out of the question, we had made arrangements to do it in California. It was going to be a little more difficult, but doable.

Friday rolled in and as I was listening over what we had done, I decided to cut one of the songs that we had done in favor of one that I thought would be a better fit for the artistic vibe of the project (Oh the snobbery!).

Woody gave a good sigh and with this one day remaining, we quickly tracked guitars. We had to get at least a rough vocal, so I stepped up to the mic and gave what I could. Despite my illness, it sounded decent. From there, we decided that we just might be able to make some final vocals happen.

I consumed a small mountain of cough drops and Earl Grey in that session but we came up with some pretty good takes. We recorded well into the evening and got all the final vocals that we needed. It was amazing and undeniable that the Lord was working stuff out.

That night, with a hefty amount of lingering Caffeine from all of the Tea, sleep was simply out of the question. My flight departed at 5:00AM the next morning. As 3:00AM rolled in, I was as wide eyed as I was when I laid down, so I left for the airport. Unfortunately, it took way longer to return the car than I had anticipated and I arrived at NWA check-in at 4:45. I was glared at, the pilot was telephoned, and the less-than-friendly lady told me that the plane would not wait but if I ran I might make it. I ran. Sure enough, security decided that the x-raying of my bag was insufficient and that a more thorough search was in order. Since nothing illegal was discovered, I thanked security for their thoroughness and kept running. As the gangway door was closing I ran up. They let me on. Everyone was extremely happy with me. Just kidding. They were the opposite.

So it’s 5:01 AM, I haven’t slept, people want me dead, but I am heading home to see my family, so life is all good. I got home Saturday afternoon and my kids were bigger and my wife was more beautiful than when I left.

What a week! What a great end to a great week. So the EP process has begun. Over the next few weeks, Woody and I will be exchanging tracks back and forth from my computer to his (I love modern technology). Hopefully we will get everything done before January 1, but now I am uncertain. There is quite a bit still to do and I am super picky. We will still shoot for January but—here’s a brilliant statement—it won’t be done until it’s done. Thanks for checking in. I totally appreciate your interest in my music and I hope and pray that it can be a blessing to you when it is finally in your iPods and stereos. Cheers!

We have packed up for the day so I am killing the evening out at a mall in Des Moines. Who would have thought that there would be a ridiculously nice mall here? It’s pretty stinkn classy (though I have been told that the mall in Nashville blows it away). And, yup, Santa is already here too—What’s with that? What about Thanksgiving? They better break out the Easter Décor on New Years Eve or they just might be too late.

Well Friends that’s it from me tonight. I hope you are all enjoying your evenings wherever you are. Hopefully you get a chance to swing out to your local mall. I hear that this year Santa will be giving out Turkeys instead of Candy Canes. So have fun with that. Good Night!

Hard at work. Woody and Brian (at least they appear to be).

Well we got some good stuff done today. Woody has had some great input for my songs and we got the groundwork done for all the songs that are going to be on the EP. Woody has an assistant named Brian and the two of them are great company. Between quoting The Office and Brian Reagan with a little friendly jabbing in between, it is amazing that we get anything done.

I am missing my family like crazy. Be home soon though. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for vocals—today was not pretty—I am still hoarse from the Bronchitis but I think that my body is healing. Woohoo! I am having fun driving around Des Moines because the girl at Enterprise rent had a nice Ford Focus but gave me the Hummer instead. Thanks for checking in. I will keep you posted! Cheers!

Now, there’s some good news and bad news to curb this enthusiasm. Good news or bad news first? I’m a good news first guy because I like hope to hang onto. Good news: This is my first fully produced recording. I am going to be working with phenomenal people to make it happen. God has provided for every step of the way thus far and I can’t imagine what he is going to continue to do.

That’s pretty darn good news. The bad news: simply that, I have not shaken the sickness that I came down with 2 weeks ago. What started out as a small head cold has moved down into my chest and turned into a nasty, wheezy, Bronchitis. As of yesterday, I had 4 consecutive days of steady worsening. I will go ahead not tell you about the green nastyness that I keep coughing up and I will just keep that to myself. Point? Singing and Bronchitis are not friends.

But like I said, I like good news first. God has been faithful every step of the way. He is going to continue being the awesome God that he is. God definitely likes to get the credit for stuff so it’s kind of in his nature to help people not have room for their own boasting. He is pretty great like that. So I my excitement is un hindered. It’s going to be amazing and I can’t wait to tell you guys more as the week goes on. Thanks for your prayers and support. Cheers!

Let me introduce you to my friend Andrew Woody (most people just call him Woody). A little over 1 year ago, I went out to Arizona with my brother Josiah to record a Single, which Woody produced. I really appreciated working with him at that time. He definitely knows his stuff. He was easy to work with, had a wonderful way of working through the song, and most importantly, he wasn’t a jerk (if you know many producers, you may know what I mean).

Fast-forward to today. The studio in Arizona is now relocated to Des Moines, Iowa because Woody is a really big fan of fresh Corn on the Cob (I actually have no idea why the studio relocated but I assume that’s the reason because I can’t think of any other).

At any rate, to answer the question, I am now heading to Des Moines because that’s where Woody is and I want to work with him. There are several other options that I have had on the table that would have allowed for a cheaper plain ticket, or none at all, but I didn’t feel as comfortable with any. And plus, I too am a big fan of Corn, so why wouldn’t I go to Iowa? So, four more days! I hope that answer is sufficient. If you do have any suggestions for where to find the happening nightlife in Iowa, I will definitely take them. Cheers!

Now comes the excuse part right? I blame it on my pending EP recording. I am so freakn excited about this thing. I am spending every moment that I can spare or free up—or ditch other obligations to get—so that I can work on my songs.

Yeah the songs are all complete but there is a lot of work involved still. I am not a perfectionist on much, but when it comes to my songs, I totally am! I am doing a great deal of iTunes downloading. Good music is good inspiration. And a little bad music helps know what to avoid (not sure which is more valuable).

At any rate. I will try to be a better blogger. And you could totally help me on this. I see by my Web stats that there are quite a few people stopping by everyday. I would love your comments because I am totally interested in interacting with everybody who is taking the time to stop by. So leave a comment so that I can see what you are thinking. Tell me some good or bad music that you are listening to (or not listening to). Or just say hi like it’s Myspace. Are you in? The comment button is on the upper right of the blog so go there right now and hit it and let me know that you are here. Thanks for being a friend. Comment.