Heading OUT of the Studio

Subject: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: black walnut
Date: 25 Mar 03 - 03:41 PM

Well, here it is, as promised...the sequel to "Heading INTO the Studio".

Last Monday I had a phone call from Arnie Naiman (Merriweather Records)....the CD's had arrived! I couldn't believe how exciting it felt to have them finished. All that work, and now there'd be something to hold, to look at. (I already knew what they would sound like!)

I don't live in the same town as Kathy and Arnie, so I didn't get my first copies of "UP AND OVER THE MOON!" until Thursday evening. Mighty pretty! Especially all packed up there in little rows in little boxes. By the end of the week, a bookstore in Toronto had ordered some, as well as the Vancouver Public Library. I'm really excited to know that some of this music will be spreading, like tiny seeds.

This Saturday night... a musician's and friends party, at my place. I didn't want to do the typical lauch concert - this is a CD for little children and their grownups and hosting a children's party didn't seem like too much of a relaxing event to me. So, a grownup party instead. I know there will be one musician's baby there, though, so at least the launch of the CD will be official!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: MMario
Date: 25 Mar 03 - 03:50 PM

Congratulations -

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: black walnut
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 08:56 AM

Thank you...

The party was excellent! My favourite part of the night was when Ken Whiteley sat at the piano and just played and sang alone for a long time, while people just sat and chatted. It was so beautiful. Then I joined Ken at the piano (4 hands) and we sang a few songs together from off the new CD. Kathy Reid-Naiman made a killer chocolate cake, and Bill My-Husband made a funny mockup of the front cover of the CD. Later Susan and Bob creating more mood music at the piano, before all the instruments came out and we sang until 2:30 am.

It was a wonderful way to bring a CD of children's music into the world....I feel very launched now.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 11:02 AM

Glad you had fun Deb, sorry we couldn't make it.......flu house here!

Rick and Heather

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: DonMeixner
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 12:56 PM

Every once and awhile I look at the two CD's of my band I have in my jewelry shop and I think. "I did those CDs." What a great feeling.
Enjoy the moments and congratulations.

Don

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 04:09 PM

Good job, way to go!

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 03:43 PM

way to go.. congratulations....

Don.. I feel the same way... look at the cd i did.. and think...
wow.. did i really do that??

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 08:03 AM

I had the good fortune to be at Black Walnut's party last Saturday, and it was one of the finest I've been to in a long time. From the time that she first mentioned that she was going to undertake this project, she hasn't lost a particle of enthusiam. Doing this recording is a bookmark in her musical journey, and all of her friends couldn't be more proud or happy for her. Now and for the future, her kids will be able to have a permanent record of the music she recorded, and she will make 'em proud. So here's to you, my friend, and why just stop at one cd. There's still lots more of your talent to share with the world down the line.

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: Fortunato
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 01:57 PM

Congratulations, hope to have that feeling soon myself.

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 03:17 PM

Me too, Fortunato! Congratulations bw!

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: black walnut
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 08:57 AM

That's the pleasure of being here at the 'cat....there are so many of us going through a similar journey, and we're at different places along the road. It's nice to have the company.

Looking back on the past few months, I know that I have learned so much and achieved many goals. The biggest achievement of all was actually SINGING!! Some of you know that I've had a miserable time of late with my voice (chronic laryngitis, thryroid issues) but after working with Katherine Wheatley and also with her vocal coach Eileen, I got back enough of a voice eventually to teach again, and lo and behold, even to record a CD! I am astounded that only a year and a bit ago I thought I'd have to retire from teaching because of such terrible problems with my voice.

Thanks everyone for all the cheers!

Rick: I certainly missed you and Duckboots. I'm looking forward to seeing you at the station.

To Guest who was at my party: I'm not sure who you are, being here in anonymity and all, but maybe that was you at the party hiding behind a bag of potato chips and then jumping out of the rabbit cage at midnight? Anyway, thank you so much for your wonderful words of support.

To all CD makers: Don't be shy. Don't hold back. Do your best in every part of the production and packaging and give it your all. As a wise musical man told me a few months ago....you'll have to listen and look at this for a long, long time!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 12:53 PM

Not having quite started on the journey yet. If it's not too much of an embarressing question, which you don't mind answering. How much is it likely to cost me. No, I don't mean just for one to buy :] I fit's too personal a question just an approximate number of Zeroes will do.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 04:52 PM

Three zeroes.

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 08:40 PM

Black Walnut Have a blast sharing your new cd with the world. Congratulations and many more !!!
John B there are a few parts to add up.. My cds were very simple performances with one or two additions per song. More stuff more time
    : Studio time @ $50.00 an Hour .( if your lucky) say three sessions of 5 hours minimum . Say with post production $1500.00 . Add $500.00 for Dismakers production help
       Discmakers has a speiciel at the moment 1000 cd's for $990.00
       Art work ($150 Photos ??? )
       and if you are doing covers $75.00 per cover X 13songs = $ 975.00      Total $3465.00
My first cd cost $4550.00 with reorder $6,000.00 =1500units
second $4,501.00=1000units and Third 3013.00 =1,000 units.
To date at least its all broken even. The great thing is you learn so much from the proccess.. All the best Guy

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: black walnut
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 09:39 PM

Good answers. I'd have to say that it depends on what's involved. I had professional studio musicians, photographer, artist, designer, engineer and two producers. We took two weeks in the studio, plus mixing time. I was there for every part of the recording, and I was also involved in the mixing and mastering decisions. Some people can do a CD in a day and are happy to have graphics done on a home computer. Costs can vary. I'm not sure how many zeros to suggest.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: DonMeixner
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 12:18 AM

John,

In central New York for our recent CD 26 hours @ $45.00 and hours.
CD replication with Crystal case, art work was 2 sides for the cover and one side for the tray card. Three color solk screen on the disc.
Packaged and wrapped. $1900.00 per thousand CDs and 1650. on the reorder.

And we are very happy with the results.

Don

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: black walnut
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 07:07 AM

The number of zeros also depends on whether you're talking American, Canadian, or Martian dollars.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 07:59 AM

I have a friend with a studio, who charges 45 $Can per hour so that does not sound too bad. I have other friends who have done CD's for 3.500$Can or so, plus others who are still counting at 100$Can per hour studio time. My group are primarily a cappella, so the guest musician cost should be pretty low. Thanks for the info to all.
The hours spent are also of interest, some friends, a duo, did their first CD in 60 hours including mixing. At a recent Harry Manx concert, he said that, he did his CD "Dog My Cat" for 1100 $Can as that was all he had, the recording Engineer never worked so hard in his life, it also went on to win a "Juno".
JohnB

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: black walnut
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 08:49 AM

Certainly award~winning low~cost CD's do happen, just as awards go out to low~budget movies once in a while. I feel badly though, when people put in a lot of time, love and talent into making a CD and then cheapen out on the cover or the production end. People sometimes imagine that the great songs inside will do all the work by itself, but I'm not so sure. Putting the extra money into a great photo, booklet, and mixing can be worth a lot to you in the end. It's something of a statement about who you are and that you believe in yourself. That's not to say that you shouldn't go for it if you can't afford those things. It's a fantastic experience to get your performance on a disc. And who knows? You might be the next low~budget success story, like the Be Good Tanyas.....

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Heading OUT of the Studio
From: black walnut
Date: 29 Apr 03 - 07:16 AM

An update:

My CD - UP AND OVER THE MOON! - Giggle, Dance and Cuddle Songs for the Very Young - has been out for just over a month now. I'm really pleased with its travels thus far. It's been ordered for libraries in Toronto and area, Vancouver and Alberta. Several stores are carrying it in Toronto, Hamilton, Orangeville, London, Vancouver, and it's even being sold at Butterfly Books in Wisconsin!

This is fun!

~b.w.