J.J. Blair Interview and Studio Tour (The Who, Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart) - Warren Huart
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- čas přidán 12. 02. 2018
- J.J. and I sat down at Fox Force Five-his studio in the Hollywood Hills-to talk a bit about his career, his approach to recording, and of course, the studio itself!
Read more here: bit.ly/2EpKdYp
Fox Force Five was designed by Bret Thoeny in the mid ’90s-a highly regarded studio architect whose designs include Bob Clearmountain’s Mix This. Funnily enough, when the studio was initially put together, J.J. was somewhat new to the recording world. So, he hired Alan Hershberg as his head engineer to run the studio, who also became his mentor throughout the technical learning process.
Over the years, J.J. has accumulated an extensive collection of vintage microphones, guitars, and outboard gear, which we thoroughly investigate during the tour. J.J. shared with us how he’s humorously been referred to as “the Joe Bonamassa of microphones” for having such an enormous collection! His affinity for them comes from a wise place, though, as he believes the microphone is the most important component of the signal chain. It is, after all, what’s capturing your sound source!
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Produce Like A Pro is a website which features great tips to help the beginning recordist make incredible sounding home recordings on a budget. - Hudba
J.J. sounds like the Dick Cavett of audio engineers. Seriously, he reminds me of Dick Cavett. And that, sir, is a compliment. Cheers
Haha I'll let him know! Haha
Recording in this studio was one of the highlights of my life so far lol. Didn't work with J.J. specifically but I met him. Nice guy. Good to see those guitars again!
That’s great to hear!
"Our job is more about capturing moments, than it is capturing sonic perfection. We're trying to record a moment in time and if that moment is gone, it's gone." and "There is no right way to record but there is a wrong way. You will know it when you hear it." - J.J. Blair. I think I'll print those quotations on a poster and put them in my studio.
Agreed Haui! AMAZING stuff! Thanks JJ!
Hi Friends, after "threatening" to do this over the course of several AES and NAMM conventions, I finally had the chance to meet with my good friend and marvellous engineer, J.J. Blair. J.J.'s portfolio includes legendary artists such as The Who, Johnny Cash, and Rod Stewart! While primarily a recording engineer, J.J. has also served as producer, notably on June Carter Cash’s 1999 album, Press On. J.J. and I sat down at Fox Force Five-his studio in the Hollywood Hills-to talk a bit about his career, his approach to recording, and of course, the studio itself!
thanks for another amazing video warren !! JJ is someones work I am going to look out for now!
Thanks ever so much for all of your support Darlene!
Amazing!!!!!!.....!!.
Thanks ever so much Harmony! You Rock!
Great episode Warren! Can you explain again why JJ had the Korg tuner over his console? Thanks! Lasse
JJ Blair is an using hero of the LA music scene! He has been involved with so many great albums. Here's his wiki:- 'Blair produced and engineered June Carter Cash's 1999 Grammy Award-winning album "Press On".[4] Blair was an engineer on Johnny Cash's 2005 box set The Legend and all of the first three Great American Songbook albums by Rod Stewart.' I'll take that for a resume!
Yes, JJ is amazing! Great guy!
Great episode!!! I've worked my times with J.J. at his studio and have always enjoyed the process. He has a lot of great equipment and instruments....and is a great guitar player as well as a great engineer and producer.
Thanks Warren, for bringing this incredible interview and studio tour to us. Great video as always.
I'm going to watch this several times...lots of information or inflammation as the exes dad from Guyana would say and how we laughed...my dad still at 93 says should we be reading the destructions?(instructions)
this is such valuable insiders knowledge...he needs to be downloaded...to be honest the both do.....
Quality all round this is so priceless..
textures ousing and overflowing here..our search for tone and colour continues..
Less stressfully though...we're on a journey that's aesthetically very satisfying.....wow!!
and words that are getting harder find ,running out superlatives...no needing of laxatives shhhhhh shush spelt. dizzy dizzy
Imagine the delights of matching the instruments and amps like you have been doing but for can.. as in.CAN .....
CAN
.they had amazing sounding gear...
transported away .
They invented some inspirational new recording methods..
Most infamously
"inner space "
" I N.N E R S P A C E "
BOUNDARIES were definitely pushed...
Did the gates of heaven budged an inch ...I don't see much has happened since .....but......
c l o s i n g t i m e
Leonard Cohen
Typos...yuk
Thanks ever so much for the amazing comment! Yes, JJ is truly wonderful
Muchas, Muchas Gracias! One of your very best tours! :)
Great interview and studio tour Warren! What a mic and guitar collection!
I was just thinking yesterday how i missed the good old mega studuio tours and then you drop THIS. My lord...
Also, the dog with the squeekietoy in the background is gold.
Thanks for another amazing video warren !! JJ is someones work I am really going to look out for now!
Yes, agreed Darlene! JJ Rules!
Dear Warren, you studio visits and your recording lessons are so inspiring and so great to watch. A real dream program for us sound and music lovers around the world. Thanks for having offered and so well recorded these videos. Back in the late 80s and 90s when I was 20 and started to dig into music and recording as an amateur, I would have dreamt of seeing and hearing from all the secrets of the craft in such a great way.
practically 2 hours of nonstop goodness!! Love the interviews, his mic locker is insane!! so awesome!
Hi Eric Gonzalez thanks ever so much you rock my friend!!
fantastic time watching this ...weird how CLA says he doesnt HP just cranks the high end...(which is really ends up with same result)and J.J noticed and commented he heard on his separation....your face you just kept smiling ..was a fun moment for me great work you guys
Haha yes, indeed! Interesting, I saw HPF engaged...haha Who knows? I'm fine with letting everybody know what I do! No secrets here! Everyone knows I'm just making it up as I go!
Wow what an amazing collection of incredible equipment !! Thank you ever so much JJ and Warren for this wonderful walk through !!
Thanks ever so much Apple!!
So much info here ...I love these......thank you Warren....rc
Thanks ever so much Shuzies!
All the name dropping ...all the guitars ...any story about any piece of kit ...I'm loving it.
J.J's no exception ...Awesome studio tour. I love the knowledge too ....he's a time honoured expert.
This ones right up there.
One of the most valuable interviews you’ve done imho. Performance first. ALWAYS!
Hey Warren I'm loving your work with these studio greats bringing their process out into the light really becoming very interested in the recording process.cheers man
Bout time someone talked up the Trident and MTA. I have not got the pleasure of working on a real A-range but I do use the Softube plugin and it has become my favorite eq for snare, bass, really anything percussive. Not to mention the Softube subscription is very affordable. About the same as the Slate Everything bundle (which I also use) and way less detrimental to the CPU.
sh****** that mic collection is insane
I agree! Amazing!!
I've been trying to figure out how to store my mics. (My HUGE collection of 7 or 8...). I like how he keeps them on the shock mount and just slips them on to a rod. Nice locker.
And I agree, HOLY S#@T on the collection itself!
I know! I don't store mine as well as JJ does! I'm still learning!
Fantastic interview and studio tour 😊 Love his guitar collection. Just wow 😍
Thanks for sharing Warren! You Rock! 🎶♩🖒😊
Thanks ever so much!! You Rock!! Yes, amazing guitar collection!
That was absolutely awesome. Thank you 👍
Thanks ever so much Chris!
Don’t know how I’m just now seeing this studio tour but really an incredible setup from a very interesting and cerebral guy! That mic locker is truly amazing and I’ll be revisiting this video just for that portion in the future. Thanks Warren, amazing insight as always!
I am saddened to hear of Oliver Archut's death. He helped me evaluate a J37 I was purchasing back in the 90's, and was very helpful when I became interested in building microphones. He was a wonderful person, and I will miss him.
Yes David, that's terrible news, he had amazing skills it is huge loss to us.
I guess I have been out of the professional audio loop for a while and did not hear the news. There aren't many like Oliver. I started thinking about building the microphones that I could not afford to buy back in the early 90's (...we physicists think we can build anything ;). Oliver was kind enough to provide schematics for the classic microphones and power supplies,back before they were available online. Oliver also produced the transformers for my C12 knockoff's, as well as parts for other projects I have not had time to finish. Most important, was his advice and support. We are losing the experts with the knowledge of that beautiful technology of the early days of modern recording. I hope someone is being trained to carry on the legacy.
Fantastic interview!! Thanks J.J. and Warren!
Great video once again. I love the interviews so much... they bring us into the room to learn. Thanks
Hi Terry Doyle thanks ever so much my friend! You Rock!!
I know you have to make money sometimes Warren, but these videos are what we really love you for. Great one! :-)
how does he do it all??
Aw shucks thank Samos12! Yes, LONG days AND nights! Haha
Awesome to see! Loved the G.E. Sta-level predecessor.
One thing I realized awhile ago is that even if I magically could get a studio like this, it doesn't mean I could use it as well as you or J.J. Helped cure me of gear lust :)
Haha I hear 100% Alex! So much beautiful equipment here!
Beautiful microphones collection and great interview. Thanks Warren.
This is 14 months old, but it popped up on the tube, and I realised I hadn't watched it. Great vid, love the insights, anecdotes and great tech chat, as usual, but I can't help thinking, 'Blonde?!?' - really?
thank you Warren and I love it .
Thanks ever so much Dan!!
Loved the opening section about perfection. Some very deep thoughts in there. Thanks for going deep :)
I agree David, I loved doing this interview with JJ!
With all that equipment,I'm glad he emphasized that it's what you do with it.How you use what you have!People on these forums often forget you need an actual song TO record.Love the Al Green reference.I'm a Ram has been a favorite for years.Thanks again Warren.
That was very enjoyable. J.J. seems to be a wonderfully humble guy and very generous with the sharing of his knowledge.
Yes, agreed, JJ is awesome!
Warren, one thing I would love to see is a good demonstration and explanation of the different "types" of compression, like "SSL compression", Neve, dbx, Pultec, etc.
That's an amazing idea!!
me too !!
Haha Ok Darlene!
Did he end up doing this video? Great idea..
Tremendous player you are! My god, unexpected! MAKING RECORDS WHEN "YOU ARE/could be, THE STAR"?! Thank you for sharing your skill and most defiantly looking forward to more videos. !
Oh wow! This is a long one! I'll have to watch it after work! ;)
Haha yes indeed Matthew!
Man, what a studio !!!!!! Incredible
Love this video! Thank you Warren and JJ
Amazing! I just wanted to watch something great on youtube tonight, and this video delivered.
This was enjoyable! I just listened while I working clearing walls. Got me through!
Great stuff! Thanks Audrey!
This guy has got some amazing guitars. Beautiful, I could spend days looking at these guitars.
Great Tour!
That was amazing. Love it.
Non stop excellent content since namm! Great job Warren.
Music Ting thanks ever so much!!
Fantastic interview. I like that he feels the performance is paramount, and gear selection is much less important. It just goes to show.... our cheap home studio mics and pres aren't THAT bad, as long as the band is really inspired and you're able to capture the excitement
Hi Demag, agreed! Performance is King! Creativity is king and it's the song, the song and the song!
This is my definition of paradise ... Great guy. Great place.
Thanks Alberto!!
Another killer interview.
Thanks ever so much! Special thanks to JJ!!
Gear & guitar geek-out! Fun interview, thanks, Warren & J.J.
Noise in the Basement thanks ever so much my friend!
I cant believe how much amazing equipment JJ Blair has a still needs a mastering engineer. Awesome piece so much history! JJ, I got a ton of soul on the voice, guitar and unique chord progressions that work. I wish I could record with your someday! I know that sometimes dreams come true! I am also a super weird nerd you might like me. I love what you did with Johnny Cash and have read his autobiography in jail, which led to me becoming a musician to express my emotional pain that has led to a better, wiser soul. Its about capturing the moment dude if a miracle ever happens that would be amazing!
what a gift music is...
like a healer...I've got that surprising John Lee Hooker track" the healer " running through my head ...it's like he's still growing and
evolving musically...
You've sieżed your opportunities by the sounds (ha ha)
It's been real helpful in your life. .
So good to know that.
It's also fascinating
Beefheart has a curious line..."I can't call it music it's just something soothing"
Music's mystery is so powerful it can survive any analysis unscathed and intact
I've heard a new idea ,to me,a few years ago expressed in a talk given by future primitivist John ZERZAN...that when we human beings were being forced from freedom loving and fiercely egalitarian gatherer hunters to a life of enforced drudgery in a new hierarchical civilisation whereby the majority laboured to keep a central ruling elite in luxury that emerged soon after a grain based agricultural system seperated us from the ecosystems that for the first time were being changed .all around us
Music, goes this hypothesis. is the almost animal cry of pain as a result of people being torn and ripped from the intact ecosystem that we saw as our only sort of leader that above all the collective multiple interwoven relationships we all had lived with for least 300.000 years
This guy is a wealth of knowledge!!! I would love to buy him a 4 hour coffee!
This is one of the greats, who have mellowed into their mind-numbing gear collections, and just uses the tools when and how they are needed. He's on Gearslutz often, and can be, how shall we say, "intelligently cranky". He's obviously seen it all, and is no longer impressed by any sort of gear "magic". A master of his craft. Thanks, Warren, for this in depth view into the life of a great engineer.
Ha, Robert! I'm only there to entertain myself. Sometimes winding people up by being the old cranky guy is entertaining. ;) - J.J.
cant believe I've spent 2,5 hours watching this..but every time I want so skip a bit, there is a magic word, and I have to watch it few more times again :) So sorry that Brendon O'Brian wont be on show...After all he is the only producer that I knew by name and work for long time... :)
Hi Zvonimir Sarcevic wow! Thanks ever so much!!
I love the dog chewing the squeaky balls in the background...reminds me of my do doing that all the time while I mix or play guitar.
yall are doing gods work
guy on the left ...well put!!
The other way to get that lively tension is like the all girl band the Raincoats did.
They weren't very technically good ! they were learning...Palm Olive the drummer had a clompy cyclical lovely touch probably partly because it was new to her but she sure had a vision and drive to share it with us or more likely just to get it done and not let the side down.
That first album is my favourite all time drumming tracks...She has the guts and naivety to speed up and slow down and her beats are all new and fresh to the ears ...great music is timeless isn't it...so exiting
what is it 50 years on...
so good to hear this geezer talking my language as it were.
Love his approach...
One more quick point.
At that time the band I was in was a little similar and we had a punk attitude towards the technically brilliant who played too many notes but had no feeling in the music...names? oh dear...Jan hammer .john McLaughlin Zappa too many notes Beefheart ...Good !
Rick Wakeman 6 wifeys of Henry 8...over elaborate poor ,no guts....CAN simplicity is the essence of good design...
With any idea it can end up being a formulaic device. ..and fail anyway.
STILL being young and idealistic is a great laff innit?
Today I can enjoy the Raincoats and Emerson lake and Palmer ..!!
The falls entire catalogue and the first 2 Wire albums hit a perfect balance.
Lee Scratch Perry has that tension of the high wire act , will it fall to pieces and will there be injuries.
Bad ass. Right on Warren!
Improvement equals life....thats my motto....Great interview, so...an improvement....;) !!! I really loved the humor you both guys had and don,t forget the other star: the dog...funny...:)
That 1960 Les paul is and the Es 355 are just ridiculously beautiful guitars.
Absolutely
Wow is definitely the word for this video!
Haha yes, indeed Paul! Wow!
Great vid as per usual Warren...Wow, that "60 Les Paul. Wow, his guitar collection..Wow that Console...Wow, his outboard gear....NICE.
Later Sk8er....
What a sweet dog :D Great video :)
Wow. Stellar gear
I know! Amazing!!
This microphone collection is crazy
I know!! Try remarkable!
If you guys want to hear struggling then, believe you me, I can deliver! :-) Holy cow, I get the feeling this one really energized you. You were hoppin' happy when you guys started checking out the gear racks!
yes i hear you L.Scott! The struggle is real for many of us !!
THIS IS GREAT 👍👍
Doggo bring the ball is just adorable
thanks, this video was beuty
Thanks ever so much Juan!!
Wow this is a great vid. I've played through that Deluxe and recorded with J.J. Oh if only I knew then what I know now. whats legend. And great playing man
My father has a grammer that billy grammer himself gave him! Best sounding acoustic I ever heard hands down. It's not billys main opry guitar but one he recorded alot and traveled with.
The concept that Bonhams kick didn't have huge bottom and only the perception that it does is perhaps the key to recording in a lot of ways. It is the way the kick has space to say what it needs. That is also in the ensemble giving room for that kick to say what it needs. i think that is a lesson worth pondering on for the engineer and the musician. Thanks!
Great stuff!
Mark Tucker thanks ever so much!!
Awesome that he has all those different Trident pieces.
I totally agree with the opening points of how younger people don’t know the older musicians. As a older person who just started playing guitar, I rediscovered Pink Floyd because of David Gilmore. Of course I heard of Pink Floyd but I never got it until now 💡I found myself looking for great guitarist… got heavy into blues greats, Jeff Beck, Clapton, Steve Via, SRV, Jimi Hendrix ( my favorite) and stumbled in to Joe Banamasa and Eric Gales!!! So yeah, there’s no excuse
Another great interview! Man, I need a producer/engineer like you guys..Anyway , it's always good to hear about All Green ! A great song can go a long way. If you write good songs you've already created a good sound. Recording will just enhance a really good thing.
You are far too kind my friend! Yes, JJ is an amazing talent, with a truly wonderful studio!
ME TOO!! Produce me!!
Darlene Sheffield lol
Haha Ok Darlene!
What a tour! I hate it though when people say: "I found this one for cheap...", and it is something that now costs a kidney - Lucky bastards ;)
wow, almost two hours.. I know what I am going to do after rehearsal. See you then!
Thanks ever so much! Yes, it's a LONG one! Fun packed though! JJ Rules!
Amazing!
Oh no, skipped right over the Jerry wolf😔Love these videos Warren. Cheers
Thanks ever so much Matt!
love seeing an MTA 980, there's another one in use in a local recording studio in Belgium where i worked a couple of years ago
OMG...That mic locker, my heart be still. Can J.J. adopt me ?
* Bonk *
"Oops, more relic'ing."
:D
Wow super super serious engineer at360°... All fabulous
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks ever so much
You need to hunt down Martin Birch and interview him. He is one of the most elusive record producers out there!
I know! He retired many years ago! I wonder if he would talk to us?
@@Producelikeapro He did chime in on a Gearslutz thread some years ago, so seems he's keeping an eye on things at least every now and then... maybe watching these vids? :)
Would be great - the world really needs an in-depth interview with him!
Great interview Warren. Check out the video and see if you see a visual distraction between you and J.J
I know Olly Alcock! That's wicked he was your mentor back here in the UK!
I love how Warren doesn't care what others have to say when he picks up a guitar, he gets lost in it. That's me or probably every other guitarist.
Man, you had me at Jesse Edwin Davis. Saw him live with Taj Mahal.
lush... a treat !
Thanks ever so much
wow he gots his own orange tree :O:O :P love it
Hey! Great stuff shown & explained, I enjoyed very much! You wehre short by words about the LA 22 Compressor... what about that Unit? Cheers! JAK
Awesome
Thanks very much Elroi!
I know this has nothing to do with the tour but that is one beautiful German Shorthair Pointer. Thanks for the studio tour, it’s my favorite feature.
Agreed Andrew! Beautiful dog!
Lola says "thank you."
FW190D6 you rock JJ!
Picture this. The last few days my wife has been walking in on me watching Warren's YT videos. Last night I watched Warren take part in Lij Shaw's NAMM 2017 round table discussion. Tonight I'll be watching this. "Him again" she asks. The woman is looking at me kinda funny if you get my drift. Hilarious!
Haha thanks Peter! Trust me I understand! When it comes to music we just want to know as much as we can! I understand 100%!!
1:35:00 the interstage transformer on U73's has an RC on the secondary that puts it down 6dB @40 Hz. You can just short circuit that part, maybe even add a switch if you feel courageous, just don't assume you really need to remove this hpf and make the mod permanent.
Thanks for the insight Marten!
Warren can't wait to play that 60' original Les Paul. Good Lord! m49's 60's Les Paul. What the hell!!!
lo fidelity like the al green example triggers a subconcious nastalgia sensory as a musical note or melody does, thats why we love the crackles and dynamics of vinyl and even the hiss of cassettes
"performance was all that matterd"
warren you must check out Deads Anthem in the Sun album in headphones they cut together studio recordings with live tracks , blended , hard edits , live solos really cool
Yes Sean! Performances are all that ultimately matters! It's the song, the song and the song! Haha
I discovered Prosoundweb.com and specifically the Whateverworks forum probably around 2004 or so. I was just getting started trying to put together a home studio. That forum was remarkable back then. The moderators and regulars were people like Terry Manning, Ross Hogarth and many more that I can't think of right now. J.J. was a regular back then and always had insight and sometimes very colorful descriptions of bad audio. I don't remember who or what he was referencing when he likened it to "sonic bukkake", but I don't think I have ever laughed so hard over that description.
Rick, it was the same guy who took two hours to get a tambourine sound. The Alan Rickman look alike.