The New Alan Parsons Project: The Art and Science of Sound Recording

December 22nd, 2009 by Janice Brown

After almost two years in production, Alan Parsons’ Art and Science of Sound Recording, is releasing the first six exclusive scenes, available for streaming and digital download at http://www.artandscienceofsound.com.

The Art and Science Of Sound Recording is an eight hour collection of training videos produced by Parsons, that gives viewers insider access to legendary musicians, producers and engineers, and their recording techniques.

The initial scenes individually examine the topics of MIDI, EQ, Delays, Drums, Noise Gates and Recording a Choir. These segments vary in length from 12- to 37-minutes and are .99 to stream and $4.99 to download. Presented in an easy to follow step-by-step style, each scene offers theory, tips and tricks — something for everyone interested in recording their own music.

In addition to co-founding The Alan Parsons Project, with which he produced classic records and hit singles in the 70s and 80s, like “Games People Play” and “Eye in the Sky,” Parsons has been an acclaimed engineer, musician, and record producer since the late 60s. Among the classics, Parsons worked on The Beatles’ Abbey Road and Let it Be, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, as well as records for Paul McCartney & Wings, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Pilot, Al Stewart, and the Hollies.

In The Art and Science Of Sound Recording, you’ll hear from producer/engineer guests like Jack Joseph Puig (John Mayer, Green Day, Fergie), John Fields (The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus), Elliot Scheiner (The Eagles, Steely Dan), Jack Douglas (John Lennnon, Aerosmith, Slash), Tony Brown (Dixie Chicks, George Strait), Chuck Ainlay (Melissa Etheridge, Mark Knopfler), Sylvia Massey (Beck, Tool), Jimmy Douglass (Justin Timberlake, Timbaland), Allen Sides (Phil Collins, Joni Mitchell), as well as artists like Michael McDonald, Taylor Hawkins and The Foo Fighters.

Alan Parsons in the studio.

The Art and Science of Sound Recording series traces the recording process from the beginning principles of studio acoustics all the way to the final mix of a new album, shown being tracked live. Everything in the recording process is closely studied, from studio equipment and instruments to individual techniques, and even individual applications, such as simultaneous recording of acoustic guitar and voice, or recording a choir.

Supported by extensive musical examples, custom diagrams, and interview clips, The Art & Science of Sound Recording demonstrates a classic approach to recording and listening — followed by informed experimentation — and shows how this approach works in the modern computer-based studio environment.

The next series of six scenes will be available for download in January, followed by the final scenes for download just ahead of the release of the complete DVD boxed set in February.