Our head engineer and studio manager, Glenn Wheeler, delivers the goods for our 3rd mixtape of the Tierra Sessions Series.

Glenn’s thoughts about his mixtape:

This being my first mix tape for our site, I approached it from a different direction that my dj Spettro. He is just great. Not only are we lucky to be able to work with him daily, but so are the artists that he comes in contact with here at Tierra.

I have been engineering and producing records for many years. Over the years fortunately, I have been exposed to many different genres and artists along the way. My mix tape is all over the place in terms of artists and styles, but each one of these songs has a deep and personal effect on me. Let me take a moment and tell you about them.

1. Midnight at the Oasis – That has to be the best summer song ever written. It has such a warm tonal texture. The sounds were recorded in such a natural way for the day. I just can’t listen to this song without a smile on my face by the time the chorus hits.Buy at iTunes
2. Mr. Blue Sky – I was introduced to E.L.O. by my uncle Bud when I was about 10 years old. He had the most amazing stereo system for the time and the lights, knobs and VU meters intrigued me. He would put vinyl records on one after the other when we would come to his house for family gatherings. E.L.O. were in my opinion great pioneers in music. Their use of synthesizers and small orchestral elements was fascinating to me and still is.Buy at iTunes
3. You are the Sunshine of my life – This song was recorded at a time where the instruments and sound you heard during the time were all played by people. There was only aanalog tape to record on and there was no Pro Tools. The foirst time I ever heard this song was in my house on aa Saturday morning. I think I was 7 and my dad was singing it with the radio at the top of his lungs in the kitchen with my older sister. We lost her last year and I put this on and go right back to that day. I love Stevie Wonder he is an amazing artist and I love music.Buy at iTunes
4. All or Nothing at All – This is one of my favorite songs. The players that were put together for this album are some of the best jazz musicians in the world. I love the way the record was produced. All of the instruments sound just like they should.
5. Summer Breeze – What an amazing cut by Al Jarreau and George Benson. This disc was cut and mixed for 5.1 surround. The sounds are pristine. The two guys are incredible. You can’t listen to this song and not want to dance around the house. It makes me feel fine.Buy at iTunes
6. Floatin’ – This was a song written by Houston Jazz great Bernie Hatch. Larry Slezak recorded this song for his album “No Worries”. This was such a thrill for me to record this record. The album is loaded with top flight Houston talent. Floatin’ takes the listener through many different harmonic moods. I take a different path myself every time I hear it.Buy at iTunes
7. The Look Of Love – What can I say about this song except Diana Krall. Let me add Al Schmitt to that as well. The production on this album is amazing. The way that Al records instruments and mixes records is fascinating to me. Everything he does is just beautiful. He has a way of placing the listener in the middle of the music. As I listen to mixes he has done, I feel as if I can reach out and touch each musician. Production work like this makes me want to figure out better ways to record and mix.Buy at iTunes
8. Cambiando Camas – A great song by Thomas Hulten. Thomas is a Texas Jazz Master on trombone. Thomas has the amazing ability to play anything. I cut this album for Thomas last year and Dr. Robert Linder produced. The Album “Slide Side” features Houston musicians and was done here at Tierra Studios. As a trombone player myself, this was especially close to my heart. There is so much soul in his music. Thanks Thomas for such a great time.Buy at iTunes
9. Put Your Hand In Mine – This is just a great song. Sung by Tracy Byrd. Let correct that and say told by Tracy. He probably tells a story better than anyone I know. As I listen to this song, I feel like I am right there with my son. Not many songs make me teary-eyed, but this sure does. This is a great song. On so many levels, I am sure that we can all say we have been there. Thank you Tracy.But at iTunes
10. The Lady In My Life – From the “Thiller” album. This is a beautiful song. Micheal Jackson was so versatile. He seemed to put all of the raw emotion of the song out there for the listener. The tones and the quality of the recording are top notch. Engineer Bruce Swedien recorded this album in the analog domain. The entire record has a rich smooth quality. I never get tired of listening to this record.Buy at iTunes
11. Send Her My Love – I know……. Let me just say that I am a huge Journey fan. I really love the production work. The song has so much depth and strength all the way across the spectrum. Thank you Bob Clearmountain for an amazing mix.Buy at iTunes
12. The Logical Song – I have to thank Uncle Bud for this song. I think I owe him a new record. I wore this song out. Supertramp is such an organic group. They talk about everything in their music. Nothing is off limits. I find something new musically every time I hear it.Buy at iTunes
13. SyncronicityII – I want to just say thank you to the Lancaster’s. They had MTV. This was the first music video I ever saw. I became a police fan that day. A band where the bass player is the lead singer. How cool is that.Buy at iTunes
14. Easy – A timeless classic from the Commodores. It just makes me feel like everything is going to be alright. Lionel Ritchie has a great voice, but the band behind him is just as fine. I am a fan of great songs and great sounds.Buy at iTunes

Our head engineer, Glenn Wheeler, has started a video series on SSL Duality Tips & Tricks. The Solid State Logic Duality is an analogue mixing console, but acts like a digital console.  I call it the “Maserati” because:

1.  It sounds so amazing, I can hardly hide my excitement

2.  It’s sexier than a black Porsche convertible with a brunette model inside

3.  It makes me want to make big-room, dirty techno

4.  I have a photo of it on my vision board (I also have a photo of the Maserati, HA)

Check out our SSL Duality Tips & Tricks Vol. 1.  Feel free to ask any questions you might have on this topic of routing efx through the SSL Duality.

Producer Robert Linder and arranger Bernie Hatch have been working hard at Tierra Studios lately on a jazz standard album, featuring Houston saxophonist, Larry Slezak and his band. The songs are a collection of jazz standards and original tunes by Bernie Hatch and Larry Slezak. Here we see engineer Glenn Wheeler preparing to track string musicians for the album.

We were on hand again this year for another killer recording of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Houston. If you haven’t seen it, this show is incredible and Houston’s Society does it as well as any company in the world. A full orchestra, chorus and a talented cast put us at 35+ channels! We captured Ruddygore on 2-Alesis HD24′s with 2 more HD’s as backup. All inputs went through the Crest VX 40 channel (thank you goprosound.com) and sounded phenomenal. We’re just getting this one in the can for now, but I can’t wait to come back and hear it mixed.

OnSeeker is an new search engine focused on providing children, families, and the Christian community an alternate method of searching the Internet. The Unveiling is the first in a series of talent contests geared to discover new talent and promote family-friendly music. The winners of the contest, Anchordown, and Nick Fry, came to Tierra Studios for a day of recording and mixing with sound engineers Glenn Wheeler, Randy Miller, and Larry Murphy. Their finished songs are featured on the OnSeeker website, accessible by clicking here.

Erick Garcia, one of our favorite session drummers, stopped in to lay down some drums for Matt Mason.

Erick Garcia, Aaron Morris, Matt Mason

Line check by Glenn Wheeler. Custom!

Aaron Morris getting drum sounds. Intern Kat Bigbee oversees the operation.

Singer Chari has been at Tierra Studios lately cutting vocal tracks. Working alongside her producer, Chari laid down vocals for four of her songs with Glenn Wheeler engineering.

Steve Robbins and Cliff Evans have been here at Tierra lately working hard with engineer Glenn Wheeler to finish up the Gilbert and Sullivan project.