HI James,   
      
   THis alternative band I mentioned, 5 pieces, 2 guitars, bass drums and singer,   
   different members also played a variety of other instruments.   
   This was the band that used my lady's AFrican war drums for   
   auxillary percussion on one of their cuts, think I mentioned that.  I wished I   
   could have put those in a big room to   
   capture.   
      
   Anyway, on with this story.  The singer was fair, when he'd   
   relax.  Getting him to relax though so that his posture and   
   other factors would combine for a good vocal take was   
   difficult.  HE sort of stood slouched, which didn't help him for good   
   breathing.  OF course, the guitarist and principal   
   songwriter wrote these songs that required the singer to   
   deliver long flowing lines without good places for a catch   
   breath.  HIs stance didn't lend to a good clear airway.   
      
   But even worse, the kid was just a nervous Nellie in the   
   studio.  We'd bring him over, I'd record him in a room with   
   low ambient lighting and an area light for his cheat sheet   
   when/if needed.  But then, as soon as he knew that this one   
   was a keeper take he'd tense up his body, breathing would go to heck, and we'd   
   be punching in phrases all night.   
      
   So I'd fool the kid.  Bring him in, hand him the headphones, get the mix in   
   his cans where he was happy with it then   
   "let's do a dry run through this make sure that there are no level changes   
   that will surprise the blind man."   
      
   We'd record him clear through the song, then I'd say "come   
   on in and listen to this, I was recording."   
      
   HE never did catch on, but often it was easier to capture   
   the main vocal track that way, and do a couple of punch-ins   
   to fix things.  OTherwise most of the vocal track would   
   require punches.   
      
   Regards,   
              Richard   
   --- timEd 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin:  (1:116/901)