Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to do a song or poem?

Sometimes a day, sometimes (if you are not in a hurry) I let it brew for a month or more. Allow at least two weeks for your song or poem to be written.

Do you really play all the instruments yourself?

Generally speaking, yes. I might occasionally get someone else to sing if a woman's voice is required. I prefer the warmer feel of "real" instruments, so don't tend to use MIDI much, though I have nothing against it.

What instruments do you have available?

Voice; electric, acoustic and classical guitars; fretless bass; piano and synth; alto sax, clarinet, and various silver and ethnic flutes and whistles; drum kit and various percussion including hand drums. I occasionally use plucked cello, but am less than average with the bow. I have been known to commit viola atrocities. Trumpet is getting better.

What sort of quality can I expect?

A professional sound that is pleasant to listen to repeatedly. I would define it as "demo" standard - in other words, it has not been through an elaborate mastering process, but it would take an experienced ear to tell the difference in sonic terms between my product and commercial releases.

In terms of my performance, expect it to be pleasant and competent.

But what happens if I don't like it?

If you hear a problem, and we can agree that it is a problem, I'll do my best to fix it, without further cost to you. If you still don't like the result, I will cheerfully refund your money. In fact, if you refuse to accept the end-product for any reason, I will cheerfully refund your money.

Can you do any style or sound I want?

I do have a certain style and sound, as does any performer, but I will endeavour to get as close as I can to the style you want. I don't guarantee to get every style perfectly, and I have definite technical limitations on my playing ability. If you need more than this, you can, if you wish, pay me enormous amounts of money, and we'll hire a big studio and musicians and get any style you like. I promise!

What if I don't live near your studio?

Not a problem. We can discuss your needs by email, chat and phone, then I can send you work in progress using MP3 files.

So what gear do you have in your studio?

I have a good quality digital studio, consisting of a Roland VS 1680 24-bit dedicated hard-disc recorder with onboard effects and the capacity to record 8 tracks simultaneously, a Beringer Composer compressor, and Yamaha NS40 speakers powered by a Yamaha amp. My primary micropones are Rode NS1s, and I also have a variety of other mics, including SM57, SM58, MD421, D112, PZM and Ramsa condensers. And it all fits in the back of my car (except the big monitors) so it's great for mobile recording.