eSession rocks
A very timely piece of software has become available for me to use on my album. It’s called Virtual Glass and it’s a plug-in you download from a web site/service called eSession.com.
The subscription-based eSession site handles all administrative aspects of auditioning, negotiating with, and recording with, a huge number of top professional musicians, all without leaving the comfort of your own home studio (or in my case, DIScomfort as it’s not finished yet!)
Virtual Glass is a plug-in for the high-end recording software we use such as ProTools, Logic and so on. On the surface it’s just an audiovisual chat client, similar to iChat, that lives in the recording environment. But it’s very nifty in that it enables me to do a recording session with, let’s say Kevin Armstrong, who lives in London which is several hours away from me. Kevin has his own studio and uses the same software as me. So we can connect, open the same song, and Kevin can overdub guitar parts. We can discuss them, agree on retakes and so on, while hearing each other in real time. His face and/or his studio appear in a video window on my screen, and we have a ‘talkback’ system. The experience is actually not very different from me being in the control room and Kevin out in a booth. I can hear a low-res version of his part, then once it’s done he just drops the new recording into a bin online, and I update it on my end in hi-res. The software can keep track of the time we spend and even issue an invoice based on a pre-agreed fee.
Then let’s say I really need someone to play a jaw’s harp. I do a search for that keyword in the eSession talent profiles, and find out that Tony Levin as well as being a killer bassist is an ace jaw’s harpist (?!) and right now he’s got a mid-tour day off and he’s sitting in a hotel room in Nashville, Tenessee. I approach him and fix the fee. We can work together using Virtual Glass in real time over ADSL, or he can just work on it in his own time and send me a few takes to peruse offline.
eSession was created by music industry professionals in conjunction with some hot software engineers. It’s a fabulous piece of kit, and a great tool in this era of home recording; though I bet they are facing the challenge all early adopters face, in that people may be slow to change their working methods, and they need eSession to catch on before they burn through all their investors’ millions! I’m going to try to help out by using the sofwtare extensively on my album, and helping them publicise it a bit. Later this week one of the founders Gina Fant-Saez will be in Japan doing public demos of the product, and I’m going to let her connect to me in the UK and we’ll work on an overdub for one of my new songs.
If you’re a musician you can register for a free account, though some of the features may be a bit limited unless you sign up for a paid subscription–but that is is very reasonable starting at under twenty bucks a month, considering that just the gas for one drive to someone else’s studio would cost you a lot more!
Thomas,
That just sounds fab, technology really is fantastic.
Really good for your carbon footprint.
I just wish I was a musician, and could sign up and have a go.
Let us know how the demos go in Japan.
Best
Lindon
Thomas,
Thanks for the regular updates on your recording sessions. It’s a privilege to hear how your new tunes are progressing. Any chance of a photo of your (unfinished) recording studio so that we can picture you at work?
All the best,
Neil
This is why I love your blog – it’s a great place to get the latest info on software/hardware/gear. It’s also fantastic to read of how you go about the creative process, artists don’t often get a chance to do so for the public and I can’t get enough of it!
Wow… very cool indeed!
But you couldn’t afford me…
Darren.
I know you have been a long term advocate of this kind of recording Thomas. I recall your contribution to a show called MegaLab back in 1999 I think. 9 years later the technology has matured… Lets hope more musicians do the same.
Darren,
How much for some slap bass?
Cheers,
Andrew
My East Coast (US) friends and I have been jonesin’ to work together again and have already been passing some files back and forth. This could be perfect for us.
Ultimately, I see a whole new set of session stars emerging from eSession; reclusives who divert all their lithium ion power towards chops and feel instead of charisma and schmoozability.
Checking out the site right now.
-Joel
I love the image you’ve posted of the eSession screen. It appears you have antennae – one thin and one almost mouse-ear-ish.
Perhaps you’ll start a new fashion trend.
Right, I remember you talking about eSession in an audio
I took a Cisco Systems Networking
interview you did maybe last year sometime, Thomas. You
mentioned factors like ‘throughput’ and ‘latency’, and I thought,
‘He *knows*, man.”
Technology course in the late 90′s (my final mark was 82) so I
knew exactly what you were talking about, and I was impressed.
I think that you’ll help eSession take off like a rocket, because
you know both the music and the technology aspects. You’re, like,
“The Guy”! Collaboration is no longer dependent on physical
proximity–the future is *here*. Awesome!
Peace and love of technical stuff,
Kara
Don’t choose that on-screen audio setting that says, “crappy,” please!
Beech
Maybe I am a Geek,
‘Cos when I listen to an album I always love to read the cover notes that come (usually) with it. Normally this gives the listener an insight into the process of how the album was made including who was playing and singing on the album and what instruments were used. This makes me focus more on all facets of the music.
Your Blog is like an almost ‘Live’ version of an information booklet. I find it absolutely fascinating to read the progression of putting your new album together. You are giving us so much information with not just the set up but also what you’re thinking as you go along.
When the album goes to print all you need to do is to direct listeners to your Blog for extensive cover notes!
I’m so pleased you are putting all your thoughts to word. Don’t stop. I’m guessing by the manner of how you write, you love to get it out of your head and onto hard copy?
I travel internationally, dubbing foreign-language versions, and “virtual glass” or something like it could literally change my life! Thank you so much for being their champion. -and thank you for your great blog!!
As Joel, my West Coast friend, indicates – eSession could open up a whole new world (literally and figuratively) for musicians.
Paul
Thomas,
Thank you so much for this blog. I am speechless and so grateful. The Japan demo blew everyone away, so thank you for that too.
If you wanna try the site with a specific musician or engineer, say the word, I’ll make it happen – free.
And – isn’t it “Jew’s Harp”? As a kid, I always that people were saying “juice harp”…
thanks again – and I am happy to answer any eSession questions should anyone have them,
Gina