Pictures of Recording Equipment

Recording a Musical Product 18/04/12

On the 10/04/12 I recorded one last song for my musical product. This was James Morrison's "You Make It Real." Once again we recorded the guitar and vocal seperately using all of the same equipment as before. The songs that I planned to orignially do0 were: At Last by Etta James, Make You Feel My Love by Adele, Guns and Horses by Adele and Mercy on Me by Christina Aguilera. However I ended up doing the songs Make You Feel My Love and Hometown Glory by Adele, You Make it Real by James Morrison and At Last by Etta James.

Instead of recording Christina Aguilera's song I decided to record You Make it Real because we were having problems recording the guitar for the original song. We started by playing the guitar along with the original track (playing through the headphones) however found that it was at a much faster pace then how we normally like to play it. We then tried recording both the vocal and the guitar together before playing the guitar to the previous track we recorded so that it was at our pace. This didn't work. The last thing we tried doing was recording a few bars of the guitar and putting it on a loop as it is also (like Adeles song) got a repetitive guitar part. This worked and then we tried adding the riffs in between however we found that they would not stay in the right place or would sound too different to the main guitar part.

So instead of recording Mercy on Me we recorded a different song. This was a lot easier. We recorded the guitar beforehand and then recorded the vocal in a few takes afterwards. After this we added the effects that we had used on Adele's song Make You Feel My Love.

Musical Product 27/03/2012

On Sunday I recorded 2 more songs for the EP/musical product - At Last and Hometown Glory.These didn't take too long to record as each took 4 or 5 takes before they were sounding ok. On At Last it turned out that on one part of the song, a previous take sounded better so I split the track and moved the better part into the track that I felt was the best take overall. Again, after all the recording had been done I finished the tracks and mixed them down on Monday night. I had saved some of the effects for guitar and vocal on a preset from the last recording session and used these on both tracks however I changed them slightly.

On Hometown Glory Rob and myself used a click track to play the guitar to as it is quite a repetitive song and if it goes out of time then the whole song sounds a mess. This helped a lot as it kept the guitar part consitent and it was easier for me to record the vocals as I didn't have to make any last minute changes.

Again when recording we used: an acoustic guitar (TangleWood); a microphone - louten horizon (for both guitar and vocals); two rokit speakers one on either side of where we were mixing the track so that we could listen to the music properly as a surrounding sound and pan it left or right when needed; an alesis USB audio interface and an RNP pre amp.

In At Last I removed the bass reduction and added some extra reverb. I then changed the bass part of the visual EQ to make the lower notes sound more clear and smooth and I also changed the EQ on the guitar to give the same sort of effect. In Hometown Glory I added extra gain because at the start of the song and in the verses my voice sounds quite quiet in comparison to the chorus, this then made the track sound slightly more clear and equal in terms of volume. I also added some extra reverb to the guitar.I still have to record a couple more tracks for the musical product and hopefully I will get these done over the Easter holiday.

Musical Product 8/03/2012

The list of songs that I plan to record for my musical product are:

• Make you feel my love - Adele
• At Last - Etta James
• Guns and Horses - Ellie Goulding
• Mercy on Me - Christina Aguilera

I have recorded music before on Cubase in order to practise for gigs and listen back to see how it sounds and just to have something to show people when asking whether I can organise or play at a gig or an event.  So far I have recorded Make you feel my love by Adele. Me and Rob (sound engineer) did this by recording the guitar first - seperately - so it wasn't in the background of the vocal track and didn't leak over. I then added some different effects to the guitar and saved these as a preset. I then did a few takes and got the vocals recorded and added some reverb, chorus and echo. After, I saved these as presets so that I can use them on future songs to make the album sound the same as a whole.

When recording make you feel my love we started by recording the guitar and vocals into Cubase however the vocals were clipping when we recorded them and started distorting and we couldn't find where the problem originated from so we just decided to record the whole thing into Garageband instead which actually proved to be easier to use in terms of adding effects and techniques to the track after recording- although they were limited. One thing we did find quite annoying with Garageband is that if you input another track and you only need certain parts of it, even when you trim it down the size of the file still doesn't change in your documents so it is taking up more space then needed in your documents. Eventually we found it is best if you trim the track in another piece of software before inputting it into Garageband to reduce the size of the file.

I didn't have to book any rooms as I just did the recording at home using: an acoustic guitar (TangleWood); a microphone - louten horizon (for both guitar and vocals); two rokit speakers one on either side of where we were mixing the track so that we could listen to the music properly as a surrounding sound and pan it left or right when needed; an alesis USB audio interface and an RNP pre amp.

I currently have all the guitar recorded for all the songs (using Rob's help) and one of the tracks completely mixed down however still have 3 songs to finish off. If I were to make this a full physical product I would still need to create and design the artwork for the EP, the posters and flyers to promote the EP and also set up a lanch gig along with similar promotion. This would then hopefully allow me to gather feedback on the tracks that I have recorded, the artwork and the musical product as a whole from my target market, which was revealed from the primary research that I have gathered.

I can't actually distribute this EP physcially or digitally because it would be breaching copyright laws however if the songs on the album were my own I would probably distribute one of the songs off the album before the others maybe as a free download just to give the public an idea of what they will be getting out of the full musical product before trying to sell/broadcast the album in as many places as possible. These could include:

• Amazon (physical & digital)
• HMV
• Independent record stores
• Radios
• Lists so that people can choose the music for TV programs, adverts and films

Studio Sessions

We all know that Ed is famous for using his loop pedal and did so in his breakthrough video for SBTV when he did a studio session for the song "You Need Me I Don't Need You." He records his voice and guitar over 1 or 2 bars a few times using various techniques to create layers for the melody/accompaniment of his song.

He has also done a studio session for the song wayfaring stranger by layering up his voice and creating harmonies for him to sing over throughout the song.

The video is below...

Studio Personnel

Jake Gosling

Ed's album "+" was produced mainly by Jake Gosling and part of it by No I.D.. It was written by Ed Sheeran, Jake Gosling, Gordon Mills Junior, Chris Leonard and Julie Frost with Ed taking the lead part in writing most of the songs.

1. "The A Team" - Written by Ed Sheeran
Released as the first single from the album as a digital download on 12th June 2011, went straight in the charts at number 3 and spent 10 weeks in the top 10.
2. "Drunk" - Written by Ed Sheeran and Jake Gosling
3. "U.N.I" - Written by Ed Sheeran and Jake Gosling
4. "Grade 8" - Written by Ed Sheeran
5. "Wake Me Up" - Written by Ed Sheeran and Jake Gosling
6. "Small Bump" - Written by Ed Sheeran
7. "This" - Written by Ed Sheeran and Gordon Mills Junior
8. "The City" - Written by Ed Sheeran and Jake Gosling
9. "Lego House" - Written by Ed Sheeran, Jake Gosling, Chris Leonard
Released as the third single from the album on 11th November 2011. Video starring Rupert Grint from Harry Potter.
10. "You Need Me I Don't Need You" - Written by Ed Sheeran
Released as the second single from the album on 26th August 2011. Video starring Matthew Morgan doing sign language.
11. "Kiss Me" - Written by Ed Sheeran and Julie Frost
12. "Give Me Love" - Written by Ed Sheeran, Jake Gosling and Chris Leonard
Includes a hidden track called "The Parting Glass"

Interviews with Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran talks about his rise to fame, spending "all day in the studio" and touring with Example and Just Jack. 

Ed Sheeran has an interview with the people that helped him breakthrough in the music industry.

Ed Sheeran was also interviewed by Capital FM...

Marketing and Promotional Stunts

From 2005 - 2011 Ed Sheeran marketed himself by doing an extreme amount of gigs and getting interviews and opportunities to play his songs acoustically with small radio shows or youtube shows on the internet and Ed Sheeran actually made his breakthrough through SBTV by uploading a video there. In 2009 Ed Sheeran played 312 gigs. He said that he had seen in an interview that James Morrison had done 200 gigs in a year and he said that he wanted to beat that number... so he did. He tells Something for the Weekend about this and plays "Lego House" before it becomes famous.

Ed Sheeran also went on VirginRedRoom in 2009 before he was famous playing "Homeless" from his EP "Loose Change."

Another way Ed has promoted himself is through his own website which is http://edsheeran.com where he has all his latest news, the dates for his live shows, pictures, videos, lyrics and his online shop (you can buy albums and merchandise).

Ed Sheeran is also on twitter, facebook and myspace.

http://twitter.com/edsheeran
http://www.facebook.com/EdSheeranMusic
http://www.myspace.com/edsheeran

Ed Sheeran's support act in Example's tour obviously was also a great source of marketing for him and pushed him towards becoming famous.

Others around the country have been doing thousands of covers of Ed Sheeran's songs including celebrities like Rizzle Kicks.

During 2011, in order to increase fans, opportunities and popularity amongst the UK, Ed has been showing up on TV shows such as "This Morning" and "Something for The Weekend" and doing a countless number of interviews and live performances. He also appeared in Glastonbury Festival in June 2011.

Ed Sheeran singing You Need Me I Don't Need You

In late 2011 Ed Sheeran also went back to Crisis. The homeless shelter he visited and volunteered at some time ago where he got the inspiration for The A Team. He played to them and this was recognised by a lot of people increasing Ed's popularity.

Music Videos

Like many other artists Ed Sheeran has just released music videos for his songs that have hit the big time. The A Team (Sheeran's first commercially recognised song) was played by Ed on "Later...with Jools Holland" and was then released as a digital download in the UK. The A Team entered the UK chart at number 3 and shortly after this video was made:

The A Team artwork by Phillip Butah

The video cost under £20 to make and was shot by photographer Ruskin Kyle totally in black and white. The song was based on a true story that Ed learnt from a girl called Angel when volunteering at Crisis homeless shelter. When Q magazine interviewed Ed he said: ""I played at a Christmas gig for the homeless charity Crisis. I met this homeless girl there and her story inspired me to write a song. I wrote a tune about a similar situation, not entirely based on her, because I didn't want to pinch someone else's story." The video obviously reflects the sad situation that Ed saw when talking and learning about this girl and after the song got released and got into the top of the charts so quickly, Q magazine interviewed Ed and he said: "I got lots of messages from parents saying that something similar had happened to their daughters. When I wrote it I never thought that it would connect with so many people, but it's great it has."


The artwork for the  album cover (containing acoustic and extended versions) was again designed by loyal friend and artist to Ed Sheeran Phillip Butah.


Digital Spy's Robert Copsey wrote a review about the song and said:

"The true story of a homeless drug addict who will 'go mad for a couple grams' and whose face is 'crumbling like pastries', Sheeran's frank honesty and lump-in-the-throat-like emotion are weighted by a folky melody and off-kilter acoustics. It might have taken him a while to get here, but as the saying goes, slow and steady..."

Matthew Morgan

Shortly after "+" was released, the song "You Need Me I Don't Need You" became popular with Ed Sheerans recent fans. The song is about Ed Sheerans slow rise to fame and highlights the fact that he has done it all by himself - sometimes a bit too much, people seem to generally think. Ed Sheeran made this video, which is mainly focused on a man called Matthew Morgan who is doing the sign language for "You Need Me I Don't Need You." It is again filmed only in black and white and Ed Sheeran only comes into the video right at the end where he sings the last few words of the song.

You Need Me I Don't Need You by Phillip Butah

Everyone seemed surprised by Ed Sheeran's idea to appeal to all the deaf fans out there as well including The Mirror who said:

"Rising star Ed Sheeran has surprised his critics and fans by simply using sign language in the music video for his new single. The stroke of artistic genius has pleased Sheeran's devoted fan base as the song 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You' was pinpointed as a reason behind his success after originally filming the song on SB:TV."

The originally filmed SBTV version is below:

People were perhaps most surprised though by Ed Sheeran's video of "Lego House." The music video is about a crazed, obsessed fan who is stalking Ed and quite obviously, in the video, wants to be him. The things that most surprised everyone though was that Rupert Grint was starring in it! Metro Web Reporter tells us that Ed had previously told The Sun: "When I was coming up with ideas for the Lego House video, I knew that I wanted Rupert to be in it. I've grown up with the Potter films and have massive respect for him as an actor. This video is going to be brilliant."

"Lego House" is filmed in colour unlike every other video (perhaps to show the colour of both Ed and Rupert's hair) and is quite strange and funny with this very famous actor aspiring to be like this newly found singer. Below is the behind the scenes video...

Will Ed Sheeran be able to keep up such a good stream of music videos?

Tours

In 2010 Ed Sheeran was invited by Example to be a support act in his 2011 tour. This was then closely followed by Jamie Foxx spotting Ed Sheeran in Los Angeles in "The Foxxhole" and inviting him to his house to record with him for the rest of his stay. His fanbase then started rapidly increasing due to the amount of gigs/open mics he was doing and his supporting act on Example's tour. Ed Sheeran then started his own tour around small venues in the UK in 2011(tour diary's part 1, 2 and 3 below).

Record Label - Asylum/Atlantic

Ed signed with Asylum/Atlantic records recently (January 2011) after releasing a series of albums and singles through his independent label including the album "No 5 Collaborations Project" which played a key part in his rise to fame. Speeakz posted on Pin Board Blog that Atlantic Records announced this over twitter to the world by saying: "We are very happy to announce that the immensely talented Ed Sheeran is now officially part of the Atlantic family! Welcome aboard Ed!" We all now know that the record label has helped him push through the last stages of becoming famous and showing his music to the world after his long rise to fame through his album "+ 

Asylum records was founded in 1971 by David Geffen and Elliot Roberts specifically to sign one artist. It was then, in 1972, taken over by Warner Music Group. At this point in time the music genre is generally hip-hop, rock and alternative metal and all music is distributed under Warner Bros. Records. 

Atlantic records was founded in 1947 by Herb Abramson and Nesuhi and Ahmet Ertegun. It is best known for the music genres jazz, R&B and soul and music is distributed under Atlantic Records Group.

Concert Photos, Videos and Reviews

A few of Ed Sheeran's concert photos and videos...

Live at Rock City in Nottingham

Sarah O'Malley from The Guardian says:

"At only 20-years-old, his performance has the confidence and content of artists twice his age."

"Constructing each song with only voice and guitar loops recorded live on stage, it is hard not to be impressed by his musicianship. "

"Throughout the night, you get the feeling that he is enjoying this just as much as the screaming fans in front of him." 

Live at Shepherds Bush Empire

Emily Jupp from The Independent says:

"His voice is great, clear, bright and versatile"

"Sheeran comes across as a down-to-earth guy, someone you'd share your lunch with if they forgot theirs" 

Ed Sheeran singing Give Me Love at Shepherds Bush Empire in London

Ed Sheeran singing You Need Me I Don't Need You at Shepherds Bush Empire in London

Ed Sheeran singing his most famous hit "The A Team" on Jools Holland (Above)