Escape From Reality Part 1

So the last two days have been really hectic, and I've got a lot on my mind. As a result I'm not going to blog on anything worthwhile, but rather going to use this opportunity as an escape from reality. So what shall I ramble about? I'll start off with Take The State...

Take The State are a great rock alternative band that a few friends of mine started a while ago. They're all very influenced by bands like Coldplay, Bush and the Smashing Pumpkins. The band was originally started by Danny [vocals and acoustic guitar], and Dylan [drums]. A while later Gareth [Electric guitar] joined the band and the trio played and wrote songs together for quite a while before Leigh Andre [Bass] joined in. About 2 months ago Richard [electric guitar] joined the band to add a slightly heavier, more driving dynamic to the heavily acoustic band.

Being very close friends with Danny for a long time, I was always listening to new stuff he and the band wrote and recorded, but only got involved more just before Leigh Andre joined Take The State. Now I am sort of the band's production person, helping with songs and structure as well as doing sound for them at gigs and the like.

I'd really love to record Take The State in a top of the range studio, and here's how I'd do it:

I'd like to track everything on a Neve 88RS.

Drums

Kick: Crowley and Tripp El Diablo [Inside], Yamaha Subkick [outside]
Snare: Shure SM 57 [Top and bottom], AKG C51B [Top]
Toms: Sennheiser MD 421 [Top], Neumann U87 [Bottom]
Hats and Ride: Neumann KM 184
Overheads: Royer SF24
Spot mics: Rode NT55
Close Room mics: Neumann U87
Far Room Mics: Neumann M150, Neumann M149


Electric Guitars

Gareth Lead: Sennheiser MD421, Shure SM57, Royer R122, Neumann M150
Richard Lead: Sennheiser MD421, Shure SM57, Coles 4038, Neumann M150
Richard Rhythm: Sennheiser MD421, Shure SM57, Neumann U87, Neumann M150


Bass Guitar

Line output
Cab: Neumann U47 FET, Sennheiser MD421


Acoustic Guitar

Focused: Neumann KM184
Wide: Royer R122, AKG C451B


Vocals

Danny: Shure SM7B, Neumann M149
Backing: Neumann U87, Neumann M149


I would want to mix on my SSL Duality [I'm going to own one, and it's going to be awesome] and I'd compress the following groups as follows:

Drums: Variable Mu
Bass: CL2A
Keyboards: EL Distressor / 1176
Rhythm Guitar: LA2A
Lead Guitar: 1176
Acoustic Guitar: LA2A
Vocals: EL Distressor

I'd like to run the mix buss through an SSL G Series Compressor.

Of course each channel would get board eq and compression with the groups getting external / additional compression, and there would be LOTS of automation [it's how I tend to mix].

Ok enough about Take The State. I'll chat about Chelsea and football next...