PolloGuitar
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 5091
San Francisco
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Posted on Aug 08 2011 04:32 PM
What do The TomorrowMen, The Deadbeats, Frankie & The Pool Boys, and Meshugga Beach Party have in common? Their albums all sound great, and they all recorded @ Rancho Cielo, my private studio. The facilities are humble, but the sound is huge. I'm interested in opening my studio up to more people and projects, especially surf bands. If you can hear the difference, then you deserve to record with somebody who loves and understands surf music. Rates and info available on request.
— Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp
My Blog- Euro Tour Blog
Pool Boys on Spotify
INSTAGRAM
Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB
Pollo Del Mar on FB
DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio
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Ron-Rhoades
Joined: Aug 19, 2006
Posts: 958
Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii
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Posted on Aug 08 2011 04:43 PM
The TO's are paddling over now!!! 
— The TakeOffs
"Kauai's Only All-Instrumental Surf Band"
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-TakeOffs/312866840587
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wooza
Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
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Posted on Aug 08 2011 10:30 PM
I will vouch for Ferenc's services 100%. I couldn't be happier with the end result of the TomorrowMen and Deadbeats' recordings at Rancho Cielo, and Ferenc was an immense help at every moment of the process up until the product was finished.
Ferenc took on recording, mixing, and producing duties for us Deadbeats and did a stellar job with all. It's true the recording setup is humble--I was a little worried my first time walking in as it had the looks of just a practice session at home--but the recording quality is great. Lots of people have been raving about the sound of the recent TomorrowMen album, much as they did for the Frankie and the Poolboys album. Well, they were both recorded in Ferenc's den with the couch pushed to the side. No matter, Ferenc has the gear and knowhow to use his setup to get some great recordings.
As I understand the Deadbeats' project was Ferenc's first stab at mixing himself. Again, that kinda worried me but, again, I ended up really happy. He knows through and through how surf sounds and works, how the different pieces in a surf band should complement each other or be accented, etc, so the first mix he presented to us sounded very natural and fitting. It sounded very much as I feel a surf mix should. We only gave minor suggestions for changes here and there, and he was very considerate of them, and accommodating and prompt in getting them done. I don't feel at all like it took much effort to get a sound I was pleased with in the mixing process.
As for production, this is where I think Ferenc is of exceptional value for a recording surf band. As I mentioned, he has a thorough understanding of the mechanics of the surf genre as a whole--trad, proggy, in-between, whatever--and a great capacity to recognize the strengths of a given surf song, album, band, whatever. He was instrumental in helping the Deadbeats focus our approach in the studio to emphasize our strengths as a group and to accent our songs in minor but important ways that I feel made a huge difference in improving the final recordings. He has a fantastic ear and imagination for recognizing what needs to be brought out of a given song to really bring its identity forward. I can't say how happy I was after just a half day of discussion and minor overdubs at Ferenc's. It really breathed extra life into our songs, subtly but invaluably.
It worked great for us, so I would recommend Ferenc's services highly for any interested surf band, or any other rock n' roll genre for that. Ferenc has a great feel that extends beyond surf so I think it would be unfair to limit him to recording only surf bands. However for all purposes here, the fact remains that surf is his primary expertise where I think he can lend an immensely helpful hand. If you're considering Rancho Cielo as an option and having doubts, quit doubting and do it already!
Last edited: Aug 09, 2011 00:15:10
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11046
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Aug 09 2011 01:13 AM
Wow! Ben really covered a lot of points there that I can only echo. I'd say even to bands not local that they should plan a trip here to the Bay Area, one of the most beautiful combination urban and natural areas in the country. You can get an excellent recording and within a short drive of Rancho Cielo be standing in the middle of an ancient redwood grove, towering 100's of feet above your head.
By now many of you heard the TomorrowMen album It's About Time!. Without Ferenc this album wouldn't be nearly as good as it is. He made quite a few creative suggestions, many of which are incorporated into the album. They worked so well that I can't imagine the songs without them now.
It's one thing to go into the studio and have your songs dialed in just so, but I think you lose a little magic by not being open to some studio experimentation. I found Ferenc very accommodating, we had a few failures for sure, but how could we ever have come up with that crazy guitar spacey echoey sound in Mobius Transformation except by just goofing with that echoplex and seeing what noises we could make. That's one example of the kinds of little touches that will help your music rise above the mundane and give it unique character.
I found Ferenc to be very patient, considerate and an excellent host. He has a solid grasp on what it takes to get a great surf music tone and at the same time allowing room for individuality. Like Ben said, he knows this genre and has a sincere love for it and for recording it right, so this style will continue to win new fans and flourish.
So in closing, all you surf bands out there, make your plans to record your next album at Rancho Cielo - you'll be glad you did.
While we're at it I want to make another referral - for our mastering engineer Gary Hobish at A. Hammer Engineering The guy is absolutely phenomenal, taking good mixes and burnishing them into surf greatness! He's done the Tmen album, The Deadbeats EP and is currently working on the new Surfside IV record too.
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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Pyronauts
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1129
Northern CA
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Posted on Feb 18 2012 12:39 AM
The Pyronauts recorded a few tracks here back in 2009... soon to be released... and I really must say that they do sound excellent! We are just finishing up the project at a more local studio and it will be interesting to see if anybody can tell the difference! We notice some subtle things, but all of the tracks that Ferenc recorded have a lively feel and crystal clear sound!
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Surfgitar
Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 1342
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
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Posted on Feb 18 2012 11:40 AM
WOW!! That's cool news. We use your (ferenc produced)cds to show studios here what a proper surf cd should sound like. Unfortunately, our local guys don't understand it. Best of luck going forward with this!
— CUTBACK
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