Moderator: Who is that next month with?

Jack Endino: Next month, a band called Dirty Power from S.F. are coming up here. Then I go to Canada, and work with Hot Hot Heat for Sub Pop, then I go to the Tape Op conference in Sacramento to be on a panel.

Moderator: Please describe the studio you most recently worked at in Brasil. And does the coffee down there rule or what!!!

Jack Endino: I never drink it, but it looks like a black syrup down there. What we call "espresso" they just call "coffee". The studio was called Estudio AR and had a Neve room and an SSL room. For some reason, we ended up tracking in the SSL room, though I used as many outboard mic preamps as I could. It was kind of unnecessary but that was the studio where the band wanted to work. I would usually only use an SSL for mixing, not tracking.

Holli: Hello everyone. I´d really like to know what basically makes a good song become great?

Jack Endino: Hooks, in a word. Memorable bits of melody. Originality, even a tiny bit, helps a lot. And an arrangement that is not too long-winded or repetitive.

As we say, "Don't bore us, get to the chorus"... ;-)

Ryan: maybe you don't want any Mudhoney questions, but on "my brother the cow," the vinyl version, the 45RPM that comes with it - did you record that? That is pure genius! And what the hell was that weird organ noise?!

Jack Endino: Hah! Almost no one ever bought the vinyl and heard that bonus 7 inch. Yup, pure genius, even better than the Thrown-Ups. It was probably an organ of some kind... I don't remember!

Moderator: Ever use the Pod or the Johnson guitar simulators in the studio? I am sure you are familiar with the red box and power soaks in general.

Jack Endino: Never needed a power soak... best to just let the amp rip. As for the Pods, I think they're great for cutting tracks if you're in your apartment at 3AM with headphones. I have about 15 guitar amps in my collection, and I prefer the real thing.

Jesus: Moderating guy..... U Rock.

Ryan: And speaking of vintage, do you still use your old twin that was modded to pre-CBS specs?

Jack Endino: Actually, it IS pre-cbs specs... it's a ‘68, silverface, but before they screwed it up. The circuitry is still an AB-763 type. It rules; we tracked most of Bleach with it cuz Kurt's amp was in the shop. I did tweak the phase inverter circuit and replace some filter caps, so it is an excellent amp for almost anything including as a bass head. You have to use an external fuzz box though.

Another Dave: Many people seem to do a lot of tracking with outboard mic pre's, are you into that?

Jack Endino: I like some of them. The reason is that, as boards are getting cheaper and cheaper, people are starting to notice that spending a grand for ONE channel insteadof a grand for 16 channels makes a difference, especially with vocals and cymblas and the like.

Jeffsochor: Pre's of choice?

Jack Endino: API lunchbox, always welcome. Summit tube pre's are good. Avalon makes a killer DI box. I like the Blue series.

Holli: Is there any trick I can use to get people to put more power in their performance while tracking?

Jack Endino: Um, try turning their headphones up louder. Another thing is to get them doing their overdubs in the control room with you, with the speakers cranked up. Dimming the lights helps too.

Moderator: Tricks about recording vocals in the control room? Change polarity on the mic channel?

Jack Endino: Nope... some people will switch polarity on one speaker. I have never had to do it. Best is to just get 'em standing in the back of the room. They will have to be close to the mic, and the wall behind them will have to be non-absorbent; sometimes I'll hang a blanket there. And the mic needs to be directional (cardioid) in order to minimize the leakage. I did all the vocals on the last Therapy? record that way. He couldn't sing in tune with headphones, but once I got him in front of the speakers it was totally fine.

chat.boy: Jack, tell us a bit about the Tape Op convention in Sacramento you'll be attending.

Jack Endino: I'll refer you to tapeop.com for the details. Basically a 3-day thing with tons of panels and workshops.

Moderator: Albini. Whaddaya think? I really like the Edith Frost record he just did.

Jack Endino: Um... haven't heard it. I like In Utero a lot. I don't really know the guy, we had lunch once years ago and he showed me his studio, which was in his home at the time. We'll be on a panel at Tape Op, so I'm looking forward to saying hello.

Eric: If you could not produce rock music, what type of music would you want to try to take a stab at?

Jack Endino: I think hip hop would be interesting from a technical standpoint, though I don't listen to it much. Recording jazz is excellent, but again, I don't listen to much of it. Anything that doesn't have loud electric guitars in it would automatically be interesting to me, just from a technical standpoint; guitars break all the rules and pretty much dictate everything else you have to do with the sounds

ShelTalmy: Assuming you still reside in Seattle, doesn't the city tax that Paul Allen basically created piss you off? :o)

Moderator: Shel! Sorry, Jack. Some controversy there. I try to keep it civil here.

Jack Endino: Ah, Paul Allen. He bought my old 8-track machine for a tidy sum for EMP so I can't complain. Those stadiums annoy me though.

Moderator: Do you do as much lower-volume monitoring as possible, to save your ears? May I tell you what it was like from the side of the stage during the Prodigy show the other night?

Jack Endino: Correct. Been wearing earplugs to shows since the 70’s. Prodigy is still a band?

Moderator: Prodigy is (one) genius keyboardist plus (two) morons who run around a lot shouting, all at around 115 or 120 dB, and the fans go crazy.

Jack Endino: Ah, lovely...

Moderator: Folks, send in your final questions for Jack!

Jack Endino: Yup, I gotta go make more noisy records.

phat-ass: Looking at the pop charts today, do you ever get the feeling that rock is dead?

Jack Endino: Nope... it seemed dead in 1975 to me, and look what happened. And hey, all those Alice imitators today are still rock bands, more or less. It could be worse.

Holli: Would my money be better spent on recording school, or in upgrading my home studio, where I have all the time in the world to practice?

Jack Endino: In your home studio, hands down. With the money you would spend on recording school, you could buy an entire studio. Get a subscription to Tape Op and Recording and EQ and start reading and learning and experimenting.

Moderator: Jack, did anybody ever tell you your speaking voice resembles Dave Alvin's? Do you smoke?

Jack Endino: Nope... just those crackers...;-)

Moderator: Thanks for attending our PSW Live Chat with Jack Endino. Please check out the Tape Op conference plans, and maybe we will see you there ...

chat.boy: On behalf of PSW, I'd like to thank Jack for sharing his time with us.

Moderator: chat.boy is the MAN! I mean - Jack is the Man! chat.boy is just ... some crazy kid!

Jack Endino: Thanks y'all. Check me out at www.endino.com when you have a chance. Cheers guys!

chat.boy: The Jack Endino Chat was moderated by Chris Kathman.

Moderator: This has been a production of Universal Concept Inc.

Moderator: Cheerio, Jack!

Jack Endino: Jack Endino appears courtesy of... himself... ;-)
Doors locked? Still selling beer?

Moderator: Here’s two sixers for the band, now get out!

chat.boy: A full transcript of this chat will be available in the next day or so, or whenever CK gets around to it...

Moderator: It will be tomorrow, Mr. Smarty.

Jack Endino: You better edit the hell out of it.

Moderator: Jack, you are okay!

chat.boy: G'night folks, watch for our next chat, details at www.prosoundweb.com.