Sean Lee
Sean Lee is an engineer, producer, video editor, vocal instructor, and old-school rock-n-roller in Los Angeles who has relied on Sony Creative Software applications throughout his career. When he's not in the field working on independent films or documentaries, he's playing guitar with MIWA. The band's newest album, "My Wish Is Your Command," was just released. We caught up with Sean for a quick Q&A between projects.
Sony Creative Software: Sean, what's the latest with MIWA, and who's in the band?
Sean Lee: I'm on guitar, I also produced and engineered the disk. Miwa's our lead singer/screamer — you won't believe the sound and volume she can produce! And we've got Chris Slade, formerly of AC/DC, on drums, along with Bjorn Englen on bass (from Yngwie Malmsteen).
MIWA's newest album, "My Wish Is Your Command" is available on ITunes, Amazon and all major online retailers for mp3s. The full packaged album is available at www.MiwaRocks.com. The studio website is www.MelroseStudios.us. I used your applications throughout the recording and production processes. The videos were done with Vegas Pro, too: http://youtu.be/mMV8UXvo83U
SCS: You've got a long history here in the L.A. music and video scene. Where did you start?
Sean Lee: I founded The Voice Mechanic back in 1996, I've had the studio here on Melrose for over 15 years. I've had over 2,000 private students come in for vocal coaching — some big names!
SCS: What are you working on currently?
Sean Lee: Right now, foremost we're supporting the new MIWA album. When we're not gigging, you can catch me back in the studio, producing and recording a number of other artists. In between sessions MIWA sneaks back in to start work on the next album.
And in my "spare time," I shoot film and music videos for a wide range of clients; I'm never sure where I'll be one day to the next. We've shot out in the desert, downtown, behind the Hollywood sign…in this business, you need to stay mobile and deliver quickly. Ever since I developed my Vegas Pro chops, I'm able to turn around a project faster than many of my competitors. With Vegas Pro in my tool chest, there's no project I can't handle.
SCS: You've been using our applications for a long time. Can you tell us what you use most often?
Sean Lee: Well, I rely on Sony Vegas Pro for pretty much everything, including multi-track recording and mixing, video editing, etc. There's not much you can't do with Vegas Pro, so it's my go-to application for all my media production needs. I'll tell you, I've turned a lot of people on to Vegas Pro, because they're always asking how I get the results I do.
Most of my clients still want a fixed-format deliverable, so I use DVD Architect Pro for making DVDs and Blu-ray disks.
Sony Acid Pro gets a workout in the studio when we're looking to fill out our multi-track recording with additional midi tracks and loops. It's so simple to make recordings sound bigger in ACID Pro. Even though you might have studio full of players, there's always some sweetening of the mix you can do in ACID Pro. You just need to know when to stop!
And, of course, Sound Forge Pro is a must-have for mastering, cleaning up and time-stretching audio clips. Every single piece of audio — anything from a MIWA track to narration for a local commercial — goes through Sound Forge Pro at some point. It's kind of like ACID Pro; there's so much you can do, the problem isn't with the application, it's with the user — knowing when to stop tweaking!
SCS: What do you like most about Sony Creative Software applications?
Sean Lee: I love the intuitiveness and ease of use. With some other programs you don't even know where to start. But with Sony Creative Software apps it's very easy to just jump right in, drag and drop almost any type of file in, drag them around to the order you'd like and output your project in a variety of formats. It's almost too easy.
SCS: You've got a lengthy resume full of varied multimedia projects. Is there where time where everything our applications really helped out?
Sean Lee: I recorded all the tracks for the new MIWA album with Vegas Pro and took them to the first studio that I was using before I took over the project and finished it all myself.
I mastered our album with Sound Forge Pro 10 and Izotopes Alloy plug-in and I've been working on MIWA music videos with Vegas. www.YouTube.com/miwarocks
This new album is completely Sony Creative Software products — so I guess they really helped out here!
SCS: Any closing thoughts?
Sean Lee:
Here's what I like about how Sony Creative Software applications work: The whole process is under my control. I can approve and master my own mix, rather than have somebody else change the sound by re-equalizing and compressing it, and then sending it back to me when they're done. These tools allow me to control everything.
They're easy to use. For instance, recording the new album: Set up one song, save the effect chain. Each new song, I'd load the effect chain, make small adjustments and bam! - it's done!
And obviously, when you can do it yourself, you'll save thousands of dollars. For instance, with Sound Forge Pro, I don't need to outsource my mastering any more. I thought mastering had to go through tube compression, but when I tried it myself with Sound Forge Pro, the end result sounded exactly the same as the tube compression mastering. I'm totally self sufficient!
I've found the applications deliver future-proof media. I can always re-render the files with the exact same settings (if I want), and raise the output to the recorded sample rate, which in this case was 24/96.
The Izotope Mastering bundle is fantastic! Once the tracks are crushed, pounded, and maximized to be as loud as possible, I easily laid out the tracks with Sound Forge Pro to Red Book specs and got the CD ready for duplication.
Really, I guess Sony Creative Software applications provide me the freedom to do whatever I want, and not rely on other studios. When you're able to work like that, you can take creative liberties with the stuff you do. I appreciate that, my clients appreciate that; and I appreciate Sony Creative Software for giving me that opportunity!
