andrew dodson

I’m planning on posting a couple of extensive posts soon (more theological in nature), but for now, we’ll have to settle for some more random blogging:

• That bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis?  Yeah, Josh and I drove across that bridge last fall when we went to the Desiring God conference.  For some first-hand coverage of the situation, visit Desiring God.
• I’m halfway through Chasing Daylight (woo hoo!).  The posts mentioned above will deal with my reading of this book.  Look for them this weekend, or early next week.
• I’m excited about the previously mentioned internet ideas that CLS is pursuing.  I will likely share more about these this weekend, as well.  I didn’t come up with the ideas, but there is one in particular that I have done the majority of the work for so far, so I’m particularly interested in the result of that idea.
• The JMB DVD is nearing completion!  We will preview the DVD this weekend and see how it’s coming along.  Bert has been hard at work mixing the camera angles together for your viewing enjoyment.  We should have it completed in the very near future - just in time for our slate of fall concerts that are coming up soon.
• I’m buying a new ride cymbal tomorrow - a 20″ Sabian HHX Manhattan ride.  I’ve had my eye on it for quite some time and found a person getting rid of one in Lexington.  He’s going to be in Frankfort tomorrow, so I’ve made arrangements to meet up with him and do business.  You can hardly find them used on eBay, which is one reason it’s taken me a while to get one.  New, they go for $350.  Yeah - not gonna shell out that much for a cymbal that I don’t “need.”  But, I’m getting it at a great price and it will satisfy my desire for a jazz sounding drum set.  It’s designed to sound like the popular rides from back in the day when jazz ruled the music world.
• Speaking of money, I paid off my biggest interest-bearing debt today!  I’d originally planned on paying it off over the next two months, but I was itching to pay it off.  So, I took some money out of savings and paid the sucker off.

This post may break my personal record for most categories used.  Stay tuned for more this weekend…

Several months ago (understatement), I blogged about the possibility of doing podcasts through this site.  Keeping true to that word, I’ve finally picked up a piece of equipment to make it very easy.  The M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96.  It records direct to Compact Flash, comes with a stereo microphone (I have another one that I might use, however), and has MP3 & WAV recording capability.  I will likely use it to record TPCC sermons as well (or be my backup).  I’ve been needing (wanting?) something to replace my Nomad Jukebox 3 which is not Mac-compatible.  I think this will do the trick.  Files can be transferred via USB.  Once they’re on the computer, I’ll dump them into Audacity or Tracktion, edit them and they’ll be ready to go.  It will likely get use during my drum practice sessions and with JMB as well.

Well… today’s the day.  The master disk of the Crossings recording will be given to their president and off it will go to be mass duplicated, packaged, delivered and then sold.  My part of the job is done.  I’m listening to it as I type this.  Here’s the final tracklist:

1. Salvation is Here (J-Creek band)
2. Marvelous Light (J-Creek band)
3. My Glorious (J-Creek band)
4. All We Need (Cedarmore band)
5. Sweetly Broken (Cedarmore band)
6. Jesus Paid It All (J-Creek band)
7. How Wonderful the Cross (J-Creek band)
8. In Christ Alone (Cedarmore band)
9. No One Like You (Cedarmore band)
10. My King is the Rock (J-Creek band)
11. Undignified (J-Creek band)

I’m pretty happy with the end result.  Of course, it’s a good thing to bring my part of the project to a close.  It’s occupied a lot of my time over the past month, but it was a great time.  As soon as I know how everyone can get a copy, I’ll post the details here.

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I made some good progress on a few projects yesterday on my day off.  Here’s a list of my current projects and how things are coming along:

• Personal site - I didn’t work on this yesterday, since some other stuff is more of a priority.  But, I’m shooting for a completion date of this weekend for my new site design.
• Crossings recording - At this point, it’s just a matter of the staff agreeing on a tracklist and order for the album.  I’m letting them decide on this.  My work is easy from here on - just put the songs in the order they want and burn a master CD.
• Saxton’s Cornet Band - This is done!  I finished this yesterday.  However, we’re still resolving some domain issues.  But, once these are taken care of, SCB will finally (after a few years of not updating their site) have a fresh, new site.
• Lexington Brass Band - this site is finished, and up-and-running.  Click here to check it out.
• Unforgettable Media - a new wedding video & photography business asked me to do their site.  I have finished the design of the site.  Now, I’m just waiting for the owners to supply me with content.

I’m looking forward to making more progress this weekend on my other current projects.

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The Cedarmore portion of the recording is sounding a LOT better than our first attempt.  I took some time yesterday to change the heads on the drummer’s bass drum.  I also took over a different snare drum and set of hi-hats.  I know I’m a drummer and all, and I try not to be too partial, but good drum sounds can make or break a recording.  I should’ve mentioned that in my previous post, but I figured it related to the “Good Gear” portion of that post.  It’s not necessarily the drummer’s fault that the drums didn’t sound good.  They belong to his school, so he wasn’t sure how much he could do to them without permission.  But, now, he’s sounding good.

I didn’t get anything too useful last night, but it gave me a chance to hear the new drum sound, which improved the quality or the overall recording greatly.  Thursday night will be the “make or break” night to see if we can get any usable songs from their band.  I will be recording their evening worship, and they will once again have a late night “concert” to get more material recorded.  Our only obstacle at this point is the lead singer’s head cold.  Several people prayed over him last night, and he actually sounded pretty good by the time worship started - by the grace of God.  He had a little trouble hitting the high notes, but he did a good job of covering it up (backing off the mic, etc.).  Hopefully he’ll be feeling better by Thursday.

More to come…

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I’m about 98% done with the Jonathan Creek mix.  So far, I’m ahead of schedule.  My goal was to have something by Monday, but it looks like I’ll be done by tomorrow (Sunday).  I’ll spend another two or three days next week recording at Cedarmore again, and hopefully will get some usable stuff from their band.

The main problem with the last Cedarmore recording stemmed from poor mic placement on the drums, and only around 200 people in attendance.  This week, Cedarmore has 400, so that will make a huge difference in being able to hear the crowd singing.  J-Creek had around 500 this past week.  The performances should also be better, as the band has now had another week of playing together under their belts.

Here’s what makes mixing a live recording a bit easier (in case you’re wondering):

• Good musicians.  A lot of bands think they can crank out a live album, only to find even the best of mix engineers can’t make ‘em sound like pros.  Knowing the songs and playing them well is a must!  This seems to be a fairly obvious point, but plenty of bands have attempted live recordings only to find they’re not quite good enough yet.  “New” bands (even if they’re good musicians) fall into this trap too.  They don’t have enough chemistry or familiarity of the songs yet to be able to pull off a live recording.
• Good vocalists.  I separate singers from the instrumentalists solely based on the fact that if you can’t sing well, not too many people will enjoy listening to a live recording.  Being able to hit the notes in pitch consistently is a must.  Yes, there’s always the possibility of over-dubbing or using an auto-tune plugin, but where’s the fun in that?  People are more willing to forgive a few band mistakes in a live recording than they are for a vocalist who doesn’t stay on pitch well.  This goes for backup vocalists as well.  If the harmonies aren’t on pitch, it’s not pleasant.
• Good gear.  You don’t have to have a $4000 drum set or $2000 guitar to sound great live, but you have to at least know how to make your gear sound good.  This is usually an issue with drummers who don’t know how to tune their drums well (I’ve been there, trust me!).  But, this issue also comes up with guitarists who have poor tone because of their gear, or just poor tone selection from song-to-song.
• Good crowd.  One of the big differences between the J-Creek and first Cedarmore recording is about 300 more people at J-Creek.  Since it’s a worship album, you want to hear the crowd singing, and that was an issue at Cedarmore.  But, in general, a big, energetic crowd helps the listener get the feel of the concert.
• Good room.  Another difference between J-Creek and Cedarmore is the size of the worship centers.  Cedarmore’s has a pretty small stage, low ceilings and is fairly small (more of a “club” setting).  J-Creek is a big, wide-open room with plenty of room for the sound to fill up the room.  The instruments (particularly the drums) have more room to “breathe.”

Just my $0.02.

Day #1 of recording here at Jonathan Creek has wrapped up.  Bert and myself and now getting settled in at our room at the Kenlake State Park lodge.  The recording from J-Creek is turning out REALLY well.  I mean… it’s gonna be good.  Really good.  So much so, we’re probably going to re-record some stuff at Cedarmore next week.  There’s a pretty significant difference in the sonic quality of both recordings, so we’re going to attempt to get the same quality at Cedarmore that we’re getting at J-Creek. 

I’m really excited about the rest of week and what God has in store.  I’ve already heard several amazing reports of what God has done already here at J-Creek.  My former church’s youth group is here this week and they have experienced five salvations this week.  Praise God!  Just further proof that Christians can “agree to disagree” and still glorify God in their own ways.  Just like Paul and Barnabas separating for the sake of the gospel (

Acts 15 Listen

15:1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

16 “‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

).

Keep the ministry efforts here in your prayers.  Also, the band, tech crew and myself, but more importantly that people will come to know Christ.

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This my last day of work at CLS for the week.  Tomorrow morning, I’ll be heading to Jonathan Creek to record their praise band.  I’ll be back on Friday.  While I’ll be “working” at J-Creek, there’ll be a lot of downtime.  Some of the downtime will be spent getting a jump start on mixing the J-Creek portion of the recording.  Some of the downtime, I’ll actually be doing some work for CLS, remotely.  The rest of the downtime, I hope to be kicked back reading a book or something of the like.

I’m attempting to get everything squared away today, so that my absence from CLS for the next three days won’t be noticed as much.   I’m getting all the art ready, getting orders written up, invoices sent out, etc.  But, it’s difficult when our internet is down!  It seems we had a billing glitch with our service provider, so they shut off our internet.  We’ve been told it will be 72 hours before we’re back up-and-running.  Needless to say, we’re heavily considering making a quick switch of providers.  Not good business on our current provider’s end.

Through all of this, however, I can highly recommend Sprint’s mobile broadband service.  We’re using a laptop with one of their USB cards to get by in the mean time.  It’s very close to broadband speed, and has helped us keep up around here.  My boss’s comment:  “It’s good that it finally came in handy that I also own a cell phone store.”  Yes, that it is.  The only catch to the broadband cards is they only work on Windows PC’s.  Bummer.  Otherwise, I’ve been impressed with its performance.

So, the next time you hear from me, I’ll be blogging from J-Creek.

The Cedarmore portion of the Crossings recording has wrapped up.  Three days and three hours of material later, I’m ready to start mixing.  I recorded the evening worship sessions from the last three nights, and they had a late night “concert” last night to give me more material to work with.  I’ll be spending most of my weekend mixing and editing, and trying to help the staff pick songs that are worthy to make the album.

I’m looking forward to heading to Jonathan Creek next week.  I’ll spend Wednesday through Friday there.  Once I’m home next Friday evening, I’ll immediately begin mixing their portion of the project.  I’m sure I’ll be providing blog updates from the oh-so-nice Crossings Cafe on the J-Creek campus.  Pretty sure I’ll be spending every free moment there.

The goal at this point is to have a master copy of 10-12 songs ready by June 19th and release the album by June 27th.  This is an extremely quick turn-around, but I believe it’s do-able.  Maybe.  Slightly.  Hopefully.

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The recordings from the last couple of nights at Crossings have turned out well so far.  I’m going over there again tonight for their evening worship.  They have also planned a late-night “concert” by the praise band to give the band and myself another chance to capture some of their songs.  This will give us more material to choose from.  As I mentioned, next week, I’ll head to J-Creek and record there.  Thanks for your prayers!

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