Live at Blue Note Seoul
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Live at Blue Note Seoul

Captured and mixed the legendary Marcus Miller's three-night residency at Blue Note Seoul, delivering an audiophile-quality live album that preserves both the intimacy of the venue and the raw energy of world-class jazz improvisation.

라이브 레코딩 세팅

Venue Acoustic Analysis Blue Note Seoul (capacity 340)의 음향 특성:

  • RT60: 0.8 seconds (optimal for jazz)
  • Critical distance: 3.5 meters from stage
  • Natural room tone: Warm with controlled low-mid resonance

Microphone Configuration (32-channel setup)

Bass (Marcus Miller)

  • DI: Avalon U5 (direct from bass)
  • Amp: Shure SM57 + Royer R-121 on Markbass combo
  • Room: Neumann U87 (3m distance)

Drums (Manu Katché)

  • Kick: AKG D112 (inside) + Neumann FET47 (outside)
  • Snare: SM57 (top) + KM184 (bottom)
  • Hi-hat: AKG C451B
  • Toms: Sennheiser MD421 (3x)
  • Overheads: Coles 4038 (pair, Blumlein configuration)
  • Room: AEA R88 stereo ribbon (4m high)

Piano (Joey DeFrancesco)

  • Steinway D: Pair of DPA 4006 (omni) inside
  • Additional: Schoeps CMC6 (pair) outside for ambience

Saxophone (Alex Han)

  • Main: Neumann U67 (vintage) at 30cm
  • Ambient: Royer SF-24 at 1.5m

Audience & Ambience

  • 4x Neumann KM184 in quadraphonic setup
  • 2x Crown PZM on ceiling for height information

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실시간 믹싱 과정

Front of House Integration

  • Parallel recording setup independent from FOH
  • Real-time monitoring mix for musicians via Aviom system
  • Redundant recording: Pro Tools HDX + backup to Pyramix

Live Processing Decisions

  • Minimal EQ, only corrective (rumble filters, etc.)
  • No compression during recording, all dynamics preserved
  • Real-time reverb for artist monitoring only

Post-Production & Mixing

Editing Philosophy

  • Minimal editing to preserve live feel
  • Only removed: obvious mistakes, excessive audience noise
  • Kept: chair creaks, musician communication, spontaneous reactions

Mix Approach at Seoul Studios

Analog Signal Path

  • Console: Neve 8078 (restored 1978 model)
  • Mix Bus: Neve 33609 → Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
  • Tape: Studer A827 at 30 IPS for mix print

Spatial Recreation

  • LCR panning for main elements
  • Audience in surround channels for Atmos mix
  • Height information from ceiling PZMs utilized

Dynamic Processing

  • Bass: LA-2A for gentle leveling (2-3dB max)
  • Drums: API 2500 on parallel bus for punch
  • Piano: Fairchild 670 for warmth and glue
  • Sax: Minimal, only Pultec EQP-1A for presence

Set List & Performance Notes

Night 1 - The Standards

  1. "Tutu" (17:23) - Extended bass solo with loop station
  2. "So What" (12:45) - Tribute to Miles Davis
  3. "Jelly Roll" (9:34) - Funk fusion showcase
  4. "Teen Town" (11:23) - Weather Report classic

Night 2 - The Originals

  1. "Detroit" (14:56) - New composition, world premiere
  2. "Gorée" (13:23) - African influences
  3. "Blast" (10:45) - Drum feature
  4. "A Night in Tunisia" (15:34) - Reimagined with electronics

Night 3 - The Celebration

  1. "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" (18:23) - Funk epic
  2. "Moonlight Sonata" (8:45) - Classical-jazz fusion
  3. "Run for Cover" (12:34) - High energy finale
  4. "Amazing Grace" (6:23) - Solo bass encore

Credits

  • Recording Engineer: Sean Kim
  • Mixing Engineer: Sean Kim
  • Assistant Engineers: James Park, Lisa Chen
  • Mastering: Bob Power at Power Station
  • Producer: Marcus Miller & Sean Kim

Tools & Equipment

  • Recording: Pro Tools HDX, Pyramix
  • Preamps: Neve 1073 (x8), API 512c (x8), Avalon AD2022
  • Converters: Prism Sound ADA-8XR
  • Mixing Console: Neve 8078
  • Monitoring: ATC SCM150ASL Pro

Project Details

Client

Blue Note Records

Year

2023

Duration

3 days recording + 2 weeks mixing

Achievement

🏆 Grammy Nomination - Best Contemporary Jazz Album

Live at Blue Note Seoul | Sean Kim