The 5150 Diaries

**voivod** · 05.30.07, 10:23 PM

shortlived idea...

June 9, 1997
Erwin Musper, hard at work mixing the new album takes time out to share his chronicles, day by day.

Posting each's days events on-line via the Van Halen Internet Mailing List, Erwin has graciously shared the trials and tribulations of the new album's mixing process, much to the delight and intrigue of the list members. Here now are his entries as they've been posted.

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ENTRIES
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Date: Sat, 07 Jun 1997 10:09:14 -0800
Subject: Re: 5150 mixing diary
Good Morning...

Came home last night after a whole day working on the mix of "A YEAR TO THE DAY" . Still not done. But we will nail this one today. The beauty (and the hard part) of this mix is that there are several totally different sounding guitars playing together or taking over from each other. Still looking for a spot in the mix to make the bass happening (Yes, I read your comments and advise....and you're right!)

I actually print out some of your support-mail and pin it to the studio walls to guide me through the next couple of weeks. This way, you guys are also part of the mixing process.

The band and I have been working on this album since October last year at Eddie's studio. Since then, we finished ten songs . That might not look like a lot , but it's actually over an hour of fabulous music ! Normally we mix at different studio's,but this time we decided to stay at 5150. We did try mixing "FIRE IN THE HOLE" at other studio's for the sake of experiment , but sonically 5150 just sounds better. We use an costum-made API board with Westlake and Quested monitors.

OK,I'm going back in...any suggestions ? I'll stick your comments on the wall and reach for them when the goin' gets tough.

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Date: Thursday June 5, 1997
Subject: Re: mixdown at 5150
Two down - eight to go !

Yesterday the mix for "FIRE IN THE HOLE" was completed. This song has turned into kind of a stadium anthem , very heavy !

Today I finished the mix of a song called "FROM AFAR" A really bizarre song , with solo's from hell !

And tomorrow we'll start mixing "A YEAR TO THE DAY" , a bluesy ballad (with a breathtaking Gary Cherone vocal)

Wish me luck !

1997

and another time warp...
http://www.dma.org/~doogie/meanst.html

**vhrocker** · 05.31.07, 12:58 AM

Even though "Without You", "Dirty Water Dog" and "Fire In The Hole" was good, who in their right mind would spend that much time making a drink coaster???

AT · 05.31.07, 01:58 AM

I remember reading this. But Erwin Musper ended up leaving the project and Robbes and Edward were credited with mixing the album.

Crazy, unorganized album project...

**onefootoutthedoor** · 05.31.07, 02:09 AM

Funny, it seems like a lifetime ago.

**Raldo** · 05.31.07, 04:23 AM

Originally Posted by onefootoutthedoor

Funny, it seems like a lifetime ago.

Well said!

**wham bam will rock** · 05.31.07, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by vhrocker

Even though "Without You", "Dirty Water Dog" and "Fire In The Hole" was good, who in their right mind would spend that much time making a drink coaster???

Ur funny...

**toraff** · 05.31.07, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by wham bam will rock

Ur funny...

It's very simple people...... Mikey, grab your bass, Edward, grab Frankie and JUST play it, don't over produce, Alex, grab your BIG kit and control your bro, and Sam bring the voice and the Peace that = VH = needs!!!!!!!!

At one time,you guys were brothers................

Dave: go Back to being a D.J. / jungle stud / radio man / E.R.N.Y. / pot head / can't let go of the 80's man that U are................

**Bad to the Bone** · 05.31.07, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by toraff

It's very simple people...... Mikey, grab your bass, Edward, grab Frankie and JUST play it, don't over produce, Alex, grab your BIG kit and control your bro, and Sam bring the voice and the Peace that = VH = needs!!!!!!!!

At one time,you guys were brothers................

.

I won't comment on the Dave rip but you're right for the most part, these guys need to simplify things if it's ever gonna work again, tell ed "listen, we're recording either at 5150 or another place, either way it's a band, not the eddie van halen show, you don't play bass, drums, sing lead, write lyrics, produce, engineer, mix....just shut up and play your guitar and come up with some cool ass licks and let everyone else do thier thing like it used to be"

it's not that hard.