On The Mark Media (OTM) recently released the Joe Barresi: Tracking Rock DVD ($95), which offers a behind-the-scenes look at producer/mixer/engineer Barresi’s process of producing and tracking a song in his private studio, JHOC (Joe’s House of Compression). Barresi is best known for his work with popular aggressive bands like Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, The Melvins, Bad Religion and Kyusss.
Working with UK alternative rock band Zico Chain, Barresi allows viewers to experience how he works as both a producer and engineer to create his signature sound. Filmed over three consecutive days at JHOC, the documentary takes novice and seasoned engineers alike through his entire process of recording a song, from first track to final take. It also documents the signal chain of each instrument recorded and details the usage of Barresi’s expansive collection of amplifiers, cabinets and audio processing gear.
Shot entirely in high-definition video, Joe Barresi: Tracking Rock has a run-time of two hours and 44 minutes. The HD media is available for on-computer viewing as well as for the iPad, iPod and iPhone 4 formats. In addition, the complete Pro Tools session, OMF and raw audio tracks accompany the video documentary for personal critical listening and analysis.
“We wanted to film the entire process—from beginning to end—to show how Joe does what he does,” says OTM co-executive producer Jeff Markham. “This video really gives aspiring engineers and producers access to the details of how Joe works and to hear how the song take shape. We also wanted to capture the experience of what it’s like to work with one of the world’s most respected engineers.”
“There are already some great ‘here’s how you mic a snare’ videos out there—Tony Shepperd Master Series 1 being one of them,” Markham continues. “This new series picks up after one already has a good grasp of those concepts. If engineers want to know what its like to work at Joe’s level, this series gives them a unique opportunity to experience that.”
“Joe Barresi is one-of-a-kind in the music industry,” notes co-executive producer Tony Shepperd, also a highly successful engineer. “He has the ability to not only produce, record and mix great music, but he brings to the table an equal amount of musicianship in his playing. In this Tracking Rock Series, engineers will learn some of the secrets to the ‘Joe Barresi sound.’ In the days we spent recording at JHOC, I was stunned by the sounds he was achieving. I’ve been an engineer for over 25 years and yet I found myself watching intently as Joe took the cameras on this exciting backstage pass–view of how he works.”
Barresi adds, “The OTM guys made the cameras seem invisible and what you see is really what goes on in my studio environment. I’m honored to have been a part of this series and to have it captured with such detail and vision.”
As an added bonus, purchasers will be granted the privilege of corresponding with Barresi via email regarding any questions related to the video or recording in general.
Joe Barresi: Tracking Rock is available for online purchase at techbreakfast.com.
