Dream Theater entered the studio in February v. No News is Good News

[rumborak]

Seeing all those devices in the back, I'm kinda imagining him doing this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afwYMdN43Mc&t=25

[hefdaddy42]

Apparently JR posted on facebook that he was on vacation, so I'm not sure what's going on.

[Prog Snob]

Apparently JR posted on facebook that he was on vacation, so I'm not sure what's going on.

  Maybe he needs inspiration. 

[Voices]

I think JR WAS in studio back in February. Maybe he already did what he had to. Well, I hope so.

[Implode]

Which of those dials controls the temperature of the sun again?

[sneakyblueberry]

Can't wait to hear whatever song he uses that sweet looking phone on.

[The Letter M]

Which of those dials controls the temperature of the sun again?

Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun

-Marc.

[Prog Snob]

Can't wait to hear whatever song he uses that sweet looking phone on.

That would be a prog rendition of Tommy Tutone's  Jenny. 

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Can't wait to hear whatever song he uses that sweet looking phone on.

That would be a prog rendition of Tommy Tutone's  Jenny.

Mike Mangini: the world's only drummer who could play in 867/5309 time.

[Prog Snob]

Can't wait to hear whatever song he uses that sweet looking phone on.

That would be a prog rendition of Tommy Tutone's  Jenny.

Mike Mangini: the world's only drummer who could play in 867/5309 time.

[King Postwhore]

Jenny, Jenny.  Who can I report this to?

[wasteland]

Apparently JR posted on facebook that he was on vacation, so I'm not sure what's going on.

Could it be possible that the album has been completely written already? Because of they had already moved to the tracking phase than having only a couple of members in the studio at the time would make sense.

[SystematicThought]

In this interview from November, MM mentions getting together in pieces to work on the new record or just get together and do it. Nothing new really, but maybe this was the plan to record it in snippets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APmwPHNdFvA

[The Trooper]

This will piss off a lot of people, but does anyone here know how to produce , play drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, mix etc. If so let me hear your record. I think they have deserved enough credit to TRUST them. Stop putting the cart before the horse. The guys have  been around long enough to know what they are doing. NOBODY hits 100% home runs. You think they sat around one day an said yeah, lets put out a shit record.

When I got married 18 years ago, I remember a friend telling me...........you can have the best wedding in the world. 1/2 will like it 1/2 will not.

I am not saying anyone is not entitled to opinions, but it is way to early to form one regarding the next album

[Calvin6s]

This will piss off a lot of people, but does anyone here know how to produce , play drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, mix etc. If so let me hear your record. I think they have deserved enough credit to TRUST them. Stop putting the cart before the horse.

Until you produce a forum equal to DTF in quality and popularity about Dream Theater and related topics, then you aren't allowed to complain about DTF members.

See how that works?

[The Trooper]

I did not nor did mention DTF or our members, so please do not put words in my mouth. All I meant was people can speculate, which does make for interesting talk. But people are complaining about the way DT are putting this album together, of which NOBODY is sure how they are doing it. Let them do what they want. They know how to make a DT album than anyone here. Unless Calvin6s you are JP.

Judge after it comes out, I am sure whatever the process, good or bad will determine if we get a DT album after this.

[Lucien]

This will piss off a lot of people, but does anyone here know how to produce , play drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, mix etc. If so let me hear your record.

I hate the "if you're not a chef don't judge the food" analogy used here because it really doesn't apply here. Compare the waveforms and data about the separate tracks to records of Steven Wilson or Haken, you'll notice DT is a lot louder, more compressed, and more clipped. Objectively, the sound on some of these recent albums (SC, BCSL, ADTOE, DT12) is subpar at best. We speculate the same will most likely happen, though evidence has been brought to the table that at least a couple of things will be better, but a LOT of things need to be better.

[The Trooper]

I will not argue that because I agree. All I meant was nobody has heard a bit of this album or even the current status. Maybe they will improve that aspect and hope they do, I was not going after any DTF member because if I was I would call them by name. All I meant was, and like I said, do not put the cart before the horse.

[Lucien]

All I meant was nobody has heard a bit of this album or even the current status.

Oh, well I did miss something in your post:

I think they have deserved enough credit to TRUST them.

I don't think they have. They make great music, sure, but as I said earlier, none of the recent albums have sounded good at all. The only ounce of hope of improvement we have comes from Mangini's reply "Changed. " and the sound of BTFW, which indeed is much better than DT12. We can only hope, and there's reason for a bit of optimism, but no, I do not trust them yet.

[Calvin6s]

I will not argue that because I agree. All I meant was nobody has heard a bit of this album or even the current status.

So it is the perfect time for DT fans to give some feedback about what they like and dislike.  Once the album is out, the opinions on how to fix them become less useful because the odds of them re-recording/mixing/mastering them are slim to none.

They can make a lot of fans happy by offering a dynamic, minimally compressed album.  And worst case, do it via HDTracks and promote it as much as the CD/itunes/Amazon release so people know they won't have to wait to buy the HD Tracks version.

[The Trooper]

You guys are missing my point. I am not disagreeing with you. All I am saying is ............We do not know what is up yet. So do not judge yet. Yeah, I was actually happy about MM changed comment. SO to me that gives me hope it also means entire band sound recording an album. I did not come back in here for an argument. That was entirely not my intent.

I think bands should listen to feedback. If not, nobody buys their music or  goes to see them.

But I am just gonna thro this out there.  Do you honestly think that when Iron Maiden can get 50,000 people to a show on a regular basis it is because the album sounds great. That is not the case. I tend to overlook an albums mix to an extent. Mixes are not that bad (except for ST. Anger}. Do not get me wrong, it is important, but I put musical ability over a mix.

[The Stray Seed]

The Wizard actualy said "I'm chillin out this week. Clearing out the old notes to get ready for the new ones!" Doesn't this mean that he still has to write the music for the new album? At least, this is the way I read it =)

[hefdaddy42]

The Wizard actualy said "I'm chillin out this week. Clearing out the old notes to get ready for the new ones!" Doesn't this mean that he still has to write the music for the new album? At least, this is the way I read it =)

That's the way I read it too.

[devieira73]

The Wizard actualy said "I'm chillin out this week. Clearing out the old notes to get ready for the new ones!" Doesn't this mean that he still has to write the music for the new album? At least, this is the way I read it =)

If I'm not mistaken, for ADToE they written the album in one month (during January 2011). So it's very plausible that they are in the recording phase by now, only with JP and the one that is recording its instrument at the moment.

[rumborak]

If I had to venture a guess as to the status:
I think it's reasonably safe to assume that no major songwriting is happening without JR being there. So, given how far they're in, and how MM's UK gig is approaching quickly, I would say they've recorded the basic songs, and now they're (re)recording tracks for instruments (iron out flubs, record solos). Since you usually start with drums and bass for that, MM and JM are likely recording this week. And that's why JR can take a week off.

[TAC]

If I had to venture a guess as to the status:
I think it's reasonably safe to assume that no major songwriting is happening without JP being there. So, given how far they're in, and how MM's UK gig is approaching quickly, I would say they've recorded the basic songs, and now they're (re)recording tracks for instruments (iron out flubs, record solos). Since you usually start with drums and bass for that, MM and JM are likely recording this week.

I think that makes perfect sense.

[Dream Team]

I really enjoyed JP's tone in DT12, but it doesn't sound the same he used in BTFW. It sounds way more dirty, and not as clear as in DT12, although I liked it too.
But speaking of MM's tooooone, the one he used in BTFW is way better than DT12. I don't know if it's just a matter of production, but the tone itself sounded way better in the live record. Let's wait to see what will change this time around.

JP over-thinks things way too much. Remember when a guy could just plug a Gibson or a Strat into a Marshall amp and get an awesome tone? Go back to basics.

[bosk1]

Remember when a guy could just plug a Gibson or a Strat into a Marshall amp and get an awesome tone?

Yes.

Remember when a guy could just plug a Gibson or a Strat into a Marshall amp and get an awesome tone?

No.

[Prog Snob]

 

[TheCountOfNYC]

Remember when a guy could just plug a Gibson or a Strat into a Marshall amp and get an awesome tone?

Yes.

Remember when a guy could just plug a Gibson or a Strat into a Marshall amp and get an awesome tone?

No.

Perfect. Fender makes good amps and great basses, but their guitars sound ok at best. Gibson's guitars are much better.

[rumborak]

I really enjoyed JP's tone in DT12, but it doesn't sound the same he used in BTFW. It sounds way more dirty, and not as clear as in DT12, although I liked it too.
But speaking of MM's tooooone, the one he used in BTFW is way better than DT12. I don't know if it's just a matter of production, but the tone itself sounded way better in the live record. Let's wait to see what will change this time around.

JP over-thinks things way too much. Remember when a guy could just plug a Gibson or a Strat into a Marshall amp and get an awesome tone? Go back to basics.

I think it's a combination of his choice of amp and effects. To begin with, he plays Mesa Boogies, which are very compressed. It gives you that beautiful singing lead sound and in-your-face power chords, but it leaves you with virtually no dynamics. For example, doing this stuff will be very hard for him these days.
Secondly, he also has a lot of chorus on his clean sounds. Maybe it's because he's a big fan of Alex Lifeson, but I think it also robs him from a more natural clean sound.

[GandL]

I think it's a combination of his choice of amp and effects. To begin with, he plays Mesa Boogies, which are very compressed. It gives you that beautiful singing lead sound and in-your-face power chords, but it leaves you with virtually no dynamics. For example, doing this stuff will be very hard for him these days.
Secondly, he also has a lot of chorus on his clean sounds. Maybe it's because he's a big fan of Alex Lifeson, but I think it also robs him from a more natural clean sound.

Damn I like his young style when he was integrating jazz and blues fills.

[YtseJamittaja]

So the album WILL contain acustic guitars. 

Just got this beautiful Taylor Guitars acoustic. Can't wait to use it on the new DT album!

[BlobVanDam]

So the album WILL contain acustic guitars. 

13 in a row! What are the odds?

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

lol

Still, it would be cool to have another acoustic/mostly acoustic song. There weren't any on DT12, unless I'm misremembering?