Over the last year or so, I have been working on becoming better at audio engineering. Mainly as a means to make better recordings of my own music. One thing you need to do to become better at mixing is practice, and lots of it. So you’re always on the lookout for raw tracks you can mix. It was this quest that lead me to the site – “Shaking Through”.
Shaking through is a project run by Weathervane music, out of the Miner Street Recording Studio in Philadelphia. The basic premiss is to invite a band to the studio, and over the course of only 2 days, completely record and mix a song. This entire process is filmed and edited down to several videos which highlight the artistic , as well as the technical aspects of making music. All the raw tracks are then available to members to download and create their own mixes.
Here’s what Weathervane has to say about the goals of this project:
We believe the future of independent music is about the relationship between artist and fan. Every project we create aims to deepen that bond, while providing meaningful experiences for everyone involved. We build community around exciting projects, like Shaking Through, that promote a deep connection between artist and fan, promoting sustainable careers in music and creating a healthier music ecosystem.
It’s also a great source for anyone looking to learn the craft of audio engineering. Besides the technique videos that are part of each Shaking Through session, they also routinely have workshops on recording and mixing. And just recently they have begun livestreaming these workshops, and this Saturday and Sunday, will, for the first time, livestream a complete recording and mixing session featuring the artist Torres, and curated by Sharon Van Etten.
Weathervane music is a non profit organization that depends on memberships and donations to survive. Right now they are fundraising for their 5th year of production. I highly recommend you check them out if you have any interest in music creation. The people running it are extremely talented, friendly and helpful, and are doing a great job at growing the goals and community surrounding Shaking Through.
Here’s a link to the fundraising site, which includes lot’s of cool perks. Weathervane fundraiser on Pledgemusic
