OVNI Studios

23/08/2021

from album Underground Whispers, Alex DePue performs TJ (dedicated to close friend's firstborn, T.j. Christoff).

01/01/2021

Free Watch Party tonight, with your hosts, Alex and Aria! Watch for some extra Holiday spirit, a listening/watch party, and a code for a FREE DOWNLOAD of the DePue Brothers "When it's Christmastime" FULL ALBUM! :)

Happy NEW YEAR!!! *whew*

29/12/2020

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=WFZRU345XC95W&source=url

06/12/2020

13/10/2020

Ask me anything...

01/10/2020

...latest full-on production at OVNI Studios with Spontaneous Recording Artist, Danny Allen Fernelius, Pat Carmody Guitar, and producer Alex DePue steering the ship.

https://www.reverbnation.com/dannyallenfernelius/song/32155585-hurting-for-the-world?fb_og_action=reverbnation_fb:unknown&fb_og_object=reverbnation_fb:song&player_client_id=j29dsi7kl&utm_campaign=a_public_songs&utm_content=reverbnation_fb:song&utm_medium=facebook_og&utm_source=reverbnation_fb:unknown

HURTING FOR THE WORLD by Danny Allen Fernelius, Christian/Gospel music from Fenton, MI on ReverbNation

05/06/2020

Not fair because they're surely tucked away sleeping tight up in Michigan... but our current OVNI Studios Artist, singer/songwriter, Danny Allen Fernelius, prompted this little writing from the tips of my fingers this evening, by performing yet again, a STARTLINGLY fabulous pass for our latest project.

"As your performances in front of the microphone continue to improve, is exactly the same pace my own ideas continue to surface. You're helping me to help you!"

I'm a proud Producer of the music tonight. Here we are in Nashville for my "Workin' Man Blues" video shoot. See y'all in the mornin'! -AD

12/02/2020

To Danny Allen Fernelius... our emerging Christian Artist from the Undergound!

"Absolutely, Danny... let me share with you just a few things I've learned, always learning "the hard way"... or so it seems! lol

(reading back on this email, I thank you for the opportunity to share in print what is the "listening process" here at OVNI Studios, and the equipment used to achieve these ridiculous mixes.)

1) I don't often use my eyes to examine a mix. Instead, I use my ears, and "Breath of an Angel" has passed every test I've given it here at the studio. That process includes five different sets of monitors. I use my very inexpensive Logitech 5.1 "surround sound" monitors more than I even do the imported Focals from France... but the Focals (Twin6 Be 6.5" 3-Way) are much like putting music under a microscope, and translate every little detail perfectly. HOWEVER!

Not many have the luxury of using imported speakers from France when listening! lol

2) It is because of that fact that, more often, I use the Logitechs. (My first-ever set, btw, were a gift from Nancy Fernelius-Thornhill waaaay back within the folds of our time here on earth... I've literally LOVED those speakers ever since, and now on my third set. I have blown two sub-woofers just getting to know the bottom end of the sonic spectrum here at the OVNI, and now I believe we've got that pretty well dialed in.) With just the touch of a button on the remote-controlled PreSonus "Central Station" (is exactly what it sounds like... the station which controls inputs and outputs from all monitors, including sends for individual monitor mixes (headphones) whenever recording more than one musician at once, which is rare here btw! lol)

3) Next are the Sony (industry standard) headphones, which are VITALLY important for anyone who does this work straight-up legit.

4) THEN I send the mix via bluetooth to yet another set of speakers ...5.1 surround sound BLISS! Each speaker was literally custom-made (including hand-sanded cabinets) to my every specification... a total of five speakers, all perched up around the sofa on, again, custom-made iron stands (that's important because they're designed to NOT allow for transference into the FLOOR... a good-enough reason to keep your speakers, especially those of this size, OFF of the floor... at the very least put your speakers on stands), each one with its own 8" woofer... and then when we include the ".1" part for this set of monitors, in this case we have in place a Velodyne High-Gain Servo sub-woofer, most often used within a more "home stereo", or "entertainment center" kind of setting (for TV, movies, DVD, etc.)... but when hearing any mix through these speakers, especially those specifically mixed in 5.1 surround sound? It is an ethereal experience!

https://hometheaterhifi.com/volume_4_4/velodynehgs10.html

I often use these as the "reward" at the end of the day, for actually ENJOYING the music. And while that's fun, it's also revealing! In case, for example, your lead vocal track has been left without a high-pass filter! It is the Velodyne (and perhaps ONLY the Velodyne) which can hear frequencies running that LOWLY (lol) in the air (below even 20-30Hz) ...so... that disturbing "rumble" one might hear in the mix after the final print? THAT?? ....does not happen here. Because we catch it! We catch those kinds of errors long before we get to the final step... the land of the "consumer"... i.e.,

5) Car stereo. And while I SHOULD be able to specify exactly what that system includes, I don't know. It IS a Subaru, however, and this is the stock CD player/speakers which came with the car back in 2005. lol

Fun fact:

In order to accommodate the power needed to supply this studio, and especially, these monitors, I needed to install another line of electricity into the house. There exists of course the power (AC) which came with the property... and then there is yet ANOTHER line... a matching supply of AC... FROM the local electric power company... which is metered and billed separately from the main source. GUESS WHICH ONE COSTS MORE PER MONTH? Go ahead... GUESS!!

Much love, my man... YOU sound FABULOUS on this track, Danny, and in the mix... it is a mix for which I'm proud, and will GLADLY pass it around once you, our Artist, has released the song! It serves as a great example of the work we do here at the OVNI, and would interest even the hardest of critics, to trust me in producing their next HIT SONG!

You just let me know anything at all that even bothers ya a little bit, and we will FIX IT. PROMPTLY.

I'll add just this last bit as a "defense mechanism" of sorts, I guess... lol ...but sometimes we mix and master tracks which are very dynamic (such as that heard for Doxology), and even MORE often, mix and master tracks which do NOT fluctuate much re: dynamics. Sometimes those mixes which do not fluctuate, end up becoming perhaps a bit "louder", simply because we CAN. haha... everyone wants the "loudest" track here in the nerdy world of audio production... but that does not, and SHOULD not, interfere with what was recorded whenever we use our EARS to decipher the difference.

What it DOES imply... is that special care should be made whenever it comes time to release a series of tracks all at the same time, often referred to as an "ALBUM". In that case, we would take EACH TRACK, and fly the .wavs into its OWN session, just to be sure there is consistency in levels from one track to the next.

This one? It sounds GREAT on every level and has been scrutinized for exactly these variables from step one... all the way until the "send" button last night! Aria did a fabulous job on the bgvs, and I just can't say enough about the BOTH OF YA!! On the lead vocals... y'all sound EXQUISITE.

Much love... goodnight, etc. etc..." - Alex DePue

3-way Powered Studio Monitor, Dual 6.5" Woofers, 1" Beryllium Inverted-dome Tweeter, and 40Hz-40kHz Frequency Response (each)

08/02/2020

05/02/2020

"The centerpiece for ANY recording studio, is, indeed, the microphone. Using the example set forth by our boutique recording studio, OVNI Studios, the "best" certainly CAN be measured! It's called G-G-GOLD.

One need not look any further than the sparkle of pure GOLD this microphone adds to the environment... the ambience of YOUR studio is enhanced by its mere presence in the room!

When you then HEAR what this microphone translates? Be it your vocal, my violin, or any other acoustic instrument... that experience will certainly finish off any prior doubts you may have had.

It is the Manley Labs "Gold Reference Microphone", folks, and WE... are true fans of the Artistry it represents already!

*Artist Not Included

05/02/2020