A Day in Studio A – Sarod, Tabla, and… an iPhone?

Hit play now, this is a long one…

It’s the morning of December 22nd, 2010 and despite the bright blue skies and sun shining down, it’s rather brisk outside. That being said, it is winter in Nepal so it’s to be expected! On my back I carry my recording rig as we walk through the side streets of Kathmandu, on our way to Music Nepal.

Hidden in the back alleys (like every good studio should be!) of Kathmandu, Music Nepal is one of the country’s top recording studios and record labels. After a few wrong turns and a little backtracking, we walk through its gates and up into a small office. There is still a session running so while we wait we’re treated to some biscuits and milk tea. Always good to defrost the fingers.

Suresh Raj Bajracharya on Sarod

Today we’re recording sarod, an instrument somewhere between a slide guitar and a sitar, accompanied by tabla, the famous Indian percussion instrument. Before today I have never seen or even heard of a sarod, so I am very curious to see what it can do. But even more exciting are the musicians who will be playing for us. Suresh Raj Bajracharya on sarod and Rabin Lal Shrestha on tabla, two members of the Nepali classical music group, Dafa Band. Both are extremely talented, hold a Masters Degree in their respective instruments, and have been playing for most of their lives. In fact, Rabin Lal Shrestha is considered one of the best tabla players in Nepal! You’ll soon see why…

The tea is finished and I’m feeling warm as we enter Studio A of Music Nepal. I’m pleasantly impressed. The studio is modest but very professional. Acoustic treatment lines the walls and in one corner a selection of high end microphones pose proudly, still on stands from the previous session. Everything from Neumann to AKG can be seen as the local engineer finishes wrapping cables, placing them neatly on the nearby racks.

It’s decided that the duo we’re recording will set up near the back wall. The wall in question is actually a large convex shape which we hide behind the leather ottoman that previously occupied the space (see top photo). As the musicians unpack and tune up, I pull out my Manfrotto stand (didn’t forget it this time!) and mount my Schoeps MS pair on top.

Recording a duo like this, ideally, I would use an XY technique. This would allow one microphone to be pointed directly at each instrument, providing an on axis response. Alas, I’ve only got one set up (as is often the case when doing location recordings on the other side of the world..) so I have to go with it and hope for the best!

Positioning of the MS pair

I decide that a direct sound will work best in this particular room, with the sarod primarily in the right channel and tabla in the left. So I position the MS pair (which can be seen just to the right of Suresh’s head in the picture on the right) up close between the two musicians, making slight adjustments as they sound check in order to get the sarod slightly more on axis to the negative side of the S (or Side) capsule. With this positioning the tabla is now almost directly between the M (or Middle) and S capsules which will make up for the difference in volume between the two instruments. Tabla, like many drums, is almost always too loud in these situations.

I set my gain levels on the 702 and have one last listen. Everything sounding good, ready to hit record, then… What is this?! Suresh pulls from his pocket an iPhone, placing it on the floor to his left. Flicking through his apps he pulls up an electronic tambura and starts it droning. I pull my cans back on, have a quick listen and it actually sounds fine! Phew!

I hit record and sit back, ready to be taken away on a psychedelic journey into classical eastern music…

This first piece is a long one (almost 25 minutes so hopefully you’ve already hit play!) but once you get into it you really start to lose yourself in the rhythms and movement (hopefully you’re doing that by now too). It is an original piece composed by Suresh, a raga with a ten beat cycle and tuned to a root note of C. Half way through the tabla comes in so make sure you keep listening to hear some of the most skilled use of this instrument you are ever likely to come across.

…By the time this piece ends I’m so entranced I could keep listening all day. “It’s almost surreal”, as Greg Simmons poetically puts it.

After a short break and a tune up it is time for the second piece, another raga, this one clocking in at just over 8 minutes. Again the work from both musicians is superb and I start to get lost in the music once more.

Rabin Lal Shrestha on Tabla

One thing that really amazes me is the number of different sounds that can be made on the tabla. At times I look up to see how he is able to create certain notes – A finger tap here, a push of the palm, and flick of the nail there, Rabin makes it look so easy! (If you’ve never tried to play a tabla, trust me, it isn’t!) His playing is so controlled that my off axis positioning is totally unnecessary! I’m blown away by the musicianship displayed.

Sadly then, it all comes to an end. I applaud as Suresh thanks the audience and hits stop on his iPhone, the drone coming to a jolting silence. The recording session is finished and I’m generally pleased with the result, especially considering the circumstances.

I pack up and head on back to the guest house. An afternoon of haggling with shopkeepers awaits!

– All photos courtesy of Jonathan Olegasegarem.
– I am still yet to record another iPhone…