Here we are at the end of July with the season of summer well on its way. We continue to live in a very confused and unusual world, and yet many things continue as they always have. Flowers still bloom, family and friends still stay connected through whatever means they can, and along with other weekly production work is the ongoing attention we’re giving to The Phantom of the Opera. This original musical being produced by One For All Musical Theater is still slated for next spring and we’re busy at work on more of the elements for that show. Much of the time is being spent creating the sound effects that will be heard during the performance. When I can’t find exactly what is needed in my multiple libraries, I resort to the old-fashioned “foley” method and record my own. So it was that we needed some light chain/beads/metal clanking for the final element in the monumental effect of the opera house chandelier crashing to the floor. So a gathering of various necklaces from my wife’s collection were brought into the studio and clinked, clanked and drug across various surfaces to get those sounds. I had to explain to my wife where the rest of her adornments were for a moment, but they’re all back in place and the recorded sounds are as well. There can even be heard the scraunching and squealing of a dry wall lift recorded about 19 years ago in Cleveland when my friend Jon was building his studio. Much more to be done.

Life here (and for most of the world) has had a drastic change forced upon us by a microscopic assailant. The resultant actions (or non-activity) has caused literal walls to be built between persons who normally would freely connect, communicate and hang together. Check-out persons for example are “imprisoned” behind their plexiglass walls while we wait six feet away from the next in line. Family gatherings and life event commemorations (such as graduations) have largely not been happening. The COVID-19 isolation has dramatically highlighted that being kept apart is not how we were designed to be.

Recent events in the US involving police officers and individuals are reminding us that many other long-standing walls are still solidly in place, and in some cases are being fortified. Relationships between persons are certainly not functioning well in many arenas of life.

My neighbor and I were discussing some of these issues this afternoon during a break from trying to catch up with runaway lawn growth. He was probing (as we should) why these things are happening? I was reminded that our Creator designed each of us special and important in His eyes, and desires that we believe and share that perspective with all those around us. This life view pertains to every relationship we are part of whether it be in our families, neighborhoods, communities, employers and employees, companies and their clients, and even the person we randomly meet.

I was facing down our street during this conversation and noticed a couple of police vehicles stopped several doors down on the opposite side. After some conversation with the residents there the officers were preparing to leave, and I then observed something rather remarkable. The neighbor next door to that house went over and after briefly talking with them he locked arms with two of the officers and had his wife take a picture. The photo was inter-racial, and so is the couple. What a beautiful reminder that when we embrace our Creator’s designs, we then have the foundations for His plan in our relationships as well.

Well, we’re at the end of April but it hardly seems like we’re moving into another actual Spring. Maybe the 5-6″ snow mid month didn’t help with that perception or maybe it’s the lingering presence and effect of COVID-19, which can seem like a lingering hunkering down of winter. Whatever it is, the temps are warming and the dandelions seem well aware the days are fertile for lawn decorating (much to my chagrin), so apparently we should move on to hopes for the year before us.

With some pull back on my production schedule, there’s been time to make some assessment and planning for the remainder of the year. A friend has loaned me his digital console since he doesn’t need it right now for church on Sundays, and he encouraged me to check it out. So with some sad adieu, the Tascam console has been pulled out, and in its place is a version of the popular Behringer X32. There’s not another Tascam M-520 quite like this one anywhere on the planet I’m quite confident. I modified it over the years to have far more capacity than it’s original design, and upgraded all the mic preamps (a good home anyone?). Still, having served clients well for around 30 years it has outlived its usefulness for me, and today’s technologies do far more, far better, in a far smaller footprint.

I’m not sure what I’ll eventually arrive at for a final installation, but for now we’re looking into this option. Slowly the familiar tools and views of the studio are changing – I guess another season. Even my faithful vehicle has been replaced which had hauled many a piece of sound gear to a live event or system install (not to mention family vacations and fishing trips). I just hope I don’t wake up one morning and wonder where I’m at with all the new surroundings. It’s time for a new season!