Recording notes:

My recording path for ASOP was, for the most part as follows: Two AKG 480b microphones in various stereo configurations going into a Focusrite ISA 428. From there, analog to a MOTU 828 audio interface and into my G5 Mac via firewire. I recorded and manipulated the sounds into Steinberg’s Cubase SX3 software. From there, some very light processing and EQ was used depending on the track. (I really like the Magneto plug-in included with Cubase, which provided a touch of “warmth” to the sound.) I also added a variety of percussion sounds as well as other synthesizer and sampled elements.

I then delivered 24-bit 44.1 wave file masters of each track to Disc Makers for mastering.

Graham Goldman at Disc Makers did the mastering at their Sound Lab studio. I think he did a fantastic and thorough job if it.

I hope to be condensing my notes down into legible form sometime in the coming weeks. I’ll have basic chords available then for selected tracks. Until then, here are the tunings I used for each:

Destination A – Standard Tuning (Full capo on 1, Kyser Half-Cut capo on 6)Ω†

Autumn Turn – E G D# F B D (Kyser Half-Cut capo on 4)Ω∞

Don’s Barn – Standard Tuning (Kyser Half-Cut capo on 2)†Ω

Just Look Up – D A D F# C# D (Open)Ω

The Resonance – D A D F# C# D (Open)Ω∞

Things Change – C# G# D# F G# D# (Capo 3)Ω∞ƒ

Teach Me Your Way – F C F A# D# G (Capo 3)Ω

Pilot Island – E A C# D A E (Capo 2)Ω∞

This Ground Speaks – E A C# D A E (Open)Ω∞

With All Your Heart – Standard Tuning (Capo 4)π†

True North – Standard Tuning (Open)∞†

A Sense of Place –Ω∞ƒ



Incidents of Travel

Incidents of Travel was Steve's debut release and was written and recorded between October of 1998 and December 1999.

Though all of the songs center mainly on original solo guitar performances, other subtle sounds weave in and around the main themes. Steve's intention was to create musical pictures and to capture the colors and open spaces that their titles elude to. Steve used a variety of tunings while recording. Some well known, most were made up experiments. Only one is in standard.

The album elements were recorded in a variety of places ranging historic Studios B and C of the Moody Broadcasting Network in Chicago to Steve's garage. Steve primarily used a pair of 30 year old Neuman U-67's on the main guitar parts running through a Amek console to a Spectral digital HD system.

Additional instruments and electronics were overdubbed at his home using various synths and samplers.

(Note: The burried last track #13 "An Accolade to the Moon" was recorded/ overdubbed in 1989 through a broadcast console during a break while doing a radio announcing shift, Chicago, IL).


Click on the song title to see a basic chord structure from my archive notes.



Wind, Sand and Stars – C G D F# A E (Capo 3)Ω

The Passing Year – D G D D A D (Open)Ω

Train Song – D B D F# B E (Capo 4) 103 bpm∑

September – D A D F# A D (Capo 2) Ω - (TAB PDF)

Trees Against the Sky – D# F# C# F# C# C# (Open)Ω

Devotion – C F C F C F (Capo 2) Ω - (TAB PDF)

Dunes Highway – C# G# D# F# C# F# (Open)Ω

Lunar Light – E A C E C D (Capo 4)∑

Spider Lake – C G D F# A E (Capo 3)Ω

Sojourn – B F# D# F# C# F# (Capo 2)Ω

The Way Home – C# G# D# F# C# F# (Open)π

An Accolade to the Moon (bonus track) – Standard Tuning∆

A Sense of Place photo shoot:

All photos ©2006 James Jordan

People and Places:

Don Scharbert	Clyderhurst Christian Camp, Montana	Thomas’ Wanderings
One of Steve's photos of Don's Barn in appears in the Chicago Sun-Times October 21, 2006 and following Brant Miller's 10 p.m. weather forecast on NBC-5 on October 20th.
	Alamo Defenders Memorial, San Antonio, TX 3/06
Egg Harbor Autumn	Beth Massey
	Don's Barn
Chris Fabry "Audio Blog" that aired 11-3-06 on Prime Time America (Moody Broadcasting Network)