Pacific Northwest – May 29, 2024

Jim Rondinelli spoke on his recording-producing experiences with artists such as Everclear and The Tragically Hip at the May 2024 PNW Section meeting. (Zoom framegrab)

Meeting Topic: Studies from the Studio – Staying (somewhat) Sane in Insane Places

Moderator Name: Micah Hayes, PNW Section Committee

Speaker Name: Jim Rondinelli, Immersion Networks

Meeting Location: Zoom only

Summary

The PNW Section was treated to a gem in our midst when Jim Rondinelli was interviewed for our May 2024 Section meeting. Currently the COO for Redmond WA based Immersion Networks, Rondinelli engineered and produced many classic albums from the 90s, and discussed in depth his work on albums by Matthew Sweet, Weezer, Everclear, The Tragically Hip, and Wilco. The evening included some memoir, personal philosophy, sage advice, recording tips, and insider stories of making albums in the 90s. About 26 persons attended the Zoom meeting (24 AES members and 2 non). PNW Committee member Micah Hayes organized and conducted the presentation.

Rondinelli Zoomed from New York that day. He grew up fascinated by recording, and as his family had moved to Iowa, he went to the University of Iowa – which had a well-equipped studio facility that was somewhat underutilized. Jim decided to utilize it. He also held jobs selling and marketing audio gear, including Neotek (consoles) and Bruel & Kjaer (the originator of DPA). He described B&K as like grad school for microphones, and he learned a lot. While at Neotek, he started working with bands by financing their recordings.

The Matthew Sweet album, Girlfriend, one of his early projects (1991), was all overdubbed. Jim gave a detailed discussion of the production, and a couple of track excerpts were played. The album cover is a vintage photo of actress Tuesday Weld, who allowed licensing the photo as long as the album was NOT titled after the track, Nothing Lasts.

Around this time, Nirvana’s Nevermind came out, seriously influencing the music world.

Jim discussed working with Weezer at Sound City studios on their album, Pinkerton (1996), with stories of the legendary, grungy studio and analog production techniques of the 90s. Excerpts from the track, Getchoo were played.

Next was a discussion of studio work in this era and Everclear’s album, So Much for the Afterglow. This project called for correcting the performances to the editing grid. Jim got disillusioned with recording music this way and eventually left the project and changed career directions. After more audience questions and comments, an excerpt was played from Everclear’s Everything to Everyone from the So Much for the Afterglow album (1997).

Next for discussion was working with the Canadian band, The Tragically Hip, which Jim described as magical. He went into detail about mixing their album, Phantom Power (1998), in Vancouver BC. An excerpt from the track, Bobcaygeon was played.

Jim also worked with Wilco, as producer and mixer on their album, Being There (1996). An excerpt from track, Red Eyed and Blue from the album, Being There was played. Much of the album was recorded with one C-12 mic. The track, Monday, was also played and discussed in detail. For those interested in the band, there is a docu movie about recording their Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album titled, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart (2002, not a Rondinelli album).

Jim had to say goodnight after two hours and prepare for business in New York, and the remainder of the evening was spent on attendee self-introductions and chat.

Media will be available on the PNW website, https://www.aes-media.org/sections/pnw/pnwrecaps/

Written By: Gary Louie