From Iron to Rage... part 1.

To many in Indianapolis’ music community Bob Fouts is known as a preeminent drummer. He is a man that many musicians and fans alike recognize locally, nationally, and internationally for his prior accomplishments and ongoing success in such bands as Burn it Down, Amongst the Swarm, About the Fire, Christ Beheaded (albeit on guitar), Nachtmystium (a Chicago based experimental black metal band), and the seminal The Gates of Slumber. The latter two are actively recording, touring, and releasing new material. Fouts has been around the block musically and never rests for too long before answering the siren cries of the road in search of further musical exploration.

With any veteran musician comes a solid resume of studio time. Fouts has logged countless hours in numerous studios and hammered his war like drums into submission in a variety of places, but in the cold clutches of February of 2007 his very own Basement Rage Studio commenced. The aptly named Basement Rage Studio was at first an outlet for his own bands to demo and record new ideas. It wasn’t long there after that Fouts started to record projects outside of his own bands.

Fouts maintains a free flowing approach to recording bands, interjecting where needed, and offering suggestions based on mutual respect. Choosing to work with bands cut from a similar ilk as his own bands or tastes, Fouts displays a deft touch behind the screen manning the digital realm which is the basis for his recordings. With a true DIY spirit, each recording is a learning experience that adds to his ever expanding bank of knowledge when it comes to recording and what works.

Several Indianapolis based bands have benefited from working with Fouts. Whether the end product is a thoroughly recorded demo or a full length release, each band offers Fouts the opportunity to hone his craft between tours, support his local music community and friends. With that in mind Fouts would genuinely like to make recording his other gig when not on the road. At the time of this interview Fouts had just finished recording a local Indy band and was preparing for an upcoming tour with The Gates of Slumber. What follows is The Cracked Skull’s exchange with Bob Fouts about his evolving Basement Rage Studio, previous and upcoming projects, and working with differing Indianapolis bands.

What made you decide to start a studio? Did it start with you recording your own band(s)?

Yeah. I work for a music retail store here in Indy, so I decided on a whim to pick up a few things to help my bands at the time. I was looking to demo our new stuff, and it just grew from there.

What’s your recording platform or set-up?

I work on a Mac with Cubase DAW software currently. I’m using Studio 4, but I just got the upgrade to 5 in the mail. I will install it before my next project. I also upgraded my interface to MAudio Profire 2626.

Since you are a drummer, how important is capturing a quality drum sound along with the other instruments? Quality sounding drums are always a big plus in any recording.

O yeah, very important… I spend quite a bit of time on drums. I mean, I have to be realistic about the room I’m using. Nothing is going to make a bad kit sound good no matter how much processing and shit you try to throw on it. In my opinion a good kit tuned properly with new heads is where I always try to start. Sometimes guys will bring kits that might sound ok live, but I usually talk them into using one of mine instead of spending half the session tuning and changing heads. Good mics are important as well. Guitar and bass tones seem to come quicker for me. I try not to color the players’ tone too much especially the in heavy, distorted type of tones. Most of the guitar and bass players I’ve worked with have good to great gear, and already have their sound dialed in the way they want it. My job is to try and capture that and make it as huge sounding as possible. I always have four or five amps lying around the studio to help guys that need them. We will drag something else out just to add a bit of depth if needed. I love doing guitars as well. It’s fun, and I like to experiment when we have the time.

What is your overall goal when recording bands? Do you like to let the bands take the reins or do you interject your own take on things?

I interject to a degree, but at the end of the day the band has the final call. It is their music after all. I guess it really depends on the band and the people within it. I have been lucky enough to work with a lot of friends, and I’m a fan of a lot of the bands I work with. We have this whole mutual respect thing. If I have a suggestion, then they will normally be open to it or at least give it a listen. I will definitely interject when I get an inspired idea. That happens quite a bit when you’re working with great bands.