So, you guys are big Mackie Tracktion users I hear?

Yes, we all have laptops, and Tracktion has become an amazing “scratch pad” for our musical ideas. There are three writers in this band, Carter, Jordan, and Terry, and we all sit down with our laptops and trade ideas. Tracktion allows us to work up the ideas with a minimum of fuss. You don’t have to be too techno-geeky to get good results from Tracktion. Editing is easy and it allows us to whip out a demo in no time flat. Jordan especially likes the soft synths. He uses the Hammond and piano plug-ins as keeper tracks on our latest release (Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat), which will be released on August 12th.

You’ve also used the TT-24 Digital Live Console for over 200 live shows. It must be doing its job.

Yeah, it has really held up great! We use it as the monitor board, because everyone in the band uses in-ear monitors, and the amount of ins and outs on TT24 is pretty amazing. We use five stereo mixes for the in-ears, plus we do our wedge and side fill mixes on the TT24 too. It never seems bogged down or finicky—there’s plenty of processor horsepower inside. It has the Lightpipe In and Out, which we send to our digital recorders for a multitrack recording of each show. All it took was three little Lightpipe cables, and we were able to record 24 tracks with no hassle, every night.

Ever have any chances to shower it with abuse?

Um, we have dropped it—more than once. The first time we dumped it off a curb, we were all pretty freaked, but it came up in one piece and still works fine.

Any other situations where you take advantage of the TT24?

I have a two-car garage that optimistically I call my home studio, where I record, and the band sometimes comes to rehearse—as well as to write new material and record. We use the TT24 and Traction to multitrack record our demos there. With the TT24’s automation and memory, we can have the exact same setup as we do on stage—monitors, multitrack, everything—at the press of a button. Live musicians can appreciate what a comfort it is to have consistent sound, no matter if you are in an arena, club or garage.

What’s the band up to now?

We’ve been off the road since the holidays doing writing and recording. We released our last CD Indian Summer about a year and a half ago, and have been touring non-stop since its release.

How does life on the road suit you?

We like the life on the road. Over the past year, we’ve criss-crossed the country five times. First by van, then when the record picked up, we switched to a bus—we’ve covered a lot of ground! We did three van tours last year and that’s when we stepped it up to the bus level.

I know a van tour can strain human relationships to the breaking point. You guys must be pretty tight.

Yeah, we’re good friends. We stay conscious of each other. We keep the bus clean and try to respect each other’s space to some degree.

Three hundred dates a year, I mean come on, you must be Shaolin monks to not duct tape a band member to a signpost in Arizona naked. Just from the sheer combined horror of it all.

Oh yeah, we hit some pranks to break up the boredom, but nothing as disturbed as you suggest.

Ok, then, tell me how you use Tracktion to prevent my kind of road madness…

We write using laptops. Its very common with touring bands. We record riffs and progressions—you know, song ideas and mix them down to stereo. By the end of a tour we’ll have about 150 musical “sketches.” Barry slurps them all up in his iPod, and sorts through them to find something he can write lyrics to. He also co-manages the band and is the business manager, in addition to being the singer.

A triple threat, eh?

Well… he’s a triple something (laughs). With all that responsibility, it’s nearly impossible to write lyrics and structure songs while on the road. As you might imagine, it is difficult to find the headspace for necessary concentration, let alone have a solid block of time to work. That’s why we take the time off the road to write, find the right producer, and get into the studio.

How's all that going?

We really hit it off with Peter Collins who’s producing the new album. He’s an amazing guy based in Nashville with an incredible history—he’s made some very cool records with Bon Jovi, Elton John, Rush, Jewel, and a bunch more than I can’t think of right now… his ears are outstanding.

And, after releasing five records on our own, we recently signed with Vanguard Records, who have been very cool with us. The whole recording process is better due to our A&R man. He introduced us to a lot of people who are very helpful in the studio—great engineers and technicians. They basically set us up to be as worry-free in the studio so we can do our best album yet. But, of course, having the right tools for pre-production and songwriting on the road is a huge help.

So, fine Fresh Fish readers, take heed of Carbon Leaf’s formula for success: hard work, long hours, collaboration… and of course a little help from Mackie. That’s what it’s all about.

Visit www.carbonleaf.com for Carbon Leaf tour news and to hear tracks from their new album, Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat.