Audio Recording Part 2: A More In-Depth Talk with Isaku Kageyama

This is Part 2 of my conversation series with Isaku Kageyama about audio recording gear and how to use it effectively in your home studio. In Part 1 we covered some basic information to get started, and you can find it here:

https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/blog/isaku-home-studio-recording-gear

This time, we go further in depth and address some topics which had been requested over the past few weeks. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback and engaged with us through email and social media. I’m also very appreciative of Isaku’s willingness to sit down with me and spend so much time sharing his knowledge and experiences. Largely due to his help, I have been able to substantially improve my own audio recordings and gain a deeper understanding of important concepts and terminology over the past two months.

Isaku and I talked for quite a long time and I have split the audio into four downloadable parts. We readily admit that the sound quality of Part 1 was subpar, especially considering our conversation topic (the unfortunate result of a built-in recorder of a video call software with a name that does not start with z and rhymes with gripe). The Part 2 audio is much, much better.

If you would like to see a Part 3 in the future, please let us know. Feel free to send in topic requests or any questions you would like answered.

Links for the topics we discuss:

Isaku’s taiko mic comparison video
http://isakukageyama.com/best-mic-for-taiko-drums/

UnitOne virtual concert
https://youtu.be/uL2Fdsx_nO0

Isaku’s youtube channel - Garageband Basics, Fue EQ, Parallel Compression, Mixing, and More
https://www.youtube.com/c/IsakuKageyama/videos

Isaku’s directed study program
http://isakukageyama.com/directed-study-program-learn-taiko-music-production-and-more/

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1. Taiko microphone test, audio samples, UnitOne concert audio

2. Tempo changes, mixing, midi keyboard and drum pads, recording fue, reverb, room importance

3. Potential income from recording, livestream concerts, click tracks, simplifying our playing

4. Isaku’s directed study online lessons, importance of feedback for effective learning

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Isaku Kageyama is a taiko artist, well versed both in live performance and in the studio. His resume includes performances at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, networks such as NBC, VH1 and BET, tours with the Japan Foundation, and residencies with The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. He’s also an overall nice guy. :D:D:D

On stage and in the classroom, Isaku brings a breadth of experience performing and teaching both traditional and contemporary styles. A versatile collaborator in the studio, Isaku contributes to projects by bringing his extensive knowledge of composing, recording, and mixing to the table. When none of that is needed, his job is to make sure there is cold water in the fridge for everyone.

Isaku currently works as an instructor at Los Angeles Taiko Institute, performs with Asano Taiko US UnitOne, and records for virtual reality creators Rhythm of the Universe, and video game composers Materia Collective.

Formerly a principal drummer of Amanojaku, he holds a Bachelor of Music from the Berklee College of Music and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Longy School of Music of Bard College.

He is also a two-time National Odaiko Champion, becoming the youngest person to win highest honors at the Mt. Fuji Odaiko Contest in 2000, and Hokkaido in 2003.

From 2011-2014, Isaku was the resident instructor at Wellesley University and the University of Connecticut, and has held clinics at Berklee College of Music, Brown University, Rochester Institute of Technology, North American Taiko Conference, East Coast Taiko Conference, and Intercollegiate Taiko Invitationals.

Japanese Knife Sharpening Tutorial Videos

4-part Japanese Knife Sharpening Tutorial

I have been receiving requests to create how-to videos on Japanese knife sharpening. Previously, I would explain that there are already many online videos that cover this topic and therefore it was not necessary. Yet I became increasingly aware of the fact that there are actually very few knife sharpening tutorial videos which I felt comfortable fully recommending. Some of the best content is published by my sharpening teacher Jon Broida of Japanese Knife Imports, who has many excellent videos on his youtube channel. I encourage everyone to check them out. You can also learn more about Jon by reading my blog post about him.

Interview: Jon Broida of Japanese Knife Imports answers my 6 questions
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/blog/interview-jon-broida-knives

Japanese Knife Imports Sharpening Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEBF55079F53216AB

Japanese knives and sharpening stones

My 4-part tutorial covers every sharpening step from beginning to end - first on a cheap-junky knife and later on my high-quality gyuto. With just a few supplies, anyone should be able to get similar results by following my instructions and demonstrations. This method works for double-bevel Japanese and western knives, both stainless steel and carbon steel. Traditional single-bevel knives such as yanagiba and deba will require a different technique, and serrated bread knives and ceramic knives cannot be sharpened on whetstones. Practicing is important. Once your own knives are done, it’s a good idea to ask friends and family if they would like their knives sharpened. Many people worry about ruining their nice knives as they learn to sharpen, but if you start with good technique and mindfulness, it’s highly unlikely that any harm will be done. Thrift stores are also an option as they usually stock many cheap and dull knives (please be careful digging through bins of naked knives).

It is worth noting that this kind of video resource is just a starting point for learning about Japanese sharpening fundamentals. In order to establish good technique and understanding of concepts, we need to seek feedback from a good teacher and then incorporate those insights into our practice. Anyone who has taken my sharpening workshops will likely agree that our one-on-one interaction and Q&A as well as handing the knife back and forth for inspection is a crucial part of the learning process. I am available for private lessons and workshops - both online and in person - so please send me an email if you are interested in scheduling a session. Feel free to ask any questions or submit requests for future videos.

I have also made videos about Japanese knife types and sharpening supplies, which are included at the bottom of this page. If you are interested in supporting this kind of content, you can donate any amount using the button below. Thank you.

Donate to support my videos

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Japanese Knives and How to Choose One https://youtu.be/oGohHtSOcjY Japanese Knife Sharpening Supplies https://youtu.be/hL8Nu5cXzjU Leave questions or comment...

How to Sharpen Japanese Knives - Part 1 https://youtu.be/LG8RCqTjP30 Japanese Knives and How to Choose One https://youtu.be/oGohHtSOcjY Japanese Knife Sharpe...

How to Sharpen Japanese Knives - Part 1 https://youtu.be/LG8RCqTjP30 How to Sharpen Japanese Knives - Part 2 https://youtu.be/F_Hfz9fvXwk Japanese Knives and...

How to Sharpen Japanese Knives - Part 1 https://youtu.be/LG8RCqTjP30 How to Sharpen Japanese Knives - Part 2 https://youtu.be/F_Hfz9fvXwk How to Sharpen Japa...

Find more information about knives on my blog: https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/blog/interview-jon-broida-knives

More information on my blog about knives and sharpening: https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/blog/interview-jon-broida-knives