In a unique collaboration, Dan Richards (Dot) and VS artist Doug 'Jazzooo' Robinson are working together on a new album. It is noteworthy for several reasons.

1) It is the first album recorded completely at Doug's new home studio in San Diego.

2) It is mostly original acoustic jazz with a dynamic range that is proving to be a challenge to capture in Doug's one-room studio – especially given the lack of isolation between instruments.

3) The album is recorded entirely on Doug's VS2480, but the front-end includes a combination of mics and preamps, much of it provided by manufacturers for review in use. It's be the kind of project in which a $4000 Millennia HV-3D mic pre might end up sitting next to a $79 Studio Projects B1 mic, as long as it all sounds good.

4) And finally, while Doug is producing the sessions, Dot is flying to California to engineer the recordings.

Doug's acoustic trio, JAZZOOO, is drummer Duncan Moore and bassist Ken Dow. Doug plays piano, synths, melodica and is singing one track on the album. The group has been rehearsing and performing for the past seven months and only recently decided it was time to get it on hard disk.

According to Doug, Dot, who runs Studio Forums and was the mastermind behind the extensive gear comparisons now known as The Listening Sessions, is an invaluable partner to the project. "Dot's understanding of mic placement has proven more impressive than any of the gear. And trust me, some of that gear is very impressive."

The first sessions are sounding like a great success, and Dot has left the gear set up so all Doug needs to do is press "record" and keep working. The goal is to finish basic tracks before Thanksgiving and overdub a guest artist or two soon after that.

Keep your eye on this page. As recording details surface and rough mixes become available, they will be posted here for your enjoyment and scrutiny!