I nearly broke my $300 condenser today. After getting myself to set everything up, I frantically discovered that the mic wasn't working. After running in circles for a few minutes, I hastily (and quite fearfully) disassembled it, hoping to find that there was a simple broken connection. No such luck. Defeated and ready to drown away my sorrows in booze, I realized that hadn't engaged the phantom power on my mixer, which the condenser needs to function. I'm brilliant, really, under these layers...and layers...and layers of stupidity.

After that episode, I worked for 5 hours straight on one of my songs. I accomplished quite a bit, bringing more clarity to it and adding nice flourishes here and there. I'm happy for it. And dead tired.