The issue is not now nor never has been gear...it's the songs and the players. Some of the most beautifully recorded, impacting, lasting music was done on crap gear
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Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"
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I now keep older stuff in original box or up & running. One may need it. CZ101 has some ridiculous analog like phat bass sounds.
When the price of used Tascam reel to reels skyrocketed because someone heard how warm they sounded I learned my lesson.
The store would convince me to toss something that's working everyday. I stop upgrading OS because there is a perfect match which gets the most speed out of the device. It is horrible to buy a new computer because you want the plugins and your interfaces don't work!
When the price of used Tascam reel to reels skyrocketed because someone heard how warm they sounded I learned my lesson.
The store would convince me to toss something that's working everyday. I stop upgrading OS because there is a perfect match which gets the most speed out of the device. It is horrible to buy a new computer because you want the plugins and your interfaces don't work!
From the Mirror: Paul McCartney finds inspiration in the toilet when he's struggling to finish a song. Sir Paul McCartney has revealed where he finds inspiration to finish writing some of his songs - in the toilet. The star, who penned his first song when he was 14, added: "The trick is to go off on your own and finish it. Go into the toilet - toilets are good. Separate yourself.
He even records on crap gear:
Not exactly what I meant...but speaking of McCartney:
The record 'Band on the Run' was recorded in Nigeria using gear that had pretty much had to be repaired to work at all, then constantly tweaked and babied to stay operational. It rain in on of the tracking rooms, hostile locals, etc...
All outlined in Geoff Emerick's book. Superlative reading if you are into that sort of thing
The record 'Band on the Run' was recorded in Nigeria using gear that had pretty much had to be repaired to work at all, then constantly tweaked and babied to stay operational. It rain in on of the tracking rooms, hostile locals, etc...
All outlined in Geoff Emerick's book. Superlative reading if you are into that sort of thing
Of course, it isn't what you meant. I get your intent, I was simply giving it a twist. 
No question that the song and the musicians are very important. But so is the recording equipment. You can get by without a big room. As an example, Helter Skelter was recorded very loud in a tiny machine room attached to the studio 2 control room at Abbey Road.
From what I understand, conditions in Lagos were certainly not up to the standards of the Abbey Road studio. But the equipment was still good, maintained by EMI. All you need to track is a room and some good mics, preamps, perhaps some EQ, and a recorder. The multitrack tapes are processed, mixed, and mastered later in other studio.
It's interesting in that in later years, all the beatles did tracking in their home studios. A lot of people in the industry built their own studios. It was less expensive than paying for studio time and more private. But all of them moved to other studios for further work. John's Tittenhurst Park home had a studio on his property called Ascott Sound Studios. This was apparently the first private studio in England.
John working on Imagine at Ascot Sound Studio on his Tittenhurst property.
Some of John's studio equipment was put up for auction a while back. There was some Abbey Road sourced equipment such as the EMI modified RS124 compressor, the EMI RS56 Curve Bender EQ which was heavily used on vocals. He had the same mics and preamps that he was familiar with. He also had newer equipment such as Eventide delays which are used to ensure that drum micing for instance is in phase. He didn't spare any expenses in terms of equipment.
When John moved to Ney York, Ringo bought the Tittenhurst property and turned the studio into a commercial facility which he renamed Startling Studios, an upgraded residential studio complex.
Paul's Hogg Hill Mill studio in Sussex has all the comforts of Abbey Road, he also had a studio on his farm for Wings albums. George had his Friar Park studio, again some really nice equipment including some from EMI.
Who wouldn't want a custom built CADAC desk at home.
No question that the song and the musicians are very important. But so is the recording equipment. You can get by without a big room. As an example, Helter Skelter was recorded very loud in a tiny machine room attached to the studio 2 control room at Abbey Road.
From what I understand, conditions in Lagos were certainly not up to the standards of the Abbey Road studio. But the equipment was still good, maintained by EMI. All you need to track is a room and some good mics, preamps, perhaps some EQ, and a recorder. The multitrack tapes are processed, mixed, and mastered later in other studio.
It's interesting in that in later years, all the beatles did tracking in their home studios. A lot of people in the industry built their own studios. It was less expensive than paying for studio time and more private. But all of them moved to other studios for further work. John's Tittenhurst Park home had a studio on his property called Ascott Sound Studios. This was apparently the first private studio in England.
John working on Imagine at Ascot Sound Studio on his Tittenhurst property.
Some of John's studio equipment was put up for auction a while back. There was some Abbey Road sourced equipment such as the EMI modified RS124 compressor, the EMI RS56 Curve Bender EQ which was heavily used on vocals. He had the same mics and preamps that he was familiar with. He also had newer equipment such as Eventide delays which are used to ensure that drum micing for instance is in phase. He didn't spare any expenses in terms of equipment.
When John moved to Ney York, Ringo bought the Tittenhurst property and turned the studio into a commercial facility which he renamed Startling Studios, an upgraded residential studio complex.
Paul's Hogg Hill Mill studio in Sussex has all the comforts of Abbey Road, he also had a studio on his farm for Wings albums. George had his Friar Park studio, again some really nice equipment including some from EMI.
Who wouldn't want a custom built CADAC desk at home.
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To go even further aside, Geoff Emerick and Richard Lush rerecorded some of the Sgt Pepper tracks at Abbey Road with other musicians. It was a BBC special broadcast to mark the ablum's 40th anniversary.
It's a fascinating presentation that I never get tired of watching.
It's a fascinating presentation that I never get tired of watching.
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I really enjoyed that book. Nice to meet another Beatles fan.
If you are interested in Beatles recording equipment, Recording the Beatles, is interesting. Very well done, a lot of high quality photos, but a bit expensive: Invalid Link Removed
If you have deep pockets, an Abbey Road REDD.37 recording desk used by the Beatles is for sale at Vintage King: Invalid Link Removed. It is currently owned by Lenny Kravitz and offered for sale.
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I've got all the books ever written on that particular topic...and many more. Used to be what I did, until my ears went to hell and never came back.
Side note - 2006 AES, I had a chance to attend Goeff's Q&A, then later have a nice one-to-one visit with him...quiet, unassuming guy, really, inspite of his weird pants.
Side note - 2006 AES, I had a chance to attend Goeff's Q&A, then later have a nice one-to-one visit with him...quiet, unassuming guy, really, inspite of his weird pants.
People near me are in great danger at the moment ‘cos I’m really, really extra grumpy!!! I just opened my Contacts application to find Apple UK's details and my own from a long time ago. That’s it!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Topic change:
Sadly, Glen Campbell has died, age 81. Even though he suffered tremendously with Alzheimer's, it really saddens me to see him go. He played such an important part in shaping American music, from The Wrecking Crew to The Beach Boys to Sinatra to good ol country.
Just dang...
Sadly, Glen Campbell has died, age 81. Even though he suffered tremendously with Alzheimer's, it really saddens me to see him go. He played such an important part in shaping American music, from The Wrecking Crew to The Beach Boys to Sinatra to good ol country.
Just dang...
Al Kraft
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Most people don't realize how great a musician he really was. One of my favorite YouTube vids is him and Jerry Reed doing the Jerry Reed classic, Guitar Man. Two great talents totally enjoying sharing the stage together and delighting an audience.
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Glen Campbell was an early (1969) endorser of Ovation Guitars (I worked for the "now former" parent company of Ovation). I really liked his playing, his songs really had impact over many, many years and will continue to remind us of his stature in this industry IMO.
Al Kraft
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Charlie Kaman's brainchild. The guy was a true renaissance man having done everything from aerospace engineering, to music, to creating a special breed of German Shepherd to serve as guide dogs. While there are a lot of "famous people" in the world, there aren't nearly as many Charlies and Glens!
Thanks for the music Glen. He had it rough in recent years.
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I used to own an Ovation 12 string. The neck on that thing was bulletproof. It didn't have a pickup, I routed under the bridge and installed an LRBaggs piezo.
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I used to own an Ovation 12 string. The neck on that thing was bulletproof. It didn't have a pickup, I routed under the bridge and installed an LRBaggs piezo.
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- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,051
- 5
- 221,021
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Agreed. I only met Charlie Kaman once, it was obvious that he was very much ahead of the curve. His use of composites in helicopter rotor design is what made the Ovation guitar unique... the use of similar composites in the guitar back (or bowl) along with a lot of engineering of the piezo pickup system.
For those of you who might be interested in the history of Kaman Corporation (which at one time was the parent company of KMC Music): Invalid Link Removed
I still have my Ovation Legend 20th anniversary 12 string. Still plays and sounds great despite being a 1986 edition. And as Beans stated , yup , that neck is bulletproof. I don't think I have ever had to touch it in the 20 or so years that I have owned it.
I might catch a hop on this baby tomorrow:
The smaller one in the background is a B-25. B-24 also available.
@Al Kraft Turbo Radials! Can you get here by 1800 tomorrow?
The smaller one in the background is a B-25. B-24 also available.
@Al Kraft Turbo Radials! Can you get here by 1800 tomorrow?
Al Kraft
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- May 2, 2016
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I wish!!I might catch a hop on this baby tomorrow:
The smaller one in the background is a B-25. B-24 also available.
@Al Kraft Turbo Radials! Can you get here by 1800 tomorrow?
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
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- 40,463
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
Last time I recall dealing with one of those aircraft was while I was the Senior Aviation Advisor at PEO Aircraft Carriers. It was around 2000, someone was doing a Pearl Harbor movie, and they wanted to launch four vintage B-25's off the CV-64 (U.S.S. Constellation) to recreate the take-offs from the Hornet for Doolittle's raiders IIRC. My team had to answer some questions regarding launch criteria and safety margins. It was a fun project.
Rode on a B17 while CAF was still headquartered (and relevant) in Midland...BTW, for those fussing about about the cost of re-tubing and amp? A vintage bomber carried several hundred 6L6 or variants for everything from radar to navigation to communications to great sound...
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