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The Real James Jamerson Amp

#162
seamonkey said:
What I see and read is there's really no hard evidence that on any Jamerson song that a B-15 can be attributed to. Any song may be a B-15, a Mic or a DI. It's not a clear definition that a B-15 was used on any recording. And nobody can actually tell, and prove it that one was. There is no snap your fingers, that's a b-15 moment here.

Jamerson is of historical interest here, and thank gawd recordings are preserved.
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Exactly. And how well does the "it's in the player's hands" argument stand up here!? :)
 
#169
beans-on-toast said:
From what I understand, the DI had a simple uncomplicated signal pathway with a big output transformer. If you want a modern equivalent, check out a REDDI from A-Designs.
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Don't know that I believe that it can be attributed to just a single DI either. There as a lot of other things in the recording pathway, and the mixdown, including other peoples ears. I don't know that the same people given today's gear couldn't be just as musical.
 
#170
Certainly the signal chain is complex. Jamerson's signal was often processed with a Pultec EQ and Fairchild compressor. People say that the Fairchild makes the tracks sound like a real record. It really is a fabulous device. That and whatever else the signal went through went through a mixer which colored the sound and then on to an edge track on tape. The tape machine adds more filtering and compression. Tracks are bounced down and mixed. Then the final one or two track mix is sent to mastering where again the signal is processed again. It never sounds as good on record as it does in the studio.

The DI is important not only because it is the first stage of the signal chain but because this is often a big part of what the player is fed into their headphones or monitor while recording. They play off this and it inspires them to deliver a better performance. How and what they play can make or break the song. This is followed by how the engineer and everyone down the line do their jobs.

Although modern digital technology makes life a lot easier and allows you to do things that couldn't be done in the past, the sound doesn't have the same soul that it did with the analog equipment.
 
#172
beans-on-toast said:
Certainly the signal chain is complex. Jamerson's signal was often processed with a Pultec EQ and Fairchild compressor. People say that the Fairchild makes the tracks sound like a real record. It really is a fabulous device. That and whatever else the signal went through went through a mixer which colored the sound and then on to an edge track on tape. The tape machine adds more filtering and compression. Tracks are bounced down and mixed. Then the final one or two track mix is sent to mastering where again the signal is processed again. It never sounds as good on record as it does in the studio.

The DI is important not only because it is the first stage of the signal chain but because this is often a big part of what the player is fed into their headphones or monitor while recording. They play off this and it inspires them to deliver a better performance. How and what they play can make or break the song. This is followed by how the engineer and everyone down the line do their jobs.

Although modern digital technology makes life a lot easier and allows you to do things that couldn't be done in the past, the sound doesn't have the same soul that it did with the analog equipment.
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Kudos, Beans , probably the best explanation on this subject to date ! +1 !
 

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