What compressor did the Beatles use at Abbey Road Studios?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Steve Hoffman, Mar 5, 2003.

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  1. wes

    wes Senior Member

    Location:
    Hillbilly Hollywood, TN
    Steve,

    You're amazing,
    Thanks for filling us in on the tech questions.......

    -Wes
     
    wes, Mar 6, 2003
    #26
  2. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Location:
    California
    Engineer Kevin Gray is building a valve recording system similar to the old Telefunken/Redd system and had this to say today:

    Hey Stevo,

    I'm amazed that the Beatle consoles at Abbey road changed from a
    small tube board ("Redd [Record Engineering Development Division] 37"
    ...8 in, 2 line X 4), to a bigger tube board, ("REDD 51"...don't know
    the exact # of ins&outs, but I think at least 12 in) during the "Sgt.
    Pepper" album, and finally to a solid state 8 track board for the "white
    album"? Does account for a bit of "sound change", wouldn't ya say?
    ...Along with tube Studers, finally to solid state, various limiters,
    and other goodies. Vocals changed to Neumann 67s (sometimes) around the white
    album, ...that's where I really like the 47...on the early vocals.

    Geoff Emerick said that he thought the "Neumann Sound" went totally
    down-hill from the 47 to the 67 to the 87. (I totally agree) I know
    the Eq got pushed, so it's hard to hear just how great that mic
    sounds...Peggy Lee maybe? You'll see!!! Hope to have mine finished by
    Summer. Heard a recording a friend did with those Telefunken mic pres.
    Talk about a pair of Mac 30s??? Try a 240 on steroids!!!!
    Maybe wanna post some of this?...go ahead if ya do.

    Take care,

    Kev
     
    Steve Hoffman, Mar 7, 2003
    #27
  3. Jamie Tate

    Jamie Tate New Member

    Location:
    Nashville
    Is Kevin going to be marketing this Frankenstein console? I bet he could make a little money from vintage obsessed engineers and producers.

    Telefunken mic pres can be had rather inexpensively especially when compared to the prices of a Neve 1073 module. They do sound great although not the most user friendly interface ever made.
     
    Jamie Tate, Mar 7, 2003
    #28
  4. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Location:
    California
    Kevin is just making one for himself.

    We're going to try some live "direct to discs" with the stuff, using the big store room at RTI for the studio (evenings).

    Should be fun...
     
    Steve Hoffman, Mar 7, 2003
    #29
  5. Stax Fan

    Stax Fan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Midwest
    Hey, Steve. I'm always glad when we have a chance to get some insights from Kevin Gray...always makes for interesting reading.

    In the above quote, Kevin refers to the solid-state switch occurring at Abbey Road in time for the recording of the White Album. I was under the impression this switch didn't take place until 1969, prior to the recording of Abbey Road.

    Was Kevin slightly off here, or is this the correct timeline?


    __________
    AC
     
    Stax Fan, Mar 7, 2003
    #30
  6. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Location:
    California
    Could be off..
     
    Steve Hoffman, Mar 7, 2003
    #31
  7. lukpac

    lukpac Senior Member

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    Is he sure about that? There are pictures of the Abbey Road sessions, showing a desk that looks identical to the ones used in 1964. I've seen pictures of the 8-track desk EMI made, and it's quite different looking.
     
    lukpac, Mar 7, 2003
    #32
  8. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Location:
    California
    I think Kevin is going more by the "sound change" than the photos. What he hears as the albums get more modern sounding, is a gradual "hardening" of the sound, due to the microphone changes and the out-board gear, full of those dreaded transistors.....
     
    Steve Hoffman, Mar 7, 2003
    #33
  9. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Location:
    California
    From Kevin Gray:


    Hi Steve,

    To answer the follow-up questions to the post. I got all that info from
    interviews I collected with Geoff E and George M. If the time-lines are
    off slightly, it's probably that their memories for exact times have
    faded slightly...but pretty close. As far as the old board being used
    on Abbey Road LP...no way...it was long gone...BUT...had reportedly been
    purchased by the Beatles for the Saville Road, Apple Studio. So those
    pics we've all seen are probably showing demo sessions or just listening
    to rough mixes or copies for approval, etc.

    Best,

    Kev
     
    Steve Hoffman, Mar 8, 2003
    #34
  10. lukpac

    lukpac Senior Member

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    Well, EMI *loaned* Apple a desk or two to use while recording LIB. So the REDD 37 was certainly used to record LIB. I'm not aware of Apple buying desks from them, though.

    As far as Abbey Road goes, there's a picture (dated 1969) of Paul working the faders at a REDD 37, with George Martin and Ringo looking on. An add-on box of faders can be seen to the side. So the old boards were certainly still in use for some tasks.

    While George Martin has done a *lot* of great stuff over the years, unfortunately you really have to filter what he says. It's pretty clear the stereo mixes of PPM and WTB were done around the same time as the monos, under his supervision, not in 1965, for example.
     
    lukpac, Mar 8, 2003
    #35
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