MJ vocal mic

[Steve G]

Hi Bruce, and thanks in advance. Just curious, it is well documented that Michael Jackson's vocals were recorded with an SM7, how was that decision made? Was it his request? Did you try different mics?

All the Best

Steve Genewick

[Harvey Gerst]

I've got one of Bruce's SM7 (still has the blue Dymo tape label with his name on it) from Fletcher, and once I replaced the chewed up front foam, it sounded pretty damn nice.

Didn't realize it had belonged to Bruce until I saw his name on it. For a while, we thought it was the "Thriller" mic, but I think Bruce still has that one.

[UXB]

and to add, if I may, if this was the mic used, did you then re-mic with a stereo pair to capture a phase coherent stereo image?

I apologize if this has been addressed in a previous post.
A sincere thanks for sharing so much.

Best,
H

[Bruce Swedien]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

I've got one of Bruce's SM7 (still has the blue Dymo tape label with his name on it) from Fletcher, and once I replaced the chewed up front foam, it sounded pretty damn nice.

Didn't realize it had belonged to Bruce until I saw his name on it. For a while, we thought it was the "Thriller" mic, but I think Bruce still has that one.

When we were doing "Off The Wall", "Thriller" and "Bad" I ended up with 6 Shure SM7's. I only have one left. That is a fantastic mike.

Bruce

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by Bruce Swedien

When we were doing "Off The Wall", "Thriller" and "Bad" I ended up with 6 Shure SM7's. I only have one left. That is a fantastic mike.

Bruce

Wait!! Are you saying that I might indeed really have one on the "Mikey" mics"? That would be funny.

BTW, when they were the "Jackson Five", they lived across the street from me up in the Hollywood Hills, when they first moved here from Gary, Indiana. Since I designed their Acoustic Control amplifiers, I met them a few times during their early years.

Bruce, you and I talked a few times on the old PAN network, when I designed "the mic" for IMC. You were gonna try it, but we never produced the damn thing.

[Bruce Swedien]

Originally Posted by Steve G

Hi Bruce, and thanks in advance. Just curious, it is well documented that Michael Jackson's vocals were recorded with an SM7, how was that decision made? Was it his request? Did you try different mics?

All the Best

Steve Genewick

Steve.....

I am lucky in that all those equipment choice decisions were left totally up to me. Quincy and I have worked together since 1959 so I think there is a high level of trust there... That is an almost sacred trust.

Bruce

[Larrchild]

Bruce, I had the good fortune to engineer a few demos for MJ's "Bad" album when I worked for the BeeGees, and noticed that when we did vocals, Michael would snap his fingers loudly, when singing.

I turned to John Barnes and said "Is this normal?", and he said "yes, continue", haha.

I was wondering if it was ever a problem, and if the finger-snaps have ever made it to the record on songs where we can hear them clearly?

Thanks!