Thriller Drum Reverb

[Bo Hansén]

Martin,

This was long time ago, in the end of 1970´s, when the Studio Bohus first owners "The Streaplers" dance band run this studio from start.

The console was some of the first Harrison 3232 consoles that was sold here in Sweden, I was one of the installer, and have also done a lot of recordings in this studio with this console.

Here is some other old Gothenburg studios from this time:
Gothenburg old studios

Regarding Jim Cunningham´s Echoplate.
I was the dealer for this plates in Sweden under the 1980´s, it was a great plate, and it was (and still is) a incredible reverb on percussion, brass and vocals, and a perfect complement to a EMT 140-S that have a other character that is unicue on a other way.

I have not work with Echoplate EP-1, the biggest one ( I have heard it from master tapes I get from Jim C.) but I sold a lot of EP-2, and some EP-3 here in Sweden. (EP-3 was the smallest, and sold as the "space saver")
The EP-2 is very fast and clear, specially on short reverb time, and the frame is a bit smaller than the EMT-140, so it is more easy to find a place in the studio for it.

When I build the "Vivaldi Studio" in Gothenburg, I install a EP-2 there, Maybe Mr: Swedien remeber this studio, I think he done a workshop there in the end of 1980´s

I have the great honour the meet Mr. Cunningham in his "plate factory" in 1984,
it is a very nice guy, with a huge exsperience of pro-audio electronics.

--Bo

[Zep Dude]

Originally Posted by Bruce Swedien

When overdubbing vocals for instance, I can record all backgroud vocals in stereo, and not combine or pre-mix anything permanently, untill all the parts in the song are complete, and I can hear how all the musical values relate. I guess I could say that, with this method, I never have to erase a track!

Bruce, would you clarify this? Do you mean recording background groups (multiple singers) in stereo or were you recording 2 microphones on a single voice or do you mean mixing the blend of backgrounds down to a stereo subgroup?

Thanks!

[carlheinz]

I don't know if this true ,but I heard somewhere that 3 EMT 250's(not 251's)in mono were a favorite setup of Quincy Jones or Bruce's...Maybie Bruce could verify this ..as in...1 EMT for left...1 EMT for center and one EMT for right...for totall discreet paths.Seems over the top but hey....This would be in addition to the plate's already mentioned.The sound of 1 EMT 250 in TL SPACE blows my mind....but 3!!!!..WOW!

[BillyCobb]

Originally Posted by Bruce Swedien

When I finished "Thriller", I had to move all my gear home from Westlake Studio on Beverly Boulevard in Hollywood.... Including the two (2) Ekoplates that Jim Cunningham had built for me. I did so, and a few months later was happily building my studio at home.

There wasn't enough room in my new studio for the Ekoplates, (they are large!!!) so I built a room for them above the studio garage at home. We finished building the studio garage around them!!! In 1994, when I moved back east to Connecticut I discovered that the Ekoplates couldn't be removed, so sadly, I left them behind!!!

They are probably still there to this day!!!

Bummer!!!

Bruce Swedien

Well, I do know that one of those plates (the little one) is no longer up in that attic above the garage, as it sits in my garage these days. You see, I've had my studios out in the area where Bruce had his ranch/studio since the late '70's. My studio over the years took on different forms from home studio to a 4000 square ft complex where Bruce did some work on "The Dude" album (West Oak Recorders, previously West Wind), before I took the studio over. I had always wanted to meet Bruce, but never had the opportunity. Whoops, wait a minute. My memory does recollect one time when he was talking his dog to the vet clinic next door and stopped in to say a short hi!

At the time Bruce moved to Connecticut, I had my studio in a house in Moorpark (the more meager days). I knew where his ranch was so one day I saw the gardener of the ranch out in front of the West Viking gates and gave him my business card. I told him I would like to meet the owner. To make a long story short, I had the pleasure of moving my studio into the West Viking studio and did my recording work from there for a few years until the owner that bought from Bruce decided to sell the ranch. When I moved I was fortunate enough to be able to take the smaller plate with me. It just took a bit of wrestling through the entryway into the attic.

I actually had never hooked up the smaller plate. According to Jim Cunningham, it just needed a couple of pzm type mic pres and a driving amp. I never got around to getting that together if you can believe that! I did however get the larger plate going and used it quite a bit. I had to get a diaphram from Jim as the diaphram was missing.

So there we go. A little more light shed on the plate mystery. Hope I wasn't too long winded. Hey, wait a minute...whats the meaning of all this without pictures!! Ok, here we go.....









All the best and glad to discover this wonderful forum!

Billy Cobb

[SiliconAudioLab]

God, I love this site.

[loujudson]

Originally Posted by Absolute

I heard they added just a little bit of verb to Jacksons balls too.--barely audible

Really??? I thought he had them removed along with his nose!

L

[Oldone]

Was this Hummingbird ranch in Simi? You said Moorpark, that is farther West. Great end to the story. Thanks.

[Tranny-Cap-Tube]

Hey Bruce, at mixdown do you keep most of the stereo tracks in the mix, or do you only keep the most important things in stereo?

[BillyCobb]

Originally Posted by Oldone

Was this Hummingbird ranch in Simi? You said Moorpark, that is farther West. Great end to the story. Thanks.

No Oldone, it was Bruce's "West Viking Ranch", actually in Moorpark.

[Todd Loomis]

Originally Posted by Bruce Swedien

NO.... NO.... NO.....

I used a beautiful Harrison 4032. One of the first ones..... Can we post photos here? I've got some great ones of that Harrison and the control room...

If we can post photos, I'll need a little help. I am a bit computer challenged!!!

Bruce Swedien

Hey Bruce - looks like your plates are now on Ebay:

Plate Reverb-Custom built for engineer Bruce Swedien - eBay (item 320327286106 end time Jan-02-09 22:14:52 PST)

Todd Loomis

[PMoshay]

Originally Posted by kosi

There are 4 IRs of an ecoplate in TLSpace.

i use the Ecoplate alot.... one of my favs!

[dbbubba]

I guess I had better get onto fixing up my Echoplate II !!!!!

It has been sitting in the garage with a messed up driver for a few years.
I have Jim's email address and we have discussed what I need to do to get it going 100%.

Thanks for the motivation guys!

[timtoonz]

Half an hour left on the 'Thriller' plate auction, and still no bids?

Are all the GS'ers still too hungover after New Years? What's up?

Don't MAKE me buy this. I can't afford to ship another heavy piece of gear from California to Canada... (the MCI 416B I bought was trouble enough!)


Somebody grab this thing!

[dbbubba]

That's kinda' pricey considering it doesn't have the drive amp or the pick up apparatus.

Moments left...

[starseed]

Originally Posted by Mark Ettel

>Here's the intro track sheet for "Thriller". Notice anything unusual about it???<

Well, everything is in stereo. Would that mean that most things on the tape were recorded using your "Accusonics" recording technique? ;-) I know I haven't seen you in years, but if you recall, I was your assistant on Thriller at Oceanway Recording for some of the recording of the album which included recording drums with Jeff Porcaro on "Beat It", "Human Nature" and "Billy Jean". I also worked with you on the "ET" album at Ocean Way. Those were exciting sessions and I was flattered by your set up instructions for the drums which was, "Give me your best setup", which was basically my choice for drum set placement and mics :-). Nice to hear from you on GS and I hope to see you again soon.

All the best, Mark Ettel

Legendary, in its' simplicity

[loujudson]

The very last thing I'd want to see - but them I hate broadway style musicals in general, except West Side Story:

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” Is Broadway Bound : Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily

Curious if this benefits Bruce in any way? Will they use the original sound or live amplified crap?

Lou

[Acusonic24]

Originally Posted by Philip S Bova

On Billie Jean, that's also the Ecoplate. You can hear the 16th note predelay. There was (late 90's?) an article in mix mag about the recording of this song. From what I recall, an MCI 2" 16 track was used for tracking the beds, some modified Harrison console was used. SM7 on the lead vocal. I think Bruce Swedien used to sync up two analogue multitracks.

psb

I think he used the 2 3m-m79 24 track machine synced the acusonic recording process way for stereo imaging tracks. i remember seeing a video of Q and Bruce in the westlake studio running the 2 3ms 2" on gold scotch 250s running at 30 ips. I know he mastered it on the Ampex ATR-102 1/2". I remember reading bruce said that the tracks were coded with Dolby's all around!!! Those tape machines were so quiet that you could record a fly pissing on a blotter with them!! Bruce Quotes,, heres a pic.