Capturing and Mixing the Rhodes

dissolva · 22nd March 2007

Hi Russell, the Rhodes electric piano plays a key role in some of the most popular productions you've worked on. What's your favorite ways of capturing it, as far as preferred DIs/amps/mics/placement/pres/compression? Any tips or tricks you can share in mixing? How do you like to place the sound in the stereo image? any unusual sounds or effects chains you can share? thanks in advance.

Michael

walth · 23rd March 2007

YEAH. Thanks for asking this question.LOL. I was just going to ask this.
In a previous post russ mentioned that the rhodes sound on d'angelo's record was a well guarded secret. What about the rhodes model number that was used? I hear electric lady land has a great rhodes piano. Stevie Wonder used it on some of his recordings. Is it a mark I, Mark II?

Jazzpunk · 24th March 2007

I'd love to hear some tips on this as well. By the way, 'Voodoo' is one disc that stays in rotation here at the pad

over-man · 25th March 2007

Russell,

I'm very interested in your Rhodes technique as well. I work with a lot of jazz/hip-hop groups where Rhodes have a prominent role, but I can't quite get the sound right. Lately I've tried mixing re-amped signals with the DI, but the stereo image and depth just aren't right...Thanks for everything you've shared so far!

-Ryan Miller

Jazzpunk · 2nd April 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by walth

In a previous post russ mentioned that the rhodes sound on d'angelo's record was a well guarded secret.

Looks like it's staying a secret!

over-man · 2nd April 2007

I read that in a previous post, but I'd still love some general information regarding the Rhodes, different techniques for capturing/mixing, etc.

sourcekode · 2nd April 2007

i too would be very interested in this

betelgeuse · 2nd April 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

Looks like it's staying a secret!

..they took the cover off the rhodes and mic'd them.

You should read this Voodoo review by Questlove for its making of:

http://www.okayplayer.com/theroots/viewreview.jsp?rid=6

over-man · 3rd April 2007

Thanks for the link! Thats pretty sweet.

Russell Elevado · 4th April 2007

hello everyone,

sorry for the wait...
the rhodes at electric lady definitely sounds awesome. and believe it or not, i only used the DI signal going through neve pre's for the rhodes on voodoo. i've only mic'd a rhodes cabinet a handful of times in my entire career. the majority of the rhodes i've come across don't have cabinets that sound very good to me.

i do eq it and use compression, but there's nothing i do as a standard thing regarding the processing when recording or mixing. i like the 1176, 1178 or LA3A for the rhodes and i've used all types of eq's from neve's to helios'. for voodoo it was that particular rhodes that had a great sound. and i believe it is the same one that stevie wonder used on the albums he did there but i dont recall whether it's a mark l or ll.

cheers

dissolva · 4th April 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell Elevado

i believe it is the same one that stevie wonder used on the albums he did there but i dont recall whether it's a mark l or ll.

So you're saying that a great player + a great instrument = great sound!?!

Stevie Wonder's Music of My Mind, Talking Book, and Fulfillingness' First Finale were all done in full or in part at Electric Lady prior to the release of the Mark II in 1979, so that would put it squarely in Mark I territory. If it's the same instrument used on those records, going by the date and the sound, that would make it an early Mark I before the hammer and tine redesign in 1975, resulting in the different sound of the later Mk I's and of the Mk II.

Steamy Williams · 5th April 2007

Hi Russ,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell Elevado

the rhodes at electric lady definitely sounds awesome. and believe it or not, i only used the DI signal going through neve pre's for the rhodes on voodoo. i've only mic'd a rhodes cabinet a handful of times in my entire career. the majority of the rhodes i've come across don't have cabinets that sound very good to me.

Are there any DI boxes you favour?

Best Wishes,
Ben.

goldphinga · 5th April 2007

Ive got that same era of Rhodes- they are amazing, id go as far as to say the best!

Its a 1972 suitcase 73, fender badged. The speaker cabinets dont sound anything special though. I never use my cab.I always take a direct feed from the harp into an avalon u5>amek cib or Bc3>1178. The 1178 is an incredible compressor.

Cant beat that sound and with tape in the equasion as well you are laughing!

Cheers for the insight...

22nd March 2007	#1
dissolva Gear Head Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 39 Thread Starter	Capturing and Mixing the Rhodes Hi Russell, the Rhodes electric piano plays a key role in some of the most popular productions you've worked on. What's your favorite ways of capturing it, as far as preferred DIs/amps/mics/placement/pres/compression? Any tips or tricks you can share in mixing? How do you like to place the sound in the stereo image? any unusual sounds or effects chains you can share? thanks in advance. Michael

4th April 2007	#10
Russell Elevado Gear maniac Joined: Sep 2006 Location: i'm a gypsy Posts: 230	hello everyone, sorry for the wait... the rhodes at electric lady definitely sounds awesome. and believe it or not, i only used the DI signal going through neve pre's for the rhodes on voodoo. i've only mic'd a rhodes cabinet a handful of times in my entire career. the majority of the rhodes i've come across don't have cabinets that sound very good to me. i do eq it and use compression, but there's nothing i do as a standard thing regarding the processing when recording or mixing. i like the 1176, 1178 or LA3A for the rhodes and i've used all types of eq's from neve's to helios'. for voodoo it was that particular rhodes that had a great sound. and i believe it is the same one that stevie wonder used on the albums he did there but i dont recall whether it's a mark l or ll. cheers __________________ russ elevado

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23rd March 2007	#2
walth Gear nut Joined: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 92	YEAH. Thanks for asking this question.LOL. I was just going to ask this. In a previous post russ mentioned that the rhodes sound on d'angelo's record was a well guarded secret. What about the rhodes model number that was used? I hear electric lady land has a great rhodes piano. Stevie Wonder used it on some of his recordings. Is it a mark I, Mark II?

24th March 2007	#3
Jazzpunk Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,781	I'd love to hear some tips on this as well. By the way, 'Voodoo' is one disc that stays in rotation here at the pad

25th March 2007	#4
over-man Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 274	Russell, I'm very interested in your Rhodes technique as well. I work with a lot of jazz/hip-hop groups where Rhodes have a prominent role, but I can't quite get the sound right. Lately I've tried mixing re-amped signals with the DI, but the stereo image and depth just aren't right...Thanks for everything you've shared so far! -Ryan Miller

2nd April 2007	#6
over-man Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 274	I read that in a previous post, but I'd still love some general information regarding the Rhodes, different techniques for capturing/mixing, etc.

2nd April 2007	#7
sourcekode Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 160	i too would be very interested in this

3rd April 2007	#9
over-man Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 274	Thanks for the link! Thats pretty sweet.

5th April 2007	#13
goldphinga Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,383	Ive got that same era of Rhodes- they are amazing, id go as far as to say the best! Its a 1972 suitcase 73, fender badged. The speaker cabinets dont sound anything special though. I never use my cab.I always take a direct feed from the harp into an avalon u5>amek cib or Bc3>1178. The 1178 is an incredible compressor. Cant beat that sound and with tape in the equasion as well you are laughing! Cheers for the insight...