Old Skool: 70's Soul tracking?

[Maddstone]

I've been listening and reading bout here and there bout how different producers tracked artists in the different era.But what I would like to know is what kinda mic's did artists like Curtis Mayfield and Manhattan's use, what fx processing did they use and what was the signal record-chain like?Ok, maybe not so much the mic's they used cause u can google that info pretty easily, I guess, but more so the equipment they used in the tracking and mixing stage.

[Relax]

check out wax poetics if you havent yet. not exactly what your looking for but some help and a damn good magazine.
http://www.waxpoetics.com/html/home.php

[JTR]

http://mixonline.com/searchresults/?...classic+tracks


I think you'll find some good info here;

Also there was not the huge amount of specialized production techniques or style - specific gearsluttery going on back then, as we know it today

[XHipHop]

I love how certain tracks from that era had so much dryness and seperation in the drums. That's something I haven't been able to achieve yet but I blame it on the drummers and their kits.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

I love how certain tracks from that era had so much dryness and seperation in the drums. That's something I haven't been able to achieve yet but I blame it on the drummers and their kits.

RE20 on the kick!

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

RE20 on the kick!

Tony, have you tried an RE27? What's the difference?

[Maddstone]

Thanx Relax and JTR for those links.I'll have a look and see whats up.Much appreciated.

[Maddstone]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

I love how certain tracks from that era had so much dryness and seperation in the drums. That's something I haven't been able to achieve yet but I blame it on the drummers and their kits.

U ever take a listen to David Axelrod's madd drum breaks.......ok silly question.I mean, who hasnt.But u listen to the way them drums just sound.Nice.Ok, I guess its all about his arrangement as well that just compliments the drums and makes it sound better than what it is.But its tight any which way u look at it.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

Tony, have you tried an RE27? What's the difference?

No... but that would be worth trying, although the RE27 is more sensitive and a little brighter.

[paultools]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

I love how certain tracks from that era had so much dryness and seperation in the drums. That's something I haven't been able to achieve yet but I blame it on the drummers and their kits.

Go to a yard sale/pawn shop and get an old kit.
Take off bottom heads.
Get a roll of duct tape and 3" upholstery foam and tape it over the heads.
Tape the unused lugs to prevent rattle.
Use Remo Ambassadors or Evans Hydraulic heads tuned really slack.
De-tune one lug to get the pitch-bend.
Put a heavy blanket or moving pad in the kick... no front head with a weight (round bottom of mic stand). Put another blanket over the front of the kick to aid in separation.
For mics, try the EV RE-15.
Obviously, you need a really small, dead room.
Many of those records were tracked as Kick, snare, and stereo "drums".

Have fun!

[Cujo]

Would this be Ambassador uncoateds?
Would you put the mic in the kick anbd then drape the balnket over it?
Sis they ever mic the toms from inside?

Originally Posted by paultools

Go to a yard sale/pawn shop and get an old kit.
Take off bottom heads.
Get a roll of duct tape and 3" upholstery foam and tape it over the heads.
Tape the unused lugs to prevent rattle.
Use Remo Ambassadors or Evans Hydraulic heads tuned really slack.
De-tune one lug to get the pitch-bend.
Put a heavy blanket or moving pad in the kick... no front head with a weight (round bottom of mic stand). Put another blanket over the front of the kick to aid in separation.
For mics, try the EV RE-15.
Obviously, you need a really small, dead room.
Many of those records were tracked as Kick, snare, and stereo "drums".

Have fun!

[paultools]

Coated heads
Blanket against the beater head for muffling, and another moving pad draped over the front for isolation.
Mic from inside toms works.

[signalflow]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

RE20 on the kick!

NS10 on the kick! thumbsup

[Methlab]

its all about the room sound on old records. nowadays its all about getting the room sound 80% out of the mix.

[Switchcraft]

If there are any tracks in specific that you want to know the effects and board EQ settings and mix set ups let me know. i am managing a tape archive project for all of the Sigma sound stuff out of philly in the 70s. 4000 2in tapes from Stevie to Grover aretha, and gladys... TWe have track sheets, origianal tapes and machines and we will be writing some books on techniques of that time. let you know when it comes together. the prject hasnt started yet, but it is on the up and up.

[paultools]

Need any help?

[GL Respect Due]

^likewise. I'd be willing to invest time and money into a project like that my man. Send me a PM and we'll talk.