Recording info on Beck's Sea Change Album?

MrVelvet · 29th October 2007

Love the album and the whole atmosphere. Any infos how that thing was recorded? Love the acoutic guitar sound (e.g. "Already dead").

Any idea what mics produce such a warm yet transparent sound (maybe a KM54)?

neilio · 29th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrVelvet

Love the album and the whole atmosphere. Any infos how that thing was recorded? Love the acoutic guitar sound (e.g. "Already dead").

Any idea what mics produce such a warm yet transparent sound (maybe a KM54)?

nigel godrich....the yellow deltron at oceanway, 8 hands mixing, jmj, roger, victor indrizzo....

makes for a good start...

Marty J · 29th October 2007

I'd love some more info on this album too, it sounds fantastic. It's hard to imagine, but the SACD sounds even better.

Let's not forget the contribution of great writing, arrangements and performances!

justinmj · 29th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty J

I'd love some more info on this album too, it sounds fantastic. It's hard to imagine, but the SACD sounds even better.

Let's not forget the contribution of great writing, arrangements and performances!

A pleasure for me to see this album getting some love from this esteemed community. Definitely my proudest moment as a player/collaborator. Three weeks of musical freedom, experimentation, and worthy challenges...oh, and that time includes the mix, too.

I can certainly answer a few questions on this one. I'll start by saying that Victor Indrizzo didn't play drums on this record, it was Joey Waronker and James Gadson.

Acoustic guitar was simply one of Allen Side's great U47's into the Delcon console.

Oceanway B - the finest room in the world, IMHO.

As has been reported before, I will confirm that the mixes on that album and Mutations before it were done largely on the small monitor section of the console, and rather quickly.

JMJ

christmasjones · 29th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty J

I'd love some more info on this album too, it sounds fantastic. It's hard to imagine, but the SACD sounds even better.

Let's not forget the contribution of great writing, arrangements and performances!

+1 thumbsup thumbsup

this album never gets old...

neilio · 29th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinmj

A pleasure for me to see this album getting some love from this esteemed community. Definitely my proudest moment as a player/collaborator. Three weeks of musical freedom, experimentation, and worthy challenges...oh, and that time includes the mix, too.

I can certainly answer a few questions on this one. I'll start by saying that Victor Indrizzo didn't play drums on this record, it was Joey Waronker and James Gadson.

Acoustic guitar was simply one of Allen Side's great U47's into the Delcon console.

Oceanway B - the finest room in the world, IMHO.

As has been reported before, I will confirm that the mixes on that album and Mutations before it were done largely on the small monitor section of the console, and rather quickly.

JMJ

my bad about victor, i guess we had him locked up at that point....

memory and all that...

neilio · 29th October 2007

sonically it is very good sounding....

i still think the songs sound like Gordon Lightfoot

i keed i keed.!!!

neilio · 30th October 2007

justin...where'd you go...?

eligit · 30th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinmj

A pleasure for me to see this album getting some love from this esteemed community. Definitely my proudest moment as a player/collaborator.
JMJ

ok...so i'm an ignoramus....what was your role on this (great) album?

cheers

Cujo · 30th October 2007

Is that 201 space echo I hear?
I love that CD.

neilio · 30th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by eligit

ok...so i'm an ignoramus....what was your role on this (great) album?

cheers

he...well ill see if he responds first....but trust me as ive recorded these guys....vip to the session.

justinmj · 30th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by eligit

ok...so i'm an ignoramus....what was your role on this (great) album?

cheers

I'm Beck's bassist since '96. Also sang, played guitar, keys, percussion on this record.

JMJ

Cujo · 30th October 2007

Can you enlightenn us about the bass recording?
What bass did you play? Amp? Compression? DI only?

lord_bunny · 30th October 2007

HUGE fan of this record. Like many, i was floored when I heard it. The ending of paper tiger is one of the coolest moments on record IMO in the last ten years.

Q: What was the bass rig? did you use a lot of the amp source? are you using a pick?

justinmj · 30th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cujo

Can you enlightenn us about the bass recording?
What bass did you play? Amp? Compression? DI only?

Basses were mainly:

Guild Starfire
American Standard Fender Precision

And I had these there too, some of which got used here and there (referring to a photo):

Fender 50th Anniv precision (flatwounds)
Schecter 8-string
Wal Mach I
Fender Coronado
Englehardt upright
Guild JS100
Ricky 4003
Gibson RD Artist

The amp was an Ampeg B-15R reissue. The mic was a Fet 47 about a foot off the grill. No DI was used on this record....we tried and abandoned it before we cut the first song. Compression was 1176, and API 550A for some EQ. Sometimes pick, sometimes fingers, I alternate between song sections.

That's about it.

Best,
JMJ

Nu-tra · 30th October 2007

Hi Justin,

I am a fan of your work. Seen you many times with Beck since 1996.

doorknocker · 30th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinmj

Acoustic guitar was simply one of Allen Side's great U47's into the Delcon console.

Simple and unbelivably great! The slide bits on 'Side Of The Road' are some of the best acoustic guitar sounds I've ever heard.

justinmj · 30th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by doorknocker

Simple and unbelivably great! The slide bits on 'Side Of The Road' are some of the best acoustic guitar sounds I've ever heard.

I love those tones too...that would be Beck on the left, Smokey Hormel on the right.

JMJ

Cujo · 30th October 2007

Flats on the main basses?
I had a b15 Reissue for a while, it sounded fine but always mad a fizzing sound on certain notes. I'll have to try another one!
Thanks for the info!

justinmj · 30th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cujo

Flats on the main basses?
I had a b15 Reissue for a while, it sounded fine but always mad a fizzing sound on certain notes. I'll have to try another one!
Thanks for the info!

I've been snowed under for weeks on end, first day off today, and I'm layed out with a nasty cold...so here I am enjoying some Gearslutz Q&A on the couch with the laptop...nice. Keeps my mind off how shitty I'm feeling.

Flats on Starfire, that P-Bass has rounds.

B-15 reissue re-tubed with some great tubes sounds different, if not better sometimes, than my '60's and '70's B-15's I have, which are likewise totally dialed. It's a great amp. A little more low end extension than a classic B-15, which was needed for this record. Oh - and you have to disconnect the tweeter - why that was ever built into that amp, I have no idea.

Best,
JMJ

neilio · 30th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinmj

I've been snowed under for weeks on end, first day off today, and I'm layed out with a nasty cold...so here I am enjoying some Gearslutz Q&A on the couch with the laptop...nice. Keeps my mind off how shitty I'm feeling.

Flats on Starfire, that P-Bass has rounds.

B-15 reissue re-tubed with some great tubes sounds different, if not better sometimes, than my '60's and '70's B-15's I have, which are likewise totally dialed. It's a great amp. A little more low end extension than a classic B-15, which was needed for this record. Oh - and you have to disconnect the tweeter - why that was ever built into that amp, I have no idea.

Best,
JMJ

have you checked your pm's?

Cujo · 30th October 2007

We wonder about the tweeter in my 4X10 SVT cab all the time! we turn that dial off.
I'll trade you my ole "vinatge" Trace Elliot head for your 60's B15! The trace hase neon..I bet the b15 does not!

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinmj

I've been snowed under for weeks on end, first day off today, and I'm layed out with a nasty cold...so here I am enjoying some Gearslutz Q&A on the couch with the laptop...nice. Keeps my mind off how shitty I'm feeling.

Flats on Starfire, that P-Bass has rounds.

B-15 reissue re-tubed with some great tubes sounds different, if not better sometimes, than my '60's and '70's B-15's I have, which are likewise totally dialed. It's a great amp. A little more low end extension than a classic B-15, which was needed for this record. Oh - and you have to disconnect the tweeter - why that was ever built into that amp, I have no idea.

Best,
JMJ

doorknocker · 30th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinmj

I love those tones too...that would be Beck on the left, Smokey Hormel on the right.
JMJ

I realize now that some of my absolute fave acoustic guitar tones were recorded at Ocean Way: Besides 'Sea Change' that would especially be Ry Cooder's 'Paris Texas' and Tom Petty's 'Wildlflowers' album.

Besides the great players/engineers/equipment on these sessions, I guess it's also the room that does it.

eligit · 30th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinmj

I'm Beck's bassist since '96. Also sang, played guitar, keys, percussion on this record.

JMJ

congrats!

neilio · 31st October 2007

jmj is such an awesome player...really.

ive been on sessions with him and his playing alone used to make me happy...plus just being a truly good guy, who always seems to make things fun...

RCM - Ronan · 31st October 2007

every time I listen to this record it completely humbles me as an engineer. One of my favorite sounding records in years.

chrisso · 31st October 2007

Definitely a favourite album of mine too.
Great drumming. Great drum sound!
Brave, considering the taste for slamming rock ambient drums these days.
I wish Beck would record another album like this.

Tubthumper · 31st October 2007

The B-15 reissue - is this it?
Ampeg: Bass Amp Series - BA115

eligit · 31st October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcm

every time I listen to this record it completely humbles me as an engineer. One of my favorite sounding records in years.

it is THE go to album when i have to remind myself what "good" sounds like.

pure audio gold.

chrispick · 31st October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcm

every time I listen to this record it completely humbles me as an engineer. One of my favorite sounding records in years.

I like it a lot too, especially the bass sound. Really rich.

There's another GS thread where people are extolling the sonic virtues of Steely Dan's "Aja" (which are great, in my opinion). "Sea Change" is an example of a different, but equally impressive and well-suited sonic treatment.

It's really great to have Justin stop by here and give us some first-person info. Thanks Justin!

29th October 2007	#1
MrVelvet Lives for gear Join Date: May 2006 Location: Karlsruhe, Germany Posts: 719 Thread Starter	Recording info on Beck's Sea Change Album? Love the album and the whole atmosphere. Any infos how that thing was recorded? Love the acoutic guitar sound (e.g. "Already dead"). Any idea what mics produce such a warm yet transparent sound (maybe a KM54)? __________________ . Nicolay Ketterer realsamples http://www.realsamples.com http://www.myspace.com/realsamples

30th October 2007	#13
Cujo Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 467	Can you enlightenn us about the bass recording? What bass did you play? Amp? Compression? DI only? __________________ The Blizzard of 78 Killing Floor Records

30th October 2007	#14
lord_bunny Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,280	HUGE fan of this record. Like many, i was floored when I heard it. The ending of paper tiger is one of the coolest moments on record IMO in the last ten years. Q: What was the bass rig? did you use a lot of the amp source? are you using a pick? __________________ Adam Miner: Songwriter, producer, mixer, studio owner www.adamminer.com

30th October 2007	#16
Nu-tra Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,269	Hi Justin, I am a fan of your work. Seen you many times with Beck since 1996. __________________ http://www.nu-tra.com

31st October 2007	#26
RCM - Ronan Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,317	every time I listen to this record it completely humbles me as an engineer. One of my favorite sounding records in years. __________________ Ronan Chris Murphy+ http://ronansrecordingshow.com next Boot Camp in LA February 20-25, 2012

29th October 2007	#3
Marty J Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 288	I'd love some more info on this album too, it sounds fantastic. It's hard to imagine, but the SACD sounds even better. Let's not forget the contribution of great writing, arrangements and performances!

29th October 2007	#7
neilio Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,324	sonically it is very good sounding.... i still think the songs sound like Gordon Lightfoot i keed i keed.!!!

31st October 2007	#27
chrisso Gear Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oz Posts: 15,348	Definitely a favourite album of mine too. Great drumming. Great drum sound! Brave, considering the taste for slamming rock ambient drums these days. I wish Beck would record another album like this. __________________ Chris Whitten

31st October 2007	#28
Tubthumper Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beardsville Posts: 811	The B-15 reissue - is this it? Ampeg: Bass Amp Series - BA115

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