Michael Jackson Recording in the studio

[Y-Studios]

YouTube - Michael Jackson - Making of we are the world

very nice video here. one question that i have. mj does a few takes, and each take they ask him to step back. Why is that? Just wondering.

[The Chemist]

Probably to capture room tone, or they're afraid something may happen to the mic?

Or, they're doing playback analysis in the CR, and don't want to much extra crap coming from the LR.

[Led]

That's the way Bruce the Viking records MJ's bv's. It gives each of them their own space and creates a bigger sound as opposed to doubling everything with the same mic distance. I think from memory the first vocal track is in stereo then the doubles are mono and he may do the final furthest away from the mic track in stereo again, but if you do a search here you'll get the definitive answer.

[deuc647]

I remember this, he is doing voiceovers , crazy how how nails it every damn time, what happened mike?

[Y-Studios]

That's very intresting trick. Thanx guys

[Vogon]

They're using the distance as a tonal/spacial modifier for double tracking.

[Yetti]

Damn he's talented.
Thanks for posting that...seems like a good approach for mults.

[James Lugo]

Mike's awesome.

[wildpark]

man its like it was yesterday he is one of my heros of the past

i like this magic moments

like on of the biggest ever

and so professional

some wanna be stars can ever cut a peace of his musican personallity

allway 200 prozent power !


many thanks for the video i appreciate that

patrick

[initialsBB]

It's fun to watch him at work but what really stands out to me is how damn dull that background track is. Sounds like karaoke.

[Sigma]

i cooked him cheesesteaks when i was an assitant..he sang my sister happy bd at our home on her 16th [it was 1978 or 79]when he was working with gamble huff wansel and mcfadden/whitehead ..nice kid..sad..ehh

[gsilbers]

Originally Posted by Vogon

They're using the distance as a tonal/spacial modifier for double tracking.

yep. i read in an interview of someone who produced a few songs for black and white album that he does like 100 takes! to be layered differently. from singing in one corner, different mics , different everything all the time. i assuming they dont use all but still. very elaborate.

[Y-Studios]

i am glad you all like that clip, it was really nice watching one of the greats working in the studio, i could not keep it to my self

[paultools]

Obviously, everything about that session was best-of-breed... you'd better have a great mic in a great room for that technique! very sexy c-12 there... listen to how it picks up his fingersnaps...

Didn't Humberto Gatica cut those tracks? I remember reading about a Boulder Mic pre into a Massenburg parametric...

[paultools]

From a "modern" perspective....

Weird having to wait for the tape to rewind. I miss that.

Nothing like having the biggest Pop stars in the world sing through a toe of a lady's
old pantyhose.

Why didn't they just cut & paste the BGV on the vamp?

Vocalign? Antares?

[Acoustic Cloud]

Does anyone know if the verb we heard is outboard, or the room sound? Of course its not printed, but just was curious.

[paultools]

I'm thinking EMT plate, but perhaps R2D2.

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by Y-Studios

i am glad you all like that clip, it was really nice watching one of the greats working in the studio, i could not keep it to my self

It was posted here a few months back, completely forgot about it until you posted it again. Thanks!

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by Acoustic Cloud

Does anyone know if the verb we heard is outboard, or the room sound? Of course its not printed, but just was curious.

If you watch the whole thing you'll notice that he does a take without the music and the room sounded fairly dead. So I'm guessing it's outboard you're hearing.

[dokushoka]

Untouchable then.

Vocal effects sound gorgeous even over youtube and with just a monitor mix.

We're all amateurs.

[James Meeker]

It's sad he became such a weirdo because his talent is staggering. In many ways he's the "perfect" artist.

[David Robinson]

M Jackson, although i'm not a fan, has my respect as an artist.
this clip shows very great disipline.
the varying distances are important when the signals a summed into mono, as they reduce phase cancellation.
DR9.

[Ricey]

that one time he sang it, solo in the air - so much better than the layer thing. why didn't they just go that way like they did w/ Ray Charles(or if i recall correctly, everyone else)? always bugged me about that tune. even his shot in the video is 'cheeseclothed' like an old Star Trek episode when they cut to the green ladies. reminds me of what Steve Albini said about engineers really getting in the way in the 80s.

[delcosmos]

that C12 look gorgeous!!!

But I think he used a C12 just for that song, was thr choice for that occasion. I guess Mr. Sweeden used a SM7 for thriller, I cant remember.

best regards.

delcosmos.

[rockstar_josh]

He sings it the exact same way every time. Great clip!

[paultools]

Humberto Gatica in this clip.
Maybe John Guess next to him after Darryl Hall's part?
Brush up on your Japanese!

YouTube - Making of We Are The World

make that send to the plate "POST', buddy!

A&M studios... overdubs done later at Lionshare.

Amazing mics.. SP mods from what i read.

Wasn't the legend that Prince was supposed to sing the second line of the bridge but didn't show? Huey smoked it, though!

Great call Q to have the singers go back-to-back for a little competitive inspiration!

[ron florentine]

When they recorded all these different vocals with everyone I am assuming that they had the music blasting ithrough large speakers n the tracking room with everyone....how do they deal with all that bleed of the music into the individual vox tracks while mixing....it sems like there could be possibilties of phasing and other issues at the mix stage? ..............or are we hearing a feed off the board from the control room?



Ron Florentine
Soundswest Studio

[abit]

I wonder if they recorded his floor tap too.
No comments from control room..

Pleasure to watch this work.
Thanx for the post.

[paultools]

Ron,see those things around the singer's heads?

[TonyBelmont]

Michael was the king of the world when this came out. I miss those days.

I love the awkward way he puts the headphones down and walks away at the end...