Use of echo chambers - "wall of sound"/"Pet Sounds" era

[Sunim Koria]

Hi all,

I'm new here to Gearslutz, so hello to everyone! I'm currently speculating into how the echo chambers at studios such as Goldstar, Western etc. were "wired up" specifically in the productions by Phil Spector and Brian Wilson during their artistic peak in the 1960s.

I am aware that the chamber's return signal was almost always recorded live and straight to tape, though I am unsure as to how the input signals were generally sent to the chamber itself. It may well be one of the following methods, but I am uncertain:

- the "normal" way, ie. each individual mic/input has it's own post-fader send to the reverb chamber, and the chamber's return is adjusted to taste.

- same as above, but channels are grouped and sent post-fader as opposed to individual channels.

...or how about this one, an old mentor of mine suggested that was used:

- individual (or group channels?) all sent PRE-fader. All faders down, the echo chamber's return signal is brought up first, and the instrument channels are then mixed "into the reverb", giving a greater control over the depth of field.

(I'm really buying that one!)

- a combination of the above.

Also, what was the procedure for getting these live tracks to four-track tape, for instance - was the chamber's return signal printed onto its own single track on the tape, or was it distributed and combined across several?

And furthermore was the echo chamber back then generally equipped to be capable of stereo sends/returns (ie, both a stereo set of monitors and mics in the chamber)?

Sorry for this barrage of information (it may be a load of tripe) but I'm so amazed at how much spacial depth those guys got back then. And ironically most of it was in mono!! I appreciate any light you guys can throw on this.

Cheers,

Sunim Koria


PS. If anyone happens to know the dimensions, characteristics and time constants of those main chambers in Goldstar and Western, that'd be a huge bonus!

[allencollins]

SUNSET SOUND RECORDERS

here is the chamber from petsounds
scroll down

http://www.audioheritage.org/images/...t-2003-129.jpg


best sounding record from that era for sure

[andychamp]

AFAIK, on a lot of the Spector sessions, all inputs were mixed live, right down to mono, including the chamber returns.
As to whether the sends were pre or post, I can't tell.

[severe]

Welcome to GS.

I'm thinking a combination of the all the above, as far as the returns are concerned. Though, I'd like to know whether they were stereo as well. I have my doubts.

And just an FYI...

The most current Kings Of Leon record, Because of the Times, has some pretty cool use of a chamber in a modern recording, IMO.