Yes Recordings: Fragile, Close To The Edge Equipment

[halcyo]

From what I understand, a lot of that stuff was recorded on the road on mobile recording rigs, which I can't imagine were that nice at the time.

I'll bet you'd find the equipment to be pretty unimpressive and find the talent to be most of the sound.

[thenoodle]

They were using MCI JH 24 tracks on those. Usually two locked together and I think Eddie owned both machines and hauled them around.

I sat by one of the MCI machines that they were hauling around on tour to record the Close To the Edge tour shows.... they had it sitting out next to the mixer and Eddie was complaining that the machine was always broken.... no surprise there. Not like hauling around an iPad.

[NEWTON IN ORBIT]

Sorry, I'm not too sure what the early stuff was, I think I remember something about an old custom Sound Techniques console (pre Trident?) on one of those early recordings. Don't quote me. Maybe the Yes Album?

Funny what halcyo says about the sound being the talent though. Back in the 90's Anderson was actually stating in ads and interviews that he used a lowly ART two channel tube mic amp for his vocals. The old gold colored one?Definitely the talent there. Could have been just marketing, but somehow I believe him.

I know the later stuff in the 80's was SSL, and the 90's was largely Rabin's Mac / PT rig...a very early system. As far back as using 4 mac's sync'd together with 4 Session 8 rigs together I think. This was mixed via a DDA Profile console, lots of Valley gear, and a U89 used on drum room, vocals, guitar cabs etc. All in his home studio, engineered by Rabin.

If you listen to the song "Lift Me Up" (off of Union), and the whole album "Talk", you can hear this setup. Sounds great. This album? 1994, with 1994 16 bit converters.

When you hear this, it is clearly evident how large a part TALENT plays in a good recording.

Nowadays we have people whining about their 24 bit converters, complaining that they sound terrible, and they need to upgrade to the 192 khz $10,000 EMM Labs etc.

When you listen to that record, you come to the conclusion people today are looking for anything to blame besides themselves, and their shortcomings in the talent department for their recordings being mediocre to crappy sounding.

I think it's safe to say, it ain't the conversion that is the problem.

Not to sound cynical or anything...

Wish I had more info on Fragile for ya, sorry.

One thing that really grabs me about that record, is how vacuum packed dry it is. NO verb on the drums mostly. Almost like anti verb, if there ever were such a thing. Works well with the busy drums. Bruford = BADASS.

I have an old Yes documentary made around the time of the Union tour. It has lots of early studio footage. Maybe if you grab this vid, you will be able yo see what consoles and gear they were using?

I know there is often a mentality around the early stuff being better, but honestly, I like some of the later stuff just as much for different reasons. Mainly the amazing production, ear candy "grab you" tones, and it's combination of simplicity one minute, and the fused out prog worthy crazy stuff the next.

I'm curious too; now watching this thread myself to see if anybody has the info you seek. Love the early stuff. There was a time when it was all I listened yo for like a year.

Thanks for posting.



john

[abechap024]

Also watching this thread....awesome album. Very interested!

Sent from my LG-VS700 using Gearslutz App

[abechap024]

Also watching this thread....awesome albums. Very interested!

Sent from my LG-VS700 using Gearslutz App

[tronnyjenkins]

Thanks for chiming in folks.
@Newton In Orbit- I love all eras of Yes. I even really like Drama featuring Trevor Horn, and of course 90125 and Big Generator. It's just something about the smooth tones on Fragile and the others that I love!

[retone]

This might be of some use
Notes From the Edge - Conversation with Eddy Offord [NFTE #234]

I wont paraphrase what is in this interview...
Get it from the horses mouth..


Really nice to see a fellow E O fan...
I think listening to Relayer as a kid is one of the things that gone my mind a gog.. The Soundstage he created... you can believe it... and he gave the material a world to live in .. I believe that was recorded at Chris Squire's house!
A truly amazing and inspirational talent.
keep the post coming GS!!

[Sqye]

.

God I used to LOVE those records.....it's been too long.

Time for a revisit this weekend. Thanks for the memory jog!

.

[TurboJets]

I listened to an original vinyl I have of Fragile a few weeks ago and just as I remembered the production didn't seem particularly noteworthy. But as stated above, the talent is huge. It's right in your face for an amazing musical experience.

The first time I saw Yes live I thought I would hear simplified versions of the music - but oh no, those guys played every damn note you hear on the recordings. Unbelievable!

[hosehead]

Originally Posted by TurboJets

The first time I saw Yes live I thought I would hear simplified versions of the music - but oh no, those guys played every damn note you hear on the recordings. Unbelievable!

Heh, I remember thinking the same thing.

[fnninns]

The earier post about Eddie Offard using MCI JH-24s to record the early Yes records is dead wrong.
Why?
Because those records were recorded and released AT LEAST five years before the JH-24 was instroduced in late. 79 ( few JH-24s even shipped before early 1980.)
In fact, all of the Yes albums up to Tormato were recorded prior to intrudction of the JH-24.

Eddie Offard did have some MCI machines I seem to recall, but if it was prior to 1980 they were most likely JH-16s and if they were 24 track machines then they were JH-14-24s.
If he was complaining that they were always breaking down it was because they were relly not designed to be portable decks or machines that would be carried around in a remote truck.
I seem to recall him having custom made anvil cases for some MCI machines, but I can assure that was probably not the best idea.
MCIs were just not designed for that.

[RogerFoote]

Originally Posted by TurboJets

The first time I saw Yes live I thought I would hear simplified versions of the music - but oh no, those guys played every damn note you hear on the recordings. Unbelievable!

Same here. Even on newer tours like the "new" classic lineup tour in, what 2003?

They played Heart of the sunrise and South side of the sky better than the recording... Jon said they hadn't played South side since 1978 at that gig.

rf

[Papanate]

With any great band the gear is secondary...sorry to say on Gearslutz.

But really...microphones...preamps etc...they are cool - and the better they are at capturing what you want to hear is always preferable to the opposite.

But come on...the music written is fun, amazing, played perfectly for the type it is....the gear at some point of quality is pointless.

..tar and feather me now.<g>

[thenoodle]

Originally Posted by fnninns

The earier post about Eddie Offard using MCI JH-24s to record the early Yes records is dead wrong.

I stand corrected on the actual model numbers. JH-14-24s it very well may have been. The machines all looked the same to me at Criteria and I never bothered with model numbers until I looked into buying my own in 1977.

The night I was at the sound board area where the Yes guys were capturing the live show for the future Yesssongs, they had something like 6 channels out on the MCI and Eddie was really unhappy about it. They were also using a little 2 track Revox for cues such as the montage at the beginning of Close to the Edge etc.

I agree that MCIs were never meant to travel... and that was the first and last time I saw one at an actual concert. I figure that Eddie was just pushing his luck in hoping to make the machine survive the tour. After all, Mellotrons were no easier to coax into working on tour either.

[sonic dogg]

From the horses mouth.....The recorders were Scully's. And the console was a custom console made at Advision, which is where the first few records were made. In 1971 they added a Neve and in 74 a Quad-Eight. I think I've seen some pictures of that console it was the big Orange board.

[catfishmusic]

Don't know what was used, I'm sure plenty of the usual suspects from that era....I too read that a lot of the older Yes stuff was recorded on the road in multiple studios. I think that was the case with Topographic Oceans if I remember correctly....That's my fave album actually.

[Dr. Mordo]

I love those records, both sound and content. They really used the studio as an instrument.

[PRobb]

I think I remember hearing that Fragile and Close to the Edge were mixed on headphones. Anybody know?

And second seeing them live. They did not skimp at all. I knew that stuff inside out and they NAILED it.
The Topographic tour is one of the best concerts I've ever seen.

[tronnyjenkins]

Thanks for all of the great replies guys. I'm really jealous I was alive back when they were in their prime... I would have loved to see a concert! (along with some others...)

Anyway, I know the drill about talent being most important, just wanted to see what you guys might know. Good info so far.