That 60s Background Singers sound
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That 60s Background Singers sound
Hey there -
So I've been experimenting trying to emulate that beautiful dreamy sound of background singers you hear on the likes of the great Johnny Horton and Lee Hazlewood recordings (among many others).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3fZ1X9kgtM
I've tried getting a group of singers together and adding some reverb and a little distortion, and even using a little theremin or saw to replace of layer.
There's a certain unexplainable golden sheen to these voices thats pretty impossible to recreate. But I wanted to throw it out there and see if anyone's tried this or has any ideas... filters or even samples of any type. thanks
So I've been experimenting trying to emulate that beautiful dreamy sound of background singers you hear on the likes of the great Johnny Horton and Lee Hazlewood recordings (among many others).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3fZ1X9kgtM
I've tried getting a group of singers together and adding some reverb and a little distortion, and even using a little theremin or saw to replace of layer.
There's a certain unexplainable golden sheen to these voices thats pretty impossible to recreate. But I wanted to throw it out there and see if anyone's tried this or has any ideas... filters or even samples of any type. thanks
I may be wrong, but isn't most of this older stuff recorded rather simply with what would now pass as mediocre equipment (useful nowadays mostly as a curiosity or for a specific sound, rather than for fidelity)? And probably only 1 microphone recording the entire vocal group. I mean, stereo was a pretty big deal in the late 50s, and multitrack recording was considered amazing in the 40s. Perhaps the problem is you're approaching this with too modern of a mindset -- did Johnny Horton use theremins or synths? No, he used the studio technology of the time, which was less advanced than what we have now.
Again, my recollection might be off, but wasn't all reverb physical plate or spring reverb in the 50s? Plate reverb is known for that odd shimmery sound, so if you're putting clean digital reverb on your group it might explain why it doesn't sound like the old stuff.
Again, my recollection might be off, but wasn't all reverb physical plate or spring reverb in the 50s? Plate reverb is known for that odd shimmery sound, so if you're putting clean digital reverb on your group it might explain why it doesn't sound like the old stuff.
- JGriffin
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Arrangement and performance. Those singers are singing very very quietly. Probably one mic, plate or chamber reverb. Sounds like either the mics are a ways away or the direct sound is mixed down relative to the reverb return (use a pre-fader send for this). Try a ribbon or dynamic rather than a condenser maybe.drumsound wrote:Don't discount arrangement.
"Jeweller, you've failed. Jeweller."
"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
All the DWLB music is at http://dwlb.bandcamp.com/
"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
All the DWLB music is at http://dwlb.bandcamp.com/
- the finger genius
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Sure, and as somebody has pointed, echo chambers.JWL wrote:Tight singers, great room, time spent getting the sound right in the room (ie, each singer the right distance from the mic to get a good sound).
The EMT plate was introduced in the 50s but many studios kept using their live chambers.
i think Liam Watsom (Toe Rag) keeps using his echo chamber:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-0r1wcA ... re=related
Check "Studio Stories" from David Simmons. Some classic New york recording were made in synagogues! That's a great room sound.
i wouldn't use distortion, it's more tape compression and a bit lack of definition because of the bouncing.
Max RB
- Nick Sevilla
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Re: That 60s Background Singers sound
A.- It's either a LDC tube or ribbon mic. I say Tube mic.roseylarose wrote:Hey there -
So I've been experimenting trying to emulate that beautiful dreamy sound of background singers you hear on the likes of the great Johnny Horton and Lee Hazlewood recordings (among many others).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3fZ1X9kgtM
I've tried getting a group of singers together and adding some reverb and a little distortion, and even using a little theremin or saw to replace of layer.
There's a certain unexplainable golden sheen to these voices thats pretty impossible to recreate. But I wanted to throw it out there and see if anyone's tried this or has any ideas... filters or even samples of any type. thanks
B.- The singers are about 3 feet from the mic.
C.- The tape recorded onto has lost it's high end, so the balance engineer made up for that with EQ. try a Pultec type EQ starting at 10K, up about 3-5 dB. BUT, if you are recording to digital, then you need to DULL IT DOWN, not make it more top-endy.
D.- LOTS OF REVERB. I say real chambers were used here. LOTS OF REVERB.
E.- The ARRANGEMENT is key here too.
F.- They REHEARSED the part before laying it down. REHEARSED A LOT.
Cheers
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.
- JGriffin
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One hopes it might go without saying.TimOBrien wrote:No one mentions the T-word?
"Jeweller, you've failed. Jeweller."
"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
All the DWLB music is at http://dwlb.bandcamp.com/
"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
All the DWLB music is at http://dwlb.bandcamp.com/
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