Sgt. Pepper: "Crude" Eight-track recording?

[Wicker Man]

That seems to make sense what that Mr Numan says.

Quite interesting to think that choice and freedom could be considered as a hinderance to creativity...when one normally associates creativity with pushing boundaries and freedom.

[wrench45us]

yowza,
what a way to work!

i know a lot of people who get to a certain stage in a project and start working with copies to try things out 'non-destructively' -- always able to return to the last 'good' saved version. it's quite a luxury of the current technology.

i've started doing it myself to learn more about mixing and levels and trying a lot of different things out.

working like George Martin would be a constant tightrope act where one would also have to thoroughly know or trust how things would mix. one flaw or miscue and throw it away and start over.

no wonder the Beatles got to a point at the end where they wanted to play as a band again (at least as a finale)

anyway, i find after a certain point, my projects get better when i begin to eliminate parts, notes and fx.
I found this out after several projects when i got to the fading ending and started pulling parts and that ending sounded better to me than the 'middle' sections.

[Stupid American Pig]

Actually my favorite sounding recordings from that era are John lennons solo works plastic ono band and imagine. They are VERY punchy recordings(Love those toms), the treble is subdued a bit, which gives them a slightly dark sound, and the tape echo on Lennons voice is fantastic...

S_A_P,
What do you think of the recent remaster/remixes of those albums? I think they are superb....

Agreed- I think that they have kept the original sound, but enhanced them as well. I have enjoyed them...

[Montana]

One of the interesting things about the Sgt. Pepper sessions is that at the same time, Pink Floyd was recording "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" next door at Abbey Road.

It is well documented that Paul Mcartney would snoop around the Floyd sessions and pick things up from Syd Barrett, then run back to the other room.

[clueless]

Quite interesting to think that choice and freedom could be considered as a hinderance to creativity...when one normally associates creativity with pushing boundaries and freedom.

that's the point - you can't really push boundaries if you don't have any.

[clueless]

It is well documented that Paul Mcartney would snoop around the Floyd sessions and pick things up from Syd Barrett, then run back to the other room...

...and smoke them

[Jaeson Merrill]

[quote="MontanaActually my favorite sounding recordings from that era are John lennons solo works plastic ono band and imagine. They are VERY punchy recordings(Love those toms), the treble is subdued a bit, which gives them a slightly dark sound, and the tape echo on Lennons voice is fantastic...

same here, i would love to get CDs of the records i got off of my mom, the recordings are so dry, steel and glass, working class hero.. mmm mmm mmm... remember! that song rocked!!!

John Lennon, makes me sad when i think of him.

[Beardedone]

One thing about tape is that you can overdub on tracks alot more successfully than with digital, since you can go over 0 db, so that worked in their favor.

Please elaborate why you think this. I can't imagine going back to overdubbing on tape after doing it digitally -it is so easy to do compared to analog. As for going over 0 db, sure that is an advantage but surely not a logistical consideration.

[Stupid American Pig]

One of the interesting things about the Sgt. Pepper sessions is that at the same time, Pink Floyd was recording "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" next door at Abbey Road.

It is well documented that Paul Mcartney would snoop around the Floyd sessions and pick things up from Syd Barrett, then run back to the other room.

I think that that is what music is really all about, take ideas about other music you like and finding your own way of manipulating/implementing it. I think that the whole prog rock thing was basically picking up where Sgt Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour left off. Think ELO...

Sgt pepper was also inspired by Pet sounds, which was inspired by Rubber soul, and so forth. I dont think that its a bad thing, creativity some times needs to be sparked.

As Wrench said, I think sitting through months of overdubbing, songs finished by doing 100+ takes per track would easily make even the most enthusiastic person weary... What a boring thing to do. I actually think the White album, Revolver, and Abbey Road are the best beatles albums, they were better when they focused on the song as opposed to the production..

[Stupid American Pig]

One thing about tape is that you can overdub on tracks alot more successfully than with digital, since you can go over 0 db, so that worked in their favor.

Please elaborate why you think this. I can't imagine going back to overdubbing on tape after doing it digitally -it is so easy to do compared to analog. As for going over 0 db, sure that is an advantage but surely not a logistical consideration.

What I meant was, with tape compression/ saturation, its easier to get decent results when you put 3-4 instruments on one track than with digital where you need to be mindful of your 0 db mark. I think I would undershoot the levels if I had to record that way- of course, I'm neither professional or George Martin, so I could just be talking out of my arse

[Montana]

There were to other genius prog rock psychedelia records from 1967 - Make sure you have :

Piper At the Gates of Dawn - Pink Floyd

and

Days of Future Passed - The Moody Blues


that is some of the best shit I have ever heard. I actually prefer them to Sgt. Pepper, although I still think SGT. is one of the best of all time.

[Beardedone]

Beardedone wrote:
Quote:
One thing about tape is that you can overdub on tracks alot more successfully than with digital, since you can go over 0 db, so that worked in their favor.



Please elaborate why you think this. I can't imagine going back to overdubbing on tape after doing it digitally -it is so easy to do compared to analog. As for going over 0 db, sure that is an advantage but surely not a logistical consideration.


What I meant was, with tape compression/ saturation, its easier to get decent results when you put 3-4 instruments on one track than with digital where you need to be mindful of your 0 db mark. I think I would undershoot the levels if I had to record that way- of course, I'm neither professional or George Martin, so I could just be talking out of my arse

Right this is very true I see your point. Mind, I prefer the ease of getting it done with digital though. A mix can be tweaked and a compressor/limiter on the inputcan solve the overshoot issue if have trouble setting levels. One think sequncer do very easily is allow you to automate faders/EQ?Compression so every track blends. It took me a while to get this and I have a lot to learn but it is ajoy to do in the digital realm. I cannot imagine doing this with tape and anyway I sure would not have been able to afford it.

[Stupid American Pig]

agreed bearded. digital is the way to go- I do want a reel to reel though.(variable speed of course) I couldnt see working on more than one track at a time with tape. ugh...

I think tape would get pretty expensive over time anyway...

[liqih]

yeah, it's a paradox. limitations seem to induce creativity. endless possibility seems to suck you up its arse.

wise words,


so why everybody asks for more features in every synth we make? <grin>

[Beardedone]

I have a stereo 10 inch TEAC reel to reel that needs refurbishing - it seizes up after a minute. I should get it repaired as it did sound nice and i still love watching the reels turn. Bue where the hell do you buy tape nowadys?