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Thread started 07/14/18 9:20am

paulludvig

Quick question about engineers.

Did Prince ever record without a recording engineer?
In other words, could there be material in the vault that the engineers don't know about?
The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #1 posted 07/14/18 4:29pm

OperatingTheta
n

The forthcoming Piano & Microphone '83 is a good example as it was recorded directly to tape by Prince without an engineer or... a microphone.
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Reply #2 posted 07/14/18 7:22pm

coldasice

Yeah, he sat at the console and recorded himself. That partyman bass clip is him recording himself. He used engineers mostly to mix crap and lug crap around for him. Set up specific stuff the way he wanted and I guess if he was at the piano or drums to hit record for him.
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Reply #3 posted 07/15/18 6:54am

Kares

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OperatingThetan said:

The forthcoming Piano & Microphone '83 is a good example as it was recorded directly to tape by Prince without an engineer or... a microphone.

.
He's recorded an acoustic piano and his voice without a microphone? smile
The things I learn on the org... biggrin

.

Friends don't let friends clap on 1 and 3.

The Paisley Park Vault spreadsheet: https://goo.gl/zzWHrU
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Reply #4 posted 07/15/18 7:50am

OperatingTheta
n

Kares said:



OperatingThetan said:


The forthcoming Piano & Microphone '83 is a good example as it was recorded directly to tape by Prince without an engineer or... a microphone.

.
He's recorded an acoustic piano and his voice without a microphone? smile
The things I learn on the org... biggrin


.



It was recorded to a basic tape recorder, so technically, no microphone as such. Certainly not the kind suggested by the use of the title. Prince merely recorded a very basic, lo-fi rehearsal tape, one that he didn't even bother to label.

I see you're pretty local to me. I used to buy Prince maxi-singles in the old Virgin Megastore in Norwich.

*
[Edited 7/15/18 7:52am]
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Reply #5 posted 07/15/18 7:57am

Kares

avatar

OperatingThetan said:

Kares said:

.
He's recorded an acoustic piano and his voice without a microphone? smile
The things I learn on the org... biggrin

.

It was recorded to a basic tape recorder, so technically, no microphone as such. Certainly not the kind suggested by the use of the title. Prince merely recorded a very basic, lo-fi rehearsal tape, one that he didn't even bother to label. I see you're pretty local to me. I used to buy Prince maxi-singles in the old Virgin Megastore in Norwich. * [Edited 7/15/18 7:52am]

.

Regardless of how basic that tape recorder was, it either had a built-in microphone or one plugged into it.

.

Friends don't let friends clap on 1 and 3.

The Paisley Park Vault spreadsheet: https://goo.gl/zzWHrU
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Reply #6 posted 07/15/18 8:51am

OperatingTheta
n

Kares said:



OperatingThetan said:



Kares said:


.
He's recorded an acoustic piano and his voice without a microphone? smile
The things I learn on the org... biggrin


.



It was recorded to a basic tape recorder, so technically, no microphone as such. Certainly not the kind suggested by the use of the title. Prince merely recorded a very basic, lo-fi rehearsal tape, one that he didn't even bother to label. I see you're pretty local to me. I used to buy Prince maxi-singles in the old Virgin Megastore in Norwich. * [Edited 7/15/18 7:52am]

.


Regardless of how basic that tape recorder was, it either had a built-in microphone or one plugged into it.


.




While that is true, Prince's original title refered to a piano and a microphone which isn't present here. It's a basic rehearsal tape on rudimentary equipment. It has little to no relation to his final tour or its title.

My understanding is that the tape recorder had a built-in mic. My point was more regarding the title or rather, how the concept is being presented to the public for this particular album.

My original point remains - there was no engineer and no standard microphone; at least the kind expected of professional performances or releases. It's a poorly recorded rehearsal tape in a vault full of treasures.

An odd choice for a first release and an awkward link to Prince's original concept.

*
[Edited 7/15/18 8:56am]
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Reply #7 posted 07/15/18 8:55am

Kares

avatar

OperatingThetan said:

Kares said:

.

Regardless of how basic that tape recorder was, it either had a built-in microphone or one plugged into it.

.

While that is true, Prince's original title refered to a piano and a microphone which isn't present here. It's a basic rehearsal tape on rudimentary equipment. It has little to no relation to his final tour or its title. My understanding is that the tape recorder had a built-in mic. My point was more regarding the title or rather, how the concept is being presented to the public for this particular album.

.
Your understanding is just an assumption – and whether it was a built-in microphone or an external one plugged into the recorder is totally irrelevant. It was a microphone so I really don't know what you're trying to say... biggrin

.

Friends don't let friends clap on 1 and 3.

The Paisley Park Vault spreadsheet: https://goo.gl/zzWHrU
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Reply #8 posted 07/15/18 9:06am

Kares

avatar

OperatingThetan said:

Kares said:

.

Regardless of how basic that tape recorder was, it either had a built-in microphone or one plugged into it.

.

While that is true, Prince's original title refered to a piano and a microphone which isn't present here. It's a basic rehearsal tape on rudimentary equipment. It has little to no relation to his final tour or its title. My understanding is that the tape recorder had a built-in mic. My point was more regarding the title or rather, how the concept is being presented to the public for this particular album. My original point remains - there was no engineer and no standard microphone; at least the kind expected of professional performances or releases. It's a poorly recorded rehearsal tape in a vault full of treasures. An odd choice for a first release and an awkward link to Prince's original concept. * [Edited 7/15/18 8:56am]

.
(Isn't it funny when someone is proven wrong, instead of them posting a reply, they go back and alter their previous post... smile

.

Anyway, you are still wrong. Contrary to your claims earlier, obviously there was a microphone.

.

What's more: the title ('Piano & A Microphone') is even more appropriate in regards to this material than it was for Prince's last tour. This recording was made by just a single microphone, capturing both the acoustic piano and Prince's voice – while the similarly titled tour used a digital piano with all sorts of effects, obviously amplified only electronically, and only Prince's voice was picked up by a mic.

.

Friends don't let friends clap on 1 and 3.

The Paisley Park Vault spreadsheet: https://goo.gl/zzWHrU
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Reply #9 posted 07/15/18 9:19am

OperatingTheta
n

Kares said:



OperatingThetan said:


Kares said:


.


Regardless of how basic that tape recorder was, it either had a built-in microphone or one plugged into it.


.




While that is true, Prince's original title refered to a piano and a microphone which isn't present here. It's a basic rehearsal tape on rudimentary equipment. It has little to no relation to his final tour or its title. My understanding is that the tape recorder had a built-in mic. My point was more regarding the title or rather, how the concept is being presented to the public for this particular album.

.
Your understanding is just an assumption – and whether it was a built-in microphone or an external one plugged into the recorder is totally irrelevant. It was a microphone so I really don't know what you're trying to say... biggrin


.



It is possible I've spent too much time in the sun smile
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Reply #10 posted 07/15/18 10:29am

paulludvig

Thanks for your replies. Someone mentioned that there are 8000 similar tapes (to the piano@microphone83), most of them unlabelled. The mind boggles.
The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #11 posted 07/15/18 10:30am

paulludvig

How did he operate his home studio?
The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #12 posted 07/15/18 10:48am

Kares

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paulludvig said:

How did he operate his home studio?

.
By pressing the red button.

.
Seriously though: he's learned how to use studio equipment already at MoonSound. He was experienced enough to be able to record on his own should he wanted to, but of course he also had engineers he could ask to come in anytime.

.

Friends don't let friends clap on 1 and 3.

The Paisley Park Vault spreadsheet: https://goo.gl/zzWHrU
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Reply #13 posted 07/15/18 12:02pm

paulludvig

Kares said:



paulludvig said:


How did he operate his home studio?

.
By pressing the red button.


.
Seriously though: he's learned how to use studio equipment already at MoonSound. He was experienced enough to be able to record on his own should he wanted to, but of course he also had engineers he could ask to come in anytime.


.



:)
I suppose the question really is: do the engineers combined know about all the music Prince recorded? Was there always someone else around? Or could there be hidden treasures in the vault that eas only known to Prince.
The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #14 posted 07/15/18 12:09pm

Kares

avatar

paulludvig said:

Kares said:

.
By pressing the red button.

.
Seriously though: he's learned how to use studio equipment already at MoonSound. He was experienced enough to be able to record on his own should he wanted to, but of course he also had engineers he could ask to come in anytime.

.

smile I suppose the question really is: do the engineers combined know about all the music Prince recorded? Was there always someone else around? Or could there be hidden treasures in the vault that eas only known to Prince.

.
I think it's safe to assume there are lots of recordings that he made totally alone, whether it was at his home studio or at Paisley or in random hotel rooms (using a portable ProTools rig and a MacBook).

.

Friends don't let friends clap on 1 and 3.

The Paisley Park Vault spreadsheet: https://goo.gl/zzWHrU
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Reply #15 posted 07/15/18 12:13pm

ElGorillos

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OperatingThetan said:

The forthcoming Piano & Microphone '83 is a good example as it was recorded directly to tape by Prince without an engineer or... a microphone.


I don't know what his role was during this recording, but Don Batts is mentioned as the engineer:
http://eurostore.officialprincemusic.com/uk/piano-a-microphone-1983/piano-a-microphone-1983-deluxe-cd-lp-32.html


EG

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Reply #16 posted 07/15/18 1:35pm

paulludvig

ElGorillos said:



OperatingThetan said:


The forthcoming Piano & Microphone '83 is a good example as it was recorded directly to tape by Prince without an engineer or... a microphone.


I don't know what his role was during this recording, but Don Batts is mentioned as the engineer:
http://eurostore.officialprincemusic.com/uk/piano-a-microphone-1983/piano-a-microphone-1983-deluxe-cd-lp-32.html


EG



Maybe he was involved in cleaning up the tape before release?
The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #17 posted 07/17/18 8:51am

james

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I think it's fair to assume the various engineers he worked with haven't heard everything he made, or were fully aware of plans for the tracks they did hear.

.

I doubt though if there's much recorded to full studio standards, that could be released, that engineers weren't involved with... although WB seem intent on releasing whatever they can package up! lol

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Reply #18 posted 07/17/18 9:14am

jaawwnn

I wonder if there's a lot of stuff like those Sister tapes that came out (to the general fanbase) in the past year or so, they're a fascinating listen. Has anyone bothered to mix them together?
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Reply #19 posted 07/17/18 12:24pm

paulludvig

jaawwnn said:

I wonder if there's a lot of stuff like those Sister tapes that came out (to the general fanbase) in the past year or so, they're a fascinating listen. Has anyone bothered to mix them together?


Agreed. As with any great artist it is interesting to "look" at the sketches.
The wooh is on the one!
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Forums > Prince: Music and More > Quick question about engineers.