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A Favor: Prince's Recording Gear Hi folks:
Now that I'm at the end of my initial Recording Engineer Studies--I say initial because ya never stop learning--I was curious if any of y'all have any links you could provide to articles where Prince discusses his recording gear and processes. I seem to remember some relatively recent articles--like when he was giving interviews to different Bass, Drum and Guitar and other specialty magazines. I was interested not just to get a list of stuff, but his take on the what and why of his choices. Thanks!  | |
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may I ask where you studied?
I went to the Conservatory in Phoenix and had a relatively good experience. Didn't do much with it tho  | |
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Rudy said: may I ask where you studied?
I went to the Conservatory in Phoenix and had a relatively good experience. Didn't do much with it tho Sure! We have a local community college (Schoolcraft College: www.schoolcraft.edu) that began a Recording Technology program about 5 years ago. It has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to a stellar faculty and an administration that supports and approves the budgets that are required to keep the equipment up-to-date. I don't intend to make a living this way--I just wanted to have knowledge, set up a home studio and save a bit of money on studio fees. But I am a trained teacher and trainer, and I know good instruction when I see it! The teachers at Schooolcraft are knowledgeable, patient, and know how to get complex concepts across. Graduates of the program are allowed to come back and use the equipment free of charge and the lab instructor will even give a tutorial on any new features that have been added. The program is well thought out--you can get an Associate's Degree or a Certificate (I'm getting the Certificate; already got a Bachelor's and Master's Degree). I feel students probably get as good or better training than if they spent many thousands more at a place like Full Sail. I will have spent a total of $2,300 for my training (I had to pay out-of-district rates, but I did get a $500 scholarship). As you can see, I'm very pleased with my experience. | |
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NuPwr319 said: Rudy said: may I ask where you studied?
I went to the Conservatory in Phoenix and had a relatively good experience. Didn't do much with it tho Sure! We have a local community college (Schoolcraft College: www.schoolcraft.edu) that began a Recording Technology program about 5 years ago. It has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to a stellar faculty and an administration that supports and approves the budgets that are required to keep the equipment up-to-date. I don't intend to make a living this way--I just wanted to have knowledge, set up a home studio and save a bit of money on studio fees. But I am a trained teacher and trainer, and I know good instruction when I see it! The teachers at Schooolcraft are knowledgeable, patient, and know how to get complex concepts across. Graduates of the program are allowed to come back and use the equipment free of charge and the lab instructor will even give a tutorial on any new features that have been added. The program is well thought out--you can get an Associate's Degree or a Certificate (I'm getting the Certificate; already got a Bachelor's and Master's Degree). I feel students probably get as good or better training than if they spent many thousands more at a place like Full Sail. I will have spent a total of $2,300 for my training (I had to pay out-of-district rates, but I did get a $500 scholarship). As you can see, I'm very pleased with my experience. I'm envious of your experience, I really am! I may have overstated how great my education was at the Conservatory. We learned a lot about signal flow (good) & a hodgepodge of other things (music business, lots of other stuff I can't even remember anymore). I left with nearly a 4.0, the highest gradepoint in my group, and with very little confidence about what I was doing in a real recording studio. But that's partly my fault. I really didn't commit myself to the program, and afterwards I tried only halfheartedly to find that kind of employment. You gotta give it your all, of forget about it | |
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Studio A
Console Solid State Logic SL 8000G+ 80 in w/ 80 channels 
Custom Monitors & Amplifiers Adam BGW Performance Series 3 Bryston Amplifiers Bryston Crossovers Crown PSA 2 Panasonic 42" Plasma Monitor Hot House S400 Proprietary BMDI Custom Monitoring System Westlake Custom Studio Playback Monitors Westlake MRX-2 Electronic Crossover White EQs 4700 Yamaha NS-10M Outboard Gear AMS RMX 16 (6) API 550A (2) Avalon E55 EQ (3) Avalon U5 Direct Avalon Vt 737sp Pre-amp/EQ dbx 160X (2) dbx 165A (2) dbx FS902 De-Esser (2) de Medio Line Amp (Custom) (2) de Medio Mic Pre (Custom) (2) EMT Echo Plates Eventide Eclipse Eventide H969 Eventide H3000 SE Eventide H3000D/SX Focusrite The Liquid Channel (2) GML 8200 Stereo EQ (2) GML 8900 Stereo Compressor Joe Meek Compressor Korg DT-1 Pro Digital Tuner Lexicon 224 X Lexicon 480L Lexicon PCM 42 Lexicon PCM 70 Lexicon Prime Time II Manley Stereo "Variable-Mu" Limiter Compressor Neve Stereo Compressor Publison Infernal Machine 90 (2) Pultec EQP-1A Roland SDE 330 (2) Summit TLA-100A T.C. Electronics fireworx T.C. Electronics M3000 (2) Teletronix LA-2A (2) Universal Audio 1176 LN Universal Audio 1178 Dual Peak Limiter Waves L2 Ultramaximizer Recorders & Peripherals Alesis Masterlink ML-9600 Digidesign Sync I/O Digidesign MIDI interface Mac G5 dual 2 GHz 2.5 GB SDRAM Magnavox DVD/VCR Combi MDV560 VR Pro Tools HD Accel 24 in 48 out Sony PCM-R500 DAT (2) Studer A-827 Gold Edition Studer A-820 Master Recorder 1/2" Studer A721 Cassette Deck (3) Timeline Lynx Synchronizers Software Synthesizers, Samplers, & Plug Ins Propellorhead Reason MOTU MachFive Waves Platinum Bundle Studio B Princes Fav Studio 
Console API de Medio 48 in w/ 48 channels Custom Studio Monitors & Amplifiers BGW Bryston Amplifiers Bryston Crossover Control Room Subwoofer Modification (BMDI tm) Crown PSA-2 JBL 4430 Playback Monitors Panasonic 42” Plasma Monitor Pro Ac MK II Studio Monitors Westlakes Enclosures TAD components White EQs Yamaha NS-10M Outboard Gear AMS RMX 16 (2) Avalon U5 Direct Brent Averill1122 stereo API Mic Pre (10) de Medio Mic Pre (custom) (3) dbx 160X (2) dbx 165A Drawmer DS 201 Dual Gate Dytronics CS5 Tri Stereo Chorus (2) Empirical Labs Distressor EL8 (2) EMT Echo Plates (2) Eventide H3000 (8) Focusrite ISA 110 Mic Pre/EQ (2) GML 8200 Stereo EQ Korg DT-1 Pro Digital Tuner Lexicon 224X Lexicon 480L Lexicon PCM 70 (3) Lexicon PCM 42 Lexicon Prime Time II Manley Dual Mic Pre Publison Infernal Machine 90 Pultec EQP-1A Pultec MEQ-5 Roland Dimension D Stereo Processor (2) Summit TLA-100A (3) Teletronix LA-2A T.C. Electronics TC 2290 Valley PR-10A Compressors Waves L2 Ultramaximizer Recorders & Peripherals Alesis Masterlink ML-9600 Sony DVD/VHS SLV-D300P Sony PCM-R500 DAT (2) Studer A-800 MK III (2) Studer A-820 Master Recorders (1) 1/4" (1) 1/2" Studer A721 Cassette Deck (3) Timeline Lynx Synchronizers VAC Video Distribution Amplifier Studio C 
Console Midas Venice 320 32 in Recorders & DAW's MOTU 896 HD and DP4 Panasonic SV 3700 DAT Pro Tools LE 6.4 w/ Digi 002 interface Studer A800 MK III Outboard Gear & Peripherals Cyberhome DVD Player HHB BurnIt Plus Korg DTR-1000 Digital Tuner PreSonus Central Station The Desk Doctor DI-Active Yamaha SPX 90 Monitors & Amplifiers Bryston Amps Panasonic 42" Plasma Monitor Proprietary BMDI Custom Monitoring System Software Sampler & Plug ins MOTU MachFive Waves Gold Bundle Waves Musicians Bundle studio D 
Console Midas Venice 240 24 in Recorders & DAW’s Emagic Logic Pro Panasonic SV 3700 DAT Pro Tools LE 6.4 w/Digi 002 Rack Outboard Gear and Peripherals Cyberhome DVD player HHB BurnIT Plus Mackie Baby HUI Mackie Big Knob Studio Electronics Dual Mic Pre Monitors & Amplifiers Panasonic 42" Plasma Monitor Proprietary BMDI Custom Monitoring System Keyboards Alesis Ion Minimoog Voyager 
Paisley Park Studios was opened in 1987 by PRINCE, the legendary musician and entertainer. Paisley Park fame has grown around the world throughout the 80’s and 90’s and continues today. Since its inception, many of the world’s top artists have used Paisley Park Studios to create chart-topping music, full-length feature films, commercials and music videos. http://www.paisleypark.com/ | |
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Check out Dance Music Sex Romance by Per Neilsen. It's a bio of Prince up to Sign O The Times, and the soap-opera-drama is in there, but he does a very extensive job covering the technical details of the recording processes. Like the Dirty Mind basement studio, the accidental overloading of his vocals during 1999 and how he liked it so much that he continued to overload the vox from then on (probably until digital recording when you couldn't overload it without the clipping). Stuff like that.
I think you can find it on half.com for $10. I know that's not free information, but it's very very extensive (more the how/why, not so much the what machines/mics/boards etc). I think the best nugget I got out of that book was how Prince walked into the studio, told the engineer to just start rolling tape and he recorded Christopher Tracy's Parade, New Position, I Wonder U and Under the Cherry Moon all in one take, all at once, like it is on the record (I could be wrong about one of those - the first or the last, I forget which). And it bugged the engineer because you can hear his necklace jangling during New Position I think. Maybe I Wonder U. It's been awhile since I read it. I gave the book to my sister a few years back, and the skank ain't gave it back. www.beaurocks.com Trees are made of WOOD! | |
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guitstoopid said: Listed cool mega music gear
Thanks--although I had checked out the list over on Paisley's site! | |
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beauhall said: Check out Dance Music Sex Romance by Per Neilsen. It's a bio of Prince up to Sign O The Times, and the soap-opera-drama is in there, but he does a very extensive job covering the technical details of the recording processes. Like the Dirty Mind basement studio, the accidental overloading of his vocals during 1999 and how he liked it so much that he continued to overload the vox from then on (probably until digital recording when you couldn't overload it without the clipping). Stuff like that.
I think you can find it on half.com for $10. I know that's not free information, but it's very very extensive (more the how/why, not so much the what machines/mics/boards etc). I think the best nugget I got out of that book was how Prince walked into the studio, told the engineer to just start rolling tape and he recorded Christopher Tracy's Parade, New Position, I Wonder U and Under the Cherry Moon all in one take, all at once, like it is on the record (I could be wrong about one of those - the first or the last, I forget which). And it bugged the engineer because you can hear his necklace jangling during New Position I think. Maybe I Wonder U. It's been awhile since I read it. I gave the book to my sister a few years back, and the skank ain't gave it back. Yeah, this is more what I meant--I'm interested in the process, not just the gear. Thanks, Beau--I'll have to pick this book up. | |
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