I'm particularly interested in what software he used to record each instrument he played and vocals on For You and Prince.

Anyone know?

Software?... there wasn't any software back then!

99% of Prince's albums were recorded in various recording studios using
analogue equipment. I wouldn't be surprised if the first two albums were
recorded before automated mixing desks were invented, let alone things
like Protools. He's only been using Protools in the last 4 or 5 years, and
even so, he still records most things in recording studios same as always.

BorisFishpaw said:

thanks Boris!

way back in the first albums it was all analogue. he later used SSL desks at paisley park, but he still recorded and mixed analogue for a long time. when he first started using protools a HD crashed and he lost stuff that was recorded so he would record to analogue and mixdown on protools. the setup in 2002 had the breakout box connected to the desk and a mac laptop was used. the studios were then upgraded in 2005

in graffiti bridge he does use a mac at the start, but i'm not sure if it was actually used in the studio


this is some old data below

http://www2.bitstream.net...diob2.html

http://www2.bitstream.net...dioa2.html

http://www2.bitstream.net...dioc2.html

http://prince.org/gallery...ml?id=2319

http://mixonline.com/mixl...ark-royer/

I remember the first Paisley Park Celebration in 2000, while hanging out in the SOTT studio (Studio One?), I noticed prominently displayed on the mixing console was a thick Pro-Tools reference book. Being that it was the only book, and the only thing in the room that wasn't bolted down, I saw this as a kind of "look, I'm using the latest technology" thing.

So Prince was at least dabbling in Pro-Tools in 2000.

Studio C was renovated in 2000 with protools.

One of the studios at Paisley mirrors Sunset Sound, LA, Cali. You know the one with his fathers picture?

squirrelgrease said:

Did it have a bright yellow cover with black lettering?

BorisFishpaw said:

correction 14 15 years

3121 said:

No it wasn't this one.

MPLSound is the first time Prince has used protools on his own?

That's what we've been told isn't it?

thanks for the thorough responses!

Did Prince play out every instrument from the top of the song through the end on For You and Prince? (no looping)

TyphoonTip said:

From the recent interviews that I've read, it seems that Prince is just effectively using Pro-Tools more on the recent LPs. He must have had an aversion to the software up to a point, thinking that reliance on it is an easy trap to fall into.

WisdomNLove said:

Prince played everything unless otherwise credited. "Looped" Linn beats and other analog percussion hardware were used, but Prince put everything direct to tape and overdubbed where he saw fit. Prince has always liked to plug everything directly into the mixer, including his effects pedals, and tweak it on the run.

squirrelgrease said:

beautiful thank you

squirrelgrease said:

I could be completely wrong, but I remember something about MPLSound specifically. That this album was the result of him messing about with protools on his own for the first time. I wish I could remember where I read this! I'm pretty sure I didn't make it up. Maybe?

WisdomNLove said:

that's how he normally records to this day. he will lay down the full drum track in one take, with all the breaks etc, then usually do the bassline, then either guitar or keyboard, layering eveything up, one take per instrument, playing the full track from start to end, and then he will send the engineer out the booth and lay down his vocals in there, and when finished he will call the engineer back to mix the finished track. he has the song mapped out in his head just like you would use protools, but he did this years ago. he would record about 2 songs a day on average during his spell at paisley park, but at times he would record a full album in a day. apparently lotusflower was recorded mostly in a day according to a recent interview with mike b where he said he laid down 11 drum tracks in one night/day after playing a gig downtown mpls

mplsound won't be the first album made using protools, and he's probably made a few tracks before with it, but it could be the first full album where he's done everything on protools, perhaps on his own this time, but i don't think he has the patience and inclination for software so he's maybe had a help with it. it's probably just the first full album where he has literally recorded direct to protools instead of to tape first, so it's recorded, edited and mixed on protools instead of a regular studio setup

squirrelgrease said:

i'm glad you got what i was hinting at. haha

TyphoonTip said:

Paisley Park was updated around 2000 with ProTools. Hint: P worked on a project using ProTools with Femi Jiya back then.

effa protools

Steinberg is the shit