#1338092 - 05/15/01 04:47 AM
Production tips for "Tangled Up In Blue" sound
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Sir Bob
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Registered: 03/25/00
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Loc: Altadena, California
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There is a nice article on the recording of Blood on the Tracks (Bob Dylan/1975) in the magazine, Guitar World Acoustic. I had some fun learning to play in E tuning, especially Simple Twist of Fate. According to the article, it was recorded in E tuning in New York but some songs, including Tangled Up in Blue, were re-recorded in Minnesota with regular tuning.
I was wondering what, if any, production values helped to create the strong sound of Tangled Up In Blue. The article points out that three acoustic guitars were recorded. It sounds like Martin D-28's to me but I was wondering if a certain mic or micing technique was used? Certainly the strings were fresh and the playing was aggressive. Nothing wrong with that.
Knowing Bob Dylan (not personally of course) I would bet it was recorded live rather than overdubbed but who knows.
They probably used small diaphragm condensers as opposed to large to retain that bright sound. And probably a good sounding room was used (recorded in Minnesota with "local musicians(???)") with no additional, artificial reverb added.
Would someone dive in please? Would I like the Neuman small diaphragm mics for this sound and which one or ones?
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#1338093 - 05/15/01 06:34 AM
Re: Production tips for "Tangled Up In Blue" sound
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d gauss
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Registered: 02/15/01
Posts: 3231
Loc: Somewhere in the Swamps of Jer...
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<<"Tangled Up In Blue" sound>>
try a guild "bluesbird" guitar through a "blue-tube" distortion pedal into a fender "blues junior" amp.... if nothing else, it will be blue.
-d. gauss
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#1338094 - 05/17/01 04:56 AM
Re: Production tips for "Tangled Up In Blue" sound
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Sir Bob
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I really don't think its a blues sound. It's a jangly acoustic guitar sound.
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#1338095 - 05/19/01 04:52 AM
Re: Production tips for "Tangled Up In Blue" sound
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Sir Bob
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Which other board should I post this question, which seems to be more of an engineer/production question?
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#1338096 - 05/23/01 10:45 PM
Re: Production tips for "Tangled Up In Blue" sound
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JohnBartus
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Registered: 03/04/00
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Loc: Marathon, FL, USA
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Just a couple of guesses...
-Two or three acoustic guitars, at least one capoed to be transposed and played in a higher register.
- Small diaphragm condenser mics with a bit of leakage from the other guitarists.
- A Fender or Gibson bass with dead/tapewound strings plugged into an old Fender Bassman amp
- Not-too-resonant drums in a drum booth.
- A little bit of plate reverb on the vocals.
- Analog tape recording, no NR.
This is how I'd try to replicate the sound; your mileage will likely vary.
------------------
John Bartus
Radio Active Productions
We Make Great Radio Happen - Guaranteed.
1-888-93-RADIO
http://www.radioactivedigital.com
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#1338097 - 05/24/01 01:44 AM
Re: Production tips for "Tangled Up In Blue" sound
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Sir Bob
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Thanks John, your guesses make sense to me. I was primarily interested in the up front, exciting acoustic guitars. I suspect that they are Martin rosewood dreadnoughts, mic'd with good small condensors (Neumann KM84??) and last but not least COMPRESSION.
I was recording acoustic guitar this weekend and got a good sound with an RNC at about 6:1 up to 10:1.
I like your observation about the bass. I have seen vintage P-Basses with the sponge in the ashtray and that deadens the notes.
This message has been edited by Sir Bob on 05-23-2001 at 10:47 PM
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