Michael Jackson's new recording finds five-time grammy award-winning engineer Bruce Swedien using new and vintage neumann microphones

23-Jan-01

OLD LYME, CONNECTICUT: For millions of fans worldwide, summer of 2001 can't arrive soon enough. That's because this summer marks the scheduled release of Michael Jackson's all new, all original, Epic Records studio album. Aside from being one of the most famous persons in the universe for some 20 years, Jackson's musical achievements are unquestionable. From his days with the Jackson 5 to 1979's innovative 'Off the Wall' to the pop culture phenomenon of 1982's 'Thriller', Michael Jackson has altered the musical landscape. Insiders tell us that this new recording marks a return to the singer's raw, energetic R&B style coupled with entirely new, entirely fresh musical concepts. Five time Grammy award-winning recording engineer Bruce Swedien is again teaming with Michael Jackson, producers Rodney Jerkins and Teddy Rileyon this still-untitled release. The recording is currently underway at New York City's famed Hit Factory Studio, with mastering scheduled for Bernie Grundman's L.A. Mastering Studio. To deliver the pristine sound quality found on every Michael Jackson release, Swedien credits his huge collection of exquisite recording microphones, including a number of vintage and newer Neumann mics. This recording marks Swedien's first use of the new Neumann M 150 tube microphone. On one specific track, conducted and arranged by Jeremy Lubbock, twenty string and woodwind musicians are miked via two Neumann M 150s. ""I just love the 150s. They're beautiful,"" Swedien says. According to the prolific engineer, ""The 150s sound like an extremely quiet Neumann M 50. The 150's noise floor is extremely low and this fabulous new mic is quite warm sounding. The sound is characteristic of the big wide sound I remember from its predecessor."" A pair of Swedien's favorite Neumann 149s was used to record the surround tracks for later use.On the same track, Swedien used his private vintage 1956 Neumann U 47 tube microphone for Jackson's demo vocals. ""We intend to use the U 47 on the final recording - its just perfect for this particular piece of music. And let me tell you,"" noted Swedien, ""Michael's demo vocals sound better than most singer's finished vocals.""Two Sony 3348 HR (High-Resolution) 24-bit format, multi-track master tape machines are handling the original recording. The mixdown for one of the songs will be done on the new Sony Direct Stream Digital Recorder. ""This particular song (using the U 47, M 150s, M 149s and two U 47FETs on cellos) will be mixed directly to the Sony Direct Stream Digital Recording System because the noise floor is so low and I want to keep it there,"" noted Swedien. ""I'll actually take the machine I mix to, with me, to Bernie Grundman's for mastering.""Other recording equipment includes a Pro Tools 24-bit system, Westlake BBS M8 monitor speakers passively bi-amped and powered via Norwegian-made Electrocompaniet Class A monitor amps. For reverb, Swedien is using two EMT 250s and the new Sony DRE77 unit. An ATR custom-made one-inch, two track analog tape machine handles the strong R&B cuts.Neumann's award winning line of microphones has set the standard in the industry since 1928. In 1999, Neumann received the prestigious Technical Grammy(r) for their 70 years of innovation in microphone design and contribution to the music industry. A continuing commitment to provide innovative, technically refined products and engineering solutions of proven quality ensures that Neumann's stature will remain unassailable.

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