The ShadowMusic Web Community

Has anyone been watching the recent series of Guitar Star on Sky Arts?
In an episode a few weeks ago, the producer Tony Visconti was at Abbey Road recording the artists and then listening to the results. In the control room I noticed in the background a mixing console that looked like the same one used in the mid 60's. Why would Abbey Road have a 50+ year old console sitting amongst all the modern digital equipment, unless it's just there for show? Or is it just used by the engineers to put their coffee cups on?

I suspect it was either wheeled out for the purposes of the TV cameras but there's actually a surprising amount of vintage equipment still in use. When Martcaster Sr. and I went for a tour down there, they mentioned how a lot of the "famous" pianos were still in use by current recording artists, and there was a lot of vintage gear on display which was still in working order.

Of course you can spend a couple of hundred pounds these days to get digital simulations of all those vintage mixing desks, compressors etc. but when you've got a major label's money behind you I can imagine there's a lot of attraction to using the real thing, and I'm sure Abbey Road management are more than happy to take that money off them!

Matt

The original mixing desk is usually to be found in the corridor outside the door to Studio 2 Control Room. I have posted a slightly out of focus photo of me sitting on it somewhere on this forum!

I'd love to get a tour of Abbey Road, especially Studio 2, I'd be in the same room where all the old Beatles and Shadows classics were recorded, I don't think the actual studio floor has changed much.

When we were there there were people taking close-up photos of the flooring. Now, don't get me wrong, it was an amazing experience, but the floor of my school gym was identical except it had white lines on it. That must have made for an interesting slide show when they got home.

I'd also love to visit the famous 'echo chamber' (where the shads recorded their overdubs for Scotch on the socks).
I also read somewhere the studio is apparently haunted by a former resident or something (before it became a studio).

It's an amazing feeling... walking on the same floor as all those legends. In the same room. Breathing the same air. Well, sort of!

Here's a pic of the mixing desk outside studio 2 in the corridor. I look better out of focus even if the desk doesn't!!!