B
Beck
Guest
antispatula said:
I think that’s a delicacy in Burundi… or is it Tanzania? I forget.
I think that’s a delicacy in Burundi… or is it Tanzania? I forget.
Dr ZEE
Anti-Pro Circles Insider
antispatula said:I've read that article. Even though madonna is a rancid piece of ardvaark earlobe, it's cool to know pro stuff has been done on a 1/4" 8 track.
what's so cool about knowing that a rancid piece of ardvaark earlobe's stuff has been done on 1/4" 8 track. ?
no, really, no joking. what's so cool about it?
/respects
Dr ZEE
Anti-Pro Circles Insider
S
studiodrum
New member
More than a feeling, . . !
BUT!!! here's the capa! . . Tom had been shopping around 6 or 7 song demo that he had recorded in his basement studio a few years prior to him recording the Boston demo . . .then Barry introduced Tom to Brad Delp and he started singing lead vocals on Toms demos in early 75', , . . AND APPARENTLY, it was around this time that Tom purchased a 12 track Scully recorder, and started recording another six song demo with Brad singing lead.
So, I'm guessing, . .(and I could be totally wrong), . .that it's possible that the first set of demos that Tom was shopping around, before he met Brad, and purchased the 12 track, . . were recorded on that infamous Tascam 8 track reel to reel that we have heard . .
I guess that I could ask Barry about that, . .But, who knows if he will answer me this time~ He probably already thinks I'm a nut for asking him if Boston was recorded on a 1/2" Tascam 8 track!
Not too mention, there doesn't seem to be much love loss between him and Tom these days. . . But, it wont hurt to ask, . .
Hey Stevie Mac! I'm not sure that Barry would make that kind of mistake, especially since Barry had been with Tom from the start, . around 1973-4. He had been playing with Tom in various bands in Boston starting from 1973-4, . .and had recorded several demos with Tom in his basement, . . a few years before the first Boston album was recorded.SteveMac said:I wonder if Barry Goodreu could be mistaken
BUT!!! here's the capa! . . Tom had been shopping around 6 or 7 song demo that he had recorded in his basement studio a few years prior to him recording the Boston demo . . .then Barry introduced Tom to Brad Delp and he started singing lead vocals on Toms demos in early 75', , . . AND APPARENTLY, it was around this time that Tom purchased a 12 track Scully recorder, and started recording another six song demo with Brad singing lead.
So, I'm guessing, . .(and I could be totally wrong), . .that it's possible that the first set of demos that Tom was shopping around, before he met Brad, and purchased the 12 track, . . were recorded on that infamous Tascam 8 track reel to reel that we have heard . .
I guess that I could ask Barry about that, . .But, who knows if he will answer me this time~ He probably already thinks I'm a nut for asking him if Boston was recorded on a 1/2" Tascam 8 track!
Not too mention, there doesn't seem to be much love loss between him and Tom these days. . . But, it wont hurt to ask, . .
Last edited:
Dr ZEE
Anti-Pro Circles Insider
studiodrum said:
just e-mail the guy the url to this thread, and by doing so you'll release yourself from duty and obligation to report back
E
EDAN
New member
Muckelroy said:I gotta admit ---- Boston's first album is still, in my mind, the POSTER CHILD of the capabilities of 1/2" 8 track.
-callie-
I believed for some time that they used the Tascam on that album. However, I ran into a nice gentleman (forget his name, but could find out) on another board who claims to have been in Tom's basement and involved in some sort at the time and he says it was the Skully 12 track that was used and not the Tascam and that they later brought in a mobile 24 track and ran all the wires through a window in the basement and right to the Skully and later did the vocals in the studio. He really seemed to know his stuff and the others on the board all seemed to know and respect him. I later did some research and found that his story seems to gel with other people's accounts, including Tom's. The Tascam site says Boston as well as Kansas used the 8-80. I don't know.
E
EDAN
New member
studiodrum said:I apologize for resurrecting this post after all this time, . . But I thought you guys might want an update!
A producer that I have worked with a few times in the past is friends with Brad, and Barry, . . and I was hoping to post some cool and exciting new details regarding how the first Boston album, was recorded using a Tascam 38. But, unfortunately, I have some bad news . ..
Here is an email from Barry Goudreau that I received this morning.
Sorry to disappoint you Ray, but the first album was recorded on a Scully 24 track recorder in Tom's basement. If you get the new Boston re-releases, there are pictures of Tom's studio. Barry
So, there ya have it, . . wah, wah, wah
I've searched the net and thus far found reputable sources all saying different things. They all agree he used a Scully, however some say it was an 8-track some say it was a 12-track, but I've found nothing about a 24 track other than the mobile recording truck that they used. If he did in fact have a 24 track Scully, I don't see a need for another 24 track mobile truck to come in.
S
studiodrum
New member
Yep, . . I think Edan is getting closer!
Here is an article in MixOnline that I recently came across that might shed more light on this subject: http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_bostons_feeling/
If this article is correct, . . it looks like Barry and Edan were both correct. However, rather than a 24 Track Scully as Barry suggested, . . it was a 12 Track Scully, and then transferred to that mobile 24 track 3M machine that Edan talked about!
Here is an article in MixOnline that I recently came across that might shed more light on this subject: http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_bostons_feeling/
If this article is correct, . . it looks like Barry and Edan were both correct. However, rather than a 24 Track Scully as Barry suggested, . . it was a 12 Track Scully, and then transferred to that mobile 24 track 3M machine that Edan talked about!
Last edited:
S
studiodrum
New member
Mystery solved!
Okay guys, . .New update!
It looks like the MixOnline article is pretty true to form. It looks like NONE of Boston albums, either first or last were ever recorded with a Tascam 8 track, 1/2". Sad but true. .
So, here's the scoop!
I know a friend, that knows a friend, that knows Tom's manager, . .and he was able to get a message to Tom earlier today. I emailed his manger with 3 basic questions, . . and just received this response.. .
<<<<<< original message >>>>>>>>
I basically just have (3) quick questions!
1. Did Tom ever use a Tascam 8 track reel to reel machine to record any of his demos prior to the first Boston album recording.
2. Did Tom use a Scully 24 track to record the first Boston album.
He had a homemade 4-track machine that he cobbled together from an old Roberts & a couple of Sony 2-tracks. He then acquired a Scully 12-track 1" machine sometime around 1973-75, and that's what he used to record the album (except "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" which was recorded in LA). For further info, you should check out the remastered first album, which was just released a week ago on Sony/Legacy - Tom wrote additional notes about how it was made.
3. What type of mixing board did he use to record the first Boston album, and what type of Mixdown deck did he use on the final mix?
He had an old Stevens (sp?) board then, which he replaced with an Auditronics around 1980. He doesn't recall the board for the final mix, which was done at Westlake Audio in LA, but thinks it might have been an Ampex ATR100.
So, there ya have it boys and girls, not a Tascam Eight track insight. But, with that said, . . to get such a huge sound, as Boston's first album with using only a 1" Scully 12 track is not too shabby.
Okay guys, . .New update!
It looks like the MixOnline article is pretty true to form. It looks like NONE of Boston albums, either first or last were ever recorded with a Tascam 8 track, 1/2". Sad but true. .
So, here's the scoop!
I know a friend, that knows a friend, that knows Tom's manager, . .and he was able to get a message to Tom earlier today. I emailed his manger with 3 basic questions, . . and just received this response.. .
<<<<<< original message >>>>>>>>
I basically just have (3) quick questions!
1. Did Tom ever use a Tascam 8 track reel to reel machine to record any of his demos prior to the first Boston album recording.
2. Did Tom use a Scully 24 track to record the first Boston album.
He had a homemade 4-track machine that he cobbled together from an old Roberts & a couple of Sony 2-tracks. He then acquired a Scully 12-track 1" machine sometime around 1973-75, and that's what he used to record the album (except "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" which was recorded in LA). For further info, you should check out the remastered first album, which was just released a week ago on Sony/Legacy - Tom wrote additional notes about how it was made.
3. What type of mixing board did he use to record the first Boston album, and what type of Mixdown deck did he use on the final mix?
He had an old Stevens (sp?) board then, which he replaced with an Auditronics around 1980. He doesn't recall the board for the final mix, which was done at Westlake Audio in LA, but thinks it might have been an Ampex ATR100.
So, there ya have it boys and girls, not a Tascam Eight track insight. But, with that said, . . to get such a huge sound, as Boston's first album with using only a 1" Scully 12 track is not too shabby.
SteveMac
New member
We've all been buffooned! Who started this 8 track rumor? 
Now I need a Sculley 12 track!
Now I need a Sculley 12 track!
Dr ZEE
Anti-Pro Circles Insider
how'bout an ol' roberts and couple of sony(s)? You've already got some sony skulls and bones ...you can start from thereSteveMac said:Now I need a Sculley 12 track!
S
studiodrum
New member
True Steve, But at least now we know the real truth, . .and really when you think about it, its still pretty impressive that you can get such a great sounding recording like the Boston album, just by using 12 track, 1" recorder. ~~ Even though it was very nicely sweetened and mixed in a very modern LA studio, . . just laying down those drum and guitar tracks alone is pretty amazing. . .Now in retrospect, I can kick myself that I didn't ask Tom how he tracked those drums, . .in a dumpy basement in the suburbs of Boston!SteveMac said:We've all been buffooned! Who started this 8 track rumor?
Yeah, that fleetingly crossed my mind too, . . But, have you seen what that thing looks like! Its a Monster! (see pic: It's the tall machine on the right, next to the two Ampex MM1200's) I think, if I'm gonna go that route, . I will settle for a Tascam 16 track 1"SteveMac said:Now I need a Scully 12 track!
Attachments
Last edited:
Dr ZEE
Anti-Pro Circles Insider
studiodrum said:
God help us all.
+++++++++
btw, nice shirt, ... I like blue 'n check.... very nice indeed, sort of like Bombay Viking.
/respects
E
EDAN
New member
SteveMac said:We've all been buffooned! Who started this 8 track rumor?
Right here for starters
From Tascam's own site:
1976...Although short lived, the Series 70 was the first 1/2" multitrack in existence. It paved the way for the 80-8. Introduced into the marketplace in January 1976, the durability and performance of the 80-8 1/2" 8 track reel-to-reel tape recorder squelched any remaining myths about the viability of affordable multitrack recording equipment. The 80-8 utilized the same transport as the TEAC A-6100 but boasted more durable motors, a better configuration of the tape path, and greater tolerance under prolonged use and stress.The 80-8 was simple to align. Unlike the Series 70 recorders, all the adjustments could be made from the front of the recorder. Print advertising, the RIAA and Modern Recording and Mix Magazine's support of the 80-8 played a significant part in the ultimate success of this TASCAM product. Classic groups of the mid-70s like Boston and Kansas recorded hit albums using the 80-8 recorder.
SteveMac
New member
EDAN said:
Yeah, reading that before is basically what convinced me. So, I wonder waht makes them think that?
SteveMac
New member
studiodrum said:True Steve, But at least now we know the real truth, . .and really when you think about it, its still pretty impressive that you can get such a great sounding recording like the Boston album, just by using 12 track, 1" recorder. ~~ Even though it was very nicely sweetened and mixed in a very modern LA studio, . . just laying down those drum and guitar tracks alone is pretty amazing. . .Now in retrospect, I can kick myself that I didn't ask Tom how he tracked those drums, . .in a dumpy basement in the suburbs of Boston!
Yeah, that fleetingly crossed my mind too, . . But, have you seen what that thing looks like! Its a Monster! (see pic: It's the tall machine on the right, next to the two Ampex MM1200's) I think, if I'm gonna go that route, . I will settle for a Tascam 16 track 1"
Same here, the Tascam ms16 is my ultimate goal. Anything bigger than that I wouldn't want to deal with at home. For now I'll be happy to make some decent recordings within the limitations of what I have .
That thing IS a monster. Looks like something from IBM.
M
MCI2424
New member
Herm said:
It's not a pro machine. Just because Madonna uses a home toilet, it does not make it a "pro" toilet.
And.........I said it is not a pro machine. I can prove it any day, any time, anywhere.
You people are high on something. Go delude yourself somewhere.
M
MCI2424
New member
EDAN said:
Neither Kansas nor Boston used TASCAM anything to record hit albums. I know for a fact (from Tom Schultz himself, seen it) that he used a Scully 8 track modified to 12 track. He still has this machine.
I will tell him you guys are interested and if he cares even a little bit, he will come here and explain what a bunch of b***shite these articles are.
Shouldn't take so much to get this accomplished.
B
Beck
Guest
http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=1764885&postcount=9
The myth is out there because TASCAM has a vague reference connecting the 80-8 and Boston on their website. The problem is, Boston’s debut album was released in 1976, which is the same year the 80-8 was introduced. This makes it very unlikely the 80-8 had anything to do with the first album, with much of the recording completed in 1975. He may have had one, but the details on how it was used are nowhere that I know of.
According to the info I have, which dates back 20+ years, Scholz recorded the initial tracks for the first album on a Scully 284 1-inch 12-track, and those were transferred to a 3M M79 24-track… so the material on the 24-track was already second generation. The first Boston album involved several analog generations before it was done.
It really doesn’t matter whether Scully or TASCAM… the point is clear -- one of the most significant albums (and groups) in rock history was born in one man’s head and the bulk of it recorded in a basement home studio with pretty modest equipment. And Scholz still uses analog tape and equipment, as of 2003 anyway.
Check this from an old Rolling Stone magazine interview of Scholz:
"CBS wouldn't let me produce an album in a basement by myself. John Boylan took the rest of the band out to the West Coast, and they hung out there and they did some work in the studio, recorded a few cuts, including 'Let Me Take You Home Tonight.' While they were doing that and the record company thought the record was being recorded on the West Coast, I was recording it in the basement of my apartment house. I remember at one point Boylan arranged for Brad to have a custom-made Taylor acoustic guitar for some incredible amount of money, thousands of dollars on the album budget, and at that exact same time, I was recording 'More Than A Feeling' with a $100 Yamaha acoustic guitar - which was Brad's - back in the basement of my apartment house. When I had finished with it, I transferred the tracks onto two-inch tape and I went out there. Brad sang most of the tracks out there. A couple of them he couldn't do because he was having trouble with his voice in the smog. We finished a couple of them up in my basement studio, and I had to cart them back to LA and dub them in on a two-inch from another analog tape, which was pretty unusual back then."
And this from Musician Magazine late 80’s, which is actually the rest of the first quote from the link to my other post:
“…His outboard gear includes an EMT plate reverb, Lexicon PCM 41s and an ancient digital delay, an Eventide 910 harmonizer and a ranger, Kepex noise gates, dbx 263X de-essers and 160 compressor/limiters, Urei LA4 and 1176 limiters, parametric EQ's by White, Ashley, Synergistic, and SA, and other nondescript boxes and oscillators. The main board is by Audiotronics, with a Fadex automated mixing system added. There's also a Soundcraft Series 200B mixer for the drum triggers going to the Oberheim DMX (which Tom calls "Dummy X"). House monitors are Cizaks, monitor amps are unknown, and house microphones include an Electro-Voice PL20 for vocals and AKG 414s for cymbals.”
And if the original TASCAM bbs hadn’t shut down in ’03 I went into great detail on that forum about this issue, but that’s all lost forever… and I even accidentally threw away my oldest Scholz interview from the early 80’s since then…
I remember the article was subtitled “Distortion you can play in church” something like that. I haven’t been able to find it on the web.
Anyway, I wouldn’t get too hung up on the exact original equipment. He could have done it with anything similar. All the Tom Scholz equipment lists I’ve seen over the years are full of man-on-the-street type equipment. That’s the important thing to get out of the Scholz/Boston story.
~Tim
The myth is out there because TASCAM has a vague reference connecting the 80-8 and Boston on their website. The problem is, Boston’s debut album was released in 1976, which is the same year the 80-8 was introduced. This makes it very unlikely the 80-8 had anything to do with the first album, with much of the recording completed in 1975. He may have had one, but the details on how it was used are nowhere that I know of.
According to the info I have, which dates back 20+ years, Scholz recorded the initial tracks for the first album on a Scully 284 1-inch 12-track, and those were transferred to a 3M M79 24-track… so the material on the 24-track was already second generation. The first Boston album involved several analog generations before it was done.
It really doesn’t matter whether Scully or TASCAM… the point is clear -- one of the most significant albums (and groups) in rock history was born in one man’s head and the bulk of it recorded in a basement home studio with pretty modest equipment. And Scholz still uses analog tape and equipment, as of 2003 anyway.
Check this from an old Rolling Stone magazine interview of Scholz:
"CBS wouldn't let me produce an album in a basement by myself. John Boylan took the rest of the band out to the West Coast, and they hung out there and they did some work in the studio, recorded a few cuts, including 'Let Me Take You Home Tonight.' While they were doing that and the record company thought the record was being recorded on the West Coast, I was recording it in the basement of my apartment house. I remember at one point Boylan arranged for Brad to have a custom-made Taylor acoustic guitar for some incredible amount of money, thousands of dollars on the album budget, and at that exact same time, I was recording 'More Than A Feeling' with a $100 Yamaha acoustic guitar - which was Brad's - back in the basement of my apartment house. When I had finished with it, I transferred the tracks onto two-inch tape and I went out there. Brad sang most of the tracks out there. A couple of them he couldn't do because he was having trouble with his voice in the smog. We finished a couple of them up in my basement studio, and I had to cart them back to LA and dub them in on a two-inch from another analog tape, which was pretty unusual back then."
And this from Musician Magazine late 80’s, which is actually the rest of the first quote from the link to my other post:
“…His outboard gear includes an EMT plate reverb, Lexicon PCM 41s and an ancient digital delay, an Eventide 910 harmonizer and a ranger, Kepex noise gates, dbx 263X de-essers and 160 compressor/limiters, Urei LA4 and 1176 limiters, parametric EQ's by White, Ashley, Synergistic, and SA, and other nondescript boxes and oscillators. The main board is by Audiotronics, with a Fadex automated mixing system added. There's also a Soundcraft Series 200B mixer for the drum triggers going to the Oberheim DMX (which Tom calls "Dummy X"). House monitors are Cizaks, monitor amps are unknown, and house microphones include an Electro-Voice PL20 for vocals and AKG 414s for cymbals.”
And if the original TASCAM bbs hadn’t shut down in ’03 I went into great detail on that forum about this issue, but that’s all lost forever… and I even accidentally threw away my oldest Scholz interview from the early 80’s since then…
I remember the article was subtitled “Distortion you can play in church” something like that. I haven’t been able to find it on the web.
Anyway, I wouldn’t get too hung up on the exact original equipment. He could have done it with anything similar. All the Tom Scholz equipment lists I’ve seen over the years are full of man-on-the-street type equipment. That’s the important thing to get out of the Scholz/Boston story.
~Tim
M
MCI2424
New member
studiodrum said:True Steve, But at least now we know the real truth, . .and really when you think about it, its still pretty impressive that you can get such a great sounding recording like the Boston album, just by using 12 track, 1" recorder. ~~ Even though it was very nicely sweetened and mixed in a very modern LA studio, . . just laying down those drum and guitar tracks alone is pretty amazing. . .Now in retrospect, I can kick myself that I didn't ask Tom how he tracked those drums, . .in a dumpy basement in the suburbs of Boston!
Yeah, that fleetingly crossed my mind too, . . But, have you seen what that thing looks like! Its a Monster! (see pic: It's the tall machine on the right, next to the two Ampex MM1200's) I think, if I'm gonna go that route, . I will settle for a Tascam 16 track 1"
And one last...................KILKL THE RUMOUR
The Boston album (#1) had bed tracks recorded on tha Scully 12 track. The tracks were dubbed to a 24 track 2" machine and (basically) re-recorded using the original tracks as guide tracks. There are no tracks on the Boston album that were originally recorded on the Scully. They redid the entire album in a pro studio ( hence the cohesive sound of the entire album, if you listen)
Magic, all of it. Rumours are great "cause they make us believe that a lowely 388 is a "pro" machine.
Nice if you can get it, Like believing that a playboy bunny would actually *date* anyone here in nerdsville.