Recording microphones on "Let It Be"

[James Creek]

What make and model is this mic as shown in this picture? Are they still available and where can I locate them?

 

[ozraves]

I wondered this in the past and I've seen two mics linked up to this session. One is the Neumann KM84i. The other I believe is an AKG (model number escapes me). In any event, it's a mic body with an extension tube coming off of it which holds the capsule.

 

[PhilGood]

All the sessions I've seen of the "Let it be" recordings had nothing to do with these mics shown. Remember that Paul did most of the tracking by himself for that session. His favorite mic was always a U47. This pic is more of a live performance.

 

[amphony]

If you check out the movie, there are quite a few shots of U67s being used. For the rooftop jam, they use the AKG's on vocals and U67s for the amps and an overhead.

If you get a chance pick up the book "Beatles Gear" by Andy Babiuk. There is all sorts of great info on the instruments used live and in the studio along with some great stories and photos.

 

[Fab4ever]

The photo here is from the video they did for Revolution. They sang to a backing track. In the Anthology video you can here the result.. it's a little weird in that I believe all instruments heard are on tape, and vocals are live.

Let it Be was recorded - and photographed - after this video session for Revolution.

 

[James Creek]

Thank you all for the info. This mic (as shown in jpeg) is a Neumann make? And the rooftop sessions show the long slender type for the vocals, are these also Neumann but different models? I just need to be sure.

 

[stevetat]

Here's a link to the video clip of Revolution...

http://www.beatlemania.ca/videos/revolution.htm

Hey Jude/Revolution
Filming Dates: September 4, 1968
Filming Locations: Twickenham Film Studios
Director: Michael Lindsay-Hogg

The decision to shoot straight performance clips was a complete turnaround from the original idea that had been planned. A complex 38-storyboard idea for "Hey Jude" had been imagined by film editor, Roy Benson. The Beatles were originally all for the idea, until they learned it would take three days to shoot.

Three takes of "Hey Jude" were filmed and the final video was composed of an edit of take one and take three. The "Hey Jude" clip also features 300 extras, recruited by leaflets and collected by Mal Evans, who also invited fans congregated outside of EMI studios. A 36-piece orchestra, all wearing white tuxedos, was also present. Although the orchestra and the Beatles guitar amps were present, only the vocals of the song were live; however the clip fooled the Musicians Union, who had banned lip-syncing.

The backing track to "Revolution" was also pre-recorded, but the vocals were live. Two clips were shot; They were mostly identical, but there were some lighting differences.

The clip was first shown on September 8 in the UK, in black and white on Frost On Sunday. David Frost had come to Twickenham to film a brief intro to make it seem the Beatles were appearing exclusively on his program. "Hey Jude" was shown in color in the U.S. for the first time on October 6 on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

"Revolution" was broadcast only once in the UK, in black and white, on Top of the Pops on September 19. It was broadcast in the U.S. in color on on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on October 13.

 

[James Creek]

I do like the Beatles and their music, however, I am more interested in the make and model of the mics used in 'Let It Be' studio and rooftop sessions. As shown in this jpeg.

 

[ozraves]

OK, I found the AKG model number. The other mic mentioned as being the mic used on Let It Be is the AKG C28. Given the length of the extensions between the mic bodies and the capsules as well as the apparent size of the mic bodies I'm voting for the AKG C28 as the mic in question. I believe Russ Long in his DVD at www.audioinstruction.com describes the mic as a C28.

 

[James Creek]

Yes, they are AKGs C28/29/30 in different configs, but they are discontinued. However, they are in use probably under a different model number other than the C28/29/30. I was going to show the picture models but the file is too large for attachments here. More global tracking...