The Beatles and Helios Type 69 EQ

[mattkw80]

I cannot find a reference to any songs the Beatles used the Helios consoles on.

Universal Audio is marketing their Helios Type 69 EQ as something the Beatles had used :

Quote from Universal Audio's site:

"Helios consoles were used to record and mix some of the finest rock, pop and reggae classics ever produced. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin"


Some web sites say that Apple Studio's ordered a couple of Helios desks, but anything else I have read says that George Martin and Geoff Emerick had to order 2 REDD desks from EMI, in order to get any work done.

The book "Recording The Beatles" does not even mention Helios.

Anybody know the connection between Helios and the Beatles ?

Did the Beatles really use it 'enough' to market this product with their name ?

 

[mattkw80]

I posted this at Gearslutz as well.

Seems like a Helios was "ordered" and possible "owned" by Apple studio's, but nobody can find an instance where the Beatles ever used it.

Kind of erks me. Maybe it's no big deal, but I don't think Universal Audio should be touting it as an EQ used by the Beatles.

 

[xstatic]

Abbey Road used to have an EMI console as well as some Helios stuff.

 

[mattkw80]

Yeah, I re-read some pages I had missed in "Recording the Beatles".

Looks like 5 songs we're potentially on a Helios style desk. (Or Olympic style desk).

Also.... Apple didn't get a Helios until the band was pretty much done.


I don't think Universal Audio should be throwing the Beatles name anywhere near the Helios Type 69 EQ.

It's just not that important, or that much of a contributing factor to the Beatles sound, IMHO.