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AC/DC in the Studio Tag

31 May AC/DC’s “Down Payment Blues” (Powerage, Studio)

While we already knew that the Schaffer-Vega Diversity System had been used on Powerage (first studio album where it got used, actually), speaking with Angus the other day (yeah, right) gave me additional gas to go and play Powerage stuff. Here to you. First Powerage Video of the Schaffer Replica series, and also a song I had never covered on video previously. Great song, naturally (like most of this era if you ask me).  Better get it right, right?

Just as a reminder of my theory (that finds recount on the “AC/DC in the Studio” book), this album was entirely played – by Angus (more…)

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21 May Another Little mystery unveiled by Angus Young in person (with help by Ken Schaffer, Then and Now)

Well, this surely isn’t a scoop… but I had forgotten to tell you about it.

While we (Ken Schaffer and I) were in Vancouver, at the Warehouse Studio meeting Angus Young to deliver The Schaffer Replica S/N001 to him personally, several subjects were touched.

It was then that – among other things – Angus told us about a little thing that used to be a mystery for some time to many (me included).

If you observe this picture,

Angus Young, Glasgow 1978, Recording “If you Want Blood (You’ve Got It), Live. What’s the mysterious object on the strap?

you will certainly notice the mysterious item on the strap. (more…)

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16 May Full Circle: SoloDallas Meeting Angus Young. Part Two.

Of course, both Ken & I gave in to Ellen’s second request that we join them all in feasting – happily so. The meal would have also given me an excuse for my silence – shock, more than silence – keeping my mouth full (though politely) could have calmed me down, I thought. And it worked. It just worked. The meal was delicious, which I am sure helped me quite a bit. Dinner was a healthy Asian recipe cooked by Ellen in a wok, containing rice, chicken and vegetables. Lightly on the spicy side (ask Ken about it).  Eating “family style” was a relaxing sign for us all.
(more…)

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02 Feb Now a GREAT example of an Old Times “AC/DC Microphone” Would Be… a Neumann U47 FET (Audio Update)

Minor update (2 audio files) please scroll to the bottom to hear a Wizard Modern Classic/The Schaffer Replica® GT combo recorded with this Neumann U47 FET!

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Oh yes. It is my theory in fact that most (if not all) of early (up to 1977, including “Let There Be Rock”) AC/DC studio album recordings were mostly recorded – guitars and Bon’s vocals – with Neumann U47 FET (NOT the tube versions!). And maybe – just maybe – even bass drum with it (the Neumann U47 FET is also famous for that).

For the technically curious: Neumann U47 FET

My own Neumann U47 FET out of the Vintage King Audio packaging! Near Mint.

My own Neumann U47 FET out of the Vintage King Audio packaging! Near Mint.

I just got my own unit. I am not sure yet of its date of manufacturing (they were made from ’69 to the early 1980s), just got this yesterday.

Unopened Package from the great Vintage King Audio guys - thanks Nick Buzinski for trading with my Neumann U47 Tube

Unopened Package from the great Vintage King Audio guys – thanks Nick Buzinski for trading with my Neumann U47 Tube

This is an extremely expensive microphone, and a rarity too (especially in this near mint conditions). So given the times – where I already have spent quite much for the development of our beloved Schaffer Replicas™ – I traded this for my original, 1950s Neumann U47 tube version, that was specifically used on vocals, and that I had saved from my Studio58a times but was mostly useless for me.

Microphones for me are for recording guitars mostly, and the Neumann U47 FET was used countless times for guitar recording in the past.

(more…)

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29 Apr AC/DC In The Studio: Recording Info Insights (Update!)

UPDATE: Our friend and member Currentpeak has just found this superb interview in audio form where Powerage sound engineer Opitz describes how Angus recorded the album back then.

This is Currentpeak‘s understanding, I am posting his comment as a whole:

 

It is a Michael Butler’s (of Rock ‘n’ Roll Geek Show) interview with Mark Opitz. As we know, he was an audio engineer/mixer/producer for many Albert Productions’ artists including AC/DC, The Angels, Rose Tattoo = real rock royalty! (more…)

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24 Oct New, Tony Platt Interview on “Back in Black” (Premier Guitar)

In this issue of Premier Guitar, Platt is interviewed again regarding the techniques used for recording Back in Black,

i.e the whole album.

It’s no surprise then that this album, still increasing in sales, is now the second highest selling album in history. That fact in itself tells us several things: not only is it preparing itself to break that record but it may also be considered (as I do, and I have done for years) the most sold album of all time, not only in rock music, but across all genres: out-selling The Beatles, Michael Jackson “Jacko”, etc.

Confirmation surely, that the band was and still is a great band (more…)

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