Re: Brad Sundberg seminars: Making Music With Michael Jackson
OK, it's time for a quick story about something you are not expecting: Headphones. You may not have thought about headphones ever, but when you work in the studio with Michael Jackson, headphones are actually a very important element. OK - stop yawning, give me a chance to explain.
Before the world had ever heard of "Beats By Dr. Dre", we had to have headphones in the studio the fulfilled at least three criteria: sound good and be comfortable to wear; be able to handle loud volumes; and be durable enough to withstand studio life.
Here's the thing with many musicians - they can nearly deaf from years of rehearsals, concerts, etc. Drummers in particular (unfortunately) can really abuse their ears if they are not careful, but singers, guitar players, etc., are all subject to being around very loud music for extended periods of time. Back to my story.
Michael had remarkably good hearing when I worked with him, all things considered, but he loved having his headphones painfully loud. If you have never worked in a recording studio, the reason singers and musicians use headphones is so they can hear the song, their voice, etc., but the microphone only hears their voice, or the instrument they are playing. It became a bit of a challenge for us, because Michael would crank his headphones louder and louder during a session, then he would call out, "Brad... my headphones don't sound right... can I get another pair?" I would bring him another pair, only to discover he had blown the previous ones. Now, you can't really tell Michael he needs to turn his headphones down, so the challenge was to find a set that would please his ears and be comfortable to wear, and be loud enough for his liking.
We tried several models from AKG and Sennheiser, only to send them to the shop with smoke coming out of them after an MJ vocal session. Finally we discovered the solution: The Fostex T20. Michael tried them and reached for the volume control. Now, I like loud music, I really do - but the volume that Michael would listen to and sing along with on those T20's was mindblowing! He loved them, and they became our must-have in every studio we worked in.
So, if you want to listen to Michael's music through the same headphones that he was listening to when he created it, skip the Beat's By Dre and pick up a pair of Fostex T20's. (They cost 1/3 as much!) You may not look like everyone else, but you'll know the back-story - these were the headphones that Michael used). Michael always marched to his own drumbeat - shouldn't you?
Hear things you have never heard.
See things you have never seen.
Learn things you never knew.
In The Studio With MJ Orlando with special guest Matt Forger -
February 8, 2014
Optional day at EPCOT to watch Captain EO with Brad and Matt -
February 9, 2014
Get your ticket right!
https://inthestudiowithmichaeljackson.ticketbud.com/in-the-studio-with-mj---orlando
Should be fun--can't wait!
