How did they create that sound on "Mercy Mercy Me"?

On Marvin Gaye's cut "Mercy Mercy Me" there's this repetitive echoing
"ponk" that sort of sounds like a sonar ping or something. Anyone know
how that sound was created? Seems I may have heard it on other songs
as well.

On 02 Apr 2011, brassplyer > wrote in
rec.audio.pro:

> On Marvin Gaye's cut "Mercy Mercy Me" there's this repetitive
> echoing "ponk" that sort of sounds like a sonar ping or something.
> Anyone know how that sound was created? Seems I may have heard it
> on other songs as well.

I think it's a woodblock with a ton of reverb.

On 4/2/2011 8:30 AM, brassplyer wrote:
> On Marvin Gaye's cut "Mercy Mercy Me" there's this repetitive echoing
> "ponk" that sort of sounds like a sonar ping or something. Anyone know
> how that sound was created? Seems I may have heard it on other songs
> as well.


This was discussed at length in the "Whatever Works" forum at
Prosoundweb. Terry Manning, one of the moderators, had the advantage of
a copy of the 16 track master.
An archive search will get you there.

Kevin Gallimore

"axolotl" > wrote in message
...
> On 4/2/2011 8:30 AM, brassplyer wrote:
>> On Marvin Gaye's cut "Mercy Mercy Me" there's this repetitive echoing
>> "ponk" that sort of sounds like a sonar ping or something. Anyone know
>> how that sound was created? Seems I may have heard it on other songs
>> as well.
>
>
> This was discussed at length in the "Whatever Works" forum at Prosoundweb.
> Terry Manning, one of the moderators, had the advantage of a copy of the
> 16 track master.
> An archive search will get you there.
>
> Kevin Gallimore


Shame you couldn't be bothered to post a link.

I've just spent ages trying to find it and have given up.

On 4/2/2011 7:22 PM, Gareth Magennis wrote:
>
>
> "axolotl" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 4/2/2011 8:30 AM, brassplyer wrote:
>>> On Marvin Gaye's cut "Mercy Mercy Me" there's this repetitive echoing
>>> "ponk" that sort of sounds like a sonar ping or something. Anyone know
>>> how that sound was created? Seems I may have heard it on other songs
>>> as well.
>>
>>
>> This was discussed at length in the "Whatever Works" forum at
>> Prosoundweb. Terry Manning, one of the moderators, had the advantage
>> of a copy of the 16 track master.
>> An archive search will get you there.
>>
>> Kevin Gallimore
>
>
> Shame you couldn't be bothered to post a link.
>
> I've just spent ages trying to find it and have given up.
>
>
>
We aim to please.

<http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/m/259729/0/?srch=marvin+gaye+mercy#msg_259729>


Kevin Gallimore

On 02 Apr 2011, "Gareth Magennis" >
wrote in rec.audio.pro:
>
> Shame you couldn't be bothered to post a link.
>
> I've just spent ages trying to find it and have given up.

I flopped around for a while and eventually found the forum (I
think)...

http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/f/34/0/

I have a multi-track version of this song that I acquired somewhere on
the 'net. This sound isn't on it!

I still think it's a wood block.

"axolotl" > wrote in message
...
> On 4/2/2011 7:22 PM, Gareth Magennis wrote:
>>
>>
>> "axolotl" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On 4/2/2011 8:30 AM, brassplyer wrote:
>>>> On Marvin Gaye's cut "Mercy Mercy Me" there's this repetitive echoing
>>>> "ponk" that sort of sounds like a sonar ping or something. Anyone know
>>>> how that sound was created? Seems I may have heard it on other songs
>>>> as well.
>>>
>>>
>>> This was discussed at length in the "Whatever Works" forum at
>>> Prosoundweb. Terry Manning, one of the moderators, had the advantage
>>> of a copy of the 16 track master.
>>> An archive search will get you there.
>>>
>>> Kevin Gallimore
>>
>>
>> Shame you couldn't be bothered to post a link.
>>
>> I've just spent ages trying to find it and have given up.
>>
>>
>>
> We aim to please.
>
> <http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/m/259729/0/?srch=marvin+gaye+mercy#msg_259729>
>
>
> Kevin Gallimore
>


Thank you Kevin. :-)

On Apr 2, 5:53*pm, axolotl > wrote:

> This was discussed at length in the "Whatever Works" forum at
> Prosoundweb. Terry Manning, one of the moderators, had the advantage of
> a copy of the 16 track master.
> An archive search will get you there.


I finally found the thread after much hunting around, I didn't see
where anyone gave a definitive answer as to what the sound was, lots
of speculation - wood block, muted cowbell, a "Chamberlin" sound.

So I still don't know the definitive answer to the question however I
did A) become aware of what's obviously an excellent recording forum
and B) became aware of a gizmo - the Chamberlin tape loop machine -
that I hadn't been aware of before.

Thanks for the tip!

On 4/2/2011 8:44 PM, brassplyer wrote:

> I didn't see
> where anyone gave a definitive answer as to what the sound was, lots
> of speculation - wood block, muted cowbell, a "Chamberlin" sound.
>
> So I still don't know the definitive answer to the question

There's only one way to find out for sure, and that's to
find someone who was on the session who has a good memory.
But if you're trying to approximate that sound, you can
certainly try all the suggestions that have been made.

--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
of audio." - John Watkinson

http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and
interesting audio stuff

On Apr 2, 9:13*pm, Mike Rivers > wrote:


> There's only one way to find out for sure, and that's to
> find someone who was on the session who has a good memory.
> But if you're trying to approximate that sound, you can
> certainly try all the suggestions that have been made.


Wasn't really looking to emulate it - though who knows maybe I might
someday. It's just a curiosity I've had for a while that I've been
meaning to ask about.