AudioBanter.com - View Single Post - Non-Classical Album of the Year

"Harry Lavo" wrote:

Thought you folks here might find the following tidbit interesting, as
included in the Sept 2003 issue of EQ magazine.

Norah Jones album "Come Away with Me" won Album of the Year (non-classical)
as well as Best Engineered Album (non-classical). The album (available on CD
and SACD, and perhaps on vinyl as well) is noted for its "she is here" vocal
intimacy and transparency. The recording engineer (Jay Newland) said the
objective was to "take a beautiful voice and have it sound as natural as
possible". The recording chain of choice for the album: Neumann M-49
into a Manley tube mic pre and then into a Manley Vari-mu compressor (also
tube) with fast attack/release setting. This went to BASF 900 analog tape at
15ips on a Studer 820 with Dolby SR noise reduction.

Commenting on his choice of the Manley tube gear, Newland said "the (Manley)
tube pre was ...warm but a little less colored...." and "the Vari-mu can
also be very transparent, which is why I liked it for this application".

Interesting that 2003's "Best Engineered Album" should use "obsolete"
technology identical to that used on those great early- 70's pop albums in
order to have it "sound as natural as possible."

--
Harry. Lavo
"it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" - Duke Ellington

I wonder how much of that gear the producers actually paid for. I know a highly
respected recording engineer who noted in response to an inquiry that liner
notes on his recordings carry the name of a well known cable manufacturer.

He stated in plain terms that the company installed a new cabling system for a
studio addition at no cost in return for putting their name in liner notes.

When I asked if the cabling improved the sound he said 'not that I could tell.'