Mixing | Fab forum

They would have mixed the original four-track tapes onto a two-track master (the two tracks being the left and right stereo channels; a mono mix had the same signal on both channels, I think). So, the mix would have been a second-generation copy of the original 2/4/8-track recording.

When a reduction mix was made to free up more tracks, the final master could be a third or fourth generation copy of the original recordings. Bouncing down too many times would have led to a loss of sound quality, so they were generally done sparingly.

I think that's right, anyway. Someone with more knowledge of tape recording would be able to elucidate.

As for the fade-outs, you can hear how the songs were prior to them if you can get hold of studio session bootlegs (some are on YouTube). Alternatively, the BBC radio recordings often had full endings instead of the EMI fade-outs. Sometimes in the studio, however, The Beatles jammed for their own amusement once they knew they were past the point that the song would be faded out at the mixing stage, knowing it would never be heard.

You really need to get hold of Mark Lewisohn's Sessions book. You'd love it.

You're back! I was wondering the other day where you'd been.

Another example is the repeated four-note jam that was at the end of Something (though that wasn't really a fade-out). I've got it on an old vinyl bootleg, though I'm sure it's around elsewhere. It lasts several minutes, and is (if I remember correctly – I've not heard if for years) a 6/8 jam around the four opening notes of John Lennon's Remember, though much slower than that song.

EDIT here it is. Anyone know where the lovely Abbey Road footage comes from?

Ah yes, course there is. It's been a while since I've watched Anthology. Time to pay a return visit…