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Question about Studio Mic'ing

13 December 2012
12.31am

DrBeatle

USA

Shea Stadium

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29 November 2012

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I remember reading years ago that one of the innovative ways George Martin and his engineers mic'ed the Beatles to get a sound they wanted was to suspend a small microphone (wrapped in plastic) into a glass of water and record the vocals through that. I remember reading that George was taking a big risk doing this because it was a very expensive mic and he was risking the wrath of the higher-ups at EMI if something happened to it.

I cannot for the life of me remember which song it was for, though! I know it's one of the loads of Beatle books I have but I don't know where else to begin looking. Something in my mind is saying Tomorrow Never Knows was the song but I can't be sure. Anyone know?

"I know you, you know me; one thing I can tell you is you got to be free!"

13 December 2012
3.20am

Funny Paper

America

Rishikesh

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1 November 2012

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Maybe that's how they got that underwater bubbly sound in "Octopus's Garden" blue-meanie

Mundo paparazzi mi amore cicce verdi parasol.

13 December 2012
11.31am

Ben Ramon

Candlestick Park

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26 March 2012

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I know that John blowing bubbles in a glass of water through a straw was one of the nautical sound effects in Yellow Submarine, could it have been then? I've always just assumed the mic was recording normally, rather than in the water.

EDIT: found it, on this rather sensationalist celebrity-oriented website which seems more interested in the appropriation of a condom than anything else:

http://www.starpulse.com/news/…..ord_song_u

The source seems to be Emerick, so I'm assuming it's from Here, There and Everywhere, which I've not read.

SHUT UP - Paulie's talkin'

13 December 2012
2.06pm

DrBeatle

USA

Shea Stadium

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29 November 2012

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Yeah, I was pretty sure it wasn't for a sound effect but for an actual vocal effect. I thought it was on Revolver…I'll have a dig through my books to see if I can figure it out.

"I know you, you know me; one thing I can tell you is you got to be free!"

20 December 2012
10.10pm

RunForYourLife

Royal Command Performance

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18 November 2011

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As others have mentioned, Geoff Emerick details it in Here, There and Everywhere.

It was an attempt to get an "underwater" effect on some vocals in "Yellow Submarine". He put the microphone into a condom and placed it into a tiny bowl of water. It didn't work as they'd hoped, and it didn't appear on the final record (I don't think the mic was damaged).

20 December 2012
11.45pm

DrBeatle

USA

Shea Stadium

Forum Posts: 405

Member Since:
29 November 2012

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That rings a bell! Thanks!

"I know you, you know me; one thing I can tell you is you got to be free!"

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