EastWest introduces its Fab Four Virtual Instruments ($395) collection featuring the same kinds of instruments and recording equipment used by The Beatles. The product is the result of more than a year of research, equipment acquisition and recording, and is unaffiliated with nor endorsed by Apple Corps. Ltd.
Former Abbey Road engineer Ken Scott, who worked on several Beatles albums, engineered the recordings. Guitarist Laurence Juber and drummer Denny Seiwell, both of whom were members of Paul McCartney and Wings, played the instruments.
Neumann, AKG, Coles and STC microphones were used, as well as a 1963 VOX AC30, 1967 Fender Showman and DeLuxe, 1963 Fender Bassman and Tan Showman, and 1966 VOX Defiant, 730 and 7120. Recording equipment included an EMI REDD tube desk, EMI TG12345 desk and EMI REDD47 preamps, Fairchild limiters, and EMI RS124 modified Altec compressors, which were used for dynamics control. Instruments were recorded into a Studer J-37 4-track tape machine.
Guitars included a Gretsch Firebird and Tennessean, Rickenbacker 360-12, Martin D-28, a 1956 Fender Stratocaster and 1951 Telecaster, Epiphone Casino and Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, SG and J200. Juber also played 1963 Hofner and 1964 Rickenbacker basses. Drums included a 1960 Ludwig downbeat kit with Zildjian cymbals, and keyboards included a Baldwin Electric Harpsichord and Clavioline.
Fab Four Virtual Instruments also includes a software version of ADT (artificial double tracking) with built-in tape simulator, created and programmed especially for this project. All instruments are newly recorded multi-samples for this collection; no sounds came from any Beatles recordings.
For more information, visit www.soundsonline.com.
