Abbey Road Studios, known worldwide as the iconic recording studio where legends like The Beatles and Pink Floyd made their musical magic, is more than just a place of music history. It’s a treasure trove of innovation, craftsmanship, and technology. In this blog, we’ll take a fascinating trip through time as we delve into a captivating conversation with Lester Smith, a technical engineer at Abbey Road Studios.
A Peek Inside the M50
Our journey begins as Lester graciously invites us to take a look inside a Neumann M50, a legendary condenser microphone. As he dissects the microphone, we’re introduced to its intricate components, including the perspex golf ball-like diaphragm and a tiny half-inch diaphragm, lying sideways within the valve (or tube, as Americans might say).
Lester’s Role as a Technical Engineer
Lester’s career at Abbey Road began in 1970, but before that, he spent a couple of years at Hayes, where he worked on making pre-recorded commercial tapes for quarter-inch reel-to-reel consumer formats. These tapes included popular music, and he was a part of the team that mass-produced them. However, his journey to Abbey Road was unexpected and quite different from his initial role at Hayes. Lester’s journey was triggered by the retirement of someone he had never met: Len Page, a chief engineer and senior engineer at Abbey Road. Lester started as an assistant to help Page, who didn’t retire for another few years.
In a twist of fate, Lester later shifted his focus to microphones when he realized that the studio needed someone to manage and maintain them. His work evolved to include measuring the outputs and noises of various microphones, and he learned the nuances of microphone technology through hands-on experience.
The Remarkable Noise Gun
Lester also shared an interesting tool from the studio’s arsenal: the noise gun. This device helped in testing and measuring microphones. By using the noise gun, he could determine the output of the microphone and the noise it produced. The meticulous approach of Abbey Road’s engineers ensured top-notch quality in their equipment.
Testing Microphones in a Soundproof Box
Abbey Road’s dedication to microphone quality extended to their soundproof box, where Lester could test the microphones rigorously. This unique setup allowed him to listen to subtle changes in the microphone’s output. The meticulously designed soundproof box, with its switches and amplifiers, helped Lester evaluate the microphones with precision.
The King’s Microphones and Binaural Recording
The conversation took an exciting turn as Lester discussed the King’s Microphones, custom-built for the British royal family in the 1920s and 1930s. Some of these microphones were incredibly rare and valuable, and Lester had the privilege of bringing them back to life for the film “The King’s Speech.” He shared insights into their unique designs and history.
Binaural recording, a technique that aimed to capture sound realistically, was also discussed. Lester explained that Alan Blumlein, a legendary engineer at Abbey Road, was one of the pioneers of binaural recording. His experiments with binaural recording led to the development of stereo recording techniques and, eventually, the bloom line microphone.
The Legendary AKG D19 Microphone
The AKG D19, a dynamic microphone, has a storied history at Abbey Road. Lester talked about how the D19 was a versatile and durable microphone that was frequently used at the studio. Although it became synonymous with Abbey Road’s legacy, Lester noted that there were many variants of the D19, each with its own unique characteristics.
The White Lab Coats and Changing Eras
Lester reminisced about the studio’s changing eras. In the early days, engineers at Abbey Road often wore white lab coats, which signified authority and professionalism. These lab coats were symbolic of the meticulous and professional approach that defined Abbey Road. However, as times changed, the studio’s culture evolved, and the lab coats gradually disappeared.
Abbey Road’s transition in the 1970s, with iconic engineers like Jeff Emerick and Alan Parsons moving on to their successful careers, marked a significant shift in the studio’s history. Lester shared his perspective on this pivotal period and how the legacy of innovation and quality continued.
The HB Microphone: A Tribute to Alan Blumlein
One remarkable tidbit Lester shared was the naming of the HB (Head and Body) microphone. Instead of naming it after the inventor, Alan Blumlein, it was named as a tribute to Herbert Holman, the engineer responsible for manufacturing these innovative microphones. This gesture reflected the collaborative and humble spirit of the engineers at Abbey Road.
The Ball and Biscuit: A Unique Calibration Tool
Lester also provided insights into the use of the Ball and Biscuit, a calibration tool employed to ensure consistent audio levels in every room of the studio. It played a crucial role in the accurate measurement of audio levels, ensuring that every recording maintained the same high-quality standard.