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EMI REDD.51 “Stereosonic” Four-Track Mixer

April 6th, 2008

For the technically inclined, or anybody who enjoys superbly produced books, I once again recommend the RTB Book: Recording The Beatles, by Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew. In a way, the star of the book is the EMI REDD.51 mixing console. REDD is Recording Engineering Department Development at EMI. I previously posted pictures with the REDD.51 that was used (mostly) by engineers Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick to record the Beatles here and also here.

The original gatefold LP release of “Let It Be” has this photo of a REDD.51, which is missing from later LP pressings, and likewise the CD.

I remember being a wee lad, staring at this picture, having an idea of what the equipment did, and wondering if John was actually working the console. Today I know that Lennon was totally inept technically, and he never would have even touched the controls, let alone mastered their use, except perhaps for playback volume.

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Clarification: Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, in his memoir Here, There and Everywhere, says that during the production of Revolution 9 for the White Album, Lennon took a hand at the console, “doing bits of panning and looking after the overall level so things didn’t get out of hand and distort. The whole thing was extremely haphazard; if he raised a fader and there was no sound, he’d say “Where’s it gone?”

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The next picture was taken in early 1964, shortly after the REDD.51 was delivered, brand-new. That’s Norman “Hurricane” Smith sitting at the REDDy.

Click to enlarge

One bit of trivia about the first pressing of “Let It Be.” Besides having a red Apple label, both sides are engraved with the names “Phil + Ronnie.”

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