View Full Version : Making Records at EMI (a trip back in time)
A friend sent me these pictures, which I thought would be of interest to people here (they certainly are to me):
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1121/emi001.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/emi001.jpg/)
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/4280/emi002z.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/emi002z.jpg/)
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8066/emi003.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/822/emi003.jpg/)
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/5787/emi004.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/805/emi004.jpg/)
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1294/emi005.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/849/emi005.jpg/)
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/1848/emi006.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/805/emi006.jpg/)
Reading the accompanying text, I'm amazed, and have utter admiration for, the sheer attention to detail and striving for perfection carried out by all the staff... No wonder the recordings produced sounded so good!
Does such 'dedication to the cause' and pride in producing the best possible product, still exist in studios today, and if not, why not?
Marco.
purite audio
09-11-2012, 19:28
Absolutely fascinating Marco.
Keith.
mike1210
09-11-2012, 23:09
awesome pics
Records were much more expensive then compared to earnings.
Manufacturing became more automated as recorded music (and hifi) became much more mainstream and cheaper to produce.
Probably if the attention to detail and associated labour costs of producing such records had remained, the hifi industry wouldn't have had its boom and we wouldn't be here today enthusing about our systems - because we wouldn't have been exposed to hifi as much and therefore it would have passed many of us by.. Swings and round-a-bouts I guess.
I've a record that's all about the disc manufacturing process at EMI, some kind of tour momento. Unfortunately there's just music on it, examples of some EMI releases - I bought it at a boot sale thinking it would be soundrecordings of the factory, and voice overs etc .
The photo on the second page is hilarious! All picking a pose - almost looks like the inside cover of a Kraftwerk Album.
This article must be marking the beginning of the end for some - says how EMI have moved away from coincident pairs of mics and are using mulit-mic'd set-ups :stalks:
More interesting pics on a similar theme:
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5656/andrepics1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/23/andrepics1.jpg/)
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4220/andrepics2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/525/andrepics2.jpg/)
http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/9757/andrepics3.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/802/andrepics3.jpg/)
http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/5137/andrepics4.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/803/andrepics4.jpg/)
:)
Marco.
Good stuff.
My first girlfreinds mum worked at emi hayes in the 70s.
Seems a time when people really cared and enjoyed there work.
If it wasn't quality it didn't make the shops.
Audioman
10-11-2012, 10:36
Records were much more expensive then compared to earnings.
Manufacturing became more automated as recorded music (and hifi) became much more mainstream and cheaper to produce.
Probably if the attention to detail and associated labour costs of producing such records had remained, the hifi industry wouldn't have had its boom and we wouldn't be here today enthusing about our systems - because we wouldn't have been exposed to hifi as much and therefore it would have passed many of us by.. Swings and round-a-bouts I guess.
I've a record that's all about the disc manufacturing process at EMI, some kind of tour momento. Unfortunately there's just music on it, examples of some EMI releases - I bought it at a boot sale thinking it would be soundrecordings of the factory, and voice overs etc .
The photo on the second page is hilarious! All picking a pose - almost looks like the inside cover of a Kraftwerk Album.
The method of making vinyl records has changed little since these pictures were taken. Some of the later presses EMI installed in the 70's and still use are probably 'faster'. Main cost cutting is probably in the area of QC. Then again you can justify a department of vinyl listeners/checkers when hundreds of titles per week are produced on vinyl. One thing to note is the age of the operatives - experience probably counted a lot for producing a quality product. Then again some of the new plants are run largely by 'old boys' from the industry.
Paul.
Wakefield Turntables
10-11-2012, 10:38
Top notch sir, not had a decent read but will do so when I have a little more time.
Thanks for finding and posting this Marco. Clement brown was I think the editor of HiFi Sound and I remember him, to me at any rate, having the perfect balance between measurements (he was an engineer) and listening results and without "commercial" pressures ruining impartial reviews, as happened in the 80's so much with well known engineer-reviewers IMO....
Very interesting indeed Marco, even got my juices flowing :eyebrows:
Good to see Jools Holland plugging records very regularly now on Later. Last night he pulled out Sound Gardens new LP record declaring "ahhh, vinyl, have a sniff of that" as he puts it up to his nose, then . . "vinyl, see it, smell it live it"
Quality! :exactly:
Marco.
Lodgesound
10-11-2012, 23:56
Ohhhhhhh!!..
A pair of BTR 2's AND a TR 90!
I'm in heaven - must dig out my TR 90...
On a more serious note - the qualification to get in to Abbey Road as an engineer at the time was a simple one: You just had to be bloody clever and be able to demonstrate it at interviews which were legendarily complex and involved extensive practical tests.
On a more serious note - the qualification to get in to Abbey Road as an engineer at the time was a simple one: You just had to be bloody clever and be able to demonstrate it at interviews which were legendarily complex and involved extensive practical tests.
Whereas any diddy gets in now? Probably... :(
Marco.
Lodgesound
11-11-2012, 17:47
I'm really not sure Marco.............I did a test that is present on the BBC's job website to see what kind of job I could apply for with them based on my skills and experience.
Bear in mind that I used to work for them as an engineer ( I started there at 19) and have done numerous industry related jobs.
It came back with the result that I could apply to them as.....a trainee caterer.
Luckily I am beyond caring anymore - as it turned out my time in television and film was utterly wasted.
I doubt I could even get a job as a runner at Abbey Road.
The industry now is in such a mess with so many fatcats being whoppingly overpaid and doing no productive work whatsoever.....
I need only say one thing.......X Factor. Very sad and very true.
Fantastic articles, Marco. Thanks for sharing.
It's been fascinating browsing through the growing vinyl section in my local HMV. Snippets of everything from "what are those things?" from children, to "cool, man, I love these things" to older guys mourning their disposal of their collections but still having a look at what's there, all overheard while I'm gently smiling. The staff yesterday said that vinyl is selling very well. HMV may yet survive!
kininigin
11-11-2012, 21:24
I would love to visit a studio/pressing plant to see the whole process in action.
Is visiting these places a thing you can do nowadays?
Can anyone point to a site listing all the existing pressing plants, please?
There ya go Martin: http://www.totalsonic.net/vinylplants.htm
:cool:
Excellent - thanks, Dave.
I'm really not sure Marco.............I did a test that is present on the BBC's job website to see what kind of job I could apply for with them based on my skills and experience.
Bear in mind that I used to work for them as an engineer ( I started there at 19) and have done numerous industry related jobs.
It came back with the result that I could apply to them as.....a trainee caterer.
Luckily I am beyond caring anymore - as it turned out my time in television and film was utterly wasted.
I doubt I could even get a job as a runner at Abbey Road.
The industry now is in such a mess with so many fatcats being whoppingly overpaid and doing no productive work whatsoever.....
I need only say one thing.......X Factor. Very sad and very true.
:lol: Well they are looking for a new DG now so maybe you could have another crack at it.
pure sound
12-11-2012, 22:18
A couple of links relating to the Vinyl Factory (former EMI plant at Hayes)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7973950.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7750581.stm
Excellent stuff, Guy! The only thing that dismayed me was the comment at the end, on the second video:
"The snap, crackle and pop of vinyl is alive and well"... :doh:
There is no bloody snap, crackle and pop if the records are clean and in pristine condition!! Why do they insist on portraying it differently? :rolleyes:
Anyway, the most important thing is that sales of vinyl records are on the increase, and I predict that this will continue, so people, continue to support your local records shops... Long live vinyl! :)
Marco.
Audioman
13-11-2012, 09:27
Excellent stuff, Guy! The only thing that dismayed me was the comment at the end, on the second video:
"The snap, crackle and pop of vinyl is alive and well"... :doh:
There is no bloody snap, crackle and pop if the records are clean and in pristine condition!! Why do they insist on portraying it differently? :rolleyes:
Marco.
Because the tossers who write this stuff used their old vinyl as frisbies and have only heard 'em played on ye olde Dansette. :lol:
I know, dude. It really pisses me off because it portrays a false image to any youngsters considering buying it!
Marco.
I know, dude. It really pisses me off because it portrays a false image to any youngsters considering buying it!
Marco.
There was a BBC world news item about vinyl (think it was BBC World News) with sound bites from people buying records in a US store.
I'm afraid it was the youngsters who were saying this themselves!
i.e. they were getting into it for totally the wrong reasons - they were getting into the 'image' of vinyl and all it represents rather than the excellent sound quality.
And so we have high vinyl prices and people who like crackle and pop mucking up rare vinyl..
Can anyone point to a site listing all the existing pressing plants, please?
I did an internet search for "vinyl plants list".. always a good tip, to type something into google, ahem.. :lol:
The second on the results list to the other mentioned was this:
http://monoequipped.wordpress.com/vinyl-pressing-plants/
Has 10 listed for the UK.
Thanks, Nat. I love the way the United Kingdom is not part of Europe. I wonder which continent we're on, then?
pure sound
14-11-2012, 13:13
I wonder how many pressing plants (besides the Vinyl Factory) there actually still are in the UK. I'm sure there are places that can cut lacquers but seeing the size & expense involved of some of the machinery in the Hayes plant you do wonder if there's another facility like it here. DMS appear to be a UK company but I believe their pressing is done in Poland. No doubt some of the others listed also get production offshore if they don't use the Hayes factory.
kininigin
14-11-2012, 16:05
There ya go Martin: http://www.totalsonic.net/vinylplants.htm
:cool:
Cheers dave,i might see if i can pay a visit somewhere next year!
Just seen your second link,gives a few more options to consider!!
tannoyman
14-11-2012, 16:35
A friend sent me these pictures, which I thought would be of interest to people here (they certainly are to me):
Reading the accompanying text, I'm amazed, and have utter admiration for, the sheer attention to detail and striving for perfection carried out by all the staff... No wonder the recordings produced sounded so good!
Does such 'dedication to the cause' and pride in producing the best possible product, still exist in studios today, and if not, why not?
Marco.
Hi Marco
What a super posting. Many thanks for that Marco. I once had the pleasure of recording in Abbey Road in 1963 as a choir school boy. Nostalgia is not what is used to be (ahhh)
David :):)
Glad you enjoyed it, David. I just love that sort of stuff, too! :)
Marco.
Sonority
21-12-2012, 13:41
Something to add onto this as it is appropriate - this blends both old and new production, by someone that really cares and who is probably known by some on here:-
http://vimeo.com/54490396
As a newbie searching around the site, this brought back some memories. I worked for EMI Records in Hayes in the late 70's in their export department but regularly got to go down to the record presses on the other side of town.
I was moved from the record export side of things to a specialist role handling the import & export of artists personal effects and musical instruments when they were doing gigs abroad. As a result, I got to meet many of EMI's big artists of the day. Some of the tales I could tell as to how I got things through customs could prove entertaining, although when it went wrong, it proved very expensive for EMI and the artists involved!
I was fortunate to attend the Queens Award for Export bash at the Selfridges Hotel in 1978 and managed to come away with two copies of the much sought after blue vinyl pressing of Bohemian Rhapsody, two wine goblets and a scarf (my girlfriend of the day, didn't want hers and gave it to me). I don't know how any of them survived the coach trip back from London to Hayes, as most of us could barely stand up by the time we left! All this lot was thrown into my loft, moved house a few times, and still survived. I had no idea they were rare until I picked up an old copy of Record Collector magazine in the doctors surgery about 10 years ago. Needless to say, I sold one of the singles, a wine goblet and the scarf for over £1k, but I still have one single and a glass. I would never part with them now.
Great story, Nigel. Did you 'secret' any more LPs away from your place of work at the time? I'll bet you had access to the EMI crown jewels in those days.
Great story, Nigel. Did you 'secret' any more LPs away from your place of work at the time? I'll bet you had access to the EMI crown jewels in those days.
Yes, I did get a few!! And a fair amount of them signed as well plus some daft things like a "thank you" card from Kate Bush - she wanted a teddy shipped over to Japan!!
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.