Replacements "Let It Be" modulation?

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seenoevil II
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Replacements "Let It Be" modulation?

Post by seenoevil II » Sat Sep 12, 2020 1:56 pm

In particular on "answering machine"?

I'm not a pedal head. I'm pretty sure a it's a flanger and not a chorus or phaser.

I like how it modulates while keeping a full sound.

Is it a slapback doubler?

Any guesses?

Thanks
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Re: Replacements "Let It Be" modulation?

Post by stevejamsecono » Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:18 am

seenoevil II wrote:
Sat Sep 12, 2020 1:56 pm
In particular on "answering machine"?

I'm not a pedal head. I'm pretty sure a it's a flanger and not a chorus or phaser.

I like how it modulates while keeping a full sound.

Is it a slapback doubler?

Any guesses?

Thanks
Interesting question! I actually hadn't really listened to Let it Be in awhile so this was a nice excuse to dive back in and guess.

I think it's a combination of chorus, short distance miking, and maybe some direct-in on Answering Machine. Any early-mid 80s chorus will probably do (although this is the Replacements we're talking about here -- who were still rocking Peavey Bandits and partscasters at the time -- so the cheaper the better), then also add a micro delay (something like 30ms or less? gives it that weird digital-sounding crunch modulation that you hear whenever he palm mutes) and you should be in the ballpark.
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Re: Replacements "Let It Be" modulation?

Post by ElephantDNA » Sun Sep 13, 2020 10:33 pm

Either flanger or chorus with delay. Listening to it I'm thinking flanger but above post also makes sense.

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Re: Replacements "Let It Be" modulation?

Post by papa_hotel_delta » Sun Sep 13, 2020 11:55 pm

flanger. . .and some "special sauce" that reminds me of nothing so much as a multiple mixdowns with a recycled cassette through a tascam portastudio

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Re: Replacements "Let It Be" modulation?

Post by mackerelmint » Mon Sep 14, 2020 2:08 am

I also hear a combination of flanger and cheap production values.

The rest of the album is more chorusy, maybe like a cheap-ass (but good) Arion pedal? But answering machine smells like flange to me.
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Re: Replacements "Let It Be" modulation?

Post by øøøøøøø » Mon Sep 14, 2020 4:03 pm

Just had a listen.

I don't know for sure what it is on "Answering Machine."

It's stereo. It doesn't sound like a pedal to me, because it doesn't sound like two amps.

I'd hazard a guess that it's some sort of (inexpensive) rackmount multi-effects unit of the time on a chorus algorithm, fed by a send from the channel strip on the console.

Somehow it doesn't seem fully wide, which is the only thing that would give me pause there. It's possible it was narrowed with pan pots.

My first random thought (I really don't know) would be something like the Yamaha SPX-90, but that was introduced '85 which may be slightly too late.

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Re: Replacements "Let It Be" modulation?

Post by Maggieo » Mon Sep 14, 2020 4:09 pm

IIRC, Bob and Paul shared an EHX Electric Mistress around that time. We were all pretty drunk in those days, though.
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Re: Replacements "Let It Be" modulation?

Post by seenoevil II » Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:50 pm

While I think there's an effect on the signal for sure, I agree that there's some "practical" modulation. Like a phase incoherence from the roomy sounding mic set up.

It's just such a scruddy sound. It's great. That whole record still slaps so hard.
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Re: Replacements "Let It Be" modulation?

Post by fuzzjunkie » Wed Sep 16, 2020 8:31 am

I have no idea what The Replacements used, but I can tell you how to get that sound.

øøøøøøø Pretty much nailed it:

Roland GP-8 or GP-16.
Compressor - just a touch
Turbo Overdrive - mid gain level
Digital Chorus - 30ms pre-delay moderate speed and depth
Amp Cabinet simulation- probably Fender-ish
Stereo out - Straight to tape.

I used that setup on a GP-16 a lot recording demos to 4-track cassette 30 years ago. It sounds exactly like that.

I was going more for The Cure:Pornography or 1st record Cocteau Twins sound, at the time.

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