How Bob Clearmountain Hears What We Can’t
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- Опубликовано: 27 мар 2024
- In this episode, I sit down with legendary engineer/mixer/producer Bob Clearmountain, the genius behind the soundscapes of timeless classics like David Bowie's "Let's Dance" Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.", Bryan Adams' "Reckless" and Roxy Music's "Avalon" . Dive deep into the art and science of mixing, as Bob shares his experiences, techniques, and the stories behind the mixing desk.
My Beato Club supporters:
Justin Scott
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Farren Mahjoor
Jason Murray
Lucienne Kilpatrick
Alexander Young
Jason Wagner
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Rob Kline
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Robert C
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Monte St. Johns
Jon Beezley
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Rich Germano
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Peter Pillitteri 
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I was Clearmountain's assistant engineer for four straight years at Mediasound and one of the first women engineers in the world. He trained me! I watched him mix for hours. It was great to hear this interview. He hasn't changed a bit. Always very humble and beautiful. And he looks the same, too!
What year was that?
Lucky gal to get that gig! I was an assistant at a now-closed studio in the mid-90s myself.
Wow, how cool it must have been to learn from one of the best, and apparently one of the humblest.
I worked with Bob on several projects at Electric Lady in the mid 80s. Learned a lot!
Wow, this chat has some famous people in it! I would love to hear Rick interview you!
Bob...."I'm not an expert." Dude, you are THE expert!
Haha, right?! If he’s no expert, then there must be no experts lol.
Haha that was priceless.
damn who is the expert 🤔
Such a super humble guy! Like most of the greats like Gretzky, etc...
When one thinks they know everything that needs be, they cease to learn.
Beato deserves 110% of everything he has accomplished with this channel. He has literally taken this to a new level.
A huge takeaway from all of these interviews is to STAY HUMBLE. You can see why all these legends were so successful - they all do the job without ego. Rick interviews the most successful engineers and producers of all time and none of them think they are anything special! Easy to talk to and communicate with, and always open to other opinions. Such a great lesson in life, being professional, and supporting the artists you work with!
Absolutely agree!
Yep for the music.
Yea. Like CLA
Except for Billy Corgan.
Next interview: Gene Simmons.
23:04 “I don’t think about the numbers. I just turn the thing until it sounds right.” -excellent quote
Very common in this industry... it seems... LOL 😂❤
Being able to do that seems to be the trick.
"I'm no expert" 🙏♥
Pay attention kids. Humility.
Or maybe he largely lucked out and fell ass backwards into something that's easier than Beato makes it out to be. 🤪
True, but then Bob is saying here that he’s no expert on what earlier engineers were doing, which is probably also true.
I think his idea behind saying that is this, and I subscribe to it as well: no matter how much you do, learn, innovate, and are able to do your job fantastically nearly every time, there is ALWAYS more to learn. When you stop learning, you stop growing, you stop thriving, and you grow lackadaisical. And that's when the world passes you by.
@@RageRockForNow not sure why you'd be watching this video if you think that
I agree, he's no expert
I actually could not imagine passing trough times like these we’re living today without Rick Beato and his interviews.. thank you for doing this Mr Beato. I’m really grateful
6:51 Rick wasn't about to let Bob get away with saying he's no expert.
'Avalon' is one of the best sounding records ever, from start to finish. Golden.
Too bad it's also so boring.
@@RageRockForNowsome tracks maybe but there's a lot of good songs on that album.
Timeless reference track!
@@RageRockForNow If you think 'Avalon' is boring I don't believe the problem's with the album.
Peter Frampton often used this album to EQ his speakers.
I was fortunate to experience him mixing my first "altered state" Warner Bros. record which he mentions here, from which he would choose "Ghost beside my bed" out of all the artists he worked on that year, Springsteen and the Stones included, to feature in an AES keynote. That was surreal. Got to hang out with him recently at Apogee studios ...a very talented, accomplished, yet surprisingly humble guy. So happy for his success. Great interview, Rick, thank you.
Rick, you are spoiling us lately with these brilliant interviews!
Agreed 100%. I feel so rewarded and enriched by the content I dreamed of to hear all my life listening to music.
lol, or he's lining his own pockets with ad money and landfill merch revenue!
@@drssexy2142 Quality doesn’t happen for free.
You are so correct! I'm just blown away with all of the amazing people (musicians, etc.) Rick has been interviewing. So many of them are some of my all-time favorites that I have looked up to for several decades! :)
Yes... hes succesful.. if that bothers you perhaps you should have paid better attention in school.... anyway in 20 years you will make assistant manager at the movie theatre so keep grinding.@drssexy2142
Omg the nerdy settings and gear talk about 10 minutes in is just geek-out gold.
yes, that's the stuff I REALLY like to hear. Let's get INTO IT!
I agree and love the term “geek out gold”! What a fantastic interview. Only Rick can come up with some of these technical questions that everybody would love to know about.
You have to be an expert to understand what they're talking about though
@@dwightburns6699or a musician who has spent years in the studio turning those same knobs.
@@dwightburns6699, but according to Mr Clearmountain, he isn’t an expert, so maybe you don’t have to be an expert. 😊
When Born in the USA and other mega records from the 80s came out, I loved reading the liner notes and kept noticing this name, Bob Clearmountain. As a young guy it was the first time I realized the importance of producers and mixing engineers. Thank you for doing this interview with Bob. The guy is a legend.
Same, really. I noticed Bob and Hugh seemed to be on almost all the records I really liked.
Rick, check out the interview with Jason Whitlock with Glenn Beck about the take over of the music industry by Black Rock and P Diddy's plight. You must know something about this mayhem.
Same for me with the Bryan Adams records. And I also noticed Hugh Padgham a little later... makes me quiet happy to have realized these people so early and often now that I have become a mixing engineer myself.
Had the pleasure to work with Bob on a few different projects. He is by far the most genuine, humble and gracious person I’ve ever dealt with. Super rare traits for someone with his talent and status / reputation.
The man is a legend!
Great interview.
His work on INXS’ Kick was wonderful………
Roxy Music's Avalon is audio gold.
sublime
It’s incredible how sound has evolved from the prehistoric days of Avalon to modern works of art like Justin Beiber and Sam Smith .
Sublime and ethereal. The best sound ever.
@@humanactivated1017😂
listening to Avalon feels like watching a sunset in a convertible, such a beautiful song, and the whole album is amazing too
Woman in Chains, by Tears for Fears, is the most amazing mix ever. Every time I listen to it, I marvel at how Bob fit everything so clearly and each element has it's own space. Gorgeous mix.
so true !
Remarkable track
Yea, great sound. But I wonder why he kept the fine drums by Phil Collins so far in the background.
The whole album sounds amazing
That's it exactly. Bob is amazing.
Rick has done MANY amazing interviews, but this has to be the single most INFORMATIVE one yet for us Studio Rats. And Bob is SO humble! These men are GODS.
Rick's vast deep knowledge base makes these conversations incredibly fascinating. He takes the time to diligently research his subjects, and it seems they respond accordingly. Massive respect ...
My introduction to Bob's mastery was Crowded House's album Together Alone. The intro of the first track is incredible, crank the speakers and feel it wash and crash over you like the waves in the lyrics. Love Rick's interviews, so insightful and respectful to the participants.
Bob mixed three albums for Crowded House after he became a fan of their debut album and the single Don’t Dream It’s Over. I can understand how this would happen since he mentions paying particular attention to the lyrics of a song.
An interview with Neil Finn would be astonishing, one of the most Beatlesque musicians around.
@53greenhill, I would PAY to watch that interview. 👏🏻
It seemed Bob's name was on all of my favorites cassettes back in the 80s. I thought there was something so appropriate about his last name being "Clearmountain". His humility is stunning.
I was going to say something very similar!!!
The amazing thing is that Bob has worked in an industry that completely revolutionized itself at least 3 times in his career and he somehow managed to not only keep up with those changes but to take of with them and thrive. Going from live recording to tape, to multi track with a console, to digital with Protools, to mixing Dolby Atmos mixes. A comparable would be if you saw Henry Ford go from making Model T's to Teslas.
Rick, you are doing a great job on these interviews. You are very good at it
This is the guy that made "Let's Dance" sound so good.
I always thought the E. Gtr had an AMS 15-80S Delay from what I read years ago?
@@GeorgeAmodei21you just reached new nerd levels.
@@mattmorris2867 sorry I just did COVER of Phil Collins “ In The Air Tonight” … uploaded around New Years. Check it out! I’m using AMS DMX16 & AMS 15-80S & I feel this is what Phil used on his VOX because he used it on his Drums ( only the Non- Liner Verb) I researched it and I feel I came in the 90+% if this FX. SO That’s why I was shocked to hear Clearmountain say what he did in this Video.
bingo!
@@independentfilmfestival what is BINGO? Explain yourself please?
Fantastic interview. I first worked with Bob in 1978 when Power Station was being built, and just finished working with him a month ago when he mixed my new record. He's remained exactly the same person - just a sweet, humble genius of a guy. When you watch him mix it's like he's in a trance. He becomes the music. When the mix is done I don't think he even knows how he did it. Amazing.
Wow, chills!
That is EXACTLY what I would like Rick to film. Witness this magic.
Mr. Clearmountain is living proof that mixing is as much an artform as any of the music he's working with -- thank you Rick for such a stellar conversation ❤
..what a legend, what a great humble person!!! RESPECT BOB!!!
Best interview with Bob I’ve seen. I got to work with him on a Chic session with Niles & Bernard at Electric Lady. PS was booked, and we had a Neve 8068 he liked. Bob was one of the nicest guys I got to work with. During a break, he showed me a side chain parallel compression trick using a channel buss. Great guy and an amazing mixer.
The man, the legend! In the credits of almost every single album of my youth.
That Divinyls story that ends the interview so totally sums up his Ethos: Serve the music. Thank you, Rick (and thank you, Bob).
I was working in a studio in London, Advision, in 1989 and he was in the studio next to me. He would blow in London for a couple of weeks and all the record companies would send their pop bands down so he could mix their latest hits. He also told me to get NS10s and Yamaha amp which he used. I still have them to this day.
Same. So do I.
Which amp was it?
@@wadeteo8282 Yamaha P2250
Got a chance to meet and speak with Bob briefly at NAMM a couple years ago. Whatta prince! Thank you Rick.
Rick, these interviews are great. Your latest interviews have been fascinating - even more than usual. From The Police guys to George Benson, to Tool's Danny Carey and this one with Bob Clearmountain. The Steely Dan players. All wonderful. And you're one of the only guys who could pull this off. Your recall of musicians around the early jass era Benson era to knowing what compressor or gate was used in the heady days of the transition to digital is second to none. And Benson and Copeland stories - I could watch those in a theatre setting. Food for thought...
Holy moly! Bob Clearmountain is a legend! Rick is tearing it up lately!!
Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Bob Clearmountain were/are my musical production heroes. Such a humble guy. Another amazing interview by my 'New' musical hero. I give you Mr. Rick Beato!
Bob Clearmountain! Is the mixerman!
B - B - BeATooo!
Mutt Lange cheated on Shania Twain ... who in the hell would do that???!?
It's nice when the ones who really know what they are talking about and doing, squash a lot of the myths about analog and tape.
Yes! That was the greatest takeaway from this interview for me. I feel vindicated.
Man!!! You deserve all of the interviews you've filmed this year!!! I am SO glad your channel keeps getting more and more attention! Bob is a LEGEND.
Rick disparages himself for asking so many questions but they were very interesting questions and shows Ricks depth on the subject. Bob was an awesome choice for an interview and he did not disappoint. The one thing I've never understood is how he manages the very quiet songs in such a way as to make them seem to be more "still" than most other mixers work in that area.
I first became aware of Bob through Crowded House. He did some incredible work with them...Distant Sun, Into Temptation, Whispers and Moans. A true legend!!
Nice Shout Out.. His mix really put the icing on the cake on the Together Alone Record. You can hear and feel the vibe of the Kare Kare climate.
Seconded. The crowded house stuff, you can walk around behind those mixes.
Avalon is a masterpiece. Bravo!
It's a masterpiece of production, yes.
Clearmountain is a genius!!!
His point in regards too loud bass drums is spot on, and he is the only one that made the E-Street band sound great live!!
HUH?? E street band is one of the only old school bands that sounds good and if not one of the most greats sounding bands live of all time. U know nothing about music
@@storbjork4257 It is plenty consensus for the opinion that the E-Street live sound/mix has been somewhat patchy for decades.
This is not the bands fault, it is the live production/mixes that causes this problem!
Sound became significant worse after The River Tour (1981).
@@stianmathisen4284 okay sorry i missunderstood you.
Bob is right, he’s not a expert he’s an ARTIST!
The only reason I've heard of Bob Clearmountain is because of his mix of "Rock the Casbah" by the Clash. It's so much more dynamic and cool sounding. It's the definitive version that I grew up listening to on the radio.
Man! The energy on that track is amazing.
Glyn John’s mixed Combat Rock. What mix of Rock The Casbah did Clearmountain do?
@@jackdempsey9644From what I understand Glyn Johns mixed the album version. But, Bob Clearmountain mixed the single.
I was glad to hear Bob talk about today’s kick drum issues. I don’t find that many would agree with him but when I talk like that people look at me sideways!
I totally agree with him, as this issue really ruins a lot of modern music production. Same goes for electronic synth bass sounds. Many would argue this is part of the style of the music, but I disagree.
AMEN! I hate going to concerts and all I hear is kick drum and vocals.
Cleanup the keyboard, and suddenly the bass sounds great....mind.blown!
That "Let's Dance" story is awesome! And truth be told, that unusual guitar panning really makes the song work!
When you're an expert and you make a " mistake"its not the same as when the rest of us do it.
At 20:15 Bob talks about how the bass drum is mixed a lot of times too loud in modern music and this is also bothered me for a really long time and it was nice to hear this from a true expert confirming to me that something is just not right about that because the drum kit should have an overall balance and I understand sometimes it is intentional to have the bass drum emphasized but loved his comments on this I never hear anybody talked about this and kudos to Rick for once again bringing up things that we all think but nobody else asks but Rick does!
Rick, you keep on bringing so many important, creative musical people into our greater awareness and appreciation. You're crushing it! Hardest working man on youtube. Thank You!
What a brilliant title. He's the best because he *hears more* than the rest of us.
Yes, he is one of a group of elite listener/technicians - Roy Halee is equally gifted too
"You ARE an expert...."
Best line ever! :)
Wow! This is gold dust. Hats off, again, Rick!
I recorded my record "A NIght Of Serious Drinking" in this room, and on that Neve... Great sounds... And Bob is great!
Wow, real interesting interview Rick!
You're basically a tier 1 pop music historian. A bona fide researcher. Nobody documents this piece of culture like you do. I hope you get paid enough for your work!
He came to the U.K. in the 90’s to mix a Kinks record that I was working on….. a truly lovely guy.
Avalon and Marley’s Legend 5.1 mixes are sublime!!
Absolutely the best interview yet! The great ones are often humble and let their work do the talking.
What a sweet man. I could listen to him for hours.
What a talent. We grew up with those stunning mixes.
So in May 1986 I’m in Air Studios at Oxford Circus with Rupert Neve, Rupert’s son John and Betty Watts delivering a Focusrite sub-mixer en-route to Montserrat to fit in their SSL and working in Air that day was Bob and the Pretenders working on Get Close.
This is amazing. Thank you so much for this interview, and asking such great questions 😊
Wow! I'm a musician and grew up in the '70s and '80s reading every liner note every thank you every player on every song.... Bob clear mountain is a legend. Thank you Rick No one else would even think to interview him! .... No one on the planet should be allowed to interview a musician unless they themselves are a musician..... Better yet only you get to do all the interviews
Avalon is one of my all time favorite records. What a wonderful thing to listen to the guy who engineered that masterpiece!
From the Boss to The Pretenders and Bryan Adams
Bob is a legend
Awesome Interview
Another fantastic interview. Thank you Rick and Bob.
thank you for asking all these questions!!!! this is awesome
As often the case with Rick’s channel content, it’s way over my head and will never be something I will be involved in, but completely fascinating and fulfilling. New worlds!
These interviews have changed the way I listen to music. I’ve always listened for the different instruments, baselines, etc. but now I’m paying attention to the position of each sound, the compression, all the stuff I never thought about before. I’m really becoming a nerd! It’s great!
Great interview! Love that you peppered him with questions, I think we need a part 2 in time!
This interview is an absolutely invaluable contribution to understanding production! Thank you so much Bob and Rick!
Rick, these interviews you do are historical, insightful, and inspirational. Thank you!
This is one we waiting for! Now we need a 100% Rolling Stones sequel regarding this albums and work improving the Archive releases.
I was just at an Atmos event with Bob and got to talk to him. He’s so humble and so darn good. I build atmos systems for clients and getting his perspective on Atmos mixing was very enlightening.
Great questions and answers. Thank you both.
When I was a kid in the eighties, a close friend and I would dream up different combinations of musicians we would like to see record an album - “yeah, man, so-and-so on guitar, so-and-so on drums…” we’d even pick a producer. “Oh, yeah - we got to get Bob Clearmountain to mix it!” You know you’re good when you’re a household name with young teenagers.
So brilliant. Just the ideas about "character" in mixing! Another great interview, Rick!
I'm soaking this in and still wanting to save and bookmark it. Thank you both, so much for this❣️❤️
Awesome video, Rick! Thank you so much for sharing it with us all
Great informative interview Rick, thank you
Bob's mixing on New Model Army's The Love Of Hopeless Causes album is some incredible work...He put so much clarity & separation in the mix it actually adds an element of mood & even sparseness to the overall album...Truly fabulous & very very clever mixing, an underrated real gem of an album. 👍👍❤👍
Thank you for presenting this interview, it is truly ear opening!
I love watching two music geeks talk to each other.. that was an amazing interview
It's amazing, all of the interviews I've seen Rick do whether it's studio musicians, recording engineers, or mixing engineers, they all seem to have the same message: "Serve the song!" I learn more every day.
Excellent interview with great questions and wisdom shared. Thank you Rick, Bob & respective teams! 🎉❤
Love that you’re back into the production content. Definitely wanna see more!
Nice; Roxy Music/Avalon sounds as good today as it did 40 years ago.
Easily my favourite mixing engineer. Woman in Chains by Tears for Fears, Avalon by Roxy Music are just two of Bob's perfect mixes. He's got a career full of others 😀
Absolutely! Also the album Into The Fire by Bryan Adams, the Miss You disco remix by the Rolling Stones...
@@philburns5656 Spot on. Reckless is a brilliant album too. There are very few songs that are instantly recognisable by a single snare hit intro like Summer of 69.
Congrats Rick ! Great time with Bob, he is so humble !! And so pro ! I really enjoyed this interview !
Wow! Looking forward to watch this interview! Awesome!
Anytime I flipped a tape/album/cd over (showing my age) and saw the name "Bob Clearmountain," I knew it was quality. The sonic difference between Simple Minds' Once Upon A Time vs. their previous albums? Unparalleled.
...Not just 'you', Dude....I was a Professional DJ, and I saw Bob's name on SO MANY 12"s!! ...I almost thought he was a Producer! ...ha-HAAA!
Not so sure that had as much to do with Bob's mix as with Jimmy Iovine's production. Still, to many of us who liked Simple Minds in the early days Once Upon a Time was a disappointing fall-off into arena rock. It would be interesting to see what Bob would have done with New Gold Dream, for instance.
Thank you Rick Beato again for
sitting down and sharing these amazing interviews and studio techniques from all of the Legendary artists!!❤
Wow...just wow. Love the techniques shared. Thanks!
What a great interview Rick thank you for sharing this brilliant interview with Bobs microphone choices and recording hints to the world!!
I became familiar with his talent first with his work with CHIC and then later with Byran Adams’ “ Reckless “ album in the early eighties!!!! Great interview with such a talented and humble person! Thank you 🙏!
Back in the early 1970s, my band Squirrel Nutz used to run a GK476 through a WigWam 9 with a clutch from a 67 VW Beetle to get that drive time vibe. I remember telling this one guy named Jimmy Page he wasn't ever going to get anywhere without my rig. I stand by my proclamation. But, hey, I'm just a squirrel. And yes, that was my song, before No Doubt stole it and changed the lyrics.
🤠
Pure interview gold!! Rick asked exactly the questions that a super excited me would ask and it’s great!! And there’s still so much more on the table! I’m looking forward to a possible future round 2 ❤
Amazing interview I love all the questions. This rapid fire delivery is really killer.
Bob mixed Zakk Wylde's 1996 solo album Book Of Shadows and that mix is flawless!
I'm SO glad when I hear the mixing/producer masters reiterating the same issues I have with modern mixes!! The kick in live concerts really hit home. And guitars are mixed out of EVERYTHING today!!
Absolutely spot on! You can never hear the guitar the way it should sound in a song because it’s always faded way back, which really sucks and I believe detracts a lot from the music that young people nowadays will never experience unless they listen to something other than newer music. Bring the darn guitar up some more us what I’m always thinking in my head just before I change the channel.
These interviews are absolutely amazing!