Gast
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Information from Peter Klemt
As you know, Peter Klemt was Bert's sound engineer for much of the 60s and also the 1970s.
I asked him a few questions in a letter which was kindly passed on to him by BK music. He, in turn, replied through BK music.
Here are a few facts, taken from his answers. Some of them have been written by me before, but this is the whole list:
1. There was a single main stereo microphone above the orchestra.
2. The equipment between the microphones and the tape machine used vacuum tubes [not transistors].
3. The equipment with red light and on wheels, seen in the centre of some photographs of recording sessions, was a command loudspeaker.
4. The mixing was done in real time, but also sometimes using over-recording techniques.
5. The move to a "bigger" sound toward the end of the 60s was both a result of Bert's and Peter's own desires, and also seemed like the natural thing to do.
6. It took about 4 days to record an album.
7. There were 2-4 extra tracks per album. Bert decided which would be used on the album.
8. If more than one "take" was done during recording, it was immediately decided which would be used.
9. Making different versions (e.g. "Take Seven") was not usual, but it was done occasionally.
10. The wall panels of the studio were altered during the 60s to improve the frequency range on recordings.
11. The recording studio has not been destroyed, but is now an "Atelier" for Studio Hamburg.
12. The rumour that there was a fire at the studio [or Polydor offices - I am not quite sure which he meant] is not true, and no Kaempfert material has been lost.
Perhaps we should collect a few more questions between us and send them to him in a few months' time?
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29.06.2005 13:20
