Favorite Engineer/Producer ?

[Somis Sound]

Of course we all love Mr. Offord, but some of the other albums really do stand out as sounding incredible too. What do you think?

[Gtkgasman]

Eddie. Close to the Edge. Nuff said.

[Chrisklenox]

Voted for Eddie. Easy choice for me. TYA, Fragile, and Close to The Edge are some of the best engineered recordings of that era. I don't think you could capture the sound of a band with the technology of the day better than Eddie did. They also hold up very well. the production is not dated. Timeless, clean, in your face, yet nuanced and dynamic. Drama also sounds absolutely brilliant from a recording standpoint.

My number 2 vote would actually go to Steve Howe. I think the sound of the last two albums is the best, and most natural since the the classic Eddie produced ones. Honorable mention to The Ladder and Magnification which I think were also beautifully recorded. Bruce Fairburn and Yes (?) on those iirc.

I just can't go with Trevor Horn personally. I do like his work, but when I hear it, I am always aware of his presence. He's very hands on. Which is fine... I can't go with Rabin or Sherwood for the same reason... anyway, I feel like Eddie Offord's MO was to capture the sound of the band, as it was, as well as possible, and get it to sound great on tape / vinyl. Simple... stay out of the way of the music. Mission accomplished.

Sort of related: Shout out to Joe Gastwirt and George Marino for mastering those recordings so well for cd in the 90's. Also props to George Piros and "Porky" for doing such a great job with the original vinyl masterings.

[Somis Sound]

Voted for Eddie. Easy choice for me. TYA, Fragile, and Close to The Edge are some of the best engineered recordings of that era. I don't think you could capture the sound of a band with the technology of the day better than Eddie did. They also hold up very well. the production is not dated. Timeless, clean, in your face, yet nuanced and dynamic. Drama also sounds absolutely brilliant from a recording standpoint.

. Honorable mention to The Ladder and Magnification which I think were also beautifully recorded. Bruce Fairburn and Yes (?) on those iirc.

.

You have to consider the gear and amps they were using back then was the best. They make modelers now imitating all that vintage stuff, amps, preamps, mic's. And the whole band helped mix those Eddie albums. His genius was in the cutting of the tape and editing. He did know what mic's, mic pre's, and compressors to use, that's for sure ! TYA through Relayer was an incredible run. Just thought TFTO was a bit murky compared to the others. Not sure why? And it is true, he was there for recording the backing tracks on Drama! So you had a twin turbo there with both Horn and Offord for a minute.

Forgot to include Fairbairn in the choices :/ He is a great producer. I heard the album he did before The Ladder and it is one of the best mixed slamming albums I've heard. Sounds night and day next to The Ladder. I do know Tom Lord-Alge mixed that INXS album, but obviously Bruce wasn't around for the end of The Ladder. So not quite sure why there is such a difference in sound. Other than the mixers of course. But you'd think with the 2 albums recorded at the same place with the same producer and engineers there'd be more comparability.

[luvyesmusic]

This very long, informative video production came out like six days ago. There is a lot more detail talking about what went on, and a good amount of what Eddie did, how he did it, and why he was off to the stage enhancing the sounds of the performances. I haven’t even finished watching it yet, either.

I learned a bunch, and how expensive it was to make some of these records back then, too. Rather mind/blowing.
Hope it is okay to slightly hijack your thread, Erik.

https://youtu.be/WV_mCBEzhww

[Old Frothingslosh]

Eddie Offord without question.

[Somis Sound]

This very long, informative video production came out like six days ago. There is a lot more detail talking about what went on, and a good amount of what Eddie did, how he did it, and why he was off to the stage enhancing the sounds of the performances. I haven’t even finished watching it yet, either.

I learned a bunch, and how expensive it was to make some of these records back then, too. Rather mind/blowing.
Hope it is okay to slightly hijack your thread, Erik.

https://youtu.be/WV_mCBEzhww

No prob Rob! Interesting he said by the time TFTO was being mixed, he did it himself otherwise it would have been impossible. Didn't know Offord wasn't enchanted with TFTO as well as Rick. And Chris nearly left at that period too. Glad they made it through ! Yes were lucky to have had Offord and Horn. 2 of the all time greats in their field....

[Ceasar’s Palace]

Eddie, Eddie and Eddie.
Of the others, I’d pick Weidner as I love the sound of Magnification.

BTW if anyone dares to vote for RTB, he/she will have to face some serious consequences.

[Somis Sound]

Eddie, Eddie and Eddie.
Of the others, I’d pick Weidner as I love the sound of Magnification.

BTW if anyone dares to vote for RTB, he/she will have to face some serious consequences.

That magical H&E production... LOL

Chris told me he really wanted to work with Paul Stacey but he was booked solid..... That could have been great. I love that raw sound on Syndestructable. And he got a great sound on Chris' bass and vocals.

[Enlighten]

You have to consider the gear and amps they were using back then was the best. They make modelers now imitating all that vintage stuff, amps, preamps, mic's. And the whole band helped mix those Eddie albums. His genius was in the cutting of the tape and editing. He did know what mic's, mic pre's, and compressors to use, that's for sure ! TYA through Relayer was an incredible run. Just thought TFTO was a bit murky compared to the others. Not sure why? And it is true, he was there for recording the backing tracks on Drama! So you had a twin turbo there with both Horn and Offord for a minute.

Forgot to include Fairbairn in the choices :/ He is a great producer. I heard the album he did before The Ladder and it is one of the best mixed slamming albums I've heard. Sounds night and day next to The Ladder. I do know Tom Lord-Alge mixed that INXS album, but obviously Bruce wasn't around for the end of The Ladder. So not quite sure why there is such a difference in sound. Other than the mixers of course. But you'd think with the 2 albums recorded at the same place with the same producer and engineers there'd be more comparability.

I’m guessing it was either too many mushrooms or things that come in small packages from South America or cardboard cut outs of farm animals blocking the studio monitors or maybe some combination of all three.😊

Eddie is the man but I wasn’t crazy about the extra distortion Squire was putting on his bass during the TFTO and Relayer era. I much preferred his clearer, cleaner, in your face bass tone that characterized the TYA, Fragile and CTTE period.

[Frumious B]

I voted for Offord and figured he would dominate this poll. The results are what I expected.

[Ceasar’s Palace]

I voted for Offord and figured he would dominate this poll. The results are what I expected.

But who would be your no. 2?

[Frumious B]

But who would be your no. 2?

Trevor Horn has produced a lot of great sounding records and there’s nothing in the poll instructions that says you only have to consider the work with Yes.

[Khatrooper]

….Just thought TFTO was a bit murky compared to the others. Not sure why?...

Could be a couple of things.
- They used the 1st 24 track recorder in Britain, and it had numerous breakdowns.
- Mixing 24 tracks down to stereo for the first time might’ve been a problem.
- The early North American pressings are said to be especially murky & lacking high end, rumours were that a copy of the master tape was used to cut the LPs on this side of the pond (I was in London in early 1974 on a high school trip & got a British LP, sounds ok to me but I don’t have an early North American one to compare).
- and yes, bales of hay are good insulation ;~)