How were they able to record orchestras in the old Disney classics?
- Thread starter Abdulrahman
- Start date
Not sure about those, but there was an excellent video about the recording of Fantasia. The soundtrack was recorded by the Philadelphia Orchestra, so it was definitely a one-off, but the techniques used were probably similar to recordings made in LA.
At the moment I am unable to find that video, I will keep looking.
At the moment I am unable to find that video, I will keep looking.
ChrisSiuMusic
Senior Member
That's a super interesting question..I don't know the answer! But those are some beautiful scores.
OP
OP
Abdulrahman
Active Member
Thank you!
Ashermusic
Senior Member
My friend David Raiklen knows a ton about film music history, so I turned to him for answers:
David:
Snow White was recorded at Hyperion Studios. (see pic)
From Rick at Disney:
Stage A was originally built as a scoring stage. Pinocchio was still in production when the staff moved to Burbank in 1940, so it is likely that Pinocchio may have been the first project to have been recorded on the stage. Many projects were scored there including Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, and the Mickey Mouse Club.
Stage A transitioned from a Scoring Stage to a Mixing Stage in 1987.
David:
Fantasia was scored at a RKO stage at Culver Studios.
Disney continued to use other stages, and in 1958 Lqdy and the Tramp was recorded in Berlin!
David:
Snow White was recorded at Hyperion Studios. (see pic)
From Rick at Disney:
Stage A was originally built as a scoring stage. Pinocchio was still in production when the staff moved to Burbank in 1940, so it is likely that Pinocchio may have been the first project to have been recorded on the stage. Many projects were scored there including Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, and the Mickey Mouse Club.
Stage A transitioned from a Scoring Stage to a Mixing Stage in 1987.
David:
Fantasia was scored at a RKO stage at Culver Studios.
Disney continued to use other stages, and in 1958 Lqdy and the Tramp was recorded in Berlin!
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Mike Marino
Senior Member
This doesn't answer your question directly but does give you some insight of how many of the behind-the-scenes parts worked together:
soundworkscollection.com
Soundworks Collection
Taking you behind the scenes and straight to the dub stage for a look into audio post-production for feature films, video game sound design, and original soundtrack composition.
robcs
Active Member
doctoremmet
Senior Member
I think the LA based pretty legendary Sunset Sound Studios was started in an old garage by an ex Disney recording engineer, with some actual seed money from Walt, who decided he did not want to have his own audio recording people anymore. Maybe read into some of that history too. This must have been later though, I’m guessing late fifties.
Later artists such as The Doors, Les Zep, Beach Boys and Vanhalen recorded there. But as stated I thínk a couple of Disney scores started it all there.
Later artists such as The Doors, Les Zep, Beach Boys and Vanhalen recorded there. But as stated I thínk a couple of Disney scores started it all there.
OP
OP
Abdulrahman
Active Member
Incredible! That's kind of you turning to your friend to get answers for meMy friend David Raiklen knows a ton about film music history, so I turned to him for answers:
David:
Snow White was recorded at Hyperion Studios. (see pic)
From Rick at Disney:
Stage A was originally built as a scoring stage. Pinocchio was still in production when the staff moved to Burbank in 1940, so it is likely that Pinocchio may have been the first project to have been recorded on the stage. Many projects were scored there including Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, and the Mickey Mouse Club.
Stage A transitioned from a Scoring Stage to a Mixing Stage in 1987.
David:
Fantasia was scored at a RKO stage at Culver Studios.
Disney continued to use other stages, and in 1958 Lqdy and the Tramp was recorded in Berlin!
I would be glad to read a full article written by your friend about the history of Disney recordings. It's truly fascinating to know how were they able to do it back in the days.
I don't what came to me, but I started re-watching those classics again. I can't believe how many years it's been. I purchased a bulk of Disney classics from iTunes and can't stop watching them now.
The animation, the storytelling, the voice casting, the special effects, and the music... it is absolutely Incredible! Way ahead of their time. Pure creativity!
And those are some top pro musicians to perform such difficult scores. Even the orchestration is so rich and colorful. I don't even know how the composer was able to sync his music with the picture without today's technology.
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OP
OP
Abdulrahman
Active Member
I will certainly watch that video. Thank you!This doesn't answer your question directly but does give you some insight of how many of the behind-the-scenes parts worked together:
Soundworks Collection
Taking you behind the scenes and straight to the dub stage for a look into audio post-production for feature films, video game sound design, and original soundtrack composition.
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dzilizzi
Senior Member
Crawling around taping down cables, the dry cleaning bills alone would have been pricey. Most men's suits back then were dry clean only. (Still are for the most part)
rudi
Senior Member
Some interesting information about sound recording and "Fantasound" here:
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
Fantasia (1940 film) - Wikipedia
Fantasound - Wikipedia
bryla
Orchestrator
They used streamers and punches back then.
Mike Marino
Senior Member
Not the early films you're after but here's a look inside the recording session for Lilo & Stitch with Silvestri:
That's not the video I was thinking of, but it is good, and it does mention that the majority of the music was recorded at the Philadelphia Academy of Music. Wish I could have been there. If you see pictures you will see a bunch of RCA microphones, they were made across the river. Coincidence?
KerrySmith
Active Member
I will certainly watch that video. Thank you!
and there goes the defense of the panning/placement of instrument sample libraries using "orchestral placement".
Of course, these films were likely in Mono anyway..?
juniorhifikit2
New Member
That was a treat! I've never actually used streamers. What do you folks use to add those to the reference video?
KerrySmith
Active Member
I run my video in Video Slave Pro, which allows you to add punches and streamers, as well as Visual TimeCode.
JonS
Senior Member
You could say the same thing about John Williams...
