Al Schmitt on the Record: The Magic Behind the Music

by Al Schmitt, Paul McCartney (Foreword), Maureen Droney (Primary Contributor)

Ever wonder what goes into the creation of some of the best music ever recorded? Ever wonder how someone becomes an iconic professional who is universally admired and respected? Al Schmitt on the The Magic Behind the Music reveals answers to those questions and more.

In this memoir of one of the most respected engineers of all time, you'll see how a very young boy – mentored by his uncle Harry in New York – progressed through the recording world in its infancy, under the mentorship of Tom Dowd, in its heyday, becoming one of the all-time great recording engineers. And now today Al continues as an unstoppable force at the top of the recording world with his name on mega-hits from the likes of Paul McCartney, Diana Krall, and Dylan. Al's credits include a veritable who's who of the music world.

Reading the compelling accounts of Al's life in the studio, you'll see how he has been able to stay at the top of his game since the '50s, and you'll experience what is was like behind the scenes and in-the-studio during of many of his historic, impactful recordings. Schmitt also shares many of the recording techniques and creative approaches that have set him apart, including his approach to microphones, effects, and processors, and he even shares setup diagrams from many of his highly-lauded recording sessions!

Genres: Music, Biography

232 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2018

Reviews

[Andrew Mull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part memoir on the music and the artists he's worked with, part textbook and reference for recording setups and equipment throughout the years. Little to nothing on the personal side, but he has enough to tell about his career to make a very interesting book

[Maggy L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely read! A bit dense on microphone terms, but there is a lot of great information about Schmitt and his methods. I would recommend listening to "On the Beach" because it gives insight into how he did his raw mixes.

[James Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can be a bit technical - but for those who love working with audio then you'll understand and love the book.

[Spirits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! About life, history and recording!

[Josh Rambajue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of stories, techniques and legendary musical moments from an incredibly innovative, humble producer and mix engineer. Al was a gem.

[Axel De Vuyst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief insight into the life of one of the most influential recording and mixing engineers to ever walk the earth. Highly recommended!

[Jeremiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a little something for everyone. Al has been in the business since cutting a record meant ACTUALLY cutting into a blank wax disc. Everything had to be done in a take, and it had to sound good in mono. Amazing! From his early days in New York to his rock and roll days in Los Angeles, Al worked on a long list of the best sounding albums of all time. Listening to something like Toto IV and then being able to read Al's notes about how it was recorded is a real treat. If you're a techie, or you just love to read about music history, Al's the man.