Wally Heider Recording - Mobile Unit?

[Analogeezer]

I just found out that one of my favorite live albums (the ELP triple
album set) was recorded in the SF Bay area by the Wally Heider remote.

Based on the year (1974) panning, sonics, etc. of this album, I had
always thought it was recorded on 8 tracks, or maybe 16. I know that
24 track decks were available by 1974 but were people using them on
remote recordings?

Does anybody have knowledge of what the Heider remote setup was back
in this era (1973 - 1974)?

There is some stuff on the internet about Wally Heider recording, but
IIRC not much on their remote unit.

Did they have a dedicated remote truck ("ala Zappa and the Stones") or
did they just put studio gear in a truck and take it to the venue?

Supposedly, the PA on this tour was in Quad, I know on the album you
can hear some weird panning things, where stuff kind of drops out
sometimes as it's being panned...maybe ambience mics that were not
picking up the far stacks or something?

I guess I love this album because of the performances, not necessarily
the sonic quality, but I'd still love to hear anything about the
remote unit used to record it.

Analogeezer

[ChuxGarage]

I think there were sevaral Wally Heider trucks, but one of them ended up in
Dallas. It was owned by Omega Audio. I beleive they are now called Omega
Productions. I think they sold it to someone in the Dallas area a few years
ago, but I'll bet it is still around.

When I toured with Cat Stevens back in that era, we used Heider on several
occasions. I want to say the truck had an API console and a pair of 16 track
MCI tape decks. I'm pretty sure it had UREI studio monitors.

Unfortunately they say , "if you remember the 70's, you weren't there." I was
there....

Chuck

[Ron Charles]

There were in fact several Walley Heider trucks that must have recorded
hundreds of gigs from the Stones to the Grateful Dead. I am sure one of the
engineers from those days will contact you with more exact details, but from
what I remember the trucks have 16 or 24 track machines and used JBL 4311
and Urei monitors and lots of Orban gear.
Ron

"Analogeezer" <analo...@aerosolkings.com> wrote in message
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[Jay Kahrs]

>
>
>I just found out that one of my favorite live albums (the ELP triple
>album set) was recorded in the SF Bay area by the Wally Heider remote.
>
>Based on the year (1974) panning, sonics, etc. of this album, I had
>always thought it was recorded on 8 tracks, or maybe 16. I know that
>24 track decks were available by 1974 but were people using them on
>remote recordings?
>
>Does anybody have knowledge of what the Heider remote setup was back
>in this era (1973 - 1974)?

You should try Steve Remotes forum at www.gearslutz.com. He might not know the
answer but someone else might.

---
-Jay Kahrs
Owner - Chief Engineer
Mad Moose Recording Inc.
Morris Plains, NJ
http://www.madmooserecording.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Come visit me here --> http://www.gearslutz.com

[dr.sound]

Analogeezer,
My very first introduction to mixing was in Nov of 76 when a neighbor of
mine invited me down to Hollywood where he was recording "Don Kirshners Rock
Concert" at the Aquarius on Sunset. He was working out of the Wally Heider
truck and it had 2 MM1200 24track Ampex machines with an API console. I got
a chance to get a Backstage pass to meet all the Groups and fell in love
with the business. Four years later I started and have been mixing ever
since and loving every minute of it!!

--
Marti D. Humphrey C.A.S.
aka dr.sound
www.thedubstage.com
remove antispam before reply

"Analogeezer" <analo...@aerosolkings.com> wrote in message
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[studi...@gmail.com]

Well here's a 10 year wait response :-) I actually own the Heider truck that went to Dallas. It also made a stop in Muscle Shoals and was called Big Blue. After Dallas it went to Belmont University and i got it from somebody connected to them. The truck has little bits of history from all of the owners including a bunch of Heider/Filmways patch cables.
Aaron Householter
Recording Services and Supply
785-820-7243

[omegal...@gmail.com]

Wally Heider had several rooms on LaBrea in LA and had rooms in SF. That studio is now called Hyde Street, www.hydestreet.com, Michael Ward and Dave Alexander. One of the folks who was around and and worked with Wally was Tom Scott. He know all the Heider lore. He is still in the SF area, I believe. The trucks Wally had were three, a semi, whci I have never been able to confirm, one truck in LA and one truck in SF. They were all purchased as was the Studios by Filmways circa 1979 mand were called Filmways/Heider. A few years later they went bankrupt. Chris Stone owner of the Record Plant bought two of the trucks. The smaller was later used by Stevie Wonder on a long time rental and later went to Hawaii. (Bear with me - this is all from memory) The larger truck (the original Wally Heider Recording Mobile Unit 2 (MU2)) was sold to Omega Audio (Dallas based studio and remote operation - Paul Christensen) (Now Omega Productions) That truck had a 1972 custom built API 2098 console, 32in x 16 bus x 24 mon with 550A and 550 EQ. It also had a split console. Omega modified the board to be in-line with use of the split monitor section for monitoring live off tape during record. Later Omega extended the bobtail box body and placed the unit on a 300 Cummins over the road tractor creating a semi straight unit. In any case, the console was used on Frampton comes alive, the Band's Last Waltz, Rolling Stones, various Grateful Dead and other bay area groups. Omega extended the credits with lots of dates, U2, B. B. King, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Neil Young, Little Feat, lots of folks (http://www.omegalive.com/artists/). The console now rests in RCA Studio B in Nashville, where Elvis & Carl Perkins did much of their early recording. A fitting finish for a grand lady. Belmont University recording students use it for their introduction to analogue. The Country Music Hall of Fame gives tours to folks during the day. Pictures of the console are here: http://goo.gl/47pSSW. Hope some of this helps answer some of your questions...
More - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Heider_Studios

[danry...@gmail.com]

I know this is a very old thread but I just came upon it and wanted to add that I own a custom Universal Audio console, designed by Frank De Medio, which was at one point on a Wally Heider mobile truck and has the Filmways/Heider label n it. From the last post I assume that mine was the smaller one which went to Hawaii. I think it was also owned by the Record Plant, wen it was used to record The Song Remains the Same at MSG and Aerosmith Rocks, but that's where my knowledge runs out. If anyone knows more about the history of this board, or of someone who might, please let me know. Thanks!

[Rick Ruskin]

On Thu, 21 Jan 2016 11:23:11 -0800 (PST), danry...@gmail.com wrote:

>I know this is a very old thread but I just came upon it and wanted to add that I own a custom Universal Audio console, designed by Frank De Medio, which was at one point on a Wally Heider mobile truck and has the Filmways/Heider label n it. From the last post I assume that mine was the smaller one which went to Hawaii. I think it was also owned by the Record Plant, wen it was used to record The Song Remains the Same at MSG and Aerosmith Rocks, but that's where my knowledge runs out. If anyone knows more about the history of this board, or of someone who might, please let me know. Thanks!

I bought an AKG BX20 from their bankruptcy sale. It was later sold to
Hank Alrich.
Rick Ruskin
Lion Dog Music- Seattle WA
http://liondogmusic.com