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Born in the USA

• Born in the USA •

One of the greatest larger-than-life snare sounds. The explosive timbre begins with drummer Max Weinberg — his technique, musicality, and well-tuned kit. The studio gets involved with a heavy hand — strong dose of EMT 140 plate reverb through a Kepex Gate, augmented by the acoustic sound of Power Station Studio A , with a sample layered in for good measure.  

It’s a distinct mid-80s species in the evolution of gated snare sounds that began in 1980, and was made wildly famous a year later.

100% of the rest of the reverb in this mix is the stairwell Chamber One, Power Station.

  • Artist: Bruce Springsteen
  • Album: Born in the USA
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Year: 1984
  • Producer: Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt
  • Engineer: Bob Clearmountain, Toby Scott
  • Studio: The Power Station, New York, NY, USA

Peg O’ My Heart

• Peg O’ My Heart •

This unique recording is widely considered the first ‘creative’ use of artificial reverb. It is certainly a strong use of chamber reverb (the men’s bathroom). The result? This chamber reverb does not try to simulate a realistic space. Instead, it goes for an ear-grabbing effect that creates a new texture and timbre..

  • Artist: The Harmonicats
  • Label: Vitacoustics
  • Engineer: Bill Putnam, Sr.
  • Studio: Universal Studio, Evanston, Illinois, USA