Studio Equipment
When Eric Radcliffe opened Blackwing he initially used an eight track TEAC for recording artists, this was later replaced by a 16 track machine. A second recorder was acquired and locked together with the initial machine giving Blackwing 32 tracks of recording. This system was used for many early recordings by Yazoo and Depeche Mode. The system was eventually rationalised when two 24 track machines were purchased; one for Blackwing and one for Splendid Studios, downstairs. Blackwing used an Amek 2500 mixing desk which was modified to work with electronic instruments. All the equipment at Blackwing and Splendid Studios was designed to be patchable through patch bays, none of the effects units were hard wired. Vince Clarke installed a Fairlight CMI into Blackwing, which he had bought before the Yazoo tour, and used it on tracks like Never Never by The Assembly. Due to the low bandwidth that the Fairlight produced he began using the Synclavier, which used FM synthesis. This lead in 1984 to Clarke’s purchase of a Yamaha DX7, he also updated the soundcards in the Fairlight to create a fuller sound. The Fairlight was used to sample sounds of Clarke smashing all sorts of wood, china and glass that were found when demolishing the lower part of the church to build Splendid Studios. Blackwing used a range of quality reverberation including an AMS RMX, Lexicon 224 and 224X and a Quantec Room Simulator. Recordings at Blackwing also used natural reverb from a long corridor that still retained the stonework from the original war damaged church. Above the studio there was a natural echo chamber that lay under the church roof. Eric Radcliffe left the echo chamber when designing the studios as it was seemed a waste removing it.
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