Top 5Seen using
Seen in Sound On Sound: Bruce Swedien, Recording Michael Jackson, November 2009
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Michael Jackson. Every item links to its public source.
10 items · Last checked What gear does Michael Jackson use?
Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, sang most of his lead vocals, including Billie Jean and The Way You Make Me Feel, into a Shure SM7, according to engineer Bruce Swedien. Thriller was made on a Harrison 4032 console, and he wore Florsheim Imperial loafers when he first rehearsed the moonwalk.
Top 5
Where to start with Michael Jackson's gear.
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Harrison
4032 console (Thriller sessions at Westlake)
Top 5Seen using
Seen in Sound On Sound: Bruce Swedien, Recording Michael Jackson, November 2009
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04
Acoustic Sciences Corporation
Tube Traps (vocal booth treatment from Bad onward)Seen in Sound On Sound: Bruce Swedien, Recording Michael Jackson, November 2009
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Sennheiser
MD421 (kick drum on Billie Jean)
Top 5Seen using
Sennheiser
MD421 (kick drum on Billie Jean)Seen in Sound On Sound: Bruce Swedien, Recording Michael Jackson, November 2009
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What studio gear Michael Jackson uses: a sourced gear guide
Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.
Studio
Seen in Sound On Sound: Bruce Swedien, Recording Michael Jackson, November 2009
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Acoustic Sciences Corporation
Tube Traps (vocal booth treatment from Bad onward)Seen in Sound On Sound: Bruce Swedien, Recording Michael Jackson, November 2009
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Sennheiser
MD421 (kick drum on Billie Jean)Seen in Sound On Sound: Bruce Swedien, Recording Michael Jackson, November 2009
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Seen using
Seen in Sound On Sound: Bruce Swedien, Recording Michael Jackson, November 2009
AKG
C414 EB (violins on Billie Jean)
Seen using
Seen in Sound On Sound: Bruce Swedien, Recording Michael Jackson, November 2009
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Seen in Sound On Sound: Bruce Swedien, Recording Michael Jackson, November 2009
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What I wore
Seen in Revolt: Michael Jackson's iconic moonwalk loafers set to be auctioned off, April 2018
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Questions
About Michael Jackson's gear.
What microphone did Michael Jackson use?
Engineer Bruce Swedien told Sound On Sound he used a Shure SM7 on most of Michael Jackson's lead vocals, including Billie Jean and The Way You Make Me Feel.
What mics were used on Billie Jean?
A Shure SM7 for the lead vocal, a Sennheiser MD421 on the kick, a Shure SM57 on the snare, an AKG C414 EB on the violins and a Neumann U67 on violas and cellos, per Bruce Swedien.
What console was Thriller recorded on?
A Harrison 4032 at Westlake Studios. Bruce Swedien later bought a Harrison desk of his own after using the 4032 on Thriller.
What shoes did Michael Jackson moonwalk in?
Black Florsheim Imperial leather loafers. He wore a signed pair at the 1983 rehearsal for the Motown 25 TV special, when he first performed the moonwalk during Billie Jean.
MJ
Michael Jackson
About this guide · Last checked
Michael Jackson was the singer behind Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. He died on June 25, 2009. This legacy guide covers the microphones and studio gear on his records, as described by engineer Bruce Swedien, and the loafers he moonwalked in.
truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Michael Jackson didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.
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