THE DOLBY TRICK STORY - How the Dolby 360 Module Changed The World!

How DID Michael Jackson get such clean vocals on thriller with just a cheap dynamic Shure SM7 microphone? What gear did Bruce Swedien & Quincy Jones use? The "Dolby Trick" (Dolby models 360, 361, 362 and 365) was famously used by George Martin & John Lennon, Bruce Swedien & Michael Jackson, Thomas Baker & Queen and many more. It has recently become even more popular with engineers across the globe thanks to the Audio Thing A-Trick plugin. However, before the plug-in, this unintended noise reduction module was an industry secret that found it's way onto thousands of recording studios for it's ability to add air and lift to a vocal track. Most people still think the "Dolby Trick" is achieved by either a special EQ curve or some kind of enhancer or expander... but it isn't! It's actually early multi-band compression.
In this video I break down what it is, how to mod the A-Type card yourself and how it has literally shaped the face of pop music as we know it. Use the timestamps below to jump to what interests you most. Make sure to watch till the end when we discover section 6.4.3 in the original manual that changed the world forever. Audio nerds of the world unite!
This channel is entirely self-funded, please help me continue to create this content below by leaving a kind word, sub/share & if you are feeling like becoming a financial supporter you can donate here and show some love :
lutzmultimedia.com/donate/
TIMESTAMPS :
0:00 - INTRO
0:26 - WHAT IT IS *
1:08 - THE CAT. NO 43A MIXER
1:44 - CONTACT VS FADER CLEANER REMINDER
2:39 - SLIGHT MODEL 361 DIFFERENCES
3:34 - WHERE TO BUY YOUR OWN
4:08 - THE PLAN
4:33 - WHAT IT ISN'T *
5:02 - HOW TO MOD YOUR OWN CAT22 CARD!
8:09 - DOLBY TRICK LISTENING TEST
9:18 - AUDIOTHING.COM BLOG ABOUT "THE A-TRICK"
10:45 - SINGING TEST
11:10 - BRUCE SWEDIEN'S ICONIC 1982 GEAR COLLECTION
12:06 - EXCITER, EXPANDER, MAXIMIZER... SAME THING
12:58 - UNMODIFIED CARD VS MODIFIED CARD
14:43 - OTHER APPLICATIONS OF THE DOLBY 361
15:37 - HOW THIS UNIT ACTUALLY CHANGED THE WORLD
17:11 - GUITAR TEST
19:59 - VIDEO OUTRO
Check out all my other creative endeavors at :
LutzMultimedia.com
My Recording Studio:
www.JMLRecording.com
More on the Academy Curve:
www.sweetwater.com/insync/aca...
Interesting forum thread about the Dolby mods:
groupdiy.com/threads/dolby-ca...
More about the Dolby A Trick plugin:
www.audiothing.net/blog/the-d...
#musichistory #musicgear #DolbyTrick #recordingstudio #musicstudio #dolbyatrick #audiocompressor #musiccompressor #audioequipment #spacialenhancer #vocaltreatment #dolby #quincyjones #bruceswedien #michaeljackson

[@threadjunctionrecordings45]

cue the waynes world, we're not worthy. best YT channel going for audio nerds. cheers

[@MobiusMinded]

Nice to see someone on KZbin who actually gets this. I’ve bee using this technique since the late 80’s, when Keith Olsen (legendary Producer/Engineer) turned me on to it, and in fact showed me the mod himself. Remember, as the unit is doing EXPANSION to the signal that falls below the threshold…. Send LESS inout gain, the more you want the expansion effect. Just raise the return fader to compensate for level. WHEN you send audio that is over the threshold, No Expansion (thus No Effect) takes place. It’s purpose was to boost low level, high frequency info - the mind that tape hiss would mask. Then, on playback the reverse happens. The same frequency bands are lowered… which in turn lowers the tape his. Of course, we’re only interested in the encoding process. Again… awesome KZbin video on a subject that’s been to well hidden. Cheers.

[@JMLRecording]

That’s awesome info! Thanks for the kind words too. I’d love to get my hands on a modified version of the 361 with variable threshold control. I’ve seen pics of some very tricked out modules capable of very clever signal manipulation but not yet in person.

[@MobiusMinded]

@@JMLRecording raising & lowering signal input is equivalent to lowering & raising the threshold.

[@JMLRecording]

Yes! And I saw somebody modify, one that also had the ability to control the four bands, allowing you to attenuate 30 Hz to 1 kHz on the face of the module, or play with different variations of compression! Very cool.

[@officialpoa3171]

*So basically IT AN EQ! You should be able to achieve the exact same results with an inexpensive long throw 12db-/+ 31 BAND GRAPHIC EQ and a multiband compressor.*

[@officialpoa3171]

*they also used it on EASY LOVER entire mix*

[@JMLRecording]

Oh wow I didn’t know that! I think after Swedien used it all engineers took notice. Everyone from John Lennon to Queen employed it. There was a point when the world called this the “Lennon Trick” too!

[@RayTheProducer]

Fascinating stuff! I’m a fan. You’re clearly knowledgeable and passionate. FYI, the Noveltech Vocal thing on Plug-in Alliance does something similar, but way easier to overuse. I like this better. Overload makes an emulation too. But ain’t nothing like the real thing baby!

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

@3:20 easy to mod the lights with LED but personally I"m not a fan of the LED look but if you need it to glow ;)

[@JMLRecording]

Yea to each their own. Nothing wrong w that :) if you have a modern LED studio I could see it being cool. Personally my studio has a Persian rug, vintage vibe so not my bag

[@christopherthorn7915]

Really Great clear info ! I've been using this trick for years and it is my secret weapon . You have explained it clearer than anybody . Great work . ct

[@JMLRecording]

thanks man! Its comments like these that tell me im not completely wasting my time lol - thank you Chris xx

[@carlmoretonmusic]

Very informative and enjoyable video. Cheers 🙂

[@JMLRecording]

Glad you enjoyed it my friend! Give me a sub, I'm making one on the Altec 436 this week you'll love. Thanks again

[@BennyJayYouTube]

cool man

[@MariJu1ce]

You worked with Russell! Thats awesome! Hes one of my favs!

[@JMLRecording]

Yes very briefly but I did get to help out on an Al Green session with Questlove, the Dave Chapel Block Party soundtrack he did and a couple other amazing projects. He is the nicest engineer I've ever known. Chatted recently w him at a Electric Garden studio party in BK and he was as nice and down to earth as ever ❤

[@hanzvolt]

this piece makes my mono synths sound killer!! awesome vid! I fully understand this beast now.. ty✌

[@JMLRecording]

Once your synths goes Vocalstressor, it will never go back. It's incredible what the stretch mod does for synth. Good on ya!

[@DonnAaron]

Great video! I just received a modified cat22 card from you. It sounds incredible, thank you!

[@JMLRecording]

Awesome man!! Try that thing on keys and even guitar (especially acoustic w a darker ribbon). You'll NEVER go back. Unbelievable.

[@LosFicosMusic]

AMAZING WORK BRO!!!

[@JMLRecording]

Thank you very much Los Ficos you rock ❤

[@cultleaderglobal]

very cool

[@Rohme.33]

Instant subscribe

[@JMLRecording]

Instant best sub ever!! ❤️✌️

[@WassupFred]

Amazing Video man... I need to check out your studio setup..

[@JMLRecording]

Anytime JMLrecording.com

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

not trying to nitpick..but you can use contact cleaner on fader but you have to find a lubricant to utlize with it as it will create more friction without the 'formula'.. sometimes you have to improvise. even without the lubricant you can get that channel clean for the time being.

[@JMLRecording]

Interesting! May very well be true however tech rule of thumb is that contact cleaner removes the film of lubricant from the plastic tracks, causing rapid wear. It also dries out the wipers of potentiometers and rapidly wrecks them too. I was always taught to never use contact cleaner on pots, tactile buttons, switches or faders. Use only fader cleaner/lube on faders. Yes, it may temporary clean up some noise here or there but you’re destroying your gear over time. My recommendation to viewers remains to buy some fader lube and always keep on hand. Contact cleaner is ONLY for points of contact (ie xlr, trs, TS, db25, elco, etc)

[@kenwhelan3003]

New subscriber .... great video

[@JMLRecording]

Thanks my friend, means a lot. I was wondering if these videos mean anything to anyone but it’s cool to see people enjoying this obscure audio history like I do :) thank you

[@kenwhelan3003]

Now I have a clearer understanding of Robert Scovills use of this trick on Geddy Lee's voice when he did live sound for Rush for a number of years.. but he used the much larger rack unit model 301 with the low process cards pulled...used as an exciter mainly on vocals and acoustic gtr...sounds wonderful!!

[@JMLRecording]

wow I learn something new everyday thats amazing!! I wonder if thats a direct inspiration between them you found?? I bet it is. More research! More Chi! Well done homie

[@pedroleal7118]

Sounds great with the acoustic guitar, we can notice the difference, way better than with the 'voice'!

[@JMLRecording]

Right?? Engineers like you are catching on. Just like smart mastering engineers use multiband compression instead of EQ's to fix mix issues, this is a mix engineers secret weapon to bring pretty much any source forward in a mix without pushing something else out of the way in the frequency spectrum. We are slightly limited by the 4 fixed bands Dolby chose though, so here's the million dollar idea: create a mod for the 361 (or even better, the stereo 365 or 362) to allow adjustable frequency variation on a potentiometer for all 4 bands (or at least Q sweeps)! Maybe someone has already done this? I've seen some pretty wild mods out there already. If not, I would looooove to make a video with someone that can make one! I would sponsor that build for sure.

[@kenwhelan3003]

Yes I'm a fan of all of this

[@JMLRecording]

Thanks!

[@natlove219]

a SM7"B was not used. It was a a OG SM7. Good vid though!

[@JMLRecording]

Of course my friend, sm7b was invented in 2003 so I am pretty sure I mentioned the sm7. My bad if that wasn’t clear - cheers

[@JeroBagg]

A 414 EB with a brass capsule, in good working order, should need very little to no help in the high end. Though the Dolby trick will probably work pretty well with a nylon capsule EB, which (to me), despite popular claims, is quite a nice microphone.

[@JMLRecording]

I would agree entirely. I would almost never use the Dolby trick on any condenser microphone at all. I primarily use it on dynamics and occasionally ribbons. I don’t know anyone who would think a Brass capsule 414 EB is not a good microphone; it is mostly regarded as one of the greatest mics ever made, next to its big brother the C12 (or C24). Most of he EB mics are phenomenal, especially the old 451’s. So good…

[@JeroBagg]

@@JMLRecording I was referring to people not liking the nylon capsule EBs. Towards the end of the 70s, when people would send their original EBs (or Combs) to AKG for service, and the capsule needed replacing, AKG would replace the brass capsule with their new nylon capsule. When people got their mics back from AKG, they sounded completely different. While a brass capsule EB sounds noticeably more beautiful than the nylon version, it doesn't mean the nylon version is bad. I get great results using nylon capsule EBs and Combs on vocals and piano. But I will say the original brass capsule 414s are the best sounding large diaphragm solid state mics ever made, as far as I'm concerned. Big fan of the channel BTW!

[@JMLRecording]

@JeroBagg oh haha sorry brother, I misread. but yes, I would emphatically agree with you once again. I have some newer 414s here here that I adore and that sound great on all kinds of sources. I also have a C24 with the CK12 Brass capsules and it obviously sounds great. I’m pretty much anything. But they’re all great mics for sure. Tha ks for the support!

[@MobiusMinded]

I finally found a great emulation….”Type A” by Audio Thing. Thinking of selling my 361’s (and several modded and un modded cards.’

[@JMLRecording]

Yes! Audio Thang plug is great. Thanks for mentioning. I was shocked when it dropped because I wasn’t aware this old noise reduction unit was on the radar like that. I think I mentioned it in this video briefly too. I’ve compared “Type A” plugin to my outboard 361’s (and stereo 362 & 365’s). I should have A-B’d it against the outboard in this video, sorry. IMHO the plug (like most plugins) is almost there but not quite. Binary code vs analog components is an age old debate so I digress, but it does seem that the analog 361 is still a bit punchier, fuller and better at lifting the source up and out front in a mix. I also noticed the sheen the analog 361 gives has a tiny bit more color and warmth than the plugin, which I like. Both are a great solution. Having said that, like most audio nerd nuances, 90% of earbud endusers can’t tell the difference and don’t care. The plug is an awesome plugin for ITB guys and worth every penny. Great comment!

[@MobiusMinded]

@@JMLRecording yeah, that’s cool, and common. I don’t think about those small shortcomings of DAW tech to OG analog, because I love all the other things that come with the process. At the end of the mix, if you did your job right, those small differences within the context of the mix become irrelevant.

[@hurzzz]

@@JMLRecordingdo an AB comparison video between plug and hardware please

[@BobbyMBoMor]

Sounds no where near as good. Plug ins are always flat. Ive done the comparison myself.

[@raykash1673]

I am interested in one of your cards but may i ask, what exactly is the point of the mod? I dont really understand it. Wouldnt you want the lower bands engaged so the vocal wouldnt be muddy? What is the difference between your mod and a normal cat 22?

[@JMLRecording]

Hey man good question. So you don’t want to compress the low end because it sucks the life and body out of the lower frequencies. It ads a lot of air and lift by limiting dynamic range. People often pair darker ribbon mics placed next to a LDC to fill in lower information missing by brighter, more contemporary LSC’s (or even SEC’s). Dolby A splits the audio spectrum into four bands, applying varying amounts of compression to each band. When you compress the lower end you’re limiting that low end information and reducing dynamic range, therefore loosing the body and fullness of the vocal. Lifting the high end sounds pleasing. Not so much on low end, so engineers removed lower two bands to retain body and add air to top.

[@raykash1673]

@@JMLRecording so basically so you can use it direct, opposed to parallel? sorry i was not notified that you commented. And its funny that you say “lifeless”. I produced a practice mix yesterday, 2 track. I ran the lead, via send through a 361 with unmodified cat. 22. Then i mixed the return signal with a parallel compression track. I kept the dry lead very quiet, as the 361 sounds really good, its a bit scary. So i exported the mix like that and sent it through a master site. It sounded so good to me and everyone who listened said it sounds great. I listened to it so much yesterday! Then tonight when i listened, i notice how flat and bodyless it sounds in comparison to some industry songs lol. It doesnt sound horrible but now i completely believe that i understand this mod fr lol. Need that body! Just gotta eq and compress the mud myself i see lol

[@JMLRecording]

@@raykash1673 hey brother, yes the unit imparts a slight boost in overall gain and body just apssing through the unit without the NR IN button engaged. In fact, the 362, which is a stereo version of the 361 has a calibrate knob that you pull out to adjust gain staging!

[@damesystemexec4161]

I have 4 and love them to death. Never parting with my 361s. I do however need the switch lens for the version that has the “set up” switch. Missing (white lens)does anyone know where I can get one?!

[@JMLRecording]

Hiya - To my knowledge, no one reproduces them :/ I have cannibalized a broken one for all the little parts like that in the past. What I've also done is put one of the other colors on the missing button (all you need is the far left two anyway) and then cover the empty hole with colored electrical tape. It'll last decades and looks real clean believe it or not. Otherwise, get a donor unit and cannibalize it. If you're handy with a dremmel you should definitely be able to fab a lens from acrylic too! Or just sell your 4 361's and get two stereo 365's (or 362's) hahaha! Lastly, keep in mind that the earlier 361's and later versions varied drastically in the lens design. One were U shaped and the later ones were flat panels that won't fit. Anyway... Good luck my friend!

[@damesystemexec4161]

@@JMLRecording yeah the one I need is the u shape lens. Thanx a mill. Yeah the 362 and 365s are niiiiiice. I almost got the 360s but someone snagged it, but that’s ok I’m fine with 4 361s. They will be enough to get the job done hahahaha

[@damesystemexec4161]

@@JMLRecordingwell looks like I gotta purchase the clear cover and some cards. I didn’t know you can use the foot switch

[@JMLRecording]

@@damesystemexec4161 I got you, I even do LED internal mods behind the clear plexi for guys who like that vibe. Let me know! LutzMultimedia.com

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

Last channel on orange unit... 3khz to how high? 20khz?

[@JMLRecording]

Hi bud, not sure what you mean by that question, sorry. The Orange 55 amp I made is 15/7 Watts switchable and can handle 1×8 OHM, 1×16 OHM or 2×16 OHM. Is that what you wanted to know? Thx

[@Mike-vr7mb]

Whats the difference between this and the 361? Thanks

[@JMLRecording]

Good question. The only difference is that the 360 has remote control option and monitor control. Niether of which you need to achieve the Dolby Trick. The difference between the 362 and 365 is that the 362 is 1U and the 365 is 2U. For studio use of the vocalstressor application any will do the exact same thing as long as you utilize a modified cat22. Cheers - JML

[@intromix]

Can you do repair work on a 361?

[@JMLRecording]

I don’t typically repair the modules, no. I can do the modification on the card if you’d like. Www.JMLrecording.com

[@raykash1673]

So when you are speaking, are you running it parallel or direct? And how do you wire it. I purchased two of them and im not sure if i am wiring them correctly. Your help would be greatly appreciated!

[@JMLRecording]

Hi - I'm running out of a Neve 1073, direct into the Dolby (via a patchbay). So on the back there are a few sets of XLR I/O. Use the Use "Line In" for input and "To Record" for output for simple Dolby trick usage. Hope that helps brother. Pls share my video and sub! Thx Ray ~ JML

[@raykash1673]

Thank you so much for that speedy response. May i ask one more question, why is it that so many people recommend running it parallel, if it sounds so good direct? Is it to save some of the body of the lead vocal or something? But when u have the mod, not touching the low and mid bands, wouldn’t it work perfectly direct? Maybe i just answered my own question but please confirm that if so. Thank you!

[@JMLRecording]

That a great question. I have another 3 part video called “ultimate 15 mixing tips” and #8 is by far the most important, “if it sounds good, it is good”. Go with your gut, my friend. Listen to it with a separate dry track in parallel and then listen to it by itself and whichever one sounds best for the song you’re working on, just go with it man. There is no right way (this applies to absolutely every rule in the book imho). This unit has been used on hundreds of iconic recordings in BOTH ways. I might just add to that that if the effect sounds too dramatic, like the high end is a little bit too airy and shrill, THEN try balancing it with a dry, parallel application. Otherwise if it sounds great once folded INTO the mix by itself, run with it alone. Trust your ears brother! All the very best

[@raykash1673]

Amazing. Thank you brother! Stay blessed

[@JMLRecording]

You too man. Hope you enjoy my other vids too! Take care and happy recording ✌️

[@raykash1673]

Would you use 2 dolby 361s for mastering? Im just wondering would that be a thing?

[@JMLRecording]

What's up Ray! Short answer is no. Long answer is... maybe? I say no simply because the "stretched" Cat22 cards would be compressing about 1K-5K without any parameter control. They'd be limiting your dynamic range beyond what a mastering engineer would probably do. However, like all projects, try and see! Happy accidents through experimentation is often a key of a great mix. While I certainly wouldn't recommend leaving stereo 361's on your mix bus permanently, it may actually sound cool on the RIGHT project. Synth guru Hanz Volt leaves a pair on his synth bus at all times and swears by them. Daft Punk uses a crap-tastic Alesis 3630 on their synth bus (yikes) so who are we to hammer down an unorthodox thought? Could be cool for a unique sheen on the mid-highs of a dark mix? As they say, "If it sounds good, it is good." Toa De Ching literally translates to, "The way called the way is not the way" for this exact reason. Mix engineers could use a bit of that ancient wisdom now and again ;) Best advice I ever got was from Ric Ocasek at Electric Lady right before he passed. He told me simply, "just use your ears kid."

[@raykash1673]

@@JMLRecording thank you much bro! I really appreciate you

[@pedroleal7118]

Interesting, unfortunatly, we don't have access to your modifications in Europe... About acoustic guitars, In my experience, nothing beats M/S technique...!

[@JMLRecording]

Alan Bluemin was so far ahead of his time there should be a statue of him in front of every studio :) Right on!

[@andysummersthxcinemaandmyc7748]

i think i give this try and test with my Dolby Stereo CP200 , R109 , R209 , but agree 10:41 shouldn't whore the products lol i see if makes a difference with some laserdiscs theatrical mixes , as blu 4k really whore the products with near field mixes maybe why so many blu uhd atmos upmixes or blu discs really sound like been raped of dynamic range lol# its not scientific due to never be able to make same vocal sound twice 10:48 should use , pink noise to notice the sound difference 11:56 i seen 361 cheaper than fish and chips , but since 2020 i seen prices go greedy , no longer fish and chips , rare find sellers that are fish and chips , sell them at fish and chips 12:28 what like shove mj inside like pushing a resistor with voltage ? lol i wonder now if same trick can be done with Dolby SR cards , so many cat meow , SR cards ? 280 , 280t , 350

[@JMLRecording]

Hi thanks for the comment. While a bit hard to decipher, I agree with some of what you said. Veeeeery interesting comment about the pink noise and I'd like to offer a fun, nerdy answer and push back on this a bit, if you'll allow it. While it's true pink noise would have showed better results on a spectral analyzer, a human speaking voice is far better to HEAR the difference, which was most important to me. Modern humans evolved from Africa 200,000 years ago and from then till now, the human ear has evolved around one thing: to prioritize the ability to hear the human speaking voice (not pink noise) above all noises. Mother nature's priority was survival and communication. Fascinating fact about this is that professional piano tuners actually tune low notes sharp and high notes flat because our ears are actually trying to pull all frequencies to the center to where human speaking voice frequencies occur! Even most musicians are unaware of how erroneously off pitch our ears are to this phenomenon. Again, this is because our brains prioritize human speech and have evolved around it. The frequency spectrum of pink noise is linear in logarithmic scale & has equal power in bands that are proportionally wide. Although pink noise contains all of audible frequencies (20Hz - 20Khz), we don't hear all of them equally AT ALL and are not "tuned" to them either. That's why it's called "noise" and why I do not agree that it would be useful for musical analysis. I wanted people to truly "hear" the difference by using the human speaking voice (85Hz-255Hz), which is most familiar to us for thousands of years. I also could have printed the same recording but... who cares. It's not a mic shootout. Having said all that, if I made the video again I'd add both speaking voice and pink noise to have all info! Good idea for next time, thanks. As far as me taking exactly 8 seconds for advertising my products, I'm a content creator and I sell stuff so... sorry not sorry :) Regarding SR cards, I DO use them often for a variety of mix tricks! Not the same but still quite useful indeed. That would make for another great video, thanks for bringing that up! All the best - Joshua

[@vminator]

Don't talk sh!t on DBX 160's. There's a reason they use them.

[@JMLRecording]

Hahaha I know I know. I was busting balls. Aphex Twin used a ton of Alesis outboard to make great records. None of this matters ;) Its how you use it!