Michael Jackson Beat It Multitrack Exclusive -

The isolated and Synth Pad tracks reveal the "glue" that holds the rock aggression and pop sensibility together. The fairlight or Synclavier (early digital synthesizers) pads fill out the mid-range frequencies, ensuring the track sounds massive on a car stereo and on a pair of headphones. These tracks are often overlooked because they are mixed so low, but muted, the song loses its "atmosphere" completely.

Here is a breakdown of what you hear when you solo each track.

According to studio lore, Van Halen recorded his legendary solo in roughly two takes, significantly changing the song's original structure. michael jackson beat it multitrack exclusive

Listening to the isolated solo track, you can hear the natural amplifier hiss and the distinct room acoustics of Sunset Sound. The stem also captures a legendary studio anomaly: right before the solo begins, a distinct knocking sound can be heard. For years, rumors claimed someone was knocking on the studio door. The multitrack clarifies that it was actually Eddie Van Halen tapping on the body of his guitar to check his signal before launching into his blistering, two-hand tapping runs. Michael Jackson’s Vocal Genius

He doubled his parts to create a massive wall of sound. Interestingly, the multitrack reveals that Lukather also played a secondary, cleaner rhythm guitar part that sat lower in the mix, adding a rhythmic sparkle that kept the track from becoming too muddy. The Van Halen Solo Event The isolated and Synth Pad tracks reveal the

In addition to the heavy distortion, a cleaner, funkier rhythm track is mixed in to define the chord changes, which is a key element of Quincy Jones's production style. 2. "Beat It" Isolated Vocal Session: Raw MJ

For students of music production, hearing the stems allows them to understand how to layer vocals, create space for a guitar solo, and mix high-tempo rock/pop tracks. Here is a breakdown of what you hear

The most fascinating story to emerge from an examination of the multitrack is the origin of Eddie Van Halen's legendary guitar solo. It turns out, the solo almost didn't happen.

A programmed drum pattern on a Linn LM-1 drum computer provided the unyielding, metronomic pulse.

, depending on the source. Key elements isolated in these files include:

So, put on your best headphones. Close your eyes. And listen to the ghosts in the machine. You will never hear that synth stab, that tapping dive, or that whispered "beat it" the same way again.