I would’ve never imagined in a million years to hear how one of the most memorable and iconic songs in music history was composed, recorded and produced. This is bloody marvellous content.
Yes! Exactly. I dropped everything and paid attention and enjoyed every idea they discussed. Crazy Chris broke 5 microphones with his voice during the recording of this song.
This is the first proper celebration of Soundgarden since Chris' death. What better way of understanding the man than pulling apart his compositional side and the whole ocean of sound wrapped around him being the band - and now a fifth member in my eyes - Michael. Thanks a million times Warren!
Chris says on another youtube video that he wrote the whole song in his head while driving home one night. He recorded some of it into a tape recorder before going to bed, and the rest is history. So it was this guy who unleashed that song into his head :) A very inspiring story. Thanks for all this free culture, Produce Like A Pro. Our brains are growing through our hearts
I agree. It’s so interesting to have an expert explain something I’ve always felt listening to this song but never realized and even if I did, wouldn’t have been able to explain it. How genius was Soundgarden to come up with music like this
"I'm not used to someone presenting me with a song where I listen to it, I don't want to pay attention to anything else and when I'm done with it, I feel different than I felt when I started, I almost feel refreshed AND I wanna go back and hear it again." This.
After Michael mentioned Chris going after the sounds of The Beatles and Cream, it's so apparent the influence Jack Bruce has had on his singing style. I absolutely love hearing about artists influences and making those ties, so thank you for sharing that Michael!
Hi Friends, I recently had a chance to sit down with the amazingly talented Michael Beinhorn and all I have to say is that it was a rather exciting chat! We talked about his involvement with perhaps THE most iconic rock song of the ’90s. Everything from the drum sounds, guitar sounds, vocals, and songwriting is unbelievable! The track, of course, is "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden, which Michael produced and engineered. Having the chance to meet with Michael and break down one of the most recognised rock songs ever made was nothing short of incredible.
Awesome video! I love this series anyways, but this is one of my favorite songs with one of my favorite sounds. Thank you so much for making this possible! And again a lesson in how good the source tones are before the mix... tracking is and will always be the most important stage of any mix. Again: Thank you!
thank you warren, this is great!! there's some soundgarden isos around but hearing it from michael is just so much better!!! and of course you ask all the right questions! any chance of getting in touch with brendan o'brien for an 'inside the song' of some of his work?
23:49 - "they're along with the ride for you, it's not like you have to create the ride for them" is 1000% the reason why producers exist. The extra brain in the room, with enough musical knowledge to drive a musician in a direction. Like Sir George Martin with the Beatles. Excellent video!!!
As a bass player I really enjoyed hearing the isolated bass. As I was listening, I was thinking that it was odd that I never noticed how the bass line just kept sinking lower and lower without resolving. Then it hit me, duh, the song has black hole in the title. This was a tremendous gift. Thank you Warren and Michael!
As a songwriter and producer one thing I think Michael is well aware of but forgot to mention is the importance the technique and big role the hands of the artist play tone wise in stringed instrumentation.
Saw them on this tour. Kim Thayil does not get recognized enough. I was surprised to hear only "individual recording " tracks. But once it was mixed? Wow! There are good Producers, and great Producers. This man is in the latter category. Soundgarden was the diamond. He cut and polished them to brilliance.
washthesandout Oh yes me too! I hear his voice or see his face it hurts all over again. I have never been so deeply hurt over any person I did not even know. It is sort of like I am also missing what he’d be writing and singing today. I was around for Jimi, Janis, Jim but Chris and Layne Stanley were just such a loss.
Oh, yes. We are all only now realising the genius of Kim Thayil. Avoidance of cliche, fantastic attack and articulation, mind-bending scales... The solo on Spoonman is a thrill ride!
90’s was a great age of drumming,Cameron,Grohl,Chamberlin,so many more,the singers also,iconic and the guitarists had great tones,90’s alternative scene was tremendous,great songwriting.
Another great drummer from that scene was Sean Kinney in Alice In Chains. If he got enough space to hit the snare on the upbeat, and it would sound cool, he would do it
The vocal work on this album is a clinic for making a great rock album. The number of different ways Chris used his voice is amazing, and I think this album was by far his best vocal performance.
It was so cool to hear Michael talk about leaving Chris alone to cut his own vocal tracks... We do the same with our singer, Todd... Just leave him alone with his mic and notebooks! 👊
It took me a while to get into rock music, growing up in a family that listened to soul, hip hop, r&b, and jazz primarily. I was just starting to discover how much I like rock music when I played the first rockband game, and thus I heard this song for the first time I could remember. I was blown away by the composition of this song, that "tension" existing throughout the entire track, how powerful the vocal is, everything about it really. I aspire to be a producer/engineer myself. To be able to watch this interview with the man who produced one of my favorite rock songs, hear the individual elements, learn the genius that went into recording and mixing this masterpiece, is exactly what I needed to see today! I loved this! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this for us! I look forward to seeing more!
@@JReaLBiz86 Great song. I love their heavy stuff like Dirt and Facelift. But where they really shine to me is their acoustic stuff. Check out Jar of Flies and Unplugged if you haven't already!
It was nice to hear something about Chris's choice to leave in his intakes and exhales after each vocal. I've never so consistently heard a singer's breathing in their recordings as Cornell's. This unadulterated element always made it feel like Chris was physically present in any room where his songs were playing.
2 things stood out to me...1) Michael said Electronic Music was the inspiration behind this...holy schnikies never would've thought that. and 2) He does not like to do too much compression on those vocals, no wonder...that sound! Wowsers...these interviews are so damn valuable thank you Warren!
98 percent of what is discussed here is completely foreign to me, but to hear professionals discuss their craft is fascinating. And it's an amazing song. I'm bringing on your videos!
This song is a pure masterpiece. Like a perfectly composed dish, painting or design of any kind. Seamlessly integrated, matching parts become a beautiful whole unit.
Great vid! As an owner of the Fender Vibratone 'Leslie,' I can tell you that it comes with a pigtail (crossover) that separates the frequencies; hi/lo goes back to the amp, while the mids go to the leslie speaker. That's why the mids are so sweet when recording it. Also--the speaker is actually stationary; there is a Styrofoam bit that spins, and it only has one opening, which creates that Doppler effect. The cab has openings on the sides/top for miking in stereo...SRV did it the same way for 'Cold Shot.' This tune is haunting, and you did it justice...fantastic!
That was enlightening. Thank you. I was already wondering how a speaker can rotate endlessly when it is likely that it is wired ;-). Same with a Leslie. It is never the speaker that rotates, but some horn or styrofoam...
"Understanding where the one is and recognizing that in the time between one and two there's a universe of possibilities… The whole world exists between between one downbeat and the next" What a fascinating statement… there's always a reason people are where they are in life… Brilliant
God bless Michael, he’s such a sweetheart. And a great storyteller too. And the way how he lights up as he discusses hearing the song for the first time-it’s almost as if you are transported back to when he heard it for the first time, ever, the memories are so vivid. He knows it is gonna be big-and he was right.
This song takes me straight back to my adolescence in Australia, I was either 14 or 15 when I first heard this on the radio and for a teenager the melancholia really stood out amongst the usual pop and rock of that era, it was definitely a unique song with that watery 60s sounding guitar. This song was the emo sequel to Here Comes the Sun from the Beatles.
This is so informative for those of us who adore Chris and SG but know nothing of the technical side of things. Thank y’all so much. And thank you Chris for everything. ❤️
Hearing michael talk about composition was very inspiring. You can tell this guy is passionate about music to a level that a regular person will never understand
Love your work! I mastered my college band Lodi’s self recorded album at Studio X back in 2000 I think, with Soundgarden and Pearl Jam’s sound engineer Josh Evans!
Still can't believe he's gone... He was such a brilliant human being. Feels like just yesterday I was a mere 6 feet from him watching SG at the Paramount in downtown Seattle. RIP Chris. 💔
every interview with Michael Bienhorn ive heard or seen regarding his career is amazing,from jerbie handcock's the rocket,to RHCP version of hogher groun d, to soundgardens major record and the snare drums used, cymbals and microphones and recording techniques is more exciting than watching a blockbuster action-thriller movie on IMAX or whatever, This guy was and is one of the masters of squeezing solid gold out of raw talent, and capturing it forever.thanks for giving us the chance to see how it was all done, perfectly.
This was filmed a few years ago so can you please text Michael and just thank him again for taking so much time to do this video? This was so enjoyable. You keyed in on so many good parts too. Thank you.
This has to be one of the most enjoyable interviews I've ever listened to. The decision to leave the room and let Chris record his own vocals because he felt that that would yield the best result epitomises the role of Producer. Great decision-making all around. Thanks for this.
nfijef i think it would still be a hit today. There's just not many songwriters around that are this good these days. Also the video for the track is one of the best music videos ever.
@@tuathadedannan4486 That's absolute bullshit! There are just as many, if not more talented songwriters around today. You just need to look outside the trashy top 40 chart hits circle. Also, there is no "best" in music. It's subjective.
my god this is fantastic... Can we get more with Michael talking about EVERY song on the album? I've learned so much from this. Truly a masterpiece, one of the best sounding albums ever recorded and i love hearing about all the details and work that went into it. There's so much knowledge he has to offer, would love to learn from him!
I was never a huge Soundgarden fan, but that song is and was great. And the "clean" sound is so unique, that even if you dial in something like this, you drop it, because it instantly sounds like "Black hole sun". Thanks for the reconstruction.
I've found that I only like songs in the groups Chris played in that he had done all or most of the writing on. I can tell almost immediately when I hear a Soundgarden song that Chris had very little input into, it doesnt have "it " just the emotional connection that Chris' songs have
This song ... I remember when I first heard it ... instantly iconic, deep and fascinating ... amazing performances and the melodics? Truly inspired and to hear that he didn't know if it would sound like a Soundgarden song … the mentorship and support of the producer and the trust and creativity he showed to the band was incredible.
Superunknown was the first album I ever listened to start to finish on my own, I was 10. I'm 27 now, I've listened to hundreds of amazing rock albums and Superunknown is still my favorite. Chris Cornell is my favorite singer/songwriter, and these songs are incredible. I also love the way this album sounds. Hearing the stories from Michael and listening to the bits and pieces of the song soloed honestly gave me goosebumps. This music on this album in particular is so important to me. Thank you for this video, cheers.
I have no idea why i teared up at this... starting at the part where he talks about talking to chris about writing this song. This band was such a humongous influence on me as a young man. Chris you left us too soon :(
Two comments; so much great content on your channel, I can’t believe I missed this! Also, Beatles, Cream inspirations , yes, but I hear a lot of Syd Barrett in the lyric, and I know Syd was a big influence on Cornell. Thanks for the video.
anyone else cry during this? am I just crazy? lol. the solo, solo'd. and then the ending vox. Haunting AF. What a GIFT to have this kind of insight into these epic timeless recordings and works of art
This series is an absolute gem. Opens a whole new dimension to a song which has so any layers when you listen to the final recorded version. You think you've heard it all until they break it down like this. The detailed vocal work, guitar tones, composition and putting it all together to make sense of it all. True quality content right here. TH-cam needs more of this man...
Oh wow. Double wow! Bless you Warren! At 23:00, we're given the best advice for overcoming self-doubt, and the pressure to suppress our true creative inclinations. Sooo huge!
Michael Beinhorn's joy and enthusiasm had me smiling, laughing, learning. How great when a producer knows when to push and when to back off... really enjoyed hearing how he left Chris alone to record his vocals, would've never imagined it that way. Thank you for this wonderful masterclass!
yeah makes me sad too. if you were around in 93 you'd know this spooky sounding music definitely matched the times. the world in southern CA actually felt like this song- as well as all that other moody grunge music
I’ve probably watched this video half a dozen times already. This is such an epic in depth look at a truly great song. Michael’s passion for the recording process is unmistakable and it’s so interesting to hear a detailed account along with some of his very distinct philosophies on music and recording. The thing that blows me away about this song is that all the main instrumentation sounds HUGE. The drums, bass, and guitars soloed are enormous and with the vocals it’s amazing that nothing gets overshadowed in the mix which is due in large part to the arrangement. Thank you Warren, these insights into the recording process of handpicked songs are fascinating to me, keep up the great work!
In tears, incredibly special. Picked up my first guitar because of that song, never thought I would hear the elements that way, let alone by the man who put it together. Thankyou!
I first saw this video 4 or 5 years ago and it really struck me and it changed a lot of the ways I play and record my drums. Just focusing on the source. I rewatch it every year and Michael just gives such honest and sound advice.
I've never had a body tingle seeing a notification before!! The production, the band and song on this is so good it brings a tears to my eyes when i hear it. Loving all these interviews.
Thanks ever so much! That's truly wonderful to hear my friend!! I cried too! I remember the day I heard this...wow!! What a song! Chris was the last great singers!
I’m 31 and just now understanding what it is a producer actually does and it so fascinating. They (perhaps the good ones) have their hands in the creative process just as much as the band and it’s so amazing to listen to. Thanks for the interviews!
The entire history of the world between the kick and snare. That's awesome. I've heard musicians talk about the infinite space between zero and one. I love when the arts, math and philosophy converge.
I don't know if anyone said it already, but I hear so much Rush influence in the guitars on this record, and a fair bit in the drumming at times too. But especially the guitars with the occasionally-anthemic major chords (53:43), and those how-the-f-did-he-think-of-that solo's. Takes me back to Fly By Night and Farewell to Kings on vinyl...
For so many years I have tried to understand how that album and song have been recorded (this CD is actually in my car CD player for ten years and in regular use ;-)). Thanks so much Warren and Michael for sharing!
Producing: conflict engagement not avoidance! Glad to hear he fought for the sound he wanted. The best album by this group. Clean and hairy.....what a concept. Great interview. Thanks to everyone for this post.
Great, great, great. Chris Cornell was an amazing musician and one of the all time greatest rock vocalists. It is such a thrill to hear this song presented in this fashion. Thank you Warren!
Totally agree! The ending is great. The choice of notes verge on random, but so does the guitar throughout the song. The root notes dont follow the vocal melody, yet they do enough to work and dont enough to be incredibly interesting. RIP Chris, you were one of the last true rock stars.
Only just discovered this channel, great stuff. Superunknown was the soundtrack to my 20's and introduced me to Soundgarden. Chris was one of those rare talents that elevated rock beyond what 99% of other artists could do.
Michael Beinhorn is one of the most humble and articulate individuals in his field, and Superunknown is one of the best sounding albums in the last 25 years easy.
WOW! Im glad i found this. I love Chris and Soundgarden. I to am a signer and musician and feel the same way like Chris. Writing songs that the fans will like. But we need to be reminded that we have to write music that we love and the fans will follow.
this video makes me cry, laugh, think in the life his meaning, in the music his borders and infinitness. this its what anyone needs to see in order to trying to learn about music composition, production and recording. warren you are making history books for the cult of rock, love you man!!
This song was released when I was 17, it has been and always will remain an important part of my life. I’m wondering what could possibly be a better birthday or Christmas present than this video. Can’t get any better than this, so you’ve just ruined the rest of this year for me...Thank you:-)
When I first saw this I thought I wouldnt watch it because I thought I'd be bored to tears "oh yeah, I've got better ways to spend my precious time!" Let me slap myself in the face and ask you please to do the same...This was by far the most fascinating interview I've ever heard on the internet and Ive heard a lot including with this producer. Of course I love Black Hole Sun and always have, but I'll never hear it again without remembering this interview and how it knocked me off my chair. Thank you so much for that slap in the face. Wow. What a humbler for this jaded idiot. Thank you. (from a Michael Bloomfield biographer)
Cornell is the best rock singer of his generation, hands down. Brilliant ideas and soundscape. Michael B is a treat to listen to breaking this down. I'd would have sworn those big guitars were baritone doubled..
Agreed. I saw them play a surprise show at a small Seattle club. They were having trouble with an amp, so while they fixed it, Cornell sang a solo acoustic version of Black Hole Sun. Absolutely unreal.
This song has always been for me like the universe; mysterious, beautiful, with thousands of contrasts and colors in which you never stop finding something new. Michael's humility is palpable, it is clear that he was a guide in the process rather than a producer wanting to do what he wanted because he wanted to. Having a producer become part of the band had never been so clear. Thanks for this video.
I also heard once that there are no two identical measures played on the drums. I believe that if you get the sheet music for the drums for this album, you will see that each successive bar varies the phrasing slightly, so that nothing is ever repeated during the entire song. They might sound identical, but they aren’t. If there was anybody who could pull that off at such a slow tempo without it sounding really sloppy, it would be Matt Cameron. 100% one of the most underrated drummers of all time.
26:14- My favorite portion of a TH-cam video. Exactly how I feel about music. The tension, and resolution is what makes my ears perk up when listening.
I would’ve never imagined in a million years to hear how one of the most memorable and iconic songs in music history was composed, recorded and produced. This is bloody marvellous content.
TREMENDOUS!!!
Thanks ever so much Joshua!! You Rock!!
wesley wild thanks ever so much!
Alexander Stemkowski thank you so much!!
Yes! Exactly. I dropped everything and paid attention and enjoyed every idea they discussed. Crazy Chris broke 5 microphones with his voice during the recording of this song.
It’s cool to see the original producer of this song still get so excited 30 years later!
Yes! Indeed
This is the first proper celebration of Soundgarden since Chris' death. What better way of understanding the man than pulling apart his compositional side and the whole ocean of sound wrapped around him being the band - and now a fifth member in my eyes - Michael.
Thanks a million times Warren!
Wow!! That means so much MusicMusicMusic!!
Couldn't agree more MusicMusicMusic!!
Jason Voorhees 0-100 real quick
Chris says on another youtube video that he wrote the whole song in his head while driving home one night. He recorded some of it into a tape recorder before going to bed, and the rest is history. So it was this guy who unleashed that song into his head :) A very inspiring story. Thanks for all this free culture, Produce Like A Pro. Our brains are growing through our hearts
@@JockJaimeRadfordBromley beautiful!
That whole talk about Tension and Release in songwriting and how Chris wrote the song was absolutely fucking brilliant.
I agree. It’s so interesting to have an expert explain something I’ve always felt listening to this song but never realized and even if I did, wouldn’t have been able to explain it.
How genius was Soundgarden to come up with music like this
Agreed!! Incredible now i know why i was always a sucker for this
5 years later, I'm here to say Thank You for this!! Loved every second of this interview!
Thanks ever so much
"I'm not used to someone presenting me with a song where I listen to it, I don't want to pay attention to anything else and when I'm done with it, I feel different than I felt when I started, I almost feel refreshed AND I wanna go back and hear it again."
This.
Jeff Buckley’s Grace also makes me feel this way 😍🎶👌🏻
After Michael mentioned Chris going after the sounds of The Beatles and Cream, it's so apparent the influence Jack Bruce has had on his singing style. I absolutely love hearing about artists influences and making those ties, so thank you for sharing that Michael!
I’m a huge fan of Jack Bruce! I listen to Out Of The Storm ALL the time!! Masterpiece
I can barely remember what I did last week, knowing nothing about production this guy's memory seems absolutely amazing.
Hi Friends, I recently had a chance to sit down with the amazingly talented Michael Beinhorn and all I have to say is that it was a rather exciting chat! We talked about his involvement with perhaps THE most iconic rock song of the ’90s. Everything from the drum sounds, guitar sounds, vocals, and songwriting is unbelievable! The track, of course, is "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden, which Michael produced and engineered. Having the chance to meet with Michael and break down one of the most recognised rock songs ever made was nothing short of incredible.
Thanks @Meep! Yes, I'm a huge fan of Michael's!
Awesome video! I love this series anyways, but this is one of my favorite songs with one of my favorite sounds. Thank you so much for making this possible!
And again a lesson in how good the source tones are before the mix... tracking is and will always be the most important stage of any mix. Again: Thank you!
Hi@@chrismonaut thanks ever so much my friend!! Yes, Michael did us a fantastic job in sharing this amazing information with us!
will you invite Owen Morris? @@Producelikeapro
thank you warren, this is great!! there's some soundgarden isos around but hearing it from michael is just so much better!!! and of course you ask all the right questions! any chance of getting in touch with brendan o'brien for an 'inside the song' of some of his work?
23:49 - "they're along with the ride for you, it's not like you have to create the ride for them" is 1000% the reason why producers exist. The extra brain in the room, with enough musical knowledge to drive a musician in a direction. Like Sir George Martin with the Beatles. Excellent video!!!
As a bass player I really enjoyed hearing the isolated bass. As I was listening, I was thinking that it was odd that I never noticed how the bass line just kept sinking lower and lower without resolving. Then it hit me, duh, the song has black hole in the title. This was a tremendous gift. Thank you Warren and Michael!
Wonderful! I loved it as well! Thanks ever so much my friend!
Funny how similar it is to the bassline from Portishead - Half Day Closing
And thank you Ben
As a songwriter and producer one thing I think Michael is well aware of but forgot to mention is the importance the technique and big role the hands of the artist play tone wise in stringed instrumentation.
Never thought this would be possible, but this song gets even bigger, when you deconstruct it.
JoyBoy thanks ever so much for sharing that! I agree! True masterpiece!!
Saw them on this tour.
Kim Thayil does not get recognized enough.
I was surprised to hear only "individual recording " tracks. But once it was mixed? Wow!
There are good Producers, and great Producers. This man is in the latter category.
Soundgarden was the diamond.
He cut and polished them to brilliance.
True, though I believe Kim only played the solos on Superunknown, Chris did all the rhythm guitars.
I keep discovering I'm not done crying over the loss of Chris Cornell. Absolutely amazing.
washthesandout I hear you 100%!
This makes his passing real to me now. What a terrible loss.
washthesandout
Oh yes me too! I hear his voice or see his face it hurts all over again. I have never been so deeply hurt over any person I did not even know. It is sort of like I am also missing what he’d be writing and singing today. I was around for Jimi, Janis, Jim but Chris and Layne Stanley were just such a loss.
Its amazing how much you remember while recording. The details come back to you.
This is great - Awesome work
None of us ever will be.
Love hearing talented humble people, and this is two of them in the same room.
Thanks ever so much my friend!! You Rock!
I wish I had multi-track versions of my whole Audio library.
Oh, yes. We are all only now realising the genius of Kim Thayil. Avoidance of cliche, fantastic attack and articulation, mind-bending scales... The solo on Spoonman is a thrill ride!
90’s was a great age of drumming,Cameron,Grohl,Chamberlin,so many more,the singers also,iconic and the guitarists had great tones,90’s alternative scene was tremendous,great songwriting.
90's were a golden age of music...specifically 1991 to 1996
Another great drummer from that scene was Sean Kinney in Alice In Chains. If he got enough space to hit the snare on the upbeat, and it would sound cool, he would do it
@@andrewpearson1903 Forgot about Kinney,Perkins from Janes Addiction,another one.
My primary states watching this were 1) sheer awe & child-like fascination and 2) broken-hearted sobbing.
The vocal work on this album is a clinic for making a great rock album. The number of different ways Chris used his voice is amazing, and I think this album was by far his best vocal performance.
Don't forget about Cornell's solo album, Euphoria Morning. That has amazing songwriting and vocal performances, which I argue can rival SuperUnknown.
Temple of the Dog had some fantastic performances as well.
It was so cool to hear Michael talk about leaving Chris alone to cut his own vocal tracks... We do the same with our singer, Todd... Just leave him alone with his mic and notebooks! 👊
Omg… freaking amaze balls!!!!!
It took me a while to get into rock music, growing up in a family that listened to soul, hip hop, r&b, and jazz primarily. I was just starting to discover how much I like rock music when I played the first rockband game, and thus I heard this song for the first time I could remember. I was blown away by the composition of this song, that "tension" existing throughout the entire track, how powerful the vocal is, everything about it really.
I aspire to be a producer/engineer myself. To be able to watch this interview with the man who produced one of my favorite rock songs, hear the individual elements, learn the genius that went into recording and mixing this masterpiece, is exactly what I needed to see today! I loved this! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this for us! I look forward to seeing more!
If you like this song, the tension, the composition, check out some Alice in Chains! They're from the same era and town.
@@GrindstoneMusic Them Bones is another favorite of mine. Love Alice in Chains!
@@JReaLBiz86 Great song. I love their heavy stuff like Dirt and Facelift. But where they really shine to me is their acoustic stuff. Check out Jar of Flies and Unplugged if you haven't already!
Check out the band Green River.
Michael Beinhorn is everything a Producer should be.
It was nice to hear something about Chris's choice to leave in his intakes and exhales after each vocal. I've never so consistently heard a singer's breathing in their recordings as Cornell's. This unadulterated element always made it feel like Chris was physically present in any room where his songs were playing.
2 things stood out to me...1) Michael said Electronic Music was the inspiration behind this...holy schnikies never would've thought that. and 2) He does not like to do too much compression on those vocals, no wonder...that sound! Wowsers...these interviews are so damn valuable thank you Warren!
98 percent of what is discussed here is completely foreign to me, but to hear professionals discuss their craft is fascinating. And it's an amazing song. I'm bringing on your videos!
Thanks ever so much
@@Producelikeapro Oops. Binging.
This song is a pure masterpiece. Like a perfectly composed dish, painting or design of any kind.
Seamlessly integrated, matching parts become a beautiful whole unit.
Great vid! As an owner of the Fender Vibratone 'Leslie,' I can tell you that it comes with a pigtail (crossover) that separates the frequencies; hi/lo goes back to the amp, while the mids go to the leslie speaker. That's why the mids are so sweet when recording it. Also--the speaker is actually stationary; there is a Styrofoam bit that spins, and it only has one opening, which creates that Doppler effect. The cab has openings on the sides/top for miking in stereo...SRV did it the same way for 'Cold Shot.' This tune is haunting, and you did it justice...fantastic!
That was enlightening. Thank you. I was already wondering how a speaker can rotate endlessly when it is likely that it is wired ;-). Same with a Leslie. It is never the speaker that rotates, but some horn or styrofoam...
"Understanding where the one is and recognizing that in the time between one and two there's a universe of possibilities… The whole world exists between between one downbeat and the next"
What a fascinating statement… there's always a reason people are where they are in life… Brilliant
DO THE WHOLE ALBUM!
That would be my fucking dream
God bless Michael, he’s such a sweetheart. And a great storyteller too.
And the way how he lights up as he discusses hearing the song for the first time-it’s almost as if you are transported back to when he heard it for the first time, ever, the memories are so vivid. He knows it is gonna be big-and he was right.
This song takes me straight back to my adolescence in Australia, I was either 14 or 15 when I first heard this on the radio and for a teenager the melancholia really stood out amongst the usual pop and rock of that era, it was definitely a unique song with that watery 60s sounding guitar. This song was the emo sequel to Here Comes the Sun from the Beatles.
This is so informative for those of us who adore Chris and SG but know nothing of the technical side of things. Thank y’all so much. And thank you Chris for everything. ❤️
Thanks ever so much! I really appreciate it
Thank you for giving me a seat in your studio, I’m just going to sit here and listen.
Thanks ever so much!!
Hearing michael talk about composition was very inspiring. You can tell this guy is passionate about music to a level that a regular person will never understand
-- agreed 100%! Very inspired
:-D "regular person"
-- Couldn’t agree more. I could listen to him talk about music all day.
best thing in music is rawness and damn Michael Beinhorn gets that
I’ve been a life long fan of Soundgarden, and this interview is a gift. Thank you, it made me think fondly to growing up in Seattle during this time
Thanks ever so much! So glad you enjoyed the video!
Love your work! I mastered my college band Lodi’s self recorded album at Studio X back in 2000 I think, with Soundgarden and Pearl Jam’s sound engineer Josh Evans!
Still can't believe he's gone... He was such a brilliant human being. Feels like just yesterday I was a mere 6 feet from him watching SG at the Paramount in downtown Seattle. RIP Chris. 💔
Yes, what an amazing talent! R.I.P Chris!!
Was that the show that J.P. Patches emceed? I was at that one.
@@jfseal38 Nah, I wish... This was in like 2014-15ish.
Chris Cornell was so very talented. This was a wonderful piece of history to be shared with us all. Thank you!
Mind Blown. One of my favorite rock songs/albums of all time.
Thanks ever so much!! Yes and yes! Agreed 100% my friend!!
every interview with Michael Bienhorn ive heard or seen regarding his career is amazing,from jerbie handcock's the rocket,to RHCP version of hogher groun d, to soundgardens major record and the snare drums used, cymbals and microphones and recording techniques is more exciting than watching a blockbuster action-thriller movie on IMAX or whatever, This guy was and is one of the masters of squeezing solid gold out of raw talent, and capturing it forever.thanks for giving us the chance to see how it was all done, perfectly.
This is quickly becoming my favourite music show on TH-cam.
Great work! Keep it up!
Thanks ever so much Dan!!
This was filmed a few years ago so can you please text Michael and just thank him again for taking so much time to do this video? This was so enjoyable. You keyed in on so many good parts too. Thank you.
This has to be one of the most enjoyable interviews I've ever listened to. The decision to leave the room and let Chris record his own vocals because he felt that that would yield the best result epitomises the role of Producer. Great decision-making all around. Thanks for this.
Watching this was like watching a great movie that you don’t want to end!
And this was a "HIT", oh how times have changed.
nfijef i think it would still be a hit today. There's just not many songwriters around that are this good these days. Also the video for the track is one of the best music videos ever.
yeah, the times fucking suck now.
@@beyondthegong Still plenty of amazing music being made and released. You don't find it on the commercial radio, my dude ;)
@@tuathadedannan4486 That's absolute bullshit! There are just as many, if not more talented songwriters around today. You just need to look outside the trashy top 40 chart hits circle. Also, there is no "best" in music. It's subjective.
@@tuathadedannan4486 what planet are you on? theres 0 chance of this being a commercial hit in todays environment
my god this is fantastic... Can we get more with Michael talking about EVERY song on the album? I've learned so much from this. Truly a masterpiece, one of the best sounding albums ever recorded and i love hearing about all the details and work that went into it. There's so much knowledge he has to offer, would love to learn from him!
I was never a huge Soundgarden fan, but that song is and was great. And the "clean" sound is so unique, that even if you dial in something like this, you drop it, because it instantly sounds like "Black hole sun".
Thanks for the reconstruction.
I agree! It's a huge song!! Truly beautiful writing, performance and production!!
I've found that I only like songs in the groups Chris played in that he had done all or most of the writing on. I can tell almost immediately when I hear a Soundgarden song that Chris had very little input into, it doesnt have "it " just the emotional connection that Chris' songs have
This song ... I remember when I first heard it ... instantly iconic, deep and fascinating ... amazing performances and the melodics? Truly inspired and to hear that he didn't know if it would sound like a Soundgarden song … the mentorship and support of the producer and the trust and creativity he showed to the band was incredible.
My favorite part was hearing how Chris broke 5 U87’s. Amazing video.... Cheers Warren!
5 x $2k mics......
Superunknown was the first album I ever listened to start to finish on my own, I was 10. I'm 27 now, I've listened to hundreds of amazing rock albums and Superunknown is still my favorite. Chris Cornell is my favorite singer/songwriter, and these songs are incredible. I also love the way this album sounds. Hearing the stories from Michael and listening to the bits and pieces of the song soloed honestly gave me goosebumps. This music on this album in particular is so important to me. Thank you for this video, cheers.
I have no idea why i teared up at this... starting at the part where he talks about talking to chris about writing this song. This band was such a humongous influence on me as a young man. Chris you left us too soon :(
I agree, this is a beautiful song by one of the greatest singers who ever lived!
Two comments; so much great content on your channel, I can’t believe I missed this! Also, Beatles, Cream inspirations , yes, but I hear a lot of Syd Barrett in the lyric, and I know Syd was a big influence on Cornell. Thanks for the video.
Superunknown is top #2 albums of all time for me. Was 14yo when it came out. Changed my world. Big fan of Beinhorn's work.
James McGauran agreed! He’s a master!
anyone else cry during this? am I just crazy? lol. the solo, solo'd. and then the ending vox. Haunting AF. What a GIFT to have this kind of insight into these epic timeless recordings and works of art
Yes!! Me! This was such an incredible experience!
m court13 Yup
Probably my favorite video by Warren Yet... this is the Bomb and that guy is The Genius... amazing
Thanks ever so much! Yes, Michael is amazing!
This series is an absolute gem. Opens a whole new dimension to a song which has so any layers when you listen to the final recorded version. You think you've heard it all until they break it down like this. The detailed vocal work, guitar tones, composition and putting it all together to make sense of it all. True quality content right here. TH-cam needs more of this man...
Oh wow. Double wow! Bless you Warren! At 23:00,
we're given the best advice for overcoming self-doubt,
and the pressure to suppress our true creative inclinations.
Sooo huge!
Thanks ever so much Sean! I agree, Michael gave so much amazing information in this interview!
thats the best part of the interview!
Michael Beinhorn's joy and enthusiasm had me smiling, laughing, learning. How great when a producer knows when to push and when to back off... really enjoyed hearing how he left Chris alone to record his vocals, would've never imagined it that way. Thank you for this wonderful masterclass!
This made me sob..... The sound that is soundgarden will forever echo through the ever expanding universe. This man will never die
yeah makes me sad too. if you were around in 93 you'd know this spooky sounding music definitely matched the times. the world in southern CA actually felt like this song- as well as all that other moody grunge music
Mr. Beinhorn knows what he wants and for our benefit, knows how to explain eloquently how he got it.
I’ve probably watched this video half a dozen times already. This is such an epic in depth look at a truly great song. Michael’s passion for the recording process is unmistakable and it’s so interesting to hear a detailed account along with some of his very distinct philosophies on music and recording.
The thing that blows me away about this song is that all the main instrumentation sounds HUGE. The drums, bass, and guitars soloed are enormous and with the vocals it’s amazing that nothing gets overshadowed in the mix which is due in large part to the arrangement.
Thank you Warren, these insights into the recording process of handpicked songs are fascinating to me, keep up the great work!
This song is a masterpiece! He's so right about how you can just listen to it on repeat and never be tired of it.
This is so great. Please do more with Michael - he's amazing!
Yes! Michael is truly amazing!!
I don't care what songs you do, just do more with Michael Beinhorn, Easily my favorite so far, and i love his take on making music in general.
In tears, incredibly special. Picked up my first guitar because of that song, never thought I would hear the elements that way, let alone by the man who put it together. Thankyou!
I first saw this video 4 or 5 years ago and it really struck me and it changed a lot of the ways I play and record my drums. Just focusing on the source.
I rewatch it every year and Michael just gives such honest and sound advice.
I've never had a body tingle seeing a notification before!! The production, the band and song on this is so good it brings a tears to my eyes when i hear it. Loving all these interviews.
Thanks ever so much! That's truly wonderful to hear my friend!! I cried too! I remember the day I heard this...wow!! What a song! Chris was the last great singers!
I’m 31 and just now understanding what it is a producer actually does and it so fascinating. They (perhaps the good ones) have their hands in the creative process just as much as the band and it’s so amazing to listen to. Thanks for the interviews!
I really like this video format. I love the intimate views, the background. Awesome!
Thanks ever so much my friend!
As i say...you do a Very,Very good Job😶👍
The entire history of the world between the kick and snare. That's awesome. I've heard musicians talk about the infinite space between zero and one.
I love when the arts, math and philosophy converge.
Blew out 5 mics, epic.
Every song off this album deserves to be covered in this fashion!
I don't know if anyone said it already, but I hear so much Rush influence in the guitars on this record, and a fair bit in the drumming at times too. But especially the guitars with the occasionally-anthemic major chords (53:43), and those how-the-f-did-he-think-of-that solo's. Takes me back to Fly By Night and Farewell to Kings on vinyl...
youre high
Totally. The guitar solo is totally discombobulated and splattered onto the song it’s exactly like Fly By Nights solo
For so many years I have tried to understand how that album and song have been recorded (this CD is actually in my car CD player for ten years and in regular use ;-)). Thanks so much Warren and Michael for sharing!
Producing: conflict engagement not avoidance! Glad to hear he fought for the sound he wanted. The best album by this group. Clean and hairy.....what a concept. Great interview. Thanks to everyone for this post.
Thanks ever so much Robert!!
The genius of Cornell & Co knows no bounds. Great getting Beinhorn in to expand on the details. Learned a lot here.
Great, great, great. Chris Cornell was an amazing musician and one of the all time greatest rock vocalists. It is such a thrill to hear this song presented in this fashion. Thank you Warren!
Totally agree! The ending is great. The choice of notes verge on random, but so does the guitar throughout the song. The root notes dont follow the vocal melody, yet they do enough to work and dont enough to be incredibly interesting. RIP Chris, you were one of the last true rock stars.
This is a breaktaking recording, of a really cool song, on the best overall, and best sounding, rock album of its time.
Very well said
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL VIEWING FOR ANYONE INVOLVED WITH PRODUCING RECORDS.
Thanks ever so much Sean!
@@Producelikeapro thank you for the best kind of content - incredibly entertaining, educational, and inspiring!
Only just discovered this channel, great stuff. Superunknown was the soundtrack to my 20's and introduced me to Soundgarden.
Chris was one of those rare talents that elevated rock beyond what 99% of other artists could do.
Michael Beinhorn is one of the most humble and articulate individuals in his field, and Superunknown is one of the best sounding albums in the last 25 years easy.
I agree 100%!!! He is The Man!!
Everything about this is amazing. And what a superb guest to have in Mr Beinhorn. Amazing. Again, I say: AMAZING!
WOW! Im glad i found this. I love Chris and Soundgarden. I to am a signer and musician and feel the same way like Chris. Writing songs that the fans will like. But we need to be reminded that we have to write music that we love and the fans will follow.
One of the top 10 rock songs of all time imho. Amazing to hear the stories that went along with it. Thank you so much guys.
Cornell is one of the best song writers of our generation. This whole album shows us this fact.
this video makes me cry, laugh, think in the life his meaning, in the music his borders and infinitness. this its what anyone needs to see in order to trying to learn about music composition, production and recording. warren you are making history books for the cult of rock, love you man!!
Fantastic.... now let’s do the whole album
I know! You know I want to!!
This song was released when I was 17, it has been and always will remain an important part of my life. I’m wondering what could possibly be a better birthday or Christmas present than this video. Can’t get any better than this, so you’ve just ruined the rest of this year for me...Thank you:-)
This was priceless on so many levels I'm not sure I deserve how rich and revealing this about someone I respect so much. Thanks a million
When I first saw this I thought I wouldnt watch it because I thought I'd be bored to tears "oh yeah, I've got better ways to spend my precious time!" Let me slap myself in the face and ask you please to do the same...This was by far the most fascinating interview I've ever heard on the internet and Ive heard a lot including
with this producer. Of course I love Black Hole Sun and always have, but I'll never hear it again without remembering this interview and how it knocked me off my chair. Thank you so much for that slap in the face. Wow. What a humbler for this jaded idiot. Thank you. (from a Michael Bloomfield biographer)
Cornell is the best rock singer of his generation, hands down. Brilliant ideas and soundscape. Michael B is a treat to listen to breaking this down. I'd would have sworn those big guitars were baritone doubled..
Hi Jim, agreed what a singer! Yes, it's amazing to think those guitars are just massive tones!!
Agreed. I saw them play a surprise show at a small Seattle club.
They were having trouble with an amp, so while they fixed it, Cornell sang a solo acoustic version of Black Hole Sun. Absolutely unreal.
ian thornley of big wreck reminds me of cornell, such talent
"Cornell is -the best- my favourite rock singer of his generation,"
Music is subjective. There is no "best".
Blew out 5 mics, epic.
I keep discovering I'm not done crying over the loss of Chris Cornell. Absolutely amazing.
This is a golden age for learning. Thank you so much for all your work.
Hobbes Esq. thanks ever so much my friend!!
This song has always been for me like the universe; mysterious, beautiful, with thousands of contrasts and colors in which you never stop finding something new. Michael's humility is palpable, it is clear that he was a guide in the process rather than a producer wanting to do what he wanted because he wanted to. Having a producer become part of the band had never been so clear. Thanks for this video.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this interview, thank you.
Thanks ever so much!!
I also heard once that there are no two identical measures played on the drums. I believe that if you get the sheet music for the drums for this album, you will see that each successive bar varies the phrasing slightly, so that nothing is ever repeated during the entire song. They might sound identical, but they aren’t.
If there was anybody who could pull that off at such a slow tempo without it sounding really sloppy, it would be Matt Cameron.
100% one of the most underrated drummers of all time.
Perhaps the best video on production Ive seen....what a spectacular song.
Wow! Thank you Dada Drew! That's very kind of you!
26:14- My favorite portion of a TH-cam video. Exactly how I feel about music. The tension, and resolution is what makes my ears perk up when listening.