Walking In The Air - Echo

[timryland]

I've noticed on the track Walking In The Air that the echo is described as complex. I'm assuming it was a Roland RE-301 echo and wondered if anybody had the timings used. I'm trying to set it up on my iPad using ToneStacks multi-tap echo.

Thanks
Tim.

[garyallen]

Hi Tim,I wouldn't know the timings but I think 3 different echo types were used and panned differently on the recording.I always thought one echo was added at certain times in the song as opposed to being there constantly,Perhaps Charlie can elaborate? regards gary

[Charlie Hall]

I originally thought there were 3 RE-301s on that recording but I have forgotten if I changed my mind on that. You should get fairly close if you set to Mode 5 timings at the slowest speed, then set up another set of Mode 5 timings but with the longest tap around 100ms longer (and the shorter one scaled accordingly), then yet another set of Mode 5 timings but 100ms longer again (and scaled accordingly). The idea is to get the longest taps around 615, 715, and 815. You may get away with fewer short timings.
Regards,
Charlie

[timryland]

Thanks, Charlie. That's certainly given me something to think about.

Tim.

[timryland]

Charlie,

Just out of interest, would any reverb have been added or is it just echo?

Tim.

[Steve Reynolds]

as a side note just reading through the TVS website with different echo units. The Roland RE301 and 501 seem to be the longest used by Hank which is really strange, im guessing they were the most reliable perhaps?

[Charlie Hall]

There possibly is a small mount of added reverb. It is possible to get a good sound for this tune without it though.
Regards,
Charlie

[peterbower]

Charlie, I might be completely wrong, but quite a few years ago now, some body said the echo machine used on Walking in the Air was a Roland RE-3 digital echo
Peter

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Peter,
It could have been used in conjunction with something else but I am certain that one of those alone could not have produced the whole effect.
Regards,
Charlie

[garyallen]

Hi Charlie and Peter,Not wishing to contradict what others have said but the RE 3 was made in 88 and "the snowman"recorded in 87,I had one of these and couldn't find it useful for anything Hank related,I read years ago that someone from arbiter said Hank told him it was the RE 3, I think the 01 got left out somewhere along the line. regards gary

[peterbower]

Hi Gary, now you mention it, it was some one from Arbiter, but like I said, I could be wrong and probably am, I have a RE-301, which Charlie also borrowed many years ago to copy the echoes onto the Quad, I have never been able to simulate the Walking in the Air echo on my 301, as Charlie pointed out there could have been a mix of 2 echo units, whatever they were or possibly studio enhanced?
Peter

[fenderplucker]

Hi Everyone,

I recall that this was discussed some time ago on this site and my analysis of the echo patterns was as follows:

1. The centre channel (L+R) has a delay of 610 mSec and this triggers rapid repeats at about 117 mSec, which are repeated at 610 mSec intervals (decaying).
2. The L and R channels have similarly delays but at about 240 mSec, and these then trigger regular repeats at 157 and 168 mSec in the the L and R channels respectively, and these are repeated every 240 mSec decaying.

Just how these were achieved on the recording is not clear, it could have been by mixing or using multiple echo units. The mention of the EC-3 on the TVS website was only made in response to Hank's quote, though as mentioned above there are some uncertainties as it was released sometime in 1988 while The Snowman was recorded in late 1987 (could he been given an early example?). It could equally have been done with multiple RE-301's, though the long 610mSec delay is just out of range of a single 301 (unless it was running a bit slow)or it could have come from a 501/555 that were also available at that time.

Something that sounds similar can be achieved with a single programmable echo unit with echoes at 130, 245, 450, 610 and 710 mSec, with echo attenuations 8, 8, 6, 0 and 1 dB respectively and feedback from the 610 echo.

There are other examples of echoes produced by editing and/or multiple machines, notably Janine (1983) and Raining in My Heart (1996) that have different echoes in the L and R channels.

Regards,

Paul.

[scanners]

Hi Paul, just wondering if you and the other two guys have done your annual Shadows style Christmas tune?
Matthew

[fenderplucker]

Hi Matthew,

Yes, we have done the recording and Spiro is just editing a video at this moment, thanks for asking. Should be out in a week or so.

Regards,

Paul.

[scanners]

looking forward to it
Matthew