Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) equipment

(last updated: 26/01/25)

Michael Jackson Thriller recording equipment

info on Wikipedia

Recorded April and July-November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios (New York), with additional recording at Ocean Way Studios (drums, strings & horns) and Sunset Sound Recorders

Musical equipment

Drum machines:

• Linn LM-1 (x2 - one Rev. 1 model and one Rev 2/3) – “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”, “Baby Be Mine” (Rev. 1), “Thriller” etc.
• Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer – “Beat It” intro, various claps
• Dr. Click synchroniser prototype – for syncing drum machines

Synthesizers & sequencers:

• ARP 2600 – (supposedly) used by Greg Phillinganes for bassline on “Thriller”
• Bode Vocoder Model 7702 – used by Michael Boddicker on “P.Y.T.”
• Casio MT-60 - 'Froggie' bass sound on “Thriller”
• E-mu Emulator – used by Michael Boddicker for voice sounds on “Billie Jean”, “Human Nature”, “P.Y.T.” and “The Lady In My Life”
• Moog Minimoog – synth bass via DI box
• New England Digital Synclavier II - “Beat It” intro by Tom Bahler, various
• Roland Jupiter-4
• Roland Jupiter-8 - main synthesizer on "Thriller".
• Roland MC-4 Microcomposer sequencer (Steve Porcaro)
• Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus – used by Michael Boddicker on “P.Y.T.”
• Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 – used by Michael Boddicker (“PYT”), Steve Porcaro and Bill Wolfer, “Thriller” intro chords (doubled with Jupiter-8)
• Oberheim FVS-1 Four Voice – used by Steve Porcaro for portamentos (slides) on “Human Nature”
• Oberheim OB-X – seen in photos. Anthony Marinelli’s, probably used on “Baby Be Mine” for sync lead sound
• Yamaha CE20 – used by David Foster on “The Girl Is Mine”
• Yamaha CS-80 – e.g. Bill Wolfer main riff on “Billie Jean”
• Yamaha GS-1 - Rhodes sound on “Human Nature” (Steve Porcaro)
• Yamaha Portasound keyboard (James Ingram, “P.Y.T.”)

Drum kits:

• Leon Chancer
• Yamaha “Jacaranda” kit, as played on Billie Jean (source)
• 22”x14” bass drum
• 6.5”x14” snare drum
• 6x8", 8x10", 8x12" & 9x13" rack tom-toms
• 14”x14” & 16”x16” floor toms 
• Jeff Porcaro: 
• Gretsch kit /w Paiste cymbals

Basses:

• Louis Johnson:
• Yamaha BB-1200 S Cherry red – “Billie Jean”
• Music Man Stingray – one of Louis’ main basses, possibly used someplace
• Unknown bass (Fender Precision?) – “Beat It”, played by Steve Lukather

Guitars & rig:

• Steve Lukather:
• 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (“Beat It”) through Fender Deluxe Reverb II (modified by Paul Rivera)
• Fender Stratocaster sunburst /w EMG pickups: e.g. “The Girl Is Mine”
• Eddie Van Halen:
• Fender/Charvel "Frankenstrat" (“Beat It” solo)
• Marshall stack (1971 Super Bass 100-watt and/or 1969 Plexi Super Lead through 1967 Marshall 4x12 cabinet)
• Note: amplifier model was subject of conflicting information over the years, but cleared up recently in this Facebook post and in EVH contemporary interviews (1983 & 84).

• Paul Jackson:
• Gibson ES-335 (“Lady In My Life”)
• Gibson Les Paul (“P.Y.T.” distorted guitars, “Beat It”)
• Valley Arts custom guitar /w Bartolini pickups (“P.Y.T.”)

Studio & recording gear

Microphones:

• Drums:
• Bass drum:
• Electrovoice RE20, Sennheiser MD421, AKG C412
• Snare:
• AKG C451, C452 or Shure SM57
• Hi-hat:
• AKG C451, C452, RCA 77DX and/or Shure SM57
• Tom-toms:
• Neumann U87 or KM84
• Sennheiser MD421
• Overheads:
• Neumann U87 or U67 (x2)
• Guitars:
• Neumann U47
• Neumann U67
• Shure SM57 - Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo on “Beat It”
• Vocals:
• AKG C12: E.g. “The Lady In My Life”, Humberto Gatica's choice mic
• Neumann U47 valve - occasional vocals
• Neumann U47 FET: Paul McCartney vocals on “The Girl Is Mine”, possibly guitars (Humberto Gatica)
• Shure SM7 (serial no. 232): Bruce Swedien's choice for Michael Jackson lead vocals through Neve 1084 preamp
• Shure SM57: ‘Don’t Think Twice’ lyric on  “Billie Jean”, sung through mail tube
• Telefunken U47 - occasional vocals
• Backing vocals:
• Neumann M49 - group BGs
• RCA 44BX ribbon - Michael's BGs
• Horns:
• AKG C414 EB (trombone)
• Neumann U87 (trumpets, saxes)
• Strings:
• AKG C414 EB (cellos, e.g. “Billie Jean”)
• Neumann U67 (“Billie Jean”)
• Percussion:
• Neumann U47 FET
• RCA 77DX
• Acoustic piano:
• AKG C414 EB (x2)

Tape recorders:

• Multi-track:
• 3M M79 24-track (x2) /w BTX 4500 synchronisers – Westlake
• Ampex MM1200 24-track – Sunset Sound and Ocean Way (overdubs)
• MCI JH-16 16-track - Westlake, “Billie Jean” drums
• 2-track:
• Studer A80 – Westlake, mixing
• Ampex ATR-102

Outboard gear (partial list):

• Allison Research Kepex II noise gate
• EMT 250 digital processor
• Eventide H910 Harmonizer
• Eventide H949 Harmonizer
• Eventide FL201 Instant Flanger
• Iovonics 201 limiter: on "Billie Jean" kick drum
• Lexicon T-102 Delta T - e.g. "Human Nature" vocal delays
• Lexicon Prime Time Model 93 DDL
• Teletronix LA2A compressor
• DBX-902 De-esser (“Human Nature” vocals)
• Studio Techniques Ecoplate reverb
• UREI LA-3A compressor
• UREI 1176 compressor - vocals

Consoles:

• Harrison 4032C: Westlake Studio A, all mixing and most of recording
• Harrison (model unknown): Westlake Studio B, additional recording e.g. “Beat It” guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen
• API custom: Ocean Way, additional recording (horns & strings)
• Sunset Industries (API) 32/12: Sunset Sound Studio 2, “Beat It” and “The Lady In My Life” drum overdubs with Humberto Gatica

Monitors:

• Auratone 5C
• JBL 4310: Bruce Swedien’s choice, Westlake

Sources

Keyboard, January 1984

Bruce Swedien various interviews (Recording Engineer/Producer October 1982, Music Radar, Modern Recording & Music etc.) & Gearspace posts

Session photos from Thriller 40

Thriller 40 documentary footage from "The Girl Is Mine" session

Stories In The Room

In The Studio With MJ interview /w Matt Forger

Various