Michael Jackson Bad

 (last modified: dd/mm/yy)

Instruments

Drum machines & electronic percussion:

• E-mu SP-12 – programmed by John Robinson on “Bad”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Speed Demon” & “Dirty Diana”
• Moog DFAM drum synthesizer – features on “Bad”
• Linn 9000: “Man In The Mirror”, “Leave Me Alone” & “Another Part Of Me”
• Oberheim DMX /w MIDI: “Liberian Girl”
• Roland Octapad: Ollie Brown

Keyboards, synthesizers & samplers:

• Fairlight CMI (Series IIx or Series 3): e.g. Kalimba & voice sounds on “Liberian Girl”
• Moog Minimoog: Michael Boddicker (a.k.a. “Lily”) synth basslines
• Oberheim OB-1 – synth bassline to “Dirty Diana”, thickened with Boss CE-2 pedal
• Oberheim Matrix 6
• Oberheim Xpander
• New England Digital Synclavier PSMT – main instrument on the album & key compositional tool. Examples include synths strings on songs like “Bad” & “The Way You Make Me Feel”
• Roland Jupiter-8
• Roland D-50 – prototype allegedly used?
• Roland Super Jupiter JX-10: John Barnes Rhodes sound on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”
• Yamaha DX7 – e.g. Bass 1 preset on “Another Part Of Me”, Rhodes sounds on “Smooth Criminal”, APOM & IJSTLY
• Yamaha TX-816 modules

Pianos:

• Roland RD-1000 electric – “Another Part Of Me”
• Yamaha MIDI grand piano

Guitar rig:

• David Williams:
• Fender Stratocaster (or Ibanez?)
• Mesa/Boogie
• Paul Jackson Jr.:
• Tom Anderson Icon Classic (Candy Apple red finish)
• Rivera Stage II combo
• Dann Huff:
• Fender Stratocaster (1964, sunburst)
• Bob Bradshaw rack, including Mesa/Boogie 400
• Pacific cabinet
• Gibson ES-135(?): Eric Gale
• Jackson Soloist custom (or Charvel San Dimas): “Dirty Diana” solo by Steve Stevens
• Kramer American: “Speed Demon” by Bill Bottrell (photographed with this guitar during early sessions)

Basses:

• Yamaha BB series black: played by Nathan East on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”

Acoustic drums:

• John Robinson’s kit:
• Yamaha drums:
• 24” bass drum
• 12”, 13” & 16” toms
• 9” snare
• Zildjian cymbals (assorted)
• Leon “N’Dugu” Chancler:
• Yamaha drums
• Paiste cymbals (assorted)

Misc.:

• Hammond B3 /w MIDI (Jimmy Smith)

Recording gear

Microphones:

• Drums:
• Kick:
• Sennheiser MD421
• Snare:
• AKG C451
• Hi-hat:
• AKG C451
• Tom-toms & overheads:
• Neumann U87
• Guitars:
• AKG C451 (x2)
• Piano:
• AKG C414 EB (x2)
• Percussion:
• RCA 77DX
• Horns:
• AKG C414 EB
• Neumann U87
• Vocals:
• Michael Jackson:
• AKG C12: “Another Part Of Me” vocals from Captain EO
• Shure SM7: most songs including “Just Good Friends”
• Neumann U47 tube (“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”)
• Choir:
• 2 x AKG C414 EB (“Man In The Mirror”)
• Guest vocals:
• AKG C414 EB or Telefunken 251 (Siedah Garrett)
• Telefunken 251 (Stevie Wonder)

Tape recorders:

• Multi-track:
• Mitsubishi X850 32-track digital
• Studer A800 mk. III 2” 24-track
• MCI JH-16 2” 16-track (e.g. “Smooth Criminal”)
• 2-track mixdown:
• Ampex ATR-100
• Mitsubishi X86 digital (final mixes)

Outboard gear (partial list):

• AMS RMX-16 reverb
• EMT 250 reverb
• Lexicon 224: vocals
• Lexicon Prime Time II Model 95
• Lexicon Super Prime Time Model 97
• UREI 1176LN peak limiter: vocals
• Yamaha REV 5

Mixing consoles:

• Harrison MR-2 console (highly modified): Westlake Studio D

Monitoring:

• Westlake SM-1 monitors
• JBL 4310
• Auratone 5C

Sources

Man In The Music (2019 edition) by Joe Vogel

Recording Engineer/Producer, July 1988

Misc. tracking sheets and studio photos

Bruce Swedien Gearspace interview

Bad 25 documentary (incl. photos, session videos & Steve Stevens guitar)

Gearspace forums

D-50 examples page

Chris Currell interview

Billboard, 10 May 1986 (page 65, “Sound Investment” section)

Glen Ballard Songfacts.com interview

Modern Drummer, June 1987 (John Robinson)

Brad Sundberg (assistant engineer)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qdsr3cUgAc (Making Captain EO)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nbQjK7LCkQ (Paul Jackson Jr. guitar part breakdown)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiCwR68Cp5I (Dann Huff guitar breakdown)

Steve Stevens Ultimate Guitar interview (Charvel San Dimas)

Various