Nod to The Legend · The inventions · 1915–2009
Les Paul
Guitarist and multitrack pioneer
Les Paul stacked his own parts by bouncing between recordings, then added an extra head to his Ampex tape machine to do it on tape. Records like "How High the Moon" (1951) with Mary Ford were layered this way, and he commissioned one of the first 8-track machines.
Still heard: Every overdub you've ever done is his idea.
Related legends
- Rupert Neve: Console and preamp designer
- Bill Putnam: Engineer, studio builder, father of the modern console
- The Fairchild 670: Variable-mu tube limiter, designed by Rein Narma
- Ross Snyder and Sel-Sync: Ampex engineer
- Bob Ludwig: Mastering engineer
- The Ludwigs and the Drum Kit: William F. and Theobald Ludwig