Michael Stipe

“When we did Michael’s vocals we were at Hit Factory/Criteria in Studio E. It’s a mid-size control room with two outboard racks at tabletop height with a walkway between the two. In the middle is where we set up his mic stand,” explains Candiloro. “On one side was outboard gear on top of the rack and the other side was Michael’s station with his headphones ready to go. He liked the Fostex T-50s and we used the same pair for the whole record. Most of the time it would only be Pat [McCarthy] and myself in the control room with headphones on while Michael was doing his vocals. He would work the mic — grab it sometimes. He’s very consistent. He’s been doing it for a long time and knows his voice so well. It’s an instrument he’s kept in great shape; he knows exactly how to work a mic.”