Michael Jackson Beat It Multitrack

Played by Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro, the drums are the backbone of the song. The multitracks show a punchy, tight sound. The snare is incredibly crisp, with little reverb, allowing it to cut through the heavy guitars.

It slid in like oil on water. The Moog bass was fat, occupying a terrifying amount of low-end space. On the final mix, it sat politely underneath the guitars. But here, isolated, it growled. It was a beast fighting against its leash. Elias noticed a slight fret buzz—or perhaps a synth artifact—at the start of every four-bar phrase. It was a mistake that had been left in, a flaw that gave the instrument its teeth. It was the sound of a street fight waiting to happen. michael jackson beat it multitrack

If you listen closely to the multitrack just before the solo begins, there is a distinct knocking sound. For years, rumors circulated that it was someone knocking on the studio door. In reality, it was a knock on a wooden equipment case inside the room, captured by an open microphone, which the production team decided to leave in the final mix because it added to the raw, spontaneous energy of the moment. The Legacy of the "Beat It" Stems Played by Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro, the drums

Perhaps the most jaw-dropping isolated tracks are Michael Jackson’s vocals. The final mix sounds like one powerful voice. The multitrack reveals the truth: It slid in like oil on water

If you have never heard it, find a high-quality rip. Put on noise-canceling headphones. Listen to just the kick drum. Then add the bass. Then the vocal. And finally, that solo.