loop, specifically a factory preset called "Lower Manual" that provides the ominous, bell-like intro. Percussion:

The multitrack reveals how Jackson treated his voice as a percussion instrument, adding "hee-hee" and vocal grunts at precise moments to amplify the groove.

Facing away from the microphone, singing toward the studio wall to catch the reflected sound.

Opening the multitrack session, the first striking element is the iconic intro. The haunting, metallic tolling sound that opens the song was not an acoustic bell, but a preset played on the Synclavier Digital Audio System—a cutting-edge, prohibitively expensive synthesizer of the era.

The harmonies, often provided by Michael himself or session singers, are stacked to create a lush, choral effect in the chorus, contrasting with the gritty verses. Key Production Secrets from the Multitracks

Deconstructing a Masterpiece: Inside the "Michael Jackson Beat It" Multitrack Session

You get the "grunt track" without the drums. You get the synth bass without the vocals. You get Eddie Van Halen’s fingers squeaking on the fretboard without the distortion hiding the noise.

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