RECORDING
We view the studio as a place to capture and to create emotion, or at the very least to heighten it. Sometimes it ‘s just a matter of right microphone, right preamp and right processing, and other times it’s that plus creating the right atmosphere where the recording artist feels enabled to reach deep and come up with a convincing performance. Great gear is important, nice monitoring, the same, but in the end it’s about performance .
PRODUCTION
My production style has been described as “retro with a modern edge”, and I think that’s an apt description. I can work totally “in the box” with the latest digital processing, or I am equally comfortable working in analog on the Amek console, with analog outboard processing, or as is the case most of the time, somewhere in between. It’s a matter of finding the best answer to the demands of the music, and the client. I bring a knowledge and respect for the music of the past with an enthusiasm for the possibilities of the new.
-Mike Harvey
MIXING
Actiondale is an amazing spot to mix your record. Best-in-class monitoring over a real classic British designed Amek mixing desk. This is no project studio – we’ve got top shelf analog EQs, classic compressors and legendary FX processors which plugins just can’t replace… though we have a staggering collection of those too.
MASTERING
Mastering is the crucial finishing process for your record or release. From CD, to iTunes, to YouTube, your mix can experience a dizzying array of release formats. Apple’s Mastered for iTunes and other new digital standards programs are revolutionizing how the worlds’ best mastering studios create and prepare for iTunes and similar file formats, resulting in better sound quality from iTunes, YouTube and even CD than we’ve ever see before… and we’re on top of it so you don’t have to be.
-Sam Rees
Full Gear List
Mixing console
Amek BIG 32 channel in-line console
Monitoring
“A” – Focal Twin6 Be Reference Monitors
“B” – Genelec 1030s
“C” – Yamaha NS10s
Amps
Original Leslie
Matchless DC-30
Marshall JCM 800 w/4×12 and 2×12 cabinets
Orange 120
Hiwatt 50
Mesa Boogie Simulclass 2C Combo Amp
70s Fender Vibrolux Silverface (modified)
60s Fender Vibrolux Blackface
Fender Vibrochamp
SVT Pro-3 Bass Amplifier
Hammond M-100 plus Leslie
PETE CAGE 18/30
VOX AC-30 w/CAB
Digital Gear:
Avid HD Native PCIe
Digidesign 192 IO (2)
Apogee Big Ben Master Clock
Universal Audio 2192 Stereo Mastering IO Converter
Universal Audio UAD-2 OCTO Plugin DSP
2014 ‘Trash Can’ 6-core Mac Pro with 64GB of RAM
Effects
Bricasti M7 Stereo Reverb Processor
Lexicon PCM 90
Lexicon LXP 15
Yamaha SPX-90
TC Electronics M-3000
Mono
Tube-Tech CL1B OPTO-Compressor
Summit TLA-100A Tube Leveling Amplifier
Empirical Labs Distressor with British Mod
Valley Dynamite 2 Channel Dynamics Processor
UREI LA4 Blackface Compressor (modified)
UREI LA4 Silverface Compressor (modified)
DBX 160 (2)
DBX 160X Compressor (3)
Stereo
Focusrite Red 3 Mix Buss Compressor
Safe Sound Dynamics ToolBox
Joe Meek SL2.2
Mic Pre’s, EQs, and Channel Strips
API 512c Discrete Preamp (2)
API 550b EQ (2)
Tube-Tech MEC1A Recording Channel (Tube preamp, EQ, and opto compressor)
Universal Audio 2108 2-channel Preamp
Wunder Audio PEQ2R Neve-Style Preamp (2)
TL Audio C-3 Stereo Tube Pre-amp & Compressor
16 Amek BIG Discrete Console Preamps
Software Packages:
Avid Pro Tools 11 HD
Apple Logic 9
Apple WaveBurner
Apple Mastered for iTunes Tools
Plugins
WAVES V9:
-Abbey Road J37 Tape
-API Collection
-Butch Vig Vocals
-C6
-DBX 160 Limiter
-EMI TG12345
-InPhase
-Kramer Master Tape
-Kramer PIE Compressor
-Marroquin EQ
-REDD Collection
-RS56 Passive EQ
-Reel ADT
-Schepes 73
-Vocal Rider
Soundtoys Native Effects Bundle
Soundtoys Devil Loc
Soundtoys Radiator
Soundtoys MicroShift
Soundtoys Little PrimalTap
UAD 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
UAD Legacy Pultec EQ
UAD Legacy LA-2A
UAD SSL E Series Channel Strip
UAD Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
UAD Manley Massive Passive Mastering EQ
UAD Helios Type 69 EQ
UAD Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb
UAD EMT 140 Plate Reverb
UAD EMT 250 Plate Reverb
iZotope Ozone 6 Advanced Mastering Suite
iZotope RX 4 Advanced Toolkit
Slate Drums 4 + Blackbird Samples
Slate Virtual Bus Compressors (Focusrite Red 3, SSL Bus, Fairchild 670)
Slate Virtual Console Collection
Slate FG-X Mastering Processor
Slate Revive
Slate Trigger 2 Deluxe + CLA & Terry Date samples
Antares Auto-Tune 7
Melodyne Editor 2
Serato Pitch n’ Time Pro 3
Eiosis AirEQ Premium
Eventide UltraChannel
DUY Analog Bundle
Sonnax Oxford EQs
Avid Joe Meek SC2 & VC5
Avid Tel-Ray Variable Delay
Avid ReVibe
Avid Smack
Avid Space
Avid Impact
Avid Reverb One
East West Symphonic Orchestra VI
Native 8 Komplete Virtual Instruments Collection
Microphones
Manley Reference Cardiod
Shure SM7b
AEA R84
Neumann U-87 (2)
AKG 414 B-ULS (2)
Audio Technica 4050
Audio Technica AT-25 (4)
Audio Technica 4041 (4)
EV-RE20 (1)
AKG-D112 (1)
Sennheiser 421 (2)
Shure SM-81 (2)
Beyer M-500 (3)
Shure SM-57 (3)
Audix D6
Audix D3
Audix D2 (2)
Audix D1
EV-757
Shure SM-58
DIs
Countryman Type 85 DI
Wunder Hi-Z Input (2)
API Hi-Z Input (2)
Tube-Tech Hi-Z
UA Hi-Z Input (2)