This is, by far, the best technical round table discussion I ever saw. These guys are serious audio gear heads! I'm in the corporate AV business as a design consultant and I often see lots of other guys patting themselves in the back after implementing a mix minus audio conference system. They have no clue of what real audio is. I started in this business working at New York's Power Station and Atlantic Studio in amazing sounding rooms with amazing sounding equipment, while watching Bob Clearmountain time reverbs with his watch. What a great time to be alive! That preamp looks cool and I'd like to record some vocals through it just to audition the impedance selector switch. Currently, I'm using a Manley Voxbox for my vocals, but the tone is inconsistent every time I want to re-record a new vocal line several weeks after the fact. I need something where I can go super clean to lots of colorization with consistency . Great work, folks!
I would like to take a minute to clarify/correct here: @ 50:55 when I talk about the first Sound Techniques System 12 in Kingston, JAM, I state that the first was delivered to Byron Lee at Dynamic Sounds Studio. This is incorrect. Since this interview I have had extensive conversations with Clive Chin (Randy's son) about what was done there and when his dad purchased the ST. The first Sound Techniques System 12 was installed at Randy's Studio 17 Parade Street in Kingston, JAM in 1970. This predates the Dynamic Sounds Studio System 12 console, purchased by The Rolling Stones by two years or so. To support this we have also uncovered magazine adverts by Sound Techniques, Ltd. in Sound on Sound Magazine from 1971, showing the Randy's Sound Techniques System 12. Thanks go out to Clive for taking the time to clear this up. Cheers, Danny White
Surely this isn't the Jamaica studio where Elton John attempted to record "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"? In Classic Albums interviews, Bernie Taupin and Davey Johnstone had nothing good to say about their short stay there, feeling their life was in danger.
Godspeed and good luck Danny on Sound Techniques... We all got used to saying they don't make 'em like they used to but now we can say they do make em like they used to... Hope for your success in a great product...Sunset Sound & Sound Techniques... Already thinking about wanting one for myself... Peace...
As a veteran engineer/producer I love listening to these roundtables. Also as a Brit I really appreciate the reverence you guys show to the wonderful talent and gear we had back then in the UK. I trained on a Trident TSM and would give anything to be back behind it again though I don't miss lining it up!
Wowww Danny White...Very cool to see you on here...I met you a couple times many years back at John Rickards house when I still lived in Phoenix...I came back home to Billings Montana 5 years ago
You discussed some of my favorite musicians, labels, producers, engineers and albums. Fairport, Nick Drake, A&M, Elektra back in the day, Joe Boyd, John Wood, Bruce Botnick. Thanks for recounting this history!
There was a studio called sound techiques in Chelsea, London. Many important records were recorded there by the sound engineer John Wood. I think that the consoles were made by Frost upstairs on the second floor. (Old Church Street, London, a converted dairy.) Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, Pink Floyd all recorded there. Most of the records produced by Joe Boyd for Witchseason Productions were recorded there. Yes of course they had a sound techniques console in their studio.
I’ve gravitated towards so many of these records as sounding ‘modern’ for their time and having clarity, space and air… now I know why - it all makes sense! The Stooges ‘Funhouse’ was done at Elektra Sound Recorders, that was one of the heavier sounding albums of the time!
Thanks Gentlemen, great to have this history. Now it all makes sense why I liked the early Bowie, particularly Hunky Dory and also others mentioned here. Alice Cooper Love it to Death also a fav album and sounds great - was that an ST console as well ? An album that sounds wonderful is Fairport Convention"s Babbacombe Lee, the drum sound is fantastic. Recorded at Sound Techniques. I bought one of these Sunset Sound units last year and have had great results particularly with the 4038 which really came alive even against even an 88R mic pre !
I think the Demedio console at sun set sound is the best sounding console ever, For tracking and mixing!! Those pres with the old 550a Eq’s sound amazing in those rooms...
It is an incredible all-around console. Very rare and special. Frank is still alive, I HOPE he comes out and chats for history's sake, just so we can learn from him!
Led Zeppelin story: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-led-zeppelins-hedgerow-bustling-stairway-to-heaven-alternate-mix-178435/ Sunset Sound mix of Stairway: ua-cam.com/video/XiQdFKcZQw0/v-deo.html I like the vocal and the drums (esp kick drum!) better on this version, but the rest seems better on the later mix.
Love this...... incredible! Can you please cover someday the tape machines and their sound contributions? My Ampex MM1200 2" 16 is something like i have NEVER! heared or felt. Everything you record in comes back Bigger! Massive! and organic? got to love that head bump too.
Didn't Roger and Zapp record the Many facets of Roger and some of their albums at Sunset sound because I remember seeing a picture on their episode of unsung with Roger Troutman, George Clinton, and sly stone in a studio at Sunset working on a funk album that has remained unreleased for many, many years now.
Right here. Thanks for the love my-store-b424f8.creator-spring.com/listing/sunset-sound-t-shirt?product=1303&variation=104486&size=5505&srsltid=AfmBOoqtVInO7Rp_WqtdynL1ZFfcMOzD1NhcxRj1yqWQGD4B_3dMq_tthCs&UCxAx1LOAy9YhvRdVfMq6pOw&YT-APM2gMCgKZbJMh3hmbUmuJiV4qFEggcXKjEkf3m9WwcW6qbbqQ_Zt0BR2THDSVFA7twL4XgLvz_z9HxbvTvoNJAEFcXDkS4vxTbQsFfR6Y06OvM7ltKX5MJUondXNtYeFTdrC9bPTBbTJvxumy6zcApv_iQfaMqp3GR912bXeoVb&nohelpkit=1
A year on....firstly, I wanted to give a big thanks to everyone here that has commented. It is humbling that so many talented people have taken the time to join in, watch this roundtable and comment. Another couple of corrections and then I'll get onto some new gear stuff. My comment in regard to "all the transformers in the original console were 80% nickel". This is obviously incorrect. The MIC INPUT TRANSFORMERS AND LINE INPUT TRANSFORMERS WERE 80% NICKEL LAMS. OUTPUT TRANSFORMERS WERE 50% NICKEL. Additional information has also come to light in regard to the original installation of an ST A-Range four track, that I could never place. Turns out, confirmed by photos from 1967/68, that it was installed very early in 1967 at Central Sound Studio, Denmark Street, London. There is an entirely new set of historical recordings that we need to visit now, including tracks from The Kinks, The EasyBeats, The Bee Gees, Them (Van Morrison) and many others. Central replaced this console with a 16 Track ST System 12 around 1972. There is a very nice photo of this console on our website. So, the total Sound Techniques A Range build is 15. Not 14. This makes the Sunset Sound console #5, not #4. New Gear.....Yes we have four new 500 Series units coming out. Actually going over to pick the metal work up today and begin assembling. We'll be offering a mic pre and three different versions of a four band EQ. These are all new designs but there are elements of the ST System 24 and the ST ASDEV, consoles. Also, elements of the last large format console that ST built in 1973 (not an A-Range). We do not have the ST System 12 ready yet in 500, but the circuit will appear, for the first time, in a console that we are building for Clay Blair at Boulevard Recorders in Hollywood. Clay's studio was the iconic Producer's Workshop Studio. It will be delivered in mid-October, 36 Input x 60 Return x 8 Bus. For those of you in the area, it will present a good chance to get in front of what we're building. Lastly, the ST7064CS rack unit. We will have these guys available again by mid September at the latest and we've got a sign up list going. No deposit required. Hit us on email if you'd like to save one. Thanks once again. Peace. Danny White
I own that Sunset Sound Reverb from IK Multimedia. It's my go-to-reverb, since I almost always get what I need from one of the reverbs within that Reverb-Plugin. I'd love to have emulations of the boards/preamps, unfortunately buying the real-deal is not an option for me and other broke smalltime producers, that can't actually live off of what they do. So I'd love if you'd consider some kind of collaboration (maybe again with IK Multimedia?) to emulate that ZR7064 you made. Just something to consider.. people like me can't pay much, but we make up for it in numbers - we are by far more than the people who can spend 3,5k for the hardware.
Hmm, I Thought that Zeppelin did III and IV using the Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Studio Truck, the RSM. I know that some of the sounds on Zeppelin's III and IV could have only been done using that Helios Console Board. So you may want to check your data on IV being recorded there.
I worked alot with Andy Johns in his last two years. He told me he mixed the whole Zep4 album in England and when they tried to master it it died sonically. So they flew Andy to Sunset to remix the whole album quickly . Got him an apartment with two blonde girls to make him food and take care of his needs. If i remember correctly he said all of it was used from Sunset. Anyway, thats from Andy’s voice to my ears. Maybe they mixed and matched from Englad studio? He said it was tracked at Headley
supposedly Goodnight Vienna was released in quad, was any of the quad mixing or production done at Sunset? with so much talent on that album, the multi-track tapes would be pure gold if they still exist
7:00 THANK YOU! I've been writing a definitive list of what was recorded on the Trident A-Range. It's shocking how much BS Malcolm Toft/MTA/PMI Audio say was recorded AT Trident to hide the fact it wasn't recorded on the Trident A-Range. It's a lie by omission. And PMI Audio own the trademark to the A-Range that was SoundTechniques' name, it's gross!
@@ericwarrington6650 Realize it was a bit long! But, we're gear and music nerds...and nerds do what we do! I will say that some of the funnest bits can be found in the minutiae of it all. Peace. Danny
Yeah, a lot of people use both. Mic preamps CANNOT be digital, they have to be analog. You can add EQ there if you like and that often sounds different. See what people who can afford anything choose: Usually they have a nice set (or more) of vintage and new analog gear. It's a sound.
Good to see everyone!
This is, by far, the best technical round table discussion I ever saw. These guys are serious audio gear heads! I'm in the corporate AV business as a design consultant and I often see lots of other guys patting themselves in the back after implementing a mix minus audio conference system. They have no clue of what real audio is. I started in this business working at New York's Power Station and Atlantic Studio in amazing sounding rooms with amazing sounding equipment, while watching Bob Clearmountain time reverbs with his watch. What a great time to be alive! That preamp looks cool and I'd like to record some vocals through it just to audition the impedance selector switch. Currently, I'm using a Manley Voxbox for my vocals, but the tone is inconsistent every time I want to re-record a new vocal line several weeks after the fact. I need something where I can go super clean to lots of colorization with consistency . Great work, folks!
Watch the one with Paul Wolff
Greatest Recording Console Ever!!
Cant Wait to get the new Sunset Sound Techniques Unit
Ever.... lol. Based non what?. Rock songs.. plenty of amazing consoles. Period,the end,
I would like to take a minute to clarify/correct here: @ 50:55 when I talk about the first Sound Techniques System 12 in Kingston, JAM, I state that the first was delivered to Byron Lee at Dynamic Sounds Studio. This is incorrect. Since this interview I have had extensive conversations with Clive Chin (Randy's son) about what was done there and when his dad purchased the ST. The first Sound Techniques System 12 was installed at Randy's Studio 17 Parade Street in Kingston, JAM in 1970. This predates the Dynamic Sounds Studio System 12 console, purchased by The Rolling Stones by two years or so. To support this we have also uncovered magazine adverts by Sound Techniques, Ltd. in Sound on Sound Magazine from 1971, showing the Randy's Sound Techniques System 12. Thanks go out to Clive for taking the time to clear this up. Cheers, Danny White
both consoles cut a lot of classic Jamaican hits, the Dynamic console was sold to Joe Gibbs after Dynamic went all MCI.
Surely this isn't the Jamaica studio where Elton John attempted to record "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"? In Classic Albums interviews, Bernie Taupin and Davey Johnstone had nothing good to say about their short stay there, feeling their life was in danger.
Very cool. Love the history.
Godspeed and good luck Danny on Sound Techniques... We all got used to saying they don't make 'em like they used to but now we can say they do make em like they used to... Hope for your success in a great product...Sunset Sound & Sound Techniques... Already thinking about wanting one for myself... Peace...
This video is a gold mine of sound recording history. Thanks.
THIS was over the top! Couldn't stop watching. Great job Gentleman.
For anyone who stared at the liner notes of classic albums this is an absolute dream conversation… thanks
This is so informative. Bravo
As a veteran engineer/producer I love listening to these roundtables. Also as a Brit I really appreciate the reverence you guys show to the wonderful talent and gear we had back then in the UK. I trained on a Trident TSM and would give anything to be back behind it again though I don't miss lining it up!
Fun to listen to all of this. Kudos for bringing the history to the masses.
Wowww Danny White...Very cool to see you on here...I met you a couple times many years back at John Rickards house when I still lived in Phoenix...I came back home to Billings Montana 5 years ago
I love this content. Thank you, Sunset Sound! Hope to come back and visit the studio again!
You discussed some of my favorite musicians, labels, producers, engineers and albums. Fairport, Nick Drake, A&M, Elektra back in the day, Joe Boyd, John Wood, Bruce Botnick. Thanks for recounting this history!
It was a time and a sound - a GOOD one.
There was a studio called sound techiques in Chelsea, London. Many important records were recorded there by the sound engineer John Wood. I think that the consoles were made by Frost upstairs on the second floor. (Old Church Street, London, a converted dairy.) Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, Pink Floyd all recorded there. Most of the records produced by Joe Boyd for Witchseason Productions were recorded there. Yes of course they had a sound techniques console in their studio.
@@Roundtablewithdrew Yes I did. So what?
I absolutely love all these interviews. This is fantastic. Thank you for doing all these.
It's really good seeing Danny White dropping knowledge nuggets
Amazing Work guys!!
The Stones used this board on so much work . They even demanded the studio in Jamaica buy one when they went there.
Qqqqq
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Qqqq
Lq
Excellent! Thank you very much! 🎙
This is a great I love listening to the history of studios.
I’ve gravitated towards so many of these records as sounding ‘modern’ for their time and having clarity, space and air… now I know why - it all makes sense!
The Stooges ‘Funhouse’ was done at Elektra Sound Recorders, that was one of the heavier sounding albums of the time!
Great content, love this history. Thanks Sunset
Amazing. Would love to have a lunchbox size version someday.
Rock n Roll ! !
What an amazing studio, and history!
Loving this channel & looking forward to hopefully recording there next year.
Great video.
Would love to see more round table discussions on the gear that was used at Sunset over the years.
Super fascinating. Thanks for sharing these.
At focusrite and earlier companies with Rupert Neve
?
Thanks Gentlemen, great to have this history. Now it all makes sense why I liked the early Bowie, particularly Hunky Dory and also others mentioned here.
Alice Cooper Love it to Death also a fav album and sounds great - was that an ST console as well ?
An album that sounds wonderful is Fairport Convention"s Babbacombe Lee, the drum sound is fantastic. Recorded at Sound Techniques. I bought one of these
Sunset Sound units last year and have had great results particularly with the 4038 which really came alive even against even an 88R mic pre !
What a history lesson of music legions. Thank you.
Pink floyd recorded at sound technique. 1966?. Thanks 😊 for the great history
Before their first EMI album (Piper) they did sessions at Sound Techniques - there's recordings and even a FILM you can see!
Thank you !
Amazing insight, thanks.
I think the Demedio console at sun set sound is the best sounding console ever, For tracking and mixing!! Those pres with the old 550a Eq’s sound amazing in those rooms...
Dude, thats awesome!!!!
It is an incredible all-around console. Very rare and special. Frank is still alive, I HOPE he comes out and chats for history's sake, just so we can learn from him!
That opening photo of the old Sunset Sound/Sound Techniques console is pretty damn sexy! Good start...
Led Zeppelin story: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-led-zeppelins-hedgerow-bustling-stairway-to-heaven-alternate-mix-178435/ Sunset Sound mix of Stairway: ua-cam.com/video/XiQdFKcZQw0/v-deo.html I like the vocal and the drums (esp kick drum!) better on this version, but the rest seems better on the later mix.
Love Jeff Harris
He's an amazing tech 👏❤👏
Very nice Danny! We're working on it over here. 😉
Love this...... incredible! Can you please cover someday the tape machines and their sound contributions? My Ampex MM1200 2" 16 is something like i have NEVER! heared or felt. Everything you record in comes back Bigger! Massive! and organic? got to love that head bump too.
All you guys are good to hear talk but, Brian is exceptional. 💯
at 14:06 there is an early Moog system which is breaking my brain to look at.
Great Talk!!! Come on Ted.......
Great
Didn't Roger and Zapp record the Many facets of Roger and some of their albums at Sunset sound because I remember seeing a picture on their episode of unsung with Roger Troutman, George Clinton, and sly stone in a studio at Sunset working on a funk album that has remained unreleased for many, many years now.
Really , send to the Sunset Sound Instagram
I love these mini documentaries!!!
Where can I get a Sunset Sound shirt ?
Right here. Thanks for the love
my-store-b424f8.creator-spring.com/listing/sunset-sound-t-shirt?product=1303&variation=104486&size=5505&srsltid=AfmBOoqtVInO7Rp_WqtdynL1ZFfcMOzD1NhcxRj1yqWQGD4B_3dMq_tthCs&UCxAx1LOAy9YhvRdVfMq6pOw&YT-APM2gMCgKZbJMh3hmbUmuJiV4qFEggcXKjEkf3m9WwcW6qbbqQ_Zt0BR2THDSVFA7twL4XgLvz_z9HxbvTvoNJAEFcXDkS4vxTbQsFfR6Y06OvM7ltKX5MJUondXNtYeFTdrC9bPTBbTJvxumy6zcApv_iQfaMqp3GR912bXeoVb&nohelpkit=1
A year on....firstly, I wanted to give a big thanks to everyone here that has commented. It is humbling that so many talented people have taken the time to join in, watch this roundtable and comment. Another couple of corrections and then I'll get onto some new gear stuff.
My comment in regard to "all the transformers in the original console were 80% nickel". This is obviously incorrect. The MIC INPUT TRANSFORMERS AND LINE INPUT TRANSFORMERS WERE 80% NICKEL LAMS. OUTPUT TRANSFORMERS WERE 50% NICKEL.
Additional information has also come to light in regard to the original installation of an ST A-Range four track, that I could never place. Turns out, confirmed by photos from 1967/68, that it was installed very early in 1967 at Central Sound Studio, Denmark Street, London. There is an entirely new set of historical recordings that we need to visit now, including tracks from The Kinks, The EasyBeats, The Bee Gees, Them (Van Morrison) and many others. Central replaced this console with a 16 Track ST System 12 around 1972. There is a very nice photo of this console on our website. So, the total Sound Techniques A Range build is 15. Not 14. This makes the Sunset Sound console #5, not #4.
New Gear.....Yes we have four new 500 Series units coming out. Actually going over to pick the metal work up today and begin assembling. We'll be offering a mic pre and three different versions of a four band EQ. These are all new designs but there are elements of the ST System 24 and the ST ASDEV, consoles. Also, elements of the last large format console that ST built in 1973 (not an A-Range). We do not have the ST System 12 ready yet in 500, but the circuit will appear, for the first time, in a console that we are building for Clay Blair at Boulevard Recorders in Hollywood. Clay's studio was the iconic Producer's Workshop Studio. It will be delivered in mid-October, 36 Input x 60 Return x 8 Bus. For those of you in the area, it will present a good chance to get in front of what we're building.
Lastly, the ST7064CS rack unit. We will have these guys available again by mid September at the latest and we've got a sign up list going. No deposit required. Hit us on email if you'd like to save one. Thanks once again. Peace. Danny White
Excellent Excellent
I own that Sunset Sound Reverb from IK Multimedia. It's my go-to-reverb, since I almost always get what I need from one of the reverbs within that Reverb-Plugin. I'd love to have emulations of the boards/preamps, unfortunately buying the real-deal is not an option for me and other broke smalltime producers, that can't actually live off of what they do. So I'd love if you'd consider some kind of collaboration (maybe again with IK Multimedia?) to emulate that ZR7064 you made. Just something to consider.. people like me can't pay much, but we make up for it in numbers - we are by far more than the people who can spend 3,5k for the hardware.
Always fascinating!
Man I love this stuff! Thank you!
13:43 Don't mind me, I'll just be standing here ...in back ..until I casually walk out of frame 14:19 🤣
thanks so much for sharing!!
I dig the round table discussions, but why is the audio in this video distorted??
Hmm, I Thought that Zeppelin did III and IV using the Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Studio Truck, the RSM. I know that some of the sounds on Zeppelin's III and IV could have only been done using that Helios Console Board. So you may want to check your data on IV being recorded there.
I worked alot with Andy Johns in his last two years. He told me he mixed the whole Zep4 album in England and when they tried to master it it died sonically. So they flew Andy to Sunset to remix the whole album quickly . Got him an apartment with two blonde girls to make him food and take care of his needs. If i remember correctly he said all of it was used from Sunset. Anyway, thats from Andy’s voice to my ears. Maybe they mixed and matched from Englad studio? He said it was tracked at Headley
supposedly Goodnight Vienna was released in quad, was any of the quad mixing or production done at Sunset? with so much talent on that album, the multi-track tapes would be pure gold if they still exist
All of it was done at sunset
I was never “board” at any time watching this.
Fireee
Hey there. I think it would be awesome if you could do a podcast or a video on/talking about the IK Multimedia Sunset Sound Plugin. Just a thought!
IK has a bunch on their page
@@Roundtablewithdrew Oh okay, thats great!!! Thanks so much:):)
Hell Yeah Bring Bruce!!
Quick question. 3 RE-20 and one SM7. Is it an inventory limitation or a conscious choice? if a choice, why?
When does a board get too big by have too many inputs? What are the optimal number of inputs?
System 12 Consoles did not have input transformers according to Mr. Frost.
When will you have more units available?.... they’re forever sold out
@44:08 Klaus Voorman, not Voorhies.
any sound techniques 500 series
Where did the money come from to buy these boards?
7:00 THANK YOU! I've been writing a definitive list of what was recorded on the Trident A-Range. It's shocking how much BS Malcolm Toft/MTA/PMI Audio say was recorded AT Trident to hide the fact it wasn't recorded on the Trident A-Range. It's a lie by omission. And PMI Audio own the trademark to the A-Range that was SoundTechniques' name, it's gross!
Get a round table for your round table discussion...lol..
No thanks
@@Roundtablewithdrew just kidding around my friend.. 😂..no offense intended..
@@ericwarrington6650 Realize it was a bit long! But, we're gear and music nerds...and nerds do what we do! I will say that some of the funnest bits can be found in the minutiae of it all. Peace. Danny
@@dannywhite1761 was just playing around w u guys...I'm part of that nerd herd for sure my friend!🤘😁🎸🎶❤️
Noob question. Does anyone use these 'analog' systems?
'still' use.
Yeah, a lot of people use both. Mic preamps CANNOT be digital, they have to be analog. You can add EQ there if you like and that often sounds different. See what people who can afford anything choose: Usually they have a nice set (or more) of vintage and new analog gear. It's a sound.
sold out 😞
Way too much talking guys! I couldn’t hang I ran out of time…
See ya
Thank you so much! Such an interesting interview!