The south Germany city of Ulm is home to one of the country’s top producer/engineers and his studio, Seismosonic. Matthias ‘Butch’ Mezger has long been at the top of the German music scene, producing and engineering a projects that range from pop/rock, to hip-hop and jazz. Most recently, Seismosonic has become home to Germany’s first API 2448 mixing console.
Mezger’s relationship with API began more than ten years ago, when he purchased a 1608 console– also the first of its kind to arrive in Germany. Several years later, he added a 1608 Expander and API’s moving fader automation.
Now, Seismosonic has completed a major upgrade, with the acquisition of the API 2448 console. The 24-channel desk boasts API 550A and 560 equalisers, API’s Final Touch Moving Fader Automation system, and 56 inputs to the mix buses. ‘Working in hybrid mode with the advantages of a DAW and coupling it to the workflow and sound of good analogue equipment makes the most sense to me for my working environment,’ says Mezger. ‘The API 2448 is the crucial centrepiece of my studio.
‘The great thing with the 2448 is in using the desk in everyday studio life – producing and composing of songs, recording the right material with the best sound possible and mixing in a fast and spontaneous way. The routing and inline possibilities give me a lot of options and everything is packed in a relatively small footprint but with the look and feel of a large-format console.
‘The automation is just great in the analogue domain to bring some more life into my mixes but, with the flick of a switch, it can also control my faders and other commands in my DAW – easy and quick workflow is guaranteed. ‘That API sound is always apparent; deep, wide and punchy with a lot of headroom. Everything sounds better through this desk.’
The console was supplied by long-time API distributor ES Pro Audio, headed by Erwin Strich. ‘It always makes me happy when things go smoothly and API’s supply policy and technical services are definitely the fastest one can imagine. API delivers with professional fairness and unmatched skill, that’s their bottom line,’ he says.
ES Pro enjoys a close relationship with Mezger and his team, despite almost 200km between supplier and client. The relationship between the companies includes Seismosonic being available for demos on the new console. ‘Erwin Strich and ES Pro Audio have been a fantastic partner for us in Germany for many years,’ says API Director of Sales, Dan Zimbelman. ‘We’re delighted to have the very first client in Germany for the 1608 console, now be the first client for the 2448.’
