Entering the next chapter of its hit-making life with the installation of a SSL Duality Fuse SuperAnalogue console with delta-Control automation, Atlanta’s Stankonia Studios can be found on a street once termed studio row.

The multi-room music production complex started life in 1985 as Soundscape Studios, where an SL 4000 G installed in 1988. In 1990, R&B singer and new jack swing pioneer Bobby Brown bought the building along with the console, changing the name to Bosstown Recording Studios. Rap duo Outkast subsequently acquired the studio in 1998 for their private use, renaming it Stankonia, and giving the same name to the first album they produced there.

‘The original SSL desk had been a workhorse, but the studio was eager to upgrade,’ recalls Renegade El Rey, Stankonia Recording Studios’ head engineer. ‘It was time – the building had almost 40 years of service from the 4000.’

With the Duality being widely used in high-end professional studios worldwide, it was the obvious choice to replace the old desk. ‘I’m familiar with the Duality and have had the pleasure of working on a couple,’ Renegade says. ‘I also had the pleasure of working on an SSL AWS in college. The Total Recall of the Duality is similar, but with its large meter bridge screens, multiple engineers can recall settings on the console at the same time. Recall and the speed we can do it in is very important in a commercial studio environment.’

Outkast’s Big Boi and Stankonia’s staff engineers were impressed with the new Duality Fuse the moment it was switched on. ‘The first thing that everybody noticed was that the overall sound was strong and authoritative,’ Renegade says. ‘That’s the reason why we love SSL, whether we’re talking about the SSL console or even about SSL plug-ins – SSL brings a certain level of strength. Even when I’m mixing in the box, I use SSL plug-ins on my drums because I know exactly what I’m going to get from it – punch, weight, and clarity.’

While technology has raced forward since the days of the 4000G, the Bus Compressor has been a part of the centre section of almost every SSL console since its inception. ‘I’ve used it on several mixes,’ Renegade says. ‘I did it with the G series console and I’ll do it with the Duality Fuse. Once you start mixing into the Bus Compressor you really understand its magic – just 1-2dB gain reduction and the track comes together.’

Duality’s controls are laid out and operate differently from the G Series desk, and Renegade and the Stankonia staff have been working their way along the learning curve. ‘It’s like getting used to a new car,’ he says. Working with the Duality’s central routing panel, which provides access to channel routing, signal processing order and other functions, either channel-by-channel or across a range, has sped up the overall workflow.

‘I would say a function that I love is the same function I didn’t like in the beginning, which is having to go to the master section for everything,’ he adds. ‘Now, I don’t have to physically go to every single channel and change it. If I want to turn on phantom power or change from line to mic on several channels, I can simply go to the master section. You immediately feel the console speeding up your workflow.’

The new 48-fader Duality Fuse shares the studio’s A room with original George Augspurger-designed main monitors and a six-bay rack of outboard. During installation, the room was rewired so that inputs from the mic panels are now hardwired into the console.

‘I don’t really have to do anything in terms of patching now. All I have to do is plug and play,’ Renegade says. ‘This will make things easier when Big Boi is ready to track live drums and other instruments.’

Though the studio was purchased for Outkast’s personal use, it remains a commercial facility as well. The facility holds a sense sentimental value for the two as well as many others, as this is where Outkast recorded their vocals on a TLC remix, back when it was Bosstown. In addition to Outkast recording at Bosstown, others to grace the building include Elton John, Toni Braxton and Aretha Franklin.

Also referred to as the Mothership, Stankonia is constantly busy. In recent years, the studio has hosted the likes of Goodie Mob, Organized Noise, CeeLo Green and Snoop & Kurupt. ‘Every day isn’t going to be a celebrity or Grammy-winning project,’ Renegade says. But the old SSL board did happen to win a Grammy on its way out, which was a blessing.’

Killer Mike’s 2023 album, Michael was also produced here: ‘Legacy-wise, for the 4000, that was a hell of a way to go out, and we know the new Duality will pick up where it left off.’ Renegade says.

More: www.solidstatelogic.com