Having worked from a spare room in his home for almost two years, mixer/engineer Scott Rosser is returning to a permanent studio. Finding the right gear was part of the thinking behind finding the right space, and a key piece of the puzzle fell into place when he discovered API’s Box mixing desk via Andy Bensley of Source Distribution.
‘The Box had everything I was looking for in one unit, whereas the other options I was considering were all separate pieces,’ says. ‘My small workspace made having everything to hand on one desk appealing.’
It’s not just Rosser’s location that is in flux; his main focus in the music industry has also shifted from ‘mainly commercial dance’ to ‘more pop and urban stuff due to the success and expansion of 3 Beat as a label.’ As well as 3 Beat, Rosser also works under the name Cahill, which is the title he uses most often when remixing for bigger-name artists. However, his career as a recording artist dates back to 1989, when he was studying at Salford University in Manchester, when Rosser and another ‘like-minded producer’ formed the band Dario G, which sold 4.5m records through the 1990s. He has since gone on to remixed major names, including Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey.
In the early 2000s, he felt all dance music was starting to sound alike, and believed he could solve the problem through analogue equipment: ‘I wanted to apply a new approach which would help my mixes stand out among the competition,’ he explains. ‘I noticed a press release for API’s new project console, and the Box caught my attention immediately. I’ve only scratched the surface with mine, and it’s already made a big difference to my work.’
Now, he is preparing for the move to a purpose-built studio: I’m sure there’ll be other API units added soon,’ he speculates. ‘The 2500 compressor especially looks good – I know The Box is going to serve me well for years. The build quality is excellent, it’s versatile, and I can now expand the rest of my system around it.’ Since its purchase, Rosser’s Box has been as busy as he is, having been used to mix an album by Fuse ODG, singles for Lethal Bizzle and Stylo G, and handle remixes for Cheryl Cole, Ellie Goulding, Nicole Scherzinger, Olly Murs, and boy band Rixton.
Compared to mixing before the Box, Rosser says his work has changed dramatically for the better. When asked what he likes best, Rosser replies: ‘Quite simply, the sound – that’s what I bought it for and it has delivered. It immediately added stereo width and a deep, warm feel that I’d been missing in previous mixes.’
More:
www.sourcedistribution.co.uk
More: www.apiaudio.com
