Having provided production services to clients including Garth Brooks, Ricky Martin and Sara Bareilles for more than 35 years, Sweetwater Studios has recent,y overhauled its outboard. Included is a complement of API processors – among them 527 compressors, 512c discrete mic/line preamps, a 525 compressor and 2500 bus compressor.
The selection was based on the previous experience the studio engineers: ‘Our production team is one of the most experienced and diverse in the business,’ says Director of Music Production & Artist Relations, Mark Hornsby. ‘These are pieces that team members, including myself, have been using for years – be it through rentals, borrowing, or units we had in our personal production rooms. The gear is versatile, it sounds great and it’s easy to use. It sounds perfect as soon as you plug it in,’ he says. ‘There’s not a whole bunch of knobs and features that only work well on certain things.’
A 2500 bus compressor is one of his favoured additions: ‘The 2500 has been a favorite of mine for years,’ he admits. ‘It’s typically a go-to for me on the drum bus, or sometimes part of the two mix processing chain. It sounds warm, punchy, and you can hit it really hard, which is great for rock or a more aggressive piece of material.
‘I also really like the 550As on electric guitars. Something as simple as just flipping the filter (FLTR) switch can quickly help carve through a mix, I know the word classic gets thrown around a lot these days, but I think API is one company that consistently captures that classic vibe in all the tools that they make.’
Sweetwater Sound also handles clients mixes, which keeps the production team busy. The new modules will be used in forthcoming productions, including an EP for independent Nashville artist Abby Lane and a new album for guitarist Carl Verheyen.
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