Quote:
Originally posted by The Insider:
Hi Lee

I mixed quite a few things on SSL and to be honest I thought they were not great sounding - unfortuately I used to live directly opposite the factory in Begbroke (actually my daughter still lives about 100 yds down the road) so it was a shame that I felt that way as who knows, maybe I could've got a proper job :-).

I am sure the K series and AWS900 etc sound much better, but in the end I mainly used ORAM desks as the possibility of using Neve or API on the remix budgets we had was non-existent - either there were'nt any (API) or the record companies specified SSL.

I had the great honour of meeting John East at the original SSL factory in Stonesfield (he was the circuit designer, I believe) one weekend before he moved to Sony Oxford - he used to tweak Bass wiring circuits for a hobby and my friend Phil Mulford had a Roger Giffen(?) Bass modified by John - it was one of those truly great tones.

It's quite weird when I think about it actually, as I lived in a town (still nearby now) that makes Wal Basses and Martin Audio PA, and currently is the home to Focusrite, so maybe it was fate that got me into this business.

Either that or stupidity. . . . .:-)

[This message has been edited by The Insider (edited 08-07-2008).]


Andy,

In my opinion the old SSL's sound was horrid but the J and K series and AWS900 are considerably better. As you are aware many labels request that an album be mixed on SSL and that always makes me cringe. I'd rather mix on an old school Neve or API any day. At home I mixed on a custom Amek desk which I really loved. I modified the hell out of it so it bore no resemblance to a stock Amek desk but does that matter?

As to you getting into the music business... I'm going to say that it was stupidity rather than fate. :-) I entered the business much like you did and have stuck with it through thick and thin.

Sorry to hear of your woes with Higher Octave. I almost got involved with them but ended up at BMG where I faired about the same as you did with Higher Octave. Same concept, different label. Let's not go there!