New York City-based rental company The Toy Specialists at Scharff Weisberg recently supplied Presence Studios (Westport, Conn.) with a package of outboard gear. The equipment was used to complete Steely Dan’s newest album, which was produced by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, and mixed by Elliot Scheiner.
The full package included Summit TLA-100 limiters, Prism Dream AD-2 A/D converters, Prism Dream DA-2 D/A converters, dbx 160SL compressor limiters, Meyer HD-1 powered monitors, Massenburg 8200 equalizers and Massenburg 8900 compressors. The Toy Specialists’ format-conversion facility, TransferMat, also worked on the project, converting the 2-inch analog masters to 24-bit Pro Tools files for the mix and then to DASH tape for mastering.
The project was recorded and mixed in Studio A on Presence’s Neve VR-Legend 60. “We’ve been working on this album with Walter, Donald and Elliot for 14 months, first recording overdubs, then mixes and finally the 5.1 mix,” said Presence partner Jon Russell. “They are among our most discriminating clients, so when they request an esoteric piece of equipment or when they need equipment of the highest caliber, I always go to The Toy Specialists, because I know they’ll have it and that it will be in good shape.”
For more information on The Toy Specialists, drop them a buzz at 212/333-2206 or visit them online at www.toyspecialits.com/.
