Charlotte, NC (January 27, 2021)—Cuban-American recording artist Mike Smith, who is also a co-executive producer and main judge on BET’s One Shot competition series, recently overhauled his studio in Charlotte, NC and installed a Neve 8424 console.
Smith’s studio is a commercial facility but is primarily used for his own projects. It houses his collection of more than 60 classic guitars, as well as a grand piano, numerous keyboards, drum sets and microphones. Outboard equipment includes two vintage Neve 1073 preamps and a total of eight 2254R and 2264ALB compressor/limiters. Alongside his 8424 purchase, Smith also recently acquired a Neve 1073OPX, which he is using in conjunction with the desk.
“I never used the preamps on my old desk and as time went on, I realized I was barely using the console at all because I was working more and more in the box, with a few outboard pieces for tracking and mixing,” says Smith. As an artist, producer and songwriter, he has over one billion streams and over five million units sold, not to mention numerous No.1 albums and several Top 10 singles. “The 8424 has given me the ability to come back to the analogue world in a huge way by really streamlining the process between in-the-box and outside-the-box.”
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The 8424 was installed at the end of last year. “It is a world-class console in a small footprint and with a workflow that is perfect for someone like me, a singer-songwriter and producer who predominantly tracks themselves or a few other artists,” he says.
“The two 1073 preamps included on the console, along with the 8 channel 1073OPX expansion and integration to the console, are ideally suited to how I work. I now have 48 channels that are easily integrated with my DAW, and instant recall of my settings. However, the biggest surprise is the master section of the console, which is incredible. The inclusion of two 500 series slots, the shelving EQs, width controls, and beautiful-sounding Marinair transformers makes this console a one stop shop for all of my recording needs.”
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