From left: Joseph Wagoner, AKG; Mike Clink, Producers & Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy; Maureen Droney, Producers & Engineers Wing of The Recording Academy; Nathaniel Kunkel, Studio Without Walls; Peter Chaikin, JBL Professional; and Gregory Butler, Lexicon.
Photos courtesy of The Recording Academy/Wireimage.com ©2012Photo: Rebecca Sapp
On June 27, HARMAN Professional and the Producers & Engineers Wing of The Recording Academy hosted their first-ever “From Mic to Mix” event at Los Angeles’ Conway Recording Studios. Open to The Recording Academy members and industry professionals, “From Mic to Mix” featured a live acoustic recording session by the pop/soul group Elaine Faye & Company, engineered by two-time Grammy Award winner Nathaniel Kunkel, showcasing the latest recording products and technologies from AKG, JBL Professional and Lexicon.
Nathaniel Kunkel is the owner of Studio Without Walls, offering location and in-studio recording services to top music clients. He has earned Grammy Awards for his work with B.B. King and Robin Williams, received an Emmy for A&E In Concert: Sting: Sacred Love and has recorded top artists including Brian Wilson, Stevie Nicks, Ringo Starr, Zooey Deschanel, Cobra Starship, Lyle Lovett, Linda Ronstadt and many others.
Pop/soul group Elaine Faye & Company
Photos courtesy of The Recording Academy/Wireimage.com ©2012Photo: Rebecca Sapp
The surround sound recording session took place in Conway’s large Studio C using a variety of AKG microphones and headphones, including a C 12 VR, P820 Tube, C 414 XL II, C 214, C 451 and a pair of C 414 XLS mics. Attendees were able to listen to Kunkel’s mix with 24 AKG K271 and K240MKII headphones placed around the studio. In the control room, Kunkel monitored using a JBL LSR6328P system in a 5.1 surround sound configuration. Ambience and reverb were provided by a Lexicon PCM96 Surround system. In a separate control room, Lexicon demonstrated PCM96 and MX400 reverb processors as well as the I-O U42S USB audio interface. Nathaniel Kunkel gave attendees insight into his approach to miking, studio monitors and use of effects processing.
“The sounds came together in a very short amount of time,” Kunkel says. “For several years, I have relied on JBL studio monitors for their accuracy. I never have to second-guess my mix. While the AKG C 414 and C 12 VR have been go-to mics for me, I was pleased to try AKG’s new Perception mics and headphones on this session. The Lexicon PCM96 Surround system was the only reverb I used and it added polish that put the mix over the top. The session went smoothly and I’m really pleased with the end result using the great HARMAN gear.”
“The P&E Wing evening at Conway was a great opportunity for us to meet with the engineers and producers on the front line shaping today’s recording landscape,” says Peter Chaikin, Senior Marketing Manager, Recording & Broadcast, JBL Professional. “Elaine Faye’s performance and Nathaniel’s stunning sounds coming across on our speakers made P&E Wing members smile.”
“We wanted to show attendees how well AKG microphones and headphones, JBL studio monitors and Lexicon reverb and effects processors perform in a real-world setting, and how they can help engineers make better recordings from the moment the sound hits the mic to when they’re putting the finishing touches on the final mix,” says Joe Wagoner, product marketing manager for wireless, tour and install, AKG.
Gregory Butler, Segment Director, Lexicon, adds, “We had a great time hearing countless stories about all the hit records that have been made with Lexicon, JBL and AKG equipment while talking shop with so many talented and creative people. A legendary studio like Conway was the perfect place to hold ‘From Mic to Mix’ and we are incredibly appreciative of all those who joined us and made the evening such a success.”
For more information, visit www.harman.com and The Producers & Engineers Wing.
