Sonal D'Silva

In this age of double screening and playlists designed for passive listening (Lofi Beats To Study To, anyone?), it’s hard to imagine people ever sitting down and deep-listening to an entire album, not to mention one where the opening track is a 20-minute conceptual piece featuring seven distinct movements. But that is exactly what rock music fans did in 1976...

When we first featured Studio33:3 on our blog last year, it was to showcase a state-of-the-art recording studio successfully brought to life by the team at Vintage King Integration and Haverstick Designs. Behind the top-shelf gear and cutting-edge design was a deeper story. Continue reading →

This article was originally published in a previous issue of Playback Magazine. Subscribe to Playback for free to stay up to date with our latest articles, interviews, product reviews, and more. Sold-out arena tours, guitar-driven mainstream hits, designer death metal T-shirts—there’s no doubt that the resurgence of rock and metal is in full swing, and while the core foundations of the genre remain (live instruments played by real people), the process of making and releasing the music is in the midst of a modern-day makeover.  The result: an exhilarating new era, characterized by the pure energy of a guitar-heavy sound, combined with genre-blurring, world-building, and AI-enhanced creativity.    Continue reading →

Back in 2023, when we spoke to Gerhard Buchbauer of Prime Studio in Austria, he mentioned that Vintage King was in the process of restoring a vintage Neve 8078 console to add to the studio’s already impressive offerings. Fast forward to this year, and the console is now in pristine working condition, being used extensively in their brand new Studio D, and from what Gerhard tells us, it fits seamlessly into the Prime Studio workflow. We sat down with Gerhard recently to find out more about the entire refurbishment process. Read on to learn why Prime Studio chose Vintage King to lead the process of acquiring and restoring the console, what their goals were for the refurbishment, how the pandemic added further challenges to the process, and why the console is the right choice for their global clientele.  Continue reading →

At Grand Rapids First church in Wyoming, Michigan, you’ll find Studio33:3, a state-of-the-art recording studio equipped with top-shelf outboard gear, a hybrid console from SSL, and a Dolby Atmos setup for a music experience that is truly immersive.  But, as Drew McElhenny, Executive Pastor of Worship, Tech, and Communications, tells us, Studio33:3 is more than just a state-of-the-art recording studio. It represents the power of music in worship, in a space designed for generations to come, and is the legacy of a young life sadly cut short.  Continue reading →

Los Angeles-based audio post-production house Three Bird Sound specialises in creative sound design and mixing for some of the biggest names in the advertising and branded content space, including Apple, T-Mobile, Microsoft, Gatorade, the NFL, MLB, and more. When owner/mixer Mike Franklin wanted to upgrade his setup, he turned to Vintage King, looking for a monitoring solution that would serve his mixing and music-making needs.  The answer was a 5.1 immersive audio mixing rig powered by Barefoot Sound speakers, and Mike tells us he couldn’t be happier with how his setup sounds. Read on to find out what drew Mike to the Barefoot Sound monitors, what he likes about each model, what it was like working with Vintage King to put the rig together, and how the new setup has impacted his workflow the most.  Continue reading →

As Dallas studio Modern Electric Sound Recorders celebrates its 13th anniversary this year, co-owners Jeff Saenz and Beau Bedford have a lot to be proud of. Known for its stellar sound and enviable collection of gear, Modern Electric is more than just a recording studio in the Dallas music scene: it’s a hub of creativity, a sanctuary, and a champion of the vibrant local music community. Located in a historic studio space that was originally built in 1968, Modern Electric has been home to records by beloved artists like Paul Cauthen, Leon Bridges, Nikki Lane, and more.  Continue reading →

Danny Reisch’s musical journey looks something like this: began recording music on a 4-track, aged 10; played drums in punk bands; earned a Bachelor of Music from Texas State University; toured the world drumming with the bands Shearwater and Other Lives; founded and ran a successful studio called Good Danny’s in Austin, Texas; moved to Los Angeles and made a name for himself as a producer and mix engineer in the music, film, television and gaming world, with credits like Disney’s Peter Pan, AMC’s Interview With A Vampire, A24’s The Green Knight, and Microsoft’s Halo. Danny sat down to talk to us from his Los Angeles home base, Electric Ear, which he’s in the process of expanding as more projects keep rolling in. Read on to learn about his favorite gear, how his new AEA 1029 compressor impacts his workflow, the differences and similarities in mixing film music and records, why he loves plug-ins, and more.   Continue reading →

Rift Studios, in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, offers carefully curated vintage equipment, top-shelf modern gear, a spacious live room (high ceilings, pinewood walls), and a large studio console with legendary preamps at the heart of it all. The best part? Tom Gardner, the GRAMMY-nominated engineer/producer behind the studio, made it his mission to build a state-of-the-art space that could cater to established artists and be affordable enough to welcome young, up-and-coming artists as well. We sat down with Tom recently to find out about the work Rift Studios does, what led him to purchase the Neve BCM10/2 Mk2 console, what it was like working with the team at Vintage King during the purchase and installation, and how the new console has impacted his workflow.  Continue reading →

Jon Lundin’s journey in music began in the fifth grade when he jammed for hours in a garage as part of a Ramones cover band while also trying to figure out how to make music himself. Fast forward to the present, and he’s going full steam ahead as a man of many talents.  He’s the frontman of California rock band Point North, founder of PASTEL Recording Company, and owner of a studio that he recently upgraded, all the while making a name for himself as one of the hottest writer/producers working in the Active Rock world.  Continue reading →