Sonal D'Silva

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 →

A version of this article was originally published in Issue 006 of Vintage King's PLAYBACK magazine – read the full issue online.  Since he moved to the US from Turkey in 2001, two-time GRAMMY-winning songwriter/producer Oak Felder has built a solid career crafting hits for artists like Demi Lovato, Alessia Cara, Kehlani, Chris Brown, Nikki Minaj, Alicia Keys, and Rihanna, to name a few. It’s an impressive discography, and it all began in a small recording studio in Atlanta, Georgia. Continue reading →

When musicians Josh Gray and Rachel McCann moved to Nashville from Mississippi, they bought a historic 1935 property called Ivy Hall and set about building what was meant to be a rehearsal space in the basement of their home. Since then, Ivy Hall has become so much more than a rehearsal space. Their charming Tudor-style home now houses a state-of-the-art recording studio with an impressive mic locker, spacious live room, and a brand new, analog-meets-digital modern-day console—the API 2448.   Continue reading →

For over a decade, Sparrow Sound has provided state-of-the-art recording, production, and engineering services for artists from LA’s thriving rock and metal scene. Founded by Grammy-nominated musician, songwriter and producer Josh Gilbert (Spiritbox/Bullet for My Valentine/As I Lay Dying), and Platinum award-winning mixing engineer Joseph McQueen (Kehlani/Howard Jones/Bad Wolves), the Pasadena studio is known for their attention to vocals, somewhat unusual for a genre that has a tendency to drown them out under dense layers of distortion guitar, bass, and drums. Continue reading →

When producer/musician Jay.Greens’ founded Perception Records in Denver, Colorado, the goal was simple: collaboration and community. Fast forward a few years later and he’s bringing that philosophy to Los Angeles with Green Room Studios, a boutique studio in Highland Park that Jay tells us is all about “making records with people you like to do it with”. We sat down with Jay recently to talk about the studio’s latest upgrades. Read on to find out why he chose the API 2448 console, how it impacts his workflow, why he still loves making records in a singles-driven market, and the one small detail that Vintage King provided to the patchbay that he considers important for a professional studio.    Continue reading →

Los Angeles-based Dan Horne wears multiple hats – he’s a bassist and bandleader of the instrumental quartet Circles Around the Sun, and a Grateful Dead tribute band called Grateful Shred. He’s also a producer and engineer, working with artists such as Cass McCombs, Mapache, The Chapin Sisters and Allah-Las, to name a few. Continue reading →