After a two-year renovation and upgrade process, Silver Cord Studio—the home base of French metal band Gojira—recently opened to the public. Operated by Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier and engineer Jamie Uertz, the new and improved Silver Cord features two separate but interconnected studios, a spacious live room designed for bombastic drum sounds, and thoughtful interior design that sparks creativity the moment you walk in the door. As part of the studio upgrade, Duplantier worked with Vintage King Audio Consultant Patrick Carpenter to outfit the studio with a new SSL Origin 32 console, eight additional Neve 1073 CV preamps, and a selection of “must-have” microphones, outboard gear, and synthesizers to offer bands and engineers who come to record. We spoke to Duplantier and Uertz about the studio’s history, the sonic and workflow benefits of an analog console, Gojira’s creative process, and more.  Continue reading →