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 2-time GRAMMY winner Nathaniel Kunkel, and showcased the latest recording products and technologies from AKG, JBL Professional and Lexicon.
Nathaniel Kunkel 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 a “who’s who” of top artists including Brian Wilson, Stevie Nicks, Ringo Starr, Zooey Deschanel, Cobra Starship, Lyle Lovett, Linda Ronstadt and many others. He also owns Studio Without Walls in LA.
The surround sound recording session took place in Conway’s large Studio C using a variety of AKG microphones and headphones, including a C12VR, P820Tube, C414XLII, C214, C451 and a pair of C414XLS.
The 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 micing, studio monitors and use of effect processing.
“The sounds came together in a very short amount of time,” Kunkel said. “For several years, I have relied on JBL studio monitors for their accuracy. I never have to second-guess my mix. While the AKG C414 and C12VR 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,” said 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,” said Joe Wagoner, product marketing manager for wireless, tour and install, AKG.
