Wild Sound Recording Studios recently installed a Solid State Logic AWS 900+ SE console to upgrade the sonic signature and workflow of its control room.
Wild Sound specializes in high level acoustic recording of classical, folk, ethnic and jazz performances and was using an aging analog console along with a DAW controller.
The AWS 900+ SE allows Wild Sound to have both worlds, giving them great sound, internal summing flexibility and integrated DAW control.
“We try to make ourselves the best place to come to record things that actually produce acoustic sound so we own a wide variety of classic outboard mic pres, dynamics units and great microphones,” said Matthew Zimmerman, owner of Wild Sound.
“In the past, we would patch together our outboard units to create a high level microphone input to capture to Pro Tools. We really needed to combine the DAW control with the analog console in one desk to improve our workflow.”
“The AWS is the only console out there that really adequately does those two things so it was absolutely perfect for what we do.”
Wild Sound consists of one control room servicing one large and three smaller studio rooms. The AWS 900+ SE had a significant impact on the workflow at Wild Sound because the console is used not only to track and control Pro Tools, but is also used for mixing, replacing the DAW control surface.
“I had been doing my work mixing in the box and I never achieved the results that I knew were possible,” explained Zimmerman.
“By using the summing system in the AWS and the analog workflow for my mixes, I am able to create the sounds that I experienced in the classic days of large format consoles. My mixes have clarity and depth. I’m just achieving superior results with this hybridized digital control/analogue set up over mixing with the controller.”
“I find that I’m using my outboard very sparingly and in very targeted and specific activities now that we have the AWS,” said Zimmerman.
“I just did a bluegrass record where I used only the AWS with no outboard gear and it sounded great. While I love the desk and I love the sound of the mic pres, the total recall function is kind of mind bending.”
“In the past I would be documenting all my outboard settings for, say, a drum set. This took a huge amount of time at the end of a session and resetting that up was difficult at best. With the AWS, I have presets now that I’ve saved for specific drum sets. Things that were painstaking in the past are almost fun now in comparison.”
