Studio Gear
All listed equipment is subject to change. Please inquire about any specific piece if it's important to you. Otherwise, we do strive to keep everything here available and working at no extra cost to you.
Here's the gear across our two rooms, the Sonic Studio and the Shuttle Bay. Search, filter by room, or tap any item or category for details and photos. Photos are our own; a few items still show a representative stock image.
Mixing Console
Allen & Heath GS-R24M with Analog InterfaceBritish analog recording console with motorized faders and built-in DAW control, the heart of the Sonic Studio control room.
- 24 mic/line channels plus 2 tube channels; 4 subgroups, 6 aux sends
- British EQ, inserts and direct outs on every channel
- Mic preamps on every channel
- Motorized faders and DAW control (Pro Tools, Cubase and more)
- Analog Interface: the console connects to the recording system through analog I/O
- Master section with headphone and talkback
Docs: GS-R24/24M user guide (PDF) Analog interface module (MK1) guide (PDF) RPS-15 power supply guide (PDF)
Microphones
Tube & Condenser
ADK Hamburg Edition ×2Large-diaphragm FET condenser voiced after classic German studio mics, a warm choice for vocals and acoustic instruments.
- Large-diaphragm FET condenser, cardioid
- Low-cut filter and pad
- Great on vocals, acoustic guitar and room sound
Representative photo: Peter Presslein, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
ADK S-7A ×4Large-diaphragm condenser that works as an everyday studio mic for vocals, guitar cabinets and drum overheads.
- Large-diaphragm condenser
- Useful on vocals, amps, overheads and percussion
Representative photo: Peter Presslein, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
AKG C451 B ×3Small-diaphragm condenser known for crisp detail, a studio standard for hi-hats, cymbals and acoustic guitar.
- Small-diaphragm condenser, cardioid
- Pad and bass-cut switches
- Great on hi-hats, overheads, acoustic guitar and strings
Representative photo: Harumphy at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
CAD Equitek E-200 ×2Multi-pattern large-diaphragm condenser for vocals, instruments and room miking.
- Large-diaphragm condenser with selectable patterns
- Pad and low-cut
- Used on vocals, guitars, pianos and room mics
Representative photo: TaurusEmerald, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Behringer ECM8000Omnidirectional measurement microphone used for room analysis and tuning the studio's monitoring.
- Omnidirectional measurement condenser
- Used for room tuning and speaker calibration; also a handy omni room mic
LyxPro SDPC-2 stereo pair ×2Matched pair of small-diaphragm pencil condensers for stereo overheads and acoustic instruments.
- Small-diaphragm pencil condensers, stereo pair
- Used for drum overheads, stereo acoustic guitar and ensembles
Neumann TLM 103 ×2Large-diaphragm cardioid condenser with a clear, present sound, a go-to for vocals and voice-over.
- Large-diaphragm condenser, cardioid
- Very low self-noise
- Great on vocals, voice-over, acoustic guitar and guitar cabinets
Representative photo: Tiago Cassol Schvarstzhaupt, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Neumann U 87 (1971)A 1971 Neumann U 87, the classic large-diaphragm studio condenser heard on countless records.
- Large-diaphragm condenser, switchable omni/cardioid/figure-8
- Pad and low-cut
- The benchmark studio vocal mic; also great on strings, piano and guitar
- Vintage Neumann IC4 swivel mount (made in West Germany)
Mic&Mod M47 tube condenserU 47-style large-diaphragm tube condenser built from a Mic&Mod M47 kit with a premium M7-type capsule, prized for rich, full vocals.
- Mic&Mod M47: a U 47-style tube condenser (not an original Neumann)
- RM M7 Premium capsule, the capsule type used in the original U 47
- Fitted with a vintage EMI-style pop screen, the kind used at Abbey Road in the 1960s
- Used for lead vocals, upright bass and horns
Representative photo: The original uploader was Goldfinger at Serbian Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 rs
Slate Digital ML-1 ×2Large-diaphragm condenser designed for Slate's Virtual Microphone System, which can emulate classic mics.
- Large-diaphragm condenser, cardioid
- Pairs with Slate VMS modeling to emulate classic studio mics
- Used on vocals and instruments
Representative photo: Peter Presslein, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ribbon
Audio-Technica AT4081Phantom-powered bidirectional ribbon mic with a smooth, natural top end, great on guitar amps and brass.
- Active ribbon, figure-8 (phantom powered)
- Used on guitar cabinets, brass, strings and room sound
Representative photo: Senor Al, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cascade Fathead ×4Figure-8 ribbon mic with a warm vintage sound, popular on guitar amps, drum rooms and horns.
- Passive ribbon, figure-8
- Used on guitar cabinets, drum rooms, overheads and horns
Representative photo: Senor Al, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dynamic
AKG D112Large-diaphragm dynamic built for kick drum and bass cabinets, with punchy low end.
- Dynamic, cardioid
- Handles very high sound pressure
- Used on kick drum and bass amps
AKG D1000EVintage AKG dynamic microphone for vocals and instruments.
- Dynamic microphone (vintage AKG)
- Used on vocals, guitar amps and percussion
Electro-Voice 670V (1970s)1970s Electro-Voice cardioid dynamic with classic vintage character on vocals and amps.
- Vintage 1970s dynamic, cardioid
- Low impedance (Lo-Z)
- Used for character on vocals, harmonica and guitar amps
Representative photo: Joe Haupt from USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sennheiser e609Flat-faced dynamic that hangs right on a guitar cabinet's grille, a fast, reliable amp mic.
- Dynamic, supercardioid, side-address flat design
- Used on guitar cabinets
Representative photo: Roadside Guitars, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sennheiser MD 421 II ×2Studio-standard dynamic for toms, guitar amps and broadcast voice.
- Large-diaphragm dynamic, cardioid
- Five-position bass control
- Used on toms, guitar amps, horns and voice
Representative photo: PJ, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sennheiser MD 421 KompaktA shorter, lighter body around the classic MD 421 sound, easy to fit between drums and close to amps.
- Large-diaphragm dynamic, cardioid
- Compact version of the studio-standard MD 421
- Used on toms, snare, guitar amps and voice
Representative photo: PJ, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Shure Beta 52ASupercardioid kick drum dynamic with a tailored low-end response.
- Dynamic, supercardioid
- Built for kick drum and bass cabinet
Shure Beta 58A ×2Supercardioid vocal dynamic with a crisp top, a reliable choice for loud singers and live-style takes.
- Dynamic, supercardioid
- Used on vocals and talkback
Representative photo: Iain Fergusson; derivative work: Binksternet, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
Shure SM57 ×6The industry-standard instrument dynamic, on snare drums and guitar amps in studios everywhere.
- Dynamic, cardioid
- Used on snare, guitar amps, percussion and horns
Representative photo: E bailey, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Shure SM58The classic vocal dynamic, rugged and dependable.
- Dynamic, cardioid, built-in pop filter
- Used on vocals and talkback
Representative photo: Iain Fergusson; derivative work: Binksternet, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
Shure SM7BBroadcast-style dynamic with smooth, warm vocals, a favorite for rap, rock and podcasts.
- Dynamic, cardioid
- Bass roll-off and presence boost switches
- Used on vocals, podcasts and guitar amps
Representative photo: The Midnite Wolf, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Stands
Atlas Sound SB36W studio boom stands ×4Heavy-duty rolling studio boom stands for overheads, room mics and big condensers.
- Air-suspension shock absorber that cushions the mic if the boom drops
- 62-inch two-piece boom with adjustable counterweight
- Cast base on ball-bearing casters
Mic Preamps
Universal Audio LA-610 MkII ×2Tube channel strip pairing a 610 tube preamp with a T4 optical compressor.
- Class A tube mic preamp (610 design)
- T4 optical compressor/limiter
- Great on vocals and bass
- One in Sonic Studio, one in Shuttle Bay
Avalon VT-737spTube channel strip with preamp, optical compressor and EQ, a vocal-chain classic.
- Class A tube mic/instrument preamp
- Optical compressor
- Four-band EQ
Five Fish Studios X-72 ×2500-series discrete mic preamp from Five Fish Studios.
- 500-series format
- Used for drums, guitars and vocals
Five Fish Studios SC-1 ×2500-series mic preamp from Five Fish Studios.
- 500-series format
Five Fish Studios X-12 ×2500-series mic preamp from Five Fish Studios.
- 500-series format
Hairball Audio Lola ×2 · Shuttle Bay500-series discrete mic preamp, built here with the JE-990 op-amp option.
- 500-series format
- Discrete JE-990 op-amp
Direct Boxes
ADL stereo tube direct boxStereo tube direct box for warming up keyboards, bass and line sources.
- Two channels
- Tube-driven DI
DIYRE FE2 direct boxDirect box built from a DIY Recording Equipment kit.
- Instrument-to-mic-level DI
Representative photo: Ashley Pomeroy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Behringer Ultra-DI Pro DI800Eight-channel active DI for keyboards, electronics and line sources.
- Eight channels
- Active DI with ground lift
Direct One DB-01 direct boxDirect box for instruments.
- Instrument DI
Representative photo: Ashley Pomeroy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Converters & Interfaces
Antelope Audio Galaxy 64Antelope's flagship converter: 64 channels of AD/DA with Dante, MADI and Pro Tools HD connectivity.
- 64 analog inputs and outputs
- Dante, MADI and Pro Tools HD (DigiLink)
- Antelope clocking
Antelope Audio Galaxy 32 · Shuttle Bay32-channel AD/DA interface with Dante, MADI and Pro Tools HD connectivity.
- 32 analog inputs and outputs
- Dante, MADI, ADAT and Pro Tools HD
Tascam LA-40 MkIII line converter · Shuttle BayFour-channel balanced/unbalanced line converter, bridging the TEAC reel-to-reel into the studio.
- 4 channels each way: -10 dBV unbalanced to +4 dBu balanced, and back
- Rack-mount, 1U
- In the Shuttle Bay, under the TEAC A-3340S
Antelope Audio MRC remote control · Shuttle BayHardware remote for the Antelope Galaxy interface: levels, monitoring and talkback at the fingertips.
- Desktop USB remote for Antelope interfaces
- Monitor level, source selection, talkback and mute
- In the Shuttle Bay, with the Galaxy 32
Computer & DAW
Hardware
Apple Mac Studio (M2 Ultra) · Shuttle BayShuttle Bay's production computer, running the video show system and audio sessions.
- Apple M2 Ultra: 24-core CPU (16 performance + 8 efficiency), 60-core GPU
- 192 GB unified memory, 8 TB SSD
- Mounted in a Sonnet xMac Studio rack chassis
Representative photo: Yasu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Apple Mac Studio (M1 Max)Sonic Studio's recording and mixing computer.
- Apple M1 Max: 10-core CPU (8 performance + 2 efficiency), 24-core GPU
- 32 GB unified memory, 2 TB SSD
- Runs Pro Tools Ultimate, Logic Pro, Ableton Live and FL Studio
Apple MacBook Pro 16″ (2019)Mobile workstation for studio business, writing and notes on the go.
- 16-inch MacBook Pro, 8-core Intel Core i9 (2.4 GHz)
- 64 GB memory, 4 TB SSD, AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (8 GB)
- Travels between both rooms and off site
Sonnet xMac Studio rack chassis · Shuttle BayRack-mount enclosure that holds the Shuttle Bay Mac Studio and adds PCIe slots.
- Rack-mounts the Mac Studio
- Thunderbolt PCIe expansion: holds the McFiver NVMe/10GbE card and an Avid HD Native card
Sonnet xMac Studio rack chassis · Sonic StudioRack-mount enclosure that holds the Sonic Studio Mac Studio and adds PCIe slots.
- Sonnet xMac Studio with Echo III PCIe expansion module
- Holds the Pro Tools HDX card and the Fusion Dual SSD card
- Mounted with a Sonnet DuoModo dual-module rack enclosure
Shuttle Server (Windows PC) · Shuttle BayWindows machine for the Shuttle Bay.
- Intel Core i9-9900K on a Gigabyte Z390 Designare
- 2U short-depth rack case
- Mirrored 8 TB WD_BLACK SN850P NVMe boot drives
- 28 TB Seagate Exos storage drive
JetKVM remote console · Shuttle BayKVM-over-IP box for remote screen, keyboard and mouse control of the Shuttle Server.
- Remote keyboard, video and mouse over the network, down to BIOS level
- Connected to the Shuttle Server in the Shuttle Bay
Netgear AV Line M4250 switches ×2AV-over-IP network switches carrying NDI video and Dante audio in both rooms.
- Netgear AV Line M4250-10G2XF-PoE+ (GSM4212PX): 8 PoE+ gigabit ports plus 10G SFP+ uplinks
- Preconfigured AV profiles for NDI and Dante
- One per room, trunked together so either Mac reaches every camera
Synology RackStation RS1221+ NAS · Sonic Studio8-bay rackmount NAS with about 110 TB of storage for project archives and backups.
- Synology RackStation RS1221+, 32 GB ECC RAM
- 6 × 20 TB Seagate IronWolf Pro + 2 × 18 TB Seagate Exos X18
- Two pools: 60 TB RAID 5 for backups, 56 TB SHR for the video, audio and management shares
OWC Flex 1U4 RAID array · Shuttle Bay54 TB Thunderbolt RAID 5 array for the Shuttle Bay Mac Studio.
- 1U rackmount 4-bay Thunderbolt 3 enclosure with built-in dock and PCIe slot
- 4 × 18 TB Seagate Exos X18 enterprise drives
- SoftRAID RAID 5, 54 TB volume with single-drive redundancy
OWC Flex 1U4 RAID array · Sonic Studio30 TB Thunderbolt RAID array for the Sonic Studio Mac Studio.
- 1U rackmount 4-bay Thunderbolt 3 enclosure with built-in dock and PCIe slot
- 4 × 10 TB WD Red NAS drives
- SoftRAID RAID 4, 30 TB volume with single-drive redundancy
Sonnet McFiver NVMe card · Shuttle Bay8 TB NVMe SSD RAID plus 10GbE on one PCIe card in the Shuttle Bay Mac's chassis.
- PCIe card in the Sonnet xMac Studio chassis: two M.2 NVMe slots, 10GbE and two 10Gbps USB-C ports
- 2 × 4 TB WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSDs
- SoftRAID RAID 0, 8 TB volume for client projects
Samsung 9100 PRO 8 TB SSD (ACASIS TB5 enclosure) · Shuttle BayFast 8 TB PCIe 5.0 SSD that takes live camera capture in the Shuttle Bay.
- 8 TB Samsung 9100 PRO PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD
- ACASIS TB501 Pro 80Gbps Thunderbolt 5 / USB4 enclosure with cooling fan
- Shuttle Video Vault: the live-capture scratch drive
Samsung T5 EVO 8 TB portable SSD · Shuttle Bay8 TB portable SSD holding the Shuttle Bay Mac's clone backup.
- 8 TB USB 3.2 Gen 1 portable SSD
- Shuttle CCC: bootable clone backup of the Shuttle Bay Mac
Sonnet Fusion Dual SSD card · Sonic StudioPCIe card holding two 4 TB SSDs for content and video on the Sonic Studio Mac.
- Sonnet Fusion Dual 2.5-inch SSD card, in the studio Sonnet chassis
- 2 × 4 TB Samsung 870 EVO SATA SSDs
- Two separate volumes: Sonic Content and Video Drive
Avid Pro Tools HDX card · Sonic StudioDSP-powered Pro Tools HDX card for low-latency tracking and mixing.
- 18 DSP chips for AAX DSP plug-ins and near-zero-latency monitoring
- Up to 64 channels of I/O over two DigiLink ports
- Installed in the Sonnet PCIe chassis on the Sonic Studio Mac Studio
Universal Audio UAD-2 OCTO PCIeDSP accelerator card that runs Universal Audio's analog-modeled plug-ins.
- Eight DSP chips
- Runs UAD plug-ins (classic compressors, EQs, tape and reverb emulations) off the computer's CPU
- In the Sonic Studio Mac's Sonnet chassis
Universal Audio UAD-2 Satellite TB3 OCTOExternal Thunderbolt DSP accelerator that adds eight more chips for Universal Audio plug-ins.
- Eight DSP chips
- Thunderbolt 3 connection
- Runs UAD plug-ins on the Shuttle Bay Mac Studio
iConnectivity mioXLMulti-port MIDI interface and router for keyboards and controllers.
- USB and network MIDI
- 8×12 MIDI routing
Sedna rack-mount USB hubs ×3Rack-mount USB hubs feeding the studio computers, two in the Shuttle Bay and one in the Sonic Studio.
- 1U, 19-inch rack-mount USB 3.1 Gen 1 hubs (5 Gbps)
- External 5V power supply
- Two in the Shuttle Bay, one in the Sonic Studio
Software
Avid Pro Tools UltimateThe industry-standard DAW, in its top-tier Ultimate edition.
- Pro Tools Ultimate perpetual license
- Runs with the Galaxy converters over Pro Tools HD/DigiLink
Apple Logic ProApple's DAW, a favorite for songwriting and MIDI production.
- Full-featured DAW with a large built-in instrument and loop library
Ableton LiveLoop- and performance-oriented DAW for beat making and electronic production.
- Session view for loop-based writing
- Pairs with the Push controller
FL StudioPattern-based DAW popular for hip-hop and beat production.
- Step sequencer and piano roll workflow
Monitoring
UREI 813C Time Align monitors ×2Legendary UREI Time Align main monitors, powered by a Hafler Trans·nova amplifier.
- Altec 604 coaxial driver plus an extra 15-inch woofer per cabinet
- UREI 838 passive crossovers
- Powered by a Hafler Trans·nova P7000
- Crossovers fully recapped in 2025
UREI 809 Time Align monitors ×2Compact UREI Time Align monitors with a coaxial driver.
- 12-inch coaxial driver with compression horn
- Powered by a Hafler Trans·nova P7000 Diablo
KRK 9000 monitors ×2Classic KRK passive studio monitors, kept as the mid-field pair.
- Passive two-way monitors
- Mid-field pair, driven by a Hafler Trans·nova P7000 Diablo
- Working, but not currently set up
Yamaha NS-10M Studio ×2The famous mix-check nearfields.
- Powered by a Hafler Trans·nova Diablo P3000
Avantone Passive MixCubes ×2Single-driver mix-check speakers that show how a mix translates to small speakers.
- Single full-range driver
- Powered by a Hafler Trans·nova Diablo P3000
Munro Sonic Egg 150 ×2Distinctive egg-shaped nearfield monitors with exceptionally clear imaging.
- Passive, egg-shaped enclosures
- Used for detailed nearfield listening
Dolby Atmos 9.4.1 speaker arrayImmersive 9.4.1 speaker system for Dolby Atmos playback and mixing.
- Nine ear-level speakers, four height speakers and an LFE channel
- Used for Atmos mixing and studio demos
Aviom A-16II personal mixers ×5Each performer dials in their own 16-channel headphone mix.
- 16 channels per mixer, with stereo, pan and grouping
- One per performer in the live room
Aviom A-16R rack personal mixer ×2Rack-mount version of the A-16 personal mixer, one in each control room.
- 16-channel personal mix in a rack unit
- One in the Sonic Studio, one in the Shuttle Bay
Aviom A-16D Pro distribution hub ×2Distributes the Aviom network and power to the personal mixers, with a spare on hand.
- A-Net distribution with power to each mixer
- One in service in the Sonic Studio, one backup unit
Aviom AN-16/i input module ×2Feeds 16 channels from the studio into the Aviom personal monitor network, with a spare on hand.
- 16 analog inputs onto the A-Net network
- One in service in the Sonic Studio, one backup unit
Sony MDR-7506 headphones ×10Studio-standard closed-back headphones for tracking.
- Closed-back, folding
- Used for tracking and cue mixes
Representative photo: Víctor Ortiz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
PreSonus HP60 headphone mixer ×2 · Shuttle BaySix-channel headphone mixing amp with talkback, two in the Shuttle Bay.
- Six independent headphone mixes, each with its own level, mix and external input
- A/B stereo inputs plus talkback
- Rack-mount, 1U
- Two units in the Shuttle Bay
Aviom A-16R rack personal mixer (backup)Spare rack-mount A-16 personal mixer, kept as a backup unit.
- 16-channel personal mix in a rack unit
- Backup for the two A-16Rs in service
Coleman Audio MS-6RRack-mount monitor selector for switching between speaker sets.
- Switches between multiple monitor pairs
Hafler Trans·nova P7000 power amps ×3Three Hafler Trans·nova P7000 power amps for the main, studio and mid-field monitor pairs.
- Hafler Trans·nova MOSFET design, 350 W per channel
- P7000 on the main monitors (UREI 813C)
- P7000 Diablo on the studio monitors (UREI 809)
- P7000 Diablo for the mid-field KRK 9000s (not currently set up)
Hafler Trans·nova near-field power amps ×2Two Hafler Trans·nova power amps driving the near-field monitors: the Yamaha NS-10Ms and the Avantone MixCubes.
- Hafler Trans·nova MOSFET design
- One labelled "Near-field monitors" (Yamaha NS-10M), one "Near field cubes" (Avantone MixCubes)
Displays
Samsung 50″ TU8000 4K TV (live room)A 50-inch 4K screen in the live room for lyrics, charts and video playback.
- 50-inch 4K UHD (Samsung UN50TU8000)
- Wall-mounted in the live room
Samsung 85″ QN90C Neo QLED 4K TV · Shuttle BayLarge 85-inch Neo QLED screen for video production, playback and client viewing.
- 85-inch 4K Neo QLED (Mini LED)
- Used for video production and playback
Samsung 50″ 8000 Series wall monitors ×2Two 50-inch 4K screens on the control-room wall for session views, video and lyrics.
- 50-inch 4K UHD (Samsung UN50AU8000)
- Wall-mounted in the Sonic Studio control room
- Network-controlled (Google Home / SmartThings)
Representative photo: Kskhh, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Samsung Odyssey G9 49″ super-ultrawide49-inch super-ultrawide display with room for a full mix window.
- 49-inch curved 32:9 dual-QHD
- 240 Hz QLED
- On a motorized lift
- In the Sonic Studio control room
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 49″ super-ultrawide · Shuttle Bay49-inch curved OLED super-ultrawide for editing and mixing.
- 49-inch curved 32:9 dual-QHD
- 240 Hz OLED
- On a motorized lift
Cameras
PTZOptics 4K PTZ camera, 30x zoom ×5Remote-controlled 4K cameras covering the live room, plus one in the Shuttle Bay.
- 4K PTZ camera with 30x optical zoom
- NDI video over the studio network, with auto-tracking
- Four in the live room (ceiling, rear, left, right), one in the Shuttle Bay
PTZOptics 4K PTZ camera, 12x zoom ×2Wider-lens 4K PTZ cameras for the control room and the vocal booth.
- 4K PTZ camera with 12x optical zoom
- NDI video over the studio network, with auto-tracking
- One in the control room, one in the vocal booth
PTZOptics 4K PTZ camera, 20x zoomThe rover: a 4K PTZ camera that moves to wherever the session needs it.
- 4K PTZ camera with 20x optical zoom
- NDI video over the studio network, with auto-tracking
- Roving camera, placed per session
DJI Ronin-S gimbal stabilizer · Shuttle BayThree-axis handheld gimbal for smooth moving shots with mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
- 3-axis handheld stabilizer
- Carries mirrorless and DSLR camera rigs, including the Sony FX3
- In the Shuttle Bay
Sony FX3 cinema camera · Shuttle BayFull-frame Cinema Line camera for the main video shoots, sending NDI to the switcher via the Shogun.
- Full-frame 4K Cinema Line camera, up to 4K 120p
- Rigged on a Rigid PRO Cinerig with the XLR handle
- In the Shuttle Bay
Sony a7 III camera · Shuttle BayFull-frame mirrorless camera, a second angle and stills body.
- 24MP full-frame mirrorless, 4K video
- Sony E-mount
- In the Shuttle Bay
Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master lensFast, sharp standard prime for shallow-depth portraits and interviews.
- 50mm f/1.2, full-frame E-mount
- Stored in the Shuttle Bay, used in either room
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lensEveryday standard zoom covering wide to short telephoto at f/2.8.
- 28-75mm f/2.8, full-frame E-mount
- Stored in the Shuttle Bay, used in either room
SIRUI Aurora 35mm f/1.4 lensFast autofocus 35mm prime for wide, natural-looking shots in low light.
- 35mm f/1.4 autofocus, full-frame E-mount
- Stored in the Shuttle Bay, used in either room
SIRUI Aurora 85mm f/1.4 lensFast autofocus 85mm portrait prime for tight, flattering close-ups.
- 85mm f/1.4 autofocus, full-frame E-mount
- Stored in the Shuttle Bay, used in either room
Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lensWide-angle zoom for room shots and tight spaces.
- 17-28mm f/2.8, full-frame E-mount
- Stored in the Shuttle Bay, used in either room
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lensTelephoto zoom for tighter shots from across the room.
- 70-180mm f/2.8, full-frame E-mount
- Stored in the Shuttle Bay, used in either room
Atomos Shogun Ultra 7″ monitor-recorder · Shuttle Bay7-inch HDR monitor-recorder on the FX3, also sending the camera out as NDI.
- 7-inch HDR monitor and recorder
- Sends the FX3 feed to the switcher as NDI
- In the Shuttle Bay
Rigid PRO Cinerig for the FX3 · Shuttle BayFull cinema rig for the FX3, with V-mount power and the XLR handle on top.
- Convertible Cinerig base with V-mount battery plate
- Top handle that carries the FX3's XLR audio unit
- In the Shuttle Bay
FX3 rig power and media accessories · Shuttle BayV-mount power, CFexpress media and mounting for the FX3 rig.
- Three 99Wh V-mount batteries and a dual charger
- Two 960 GB CFexpress Type A cards and a card reader
- In the Shuttle Bay
Lighting
Chauvet COLORstrip LED bars ×8Eight Chauvet RGB LED bars washing the live room with color, on DMX.
- RGB LED wash bars, DMX controlled through Lightkey
- Mounted along the live-room walls and ceiling
Chauvet COLORstrip MiniA short Chauvet RGB LED bar lighting the vocal booth.
- RGB LED bar, DMX controlled through Lightkey
- In the vocal booth
Chauvet SlimPAR 64 LED pars ×10Ten slim LED par cans for color washes in the live room.
- RGB LED par cans, DMX controlled through Lightkey (P1-P10)
- Ceiling and wall mounted in the live room
LED Stage Equipment moving heads ×4Four LED moving heads for movement and color effects in the live room.
- LED moving-head fixtures, DMX controlled through Lightkey (MH1-MH4)
- Ceiling mounted in the live room
RaveLight 9 Eyes strobe lasers ×2Laser and strobe effects for performances and video.
- Strobe/laser effect lights, DMX controlled (fixtures LA1-LA2 in Lightkey)
ADJ Pinspot LED Quad DMXA tight RGBW pinspot lighting the vocal booth.
- RGBW LED pinspot, DMX controlled through Lightkey
- In the vocal booth
Enttec DMXIS DMX interfaceEnttec DMXIS USB-to-DMX interface that lets Lightkey on the Studio Mac run the lighting rig.
- USB to DMX512 interface with 3-pin and 5-pin DMX outputs and a footswitch input
- Drives the whole lighting rig from Lightkey on the Studio Mac
Compressors
Hand-built stereo LA-2AStereo pair of LA-2A-style tube optical leveling amplifiers, hand-built by John Saccoman.
- Tube optical compression
- Built by John Saccoman from a kit, with high-quality parts and UK-made transformers
- Smooth on vocals and bass
Hand-built 1176 Rev C ×2Pair of 1176-style FET compressors, hand-built by John Saccoman.
- Fast FET compression (Rev C style)
- Built by John Saccoman from kits
- Great on drums, vocals and guitars
dbx 163A ×2Simple one-slider dbx compressor.
- Over Easy compression with one control
Symetrix CL-150 ×2Fast RMS compressor/limiter with de-esser.
- RMS compression
- Built-in de-esser
Valley People Dyna-MiteVersatile vintage dynamics processor: gate, expander, limiter and de-esser in one.
- Two channels
- Gate, expander, limiter, de-esser modes
Representative photo: John Athayde, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Hairball Audio FET/500 ×2 · Shuttle Bay500-series 1176-style FET compressor.
- 500-series format
- 1176 Rev D–style FET circuit
Equalizers
DIYRE EQP-5 ×2 · Shuttle Bay500-series Pultec-style program EQ.
- Passive Pultec-style boost/cut curves
- 500-series format
Behringer Feedback Destroyer Pro ×3Automatic feedback suppressor and parametric EQ.
- 24-bit/96 kHz digital parametric EQ with automatic feedback detection (FBQ2496)
- One unit per monitor set: main monitors, studio monitors and mid-fields
- In the Sonic Studio amp rack
Reverb & Delay
Yamaha SPX90Classic 1980s Yamaha multi-effects: reverb, delay, chorus and pitch.
- Digital multi-effects with classic 80s presets
Alesis QuadraverbVintage Alesis multi-effects with reverb, delay, chorus and EQ.
- Four simultaneous effects
Yamaha REV7Classic 1980s Yamaha digital reverb.
- Digital reverb with classic halls, plates and rooms
Other Outboard
API 500VPR 10-slot rackTen-slot API 500VPR rack that powers the studio's 500-series modules.
- Ten 500-series slots with API power supply
- Rack-mounted in the Sonic Studio rack
- Holds the Five Fish SC-1, X-12 and X-72 preamp pairs
API 500-8B lunchbox · Shuttle BayEight-slot API lunchbox for 500-series modules in the Shuttle Bay.
- Eight 500-series slots with built-in power supply
- Portable lunchbox chassis
- In the Shuttle Bay
dbx 1074 Quad Gate ×2Four-channel noise gates for tightening drums and cleaning up noisy tracks.
- Four gate channels per unit
- Two units (eight channels)
Avid Eleven RackGuitar amp-modeling and effects interface for Pro Tools.
- Amp and effects modeling
- Re-amping with Pro Tools
Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III ×2Flagship guitar amp modeler and effects processor.
- Amp, cab and effects modeling
- EV-1 expression/volume pedal
Patchbays
Redco R196-D25PG 96-point TT patchbay ×2 · Shuttle Bay1U bantam (TT) patchbays for fast, flexible routing between the converters, outboard and console.
- 96 points per bay (two rows of 48 TT jacks), 1U
- DB25 connectors on the rear
SoundWires 96-point patchbays ×3Three SoundWires patchbays in the console rack, normalled for the live room, iso booth and 500-series lunchbox.
- 96 points each (48 pairs), TT bantam, solder-type rear
- Labelled for live-room mics and sends, iso booth, patchbay combos and lunchbox ins and outs
Unbranded studio patchbays ×2Two unbranded patchbays rounding out the console rack.
- One 96-point TT bantam patchbay at the bottom of the rack
- One with 48 points across the top and 96 below
- Solder-type TT bantam
Tape Machines
TEAC A-3340SFour-track reel-to-reel tape recorder, fully restored.
- 1/4-inch, four tracks/four channels
- Simul-sync for overdubs
- Restored by a factory-authorized TEAC service center
Tascam CD-A700 CD/cassette deckRack-mount CD player and cassette recorder for playback and transfers.
- CD player plus auto-reverse cassette recorder
- Rack-mount
Alesis MasterLink ML-9600High-resolution stereo master recorder that also burns CDs.
- Records stereo masters to hard disk
- Burns CDs
Instruments
Guitars
Gibson Les Paul Standard (2007)2007 Les Paul Standard Premium Plus with a natural flame-maple top.
- Mahogany body, flame-maple top
- Humbuckers
Hamer T-51A 1993 USA-made Hamer take on the classic single-cutaway T-style guitar.
- Single-cutaway electric
- Built in 1993 in Hamer's Illinois shop (USA)
Rickenbacker 330/12Jetglo 12-string Rickenbacker, the jangle of countless classic records.
- Semi-hollow 12-string electric
- Built in 2024
Rickenbacker 381V69A 1987 Mapleglo 381V69, from the first year of Rickenbacker's carved-top 1969 381 reissue.
- Carved-top semi-hollow electric
- Built in 1987, the first year of the reissue
Martin D-351983 150th-anniversary dreadnought with a big, balanced voice.
- Dreadnought acoustic, built 1983
- Stamped inside for Martin's 150th anniversary (1833–1983)
- Spruce top, three-piece East Indian rosewood back
Representative photo: Niranjan Arminius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Washburn W-220 (Nashville tuning)A mid-1970s Japanese-made Washburn W-220, set up in Nashville tuning for bright, shimmering high-strung parts.
- Acoustic guitar, strung in Nashville tuning (high-strung, octave strings)
- Made in Japan in the mid-1970s, from the Beckmen era of the Washburn name
Yamaha FG-512IIA 1991 Yamaha FG-512II 12-string jumbo dreadnought.
- 12-string acoustic, jumbo dreadnought body
- Built in 1991
“CASH” hand-built 6-string acousticHand-built 6-string acoustic, made by Christopher Cash at Palomar College in 2009, with "CASH" on the headstock.
- Hand-built 6-string acoustic, 2009
- Built by Christopher Cash at Palomar College
- Signed by the maker on the inside label
- "CASH" on the headstock
- Build finished by The Repair Zone
“CASH” hand-built 12-string acousticHand-built 12-string acoustic, made by Christopher Cash at Palomar College in 2009, with "CASH" on the headstock.
- Hand-built 12-string acoustic, 2009
- Built by Christopher Cash at Palomar College
- Signed by the maker on the inside label
- "CASH" on the headstock
- Build finished by The Repair Zone
Basses
Fender American Precision BassA US-made Precision Bass from around 2010: the original electric bass, still the session standard.
- Split-coil pickup, four strings, maple neck
- Built around late 2009 to early 2010 in Corona, California
Rickenbacker 4003 (1993)A 1993 Mapleglo Rickenbacker bass with its signature growl.
- Neck-through body
- Two pickups, stereo output
- Built in August 1993
Representative photo: DeLerkim, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cort Space B2Headless Steinberger-style bass.
- Headless design
Representative photo: Elmschrat, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keyboards & Controllers
Korg Kronos 2 8888-key flagship workstation with multiple synth engines and sampling.
- 88 weighted keys
- Multiple synthesis engines
- Sampling
Representative photo: Wikipedia-ce, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK388-key controller built around NI's Komplete instruments.
- 88 hammer-action keys
- Deep DAW and plug-in integration
Akai MPK MiniCompact keyboard and pad controller.
- 25 mini keys
- Drum pads and knobs
Ableton Push 3 · Shuttle BayAbleton's pad instrument and controller for playing, sequencing and mixing in Live.
- 64 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads (MPE)
- Hands-on control of Ableton Live
- In the Shuttle Bay
Drums
1965 Ludwig 5-piece kit1965 Ludwig five-piece kit with Zildjian cymbals.
- Five-piece vintage kit
- Zildjian cymbals
Representative photo: marktristan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Toca congas ×2Pair of red Toca congas on a double stand for hand percussion.
- Two red-finish congas with natural rawhide heads
- Black rims, side-plate tuning lugs and chrome center bands
- Chrome double conga stand
Amplifiers
Magnatone VarsityA late-1940s to mid-1950s Magnatone Varsity tube amp, a lo-fi favorite.
- Small single-channel tube amp, about 10 watts, one 8-inch speaker
- Model M-197-3-V, made from 1947 to the mid-1950s
Gallien-Krueger 800RBBi-amp bass head known for punchy, clear tone.
- Bi-amp bass head
- Built-in DI
Ampeg B-15R Portaflex (reissue)Ampeg's reissue of the classic B-15 flip-top tube bass amp, the sound of countless records.
- Tube flip-top bass amp, 1x15 cabinet
- B-15R reissue in blue check, switchable 60 or 100 watts
Fender Twin Reverb (1968 drip-edge)A late-1960s "drip edge" silverface Fender Twin Reverb with the blackface AB763 circuit, the benchmark clean American tube amp.
- Tube combo, 2x12, AB763 blackface circuit
- Spring reverb and vibrato
- Early silverface "drip edge" version from about 1968
Marshall JCM600A late-1990s all-tube Marshall JCM600 combo with classic British crunch, made in England.
- All-tube 60-watt combo
- Series effects loop and a speaker-emulated D.I. output
- Made in England in the late 1990s
Roland JC-120 Jazz ChorusA USA-made Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus, famous for pristine cleans and stereo chorus.
- Two 12-inch speakers, 120 watts
- Stereo chorus
- Made in the USA by RolandCorp US (late 1980s to early 1990s run)
Guitar Pedals
A/DA FlangerVintage A/DA flanger, known for extreme jet sweeps.
- Guitar pedal
Representative photo: ArtBrom, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Boss CH-1 Super ChorusStereo chorus pedal.
Ernie Ball VP Pro volume pedalVolume pedal for swells and level control.
- Guitar pedal
Representative photo: Shane Gavin (derivative: Atlantictire), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Electro-Harmonix English MuffinTube-driven overdrive pedal.
- Guitar pedal
Electro-Harmonix LPB-1Classic clean boost.
- Guitar pedal
Representative photo: Frank Schwichtenberg, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Electro-Harmonix Ravish SitarSitar emulator with sympathetic-string drones.
- Guitar pedal
Janglebox compressorCompressor voiced for jangly Rickenbacker-style cleans.
Manlay Sound Ronno BenderTone Bender-style fuzz.
- Guitar pedal
Representative photo: sploshette, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
MXR Distortion+The classic MXR distortion.
- Guitar pedal
Representative photo: Roadside Guitars, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
ProCo RATThe classic RAT distortion, a vintage ProCo unit.
- Guitar pedal
Tech 21 American WomanTech 21 fuzz pedal.
- Guitar pedal
Representative photo: Bubba73, Jud McCranie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0