"Every circuit was painstakingly optimized for the absolute best possible performance. No corners were cut. No expense was spared. This console was built for the love of audio, not for mass production and profit. The result is the finest, cleanest mixing console in existence. There is nothing like it at any other facility, anywhere. Unless Sony starts selling these consoles, no other facility will be able to emulate the Dave Smith Room. Nothing else commercially made equals its performance. It is simply not economically feasible."

Mix Magazine, October 1, 2006

Lawson's studio includes the finest of mixing/mastering equipment, all acquired from Sony Music Studios. From the fall of 2008 until July 1, 2010, the Lawson and his studio occupied Studio C at the Clinton Recording Studios. The studio's centerpiece is the legendary David Smith Console - a one-of-a-kind 36-input, 12-bus Massenburg GML console with Neve Encore automation. Every circuit of this ultra-quiet console was hand built by David Smith and the team at Sony, and optimized for the highest quality audio possible. This is not a Swiss-Army-Knife type console, which colors the entire feel and sound of your mix with the sonic properties of the console. The idea behind this unique and infinitely-flexible environment is that all processing is done with outboard equipment, allowing the console to handle the summing and routing of all audio in the analog realm, but without coloring or affecting its sound. This allows the addition of any effect to be at the discretion of the engineer by way of the studio's beautiful collection of outboard equipment.

Complementing the Massenburg/David Smith console is the classic Studer 962 14-channel mixer, which functions nicely as a sidecar for the GML desk (extending the input count to 50 channels), 16 channels of Neve 1081's, classical outboard equipment, and a wide array of plugins. The Digidesign Control 24 can be used in conjunction with the analog consoles, or in place of them, for those preferring to work digitally. The studio offers 3 main types of recorders, Pro Tools HD 3 Accel, a Studer 827 24-track 2-inch machine, and a Studer A820 half-inch master recorder. Pro Tools, Logic, Digital Performer and Pyramix are available as front-end DAW solutions. The monitoring solution was modeled on that of Abbey Road Studios, relying mainly on B & W 802 Nautilus monitors and Chord amplification.

The studio is completely equipped for tracking or mixing to picture, in stereo or 5.1 surround. A rich palette of instruments is available to clients, including Lawson's collection of percussion instruments, a Hammond organ with Leslie, and a selection of guitar and bass amplifiers.

Specific Information

Consoles

The studio's centerpiece is a 36-input, 12-bus Massenburg GML console based on Massenburg's HRT9100 mixers, with Neve Encore automation. Every circuit of this ultra-quiet console was hand built by Dave and the team at Sony, and optimized for the highest quality audio possible. This is not a Swiss-Army-Knife type console, which colors the entire feel and sound of your mix with the sonic properties of the console. The idea behind this unique and infinitely-flexible environment is that all processing is done with outboard equipment. The console handles the summing and routing of all audio in the audio realm, but without coloring or otherwise affecting its sound. This allows the addition of any affection to be at the discretion of the mixer, and by way of Lawson's beautiful collection of outboard equipment.

In addition to the Massenburg/David Smith console, this room includes the classic Studer 962 14-channel mixer with Preamps and EQ on each channel, 6 busses and 4 compressors. This sidecar was a remote recording desk for Sony Classical, and functions perfectly as an adjunct to the David Smith GML console.

For those who would rather mix digitally, the Contro|24 can be used in conjunction with the David Smith and Studer consoles, or in place of them. The Control|24 offers 24 bankable channel strips, each with a touch-sensitive, motorized fader, motion sensitive encoder and LED ring, and dedicated Mute, Solo, Select, Input, Record, EQ, Dynamics, Insert, Send, and Automation illuminated switches and unlimited track handling. High-quality analog components provide great sound on the front end along with outputs to handle tasks such as monitoring, in stereo or surround. The Control|24 comes equipped with a 5.1 surround analog monitor section for post-production work.

Recorders

The room offers 3 main types of recorders, Pro Tools HD 3 Accel, a Studer 827 24-track machine with remote, and a Studer A820 1/2 " master recorder. All are in mint condition, are perfectly integrated, and were all acquisitions from Sony Music Studios. Logic or Digital Performer can act as front end DAW solutions, working in conjunction with the Pro Tools HD hardware, when preferable. DAT, CD, 1/4 " tape and even cassette tape are other available formats.

Outboard

The vintage outboard gear that David Smith and Sony chose for the original incarnation of this room remains. This is no coincidence, and not incidental. 16 channels of Neve 1081 preamps and EQs make the perfect spouse for the console. The Neve and Studer 962's preamps make for an incredibly clean signal path to the recorder, with exceptionally low noise, but with a rich analog sound, and 30 channels of EQ. Classic vintage compressors such as the Neve 33609, Urei LA-3A, DBX 160, DBX 160A, DBX 165A, Empirical Labs Distressor, Drawmer DL251, and those onboard the Studer 962 give compression options from classy to crunchy. Reverbs and processors such as EMT plates, the Lexicon 480L, Lexicon 224, Lexicon PCM 72, Lexicon PCM 42, DBX FS900 DeEsser, Drawmer DS201, Eventide Harmonizer H969, Yamaha Rev 7, Yamaha SPX90, and Roland Dimension D give a mixer a myriad of tools for his/her mix. Other unique effects including vintage and eclectic pedals, samplers, processors, and drum machines to toy mics and megaphones will keep you inspired and provide endless creative outlets, no matter what the project.

Audio Monitoring

For monitoring, the room relies on B & W 802 Nautilus monitors and Chord amplification, in addition to various nearfield options. In an article in Mix Magazine ("The David Smith Room at Sony Music," August, 2006) David Smith describes how they chose to import the B & W/Chord combination from Abbey Road Studios, saying "The speakers accurately reflect the timbre of the electronics driving them. The Chord has a smooth top and excellent control of low-frequency transients. This combination is particularly well-suited to jazz and classical material..." "One of the advantages of the B & W Nautilus lies in the fact that the monitors can be tailored to control the size and position of the sweet spot - so much so that they are used successfully both in large spaces and small ones.......... They can literally be tuned into an image that needs to sit like a knife on the tip of your nose or one more like a large cloud that easily covers the width of two people." Smith went on to note that in 2006, four major motion pictures (Star Wars, Memoirs of a Geisha, War of the Worlds, and Munich) used this type of loudspeaker. In all cases, the engineer, composer and director sat inside the sweet spot.

Cabling

In the same article in Mix Magazine, David Smith says "Cabling choices will certainly affect the sonic characteristics of any critical listening environment. The bulk of the cabling in 309 is Mogami, which we chose because of its excellent performance in the high-frequency area." Much of the cabling was taken out of the room at Sony and transplanted to Clinton. Any new cabling used in Lawson's studio was of a equal caliber, or in some cases, even a higher quality. The result is a pristine, unbelievably quiet, accurate signal flow.

Video

The studio is completely equipped for tracking or mixing to picture. Video is monitored via a Samsung 46" flat-panel LCD HDTV featuring a 1080p display, 16:9 aspect ratio, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for stunning images. Capable of addressing any technical needs a mixer, director or video editor may have, the monitor features 2 HDMI inputs, 2 RF inputs, 2 component inputs, 1 composite input, and a PC (VGA) input.

Coupled with the B & W 802's flexible sweet spot and the option of 5.1 surround, this not only makes for comfortable viewing from anywhere in the room, but a comfortable and accurate theatre environment.

DAW

The studio is equipped with Pro Tools HD 3 Accel, Pyramix, Logic Pro, and Digital Performer. By using the included DigiTranslator, one can move easily between platforms without ever leaving the room. The Pro Tools system includes plugins such as the Waves Platinum bundle, McDSP CompressorBank HD, McDSP FilterBank HD, McDSP MC2000 HD, Focusrite d2/d3, Altiverb, AutoTune, Melodyne, Bomb Factory Classic Compressors, JOEMEEK, Line 6 Echo Farm and Amp Farm, SansAmp, Moogerfooger Lowpass Filter, SoundReplacer, and more. Other software includes Native Instruments Komplete, Reason, and Melodyne Studio.

Instruments and Amps

Lawson has a rich palette of instruments that are available to its clients. Vintage Slingerland drums, Musser M55 vibraphone, Adams 5-octave marimba, Ludwig Timpani, Valje congas, and an incredibly wide range of hand drums, percussion instruments and cymbals are at the disposal of the room's clients. Also available are the Hammond organ with Leslie, an Everett upright piano, a selection of synthesizers, a Fender Stratocaster, and a selection of guitar and bass amplifiers.

Services

Below are some of the services that are offered by Lawson and his studio:

• Recording of any type and size of ensemble to Digital or Analog Recorders
• Analog or Digital Mixing in Stereo or 5.1 Surround
• Analog or Digital Mixing to Picture, in Stereo or 5.1 Surround
• Analog or Digital Mastering, to Any Format including 1/2 " Tape
• Transfers To and From practically Any Format
• Digitization of Audio from Any Analog Format
• A fully equipped writer's room, with several options for MIDI Controllers and Pro Tools, Logic, Digital Performer, or Pyramix.
• Online Mixing: Upload Multitracks of Any Type for Mixing at a Reduced Rate
• Online Mastering: Upload Mixes of Any Type for Mixing at a Reduced Rate
• Noise Reduction, Using the most advanced applications Available, such as those by Algorithmix and Waves

History

There were several at Sony who played a major role in the development of this powerful environment, and this unique console. Richard Boisits was responsible for the lion's share of the work. He translated David's circuit designs into CAD files for circuit board layout and fabrication. Richard also designed the console frame and internal wiring. Some of Richard's previous projects with David at Sony Music Studios NYC were a custom Neve 8078 console in Studio D and 3 custom mastering consoles, which are still in use at Sony's new mastering facilities in NYC. Construction of the console was done by Glenn Corbett, Marty Matyas, Mick Oakleaf and Kim Stallings of the Sony Music Engineering Services Department. Integration of the automation system was handled by Christopher Berndt of AMS Neve. Dominick Costanzo was final commissioning and troubleshooting of the completed console and system integration of room 309. Input from engineers such as Charles Harbutt, who worked in the room each day, Todd Whitelock and Richard King was invaluable to the development of both the room as a whole, and the implementation of this unique console. Brian McKenna and Tony Drootin, Sony's studio managers, had much to do with the successful presentation of this uniquely innovative and powerful room.

Lawson White, Studio Owner, Producer/Engineer/Performer/Arranger/Composer

Lawson White is at home in any musical setting. He has worked with Shakira, Santigold, Gil Scott-Heron, A-trak, Diplo, Richard Russell, Amanda Blank, John Hill, Trouble Andrew, Nell Bryden, Alarm Will Sound, Christina Courtin, The Metropolitan Opera, International Contemporary Ensemble, composers Steve Reich, David Lang, Michael Gordon, Philippe Manoury, Benedict Mason, Huang Ruo, filmmaker Jonathan Parker, and Native Instruments.

An active songwriter and composer, his original music can be heard on recordings by So Percussion/Matmos, the score for Jonathan Parker's film Untitled, and on TV commercials airing currently. A capable and active performer, Lawson has performed with Chromeo, Matmos, Zakir Hussain, Shugo Tokumaru, Alarm Will Sound, the Nashville Symphony, the Rochester Philharmonic, the Alabama Symphony, Grand Ole Opry star Connie Smith, Robert van Sice, and So Percussion, of which he was a member until 2007.

Lawson's studio includes classic equipment acquired from Sony Music Studios. Originally from Nashville, Lawson is the son of Nashville drummer and songwriter Wayne White. He has a BM in Music Performance and the Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, and an MM in Music Performance from Yale University.

For more info and booking please visit lawsonwhiteproductions.com.