Focal Releases “Mixed on Focal” Playlist #5
New HD Audio 21-track streaming playlist includes music from thirteen mix engineers using Focal Pro monitors
Focal Naim America, a leading North American importer and distributor of premium consumer and professional electronics brands, has released the fifth high-resolution audio playlist for “Mixed on Focal.” The program highlights the true sound of music as the artist, mix engineer, producer, and record label meant the songs to be heard. Each of the five playlists features a wide range of music genres from rock and R&B to electronic dance music, pop, country—and even instrumental synthesizer music—and are available to Focal HI-FI and Pro Audio dealers, as well as the Press Corps and current and prospective customers. Whether it be in a HI-FI dealer demonstration, a Pro Audio dealer demonstration, or listening in a home or pro recording studio using Focal speakers, the music will sound as the artist intended since each song was mixed on Focal.
Focal Presents Discussion Panels at NAMM 2023
At the April music trade show in Anaheim, eight engineers will cover discussions on Creative Mixing in Dolby Atmos, The Art of Mastering, and Mixing with Focal Headphones at the Focal Booth #14902
Focal has announced three discussion panels to be presented to NAMM attendees during the April music tradeshow in Anaheim. Eight engineers will cover discussions ranging from Creative Mixing in Dolby Atmos®, and The Art of Mastering with Michael Romanowski, to Mixing with Focal Headphones at Focal’s booth #14902 in the North Hall, Level 1.
In the first discussion panel Creative Mixing in Dolby Atmos, Friday, April 14 at 2 pm, Ben Givarz, Senior Creative Relations Manager at Dolby, will act as the moderator for engineers Luca Pretolesi and Robert Guzman from Las Vegas’ Studio DMI, Fab Dupont from Flux Studios in NYC, and Brad Smalling from Evergroove Studio in Evergreen CO. Each of the studios feature a Dolby Atmos studio built around Focal professional monitors. The engineers will share their creative approaches to mixing in Dolby Atmos on albums by Skrillex, Snarky Puppy, Saves The Day, and more.
Read More »Studio DMI in Las Vegas Installs All-Focal 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos System
New Dolby Atmos mix room features Focal Trio11 Be for LCR and Solo6 ST6 for the surrounds and height speakers along with Sub12 subwoofers
Focal has announced the first all-Focal Dolby Atmos® mix room in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the famed Studio DMI headquarters. The new 7.1.4 ‘Studio D’ design features three of Focal’s flagship Trio11 Be pro monitors for LCR and eight of the company’s new Solo6 ST6 for the surrounds and height speakers. Two Focal Sub12 subwoofers handle LFE and bass management.
“A Focal system is great because it is a system that I trust and am comfortable with,” says Studio DMI Founder and world-renowned mixing and mastering engineer Luca Pretolesi. “It is an extension of my ears, allowing me to achieve a level of accuracy and precision in my sound stage that is unparalleled.” Pretolesi recently mixed Drake’s “Honestly, Nevermind” album at Studio DMI on their Focal Trio11 monitors. While engineer Robert Guzman mixed and mastered the new Skrillex album “Quest For Fire” in Dolby Atmos in the new Studio D.
Read More »Fates Warning Members Create New Group “A-Z” and Record Album Using Only Lauten Audio Microphones
New Album “A-Z” featuring vocalist Ray Alder and drummer Mark Zonder Available Now!
Photo: Mark Zonder
The new self-titled album from “A-Z” reunites former Fates Warning drummer Mark Zonder and Fates Warning lead vocalist Ray Alder during Covid lockdowns from across the world, and adds Steve Vai bassist Philip Bynoe, Prog Metal guitarist Joop Wolters, and keyboard synthesist Vivien Lalu.
Tracked entirely with Lauten Audio microphones, the new album was captured remotely, with each member recording in their respective home studios.
Lead vocalist Ray Alder has strong feelings for the Lauten Audio LA-320 after choosing it for his personal studio in Spain. “I love that it can be warm and crisp at the same time. It keeps the true vocal sound, is a very well-built microphone, and it sounds great. I’m very happy with it.”
Read More »Focal Naim America Announces “Mixed on Focal” Playlist #4
New HD Audio 23-track streaming playlist includes music from Drake’s latest album ‘Honestly, Nevermind’ mixed on Focal Trio11 monitors
Focal Naim America, a leading North American importer, and distributor of premium consumer and professional electronics brands, has announced the fourth playlist for “Mixed on Focal” a program to highlight the true sound of music as the artist, mix engineer, producer, and record label meant the songs to be heard. This new HD Audio 23-track streaming playlist includes music from Drake’s latest album Honestly, Nevermind mixed on Focal Trio11 monitors. All four “Mixed on Focal” playlists are available today for Apple Music, Qobuz, Tidal, and Amazon Music HD with new playlists to be released periodically. With Spotify set to release its HiFi-Audio tier, we are also making Spotify playlists available for all four playlists. Mixed on Focal high-resolution audio playlists and are available to Focal HI-FI and Pro Audio dealers, as well as the Press Corps and current and prospective customers. Whether it be in a HI-FI or Pro Audio dealer demonstration, or their home or recording studio using Focal speakers, the music will sound as the artist intended since each song was mixed on Focal.
For Your Grammy® Consideration: “Walking on Moonlight”
Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
https://www.recordingacademy.com/
“Walking on Moonlight”
The Arroyo Collective
The Arroyo Collective is a group of old and new friends who like to play and record music. The title ‘Six Ways Up’ refers to the six players Hal Coy, Scott Thunes, Matt Eakle, George Shaw, Johnnie Bamont, and Paul J. de Benedictis who each kept their spirits high through music during the recent pandemic. George Shaw is featured playing muted trumpet on the vibey “Walking On Moonlight,” We hope this music lifts you up too.
Greg Kurstin Chooses Lauten Audio “Eden” Mic for Maren Morris
Hit-making producer reveals ‘Eden’ mic used on all Morris’ vocals; plus acoustic guitar, and drums
Country music superstar Maren Morris has released her third album, “Humble Quest,” (Columbia Nashville) with Grammy® award-winning producer Greg Kurstin (Adele, Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters), recording all of the vocals and many other sources with one of his two Lauten Audio ‘Eden’ microphones.
Detailing the simple yet effective recording setup he used for Morris, Kurstin explained, “I didn’t have any of the outboard mic pres or compressors that are in my LA studio…so all of Maren’s vocals…the acoustic guitar, and some of the drum kit…were [recorded] right into the Lauten Eden mic and [a] Universal Audio Apollo.”
Read More »Snarky Puppy Uses 26 Lauten Audio Mics on New “Empire Central” Album
Engineer Nic Hard talks about why Lauten Audio mics “worked out perfectly”
Snarky Puppy’s upcoming album “Empire Central” is a return-to-roots masterpiece tracked live in front of a studio audience and slated for release in the Fall. Tasked with capturing 19 musicians simultaneously, recording and mix engineer Nic Hard employed 26 Lauten Audio microphones for use on the group’s 14th album. “I really believe that without these mics, the record wouldn’t sound the same. Lauten Audio mics are now an important part of my arsenal,” said Hard.
“Six Ways Up” New 3-song EP set for May 11, 2022 Release to Streaming
Mnemonic Records is set to release a New 3-song EP by The Arroyo Collective, “Six Ways Up” on May 11, 2022. The initial release will be to all Streaming Services, such as Apple Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, Amazon Music HD, Spotify and dozens of others. May 11 Streaming update:
SPOTIFY
APPLE MUSIC
TIDAL
AMAZON MUSIC HD
SoundCloud Playlist
Mastering Engineer Michael Romanowski Nominated for Three Grammys
Michael Romanowski of Coast Mastering, Berkeley, CA, is nominated for three Grammy Awards including Best Engineered Album, Classical, and Best Immersive Album
[At Press Time: Note that Michael Romanowski has won all three Grammy Awards in the story below]
Mastering engineer Michael Romanowski of Coast Mastering in Berkeley, CA, is nominated for three Grammy® Awards for Best Engineered Album, Classical: Chanticleer “Chanticleer Sings Christmas” (Warner Classics); and two Best Immersive Album nominations, Alicia Keys “Alicia” (RCA) for the 64th Grammys; and US Army Field Band “Soundtrack of the American Soldier” (Navona Records) for the 63rd Grammys. Both 63rd and 64th immersive awards are being given this year. The 64th Grammy Awards will be presented on CBS, on April 3rd.
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