{"id":2192,"date":"2024-01-16T20:37:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T20:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/?p=2192"},"modified":"2024-06-12T20:41:08","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T20:41:08","slug":"engineer-nick-squids-squillante-upgrades-to-an-all-focal-immersive-9-1-4-mix-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/2024\/01\/engineer-nick-squids-squillante-upgrades-to-an-all-focal-immersive-9-1-4-mix-room\/","title":{"rendered":"Engineer Nick \u201cSquids\u201d Squillante Upgrades to an All-Focal Immersive 9.1.4 Mix Room"},"content":{"rendered":"

Upgraded immersive mix room features Focal Alpha 50 Evo monitors and Sub One subwoofers<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Nick<\/a>Brooklyn-based, independent mixing and mastering engineer Nick \u201cSquids\u201d Squillante has expanded his mix room for Dolby\u00ae Atmos\u2122 9.1.4 immersive music. The studio features an all-Focal lineup of Alpha 50 Evo monitors for LCR, surround, and height speakers along with dual Focal Sub One subwoofers. Recent immersive mixes include \u201cRescue Me\u201d by Dirty Heads<\/em>, which went to Number 1 on the Billboard Alternative charts<\/a>, \u201cPsycho\u201d by Asking Alexandria<\/em>, which also scored a spot at Number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts<\/a> along with other immersive mixes for artists such as Tommy Lee, Papa Roach<\/em> and Bad Wolves<\/em> to name a few.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got into Atmos after hearing Apple\u2019s spotlight presentation a few years back and when I saw that there was a new opportunity to improve the listening experience for music fans I was immediately intrigued. My goal as a mixer is to bring a song to life, not only for the artist but for the fans too. When I found out about Apple bringing Dolby Atmos to music and making it easily accessible by using headphones I thought, wow that\u2019s a game changer! I remember that day posting to Instagram promising to offer Dolby Atmos mixes as soon as my rig was up and running. If Apple\u2019s backing this, so am I\u2014I don’t second-guess Apple.\u201d<\/p>\n

After purchasing a Focal Sub One for his stereo setup and realizing he already had the first piece of an immersive rig, Squillante wasted no time and called Sweetwater to discuss putting together an Atmos system. Recalling hearing Focal Alpha monitors at a friend\u2019s studio and liking them, plus hearing a Focal Atmos setup at Flux Studios in NYC, he chose the newer Focal Evo model for his mix room, initially a 7.1.4 setup. He received a lot of support and insights on creating his own Atmos studio from Focal\u2019s Josh Estock as well, who was introduced to him through Sweetwater, \u201cJosh went through all the details with me, he\u2019s been super helpful,\u201d says Squillante.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of other brands trying to meet the Alpha Evo price point, but Focal has a reputation for a beautifully honest and transparent sound,\u201d comments Squillante. \u201cThe monitors make so much sense when you listen to them: you’re not trying to figure out what’s going on with the speaker, you\u2019re simply hearing the song, it\u2019s like the speaker isn\u2019t even there \u2013 in the best way possible!\u201d<\/p>\n

While visiting the Artistic Palace studio in Paris recently and hearing their all-Focal 9.1.4 system, Squillante decided to add two more Alpha 50 Evo monitors for the front \u201cwides\u201d to create his own 9.1.4 setup. \u201cThe wides make such a difference! In 7.1.4 it\u2019s almost like there\u2019s somewhat of a hole between the left and left side surrounds, as well as the right and right side surrounds. Once I added the wides, I was immediately convinced 9.1.4 is the way to go for immersive mixing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inspired by his father and brother, both musicians, Squillante studied audio production at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneonta, and after graduating began his career working at Electric Lady Studios with 7-time Grammy-award-winning mixer Michael Brauer. Squillante was an assistant engineer for Brauer during records for top artists such as Bon Jovi<\/em>, Elle King<\/em>, and Mumford & Sons<\/em>.<\/p>\n

After departing Electric Lady Studios in 2016, Squillante began mixing independently and eventually built out his studio in Brooklyn. His reputation has grown entirely via word of mouth from the artists, producers, and record labels he works with, ensuring consistently great mixes. \u201cAbove all, it comes down to being personable and being someone who people want to work with,\u201d he says. \u201cI have this philosophy that when I’m working on a song\u2014yes, I’m putting my all into it, I’m putting every bit of me, my skill, and my intuitions into the song\u2014but at the end of the day, the artist is the boss. So whatever they say goes, if they have a note that they want a change I\u2019ll make the change, every time. If it\u2019s something I may not agree with, it’s OK. We’re going to chat about it because I want to hear their perspective and understand their vision. At the end of the day, it\u2019s the artist\u2019s song, they have to wear it, they have to perform it, they have to love it and that\u2019s the most important thing to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

At his Brooklyn studio, Squillante has worked on songs for artists including Fletcher, Hozier, Aloe Blacc, Akon, Dylan Dunlap, Sam DeRosa, Max Frost, <\/em>his own band Movie Night,<\/em> and many more. Working at Electric Lady Studios with Michael Brauer \u201ctaught me a lot and led me to a really great place,\u201d says Squillante. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t change a single thing. And where I’m at now in Brooklyn with my studio, having my own Atmos rig, a really good steady flow of clientele who\u2014more importantly than anything\u2014 just trust me to do the right job and do the right thing by their music. I\u2019m eternally grateful for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Find out more about engineer Nick \u201cSquids\u201d Squillante at: www.mixedbysquids.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Visit North American distributor Focal Naim America at:\u00a0www.focalnaimamerica.com<\/a><\/p>\n

About Dolby Atmos Music
\nDolby Atmos is an immersive audio technology, which is transforming how music is created and experienced. It takes music to new levels by immersing listeners inside the song to reveal details with unparalleled clarity and depth. Whether it\u2019s hearing the layers of instruments move all around, catching the subtle breath a singer takes between lyrics, or being enveloped in a wave of melodies, nothing compares to hearing music in Dolby Atmos.<\/p>\n

About Focal Naim America
\nBorn from the merger of Focal, a world leader in acoustic sound made in France, and Naim Audio, a world leader in British-made hi-fi electronics, VerVent Audio Group\u2019s brand subsidiaries signal a new investment phase and direction for VerVent in the US and Canada. By creating its own distribution entity, the group is striving to turn the North American territory into the market leader for Focal and Naim. Focal Naim America also distributes IsoAcoustics, Vicoustic, Musical Fidelity, AVIDHIFI, Thorens (US only), and BDI (Canada only). For more information about Focal Naim America visit their website at www.focalnaimamerica.com<\/a> or call (800)-663-9352.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

All trademarks are the property of their respective holders.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Upgraded immersive mix room features Focal Alpha 50 Evo monitors and Sub One subwoofers<\/p>\n

Brooklyn-based, independent mixing and mastering engineer…
Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[18,16,9,6,15,20,1],"tags":[158,164,58,163,73,162],"class_list":["post-2192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-composer-filmtv","category-engineer","category-clients-focal","category-press-relations","category-producer","category-technician","category-uncategorized","tag-atmos","tag-dolby-atmos","tag-clients-focal","tag-focal-alpha-evo","tag-focal-naim-america","tag-nick-squids-squillante"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2192"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2192\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2198,"href":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2192\/revisions\/2198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}