Mixing and Mastering: Mobtown Studios

 

Gear

Sound better

We’re constantly tweaking and curating our tool set. We’ve grown a well-rounded studio of analog and digital machines and a cozy collection of instruments and toys. We prefer tried and true equipment that’s built to last (though we do like a good story – ask us about what hotness our Otari tape machine saw in the 80s). Tl;dr: Every good tool has its place.

Console

  • Klontz Audio MIS-V2 Analog Transfer Console with MS Encoding & Blend

Conversion & Monitoring

    • Lynx Hilo Reference Mastering A/D and D/A Converter & Master Clock
    • Universal Audio Apollo x8 18×24
    • Dangerous Music Monitor ST
    • Amphion Two18 Monitors
    • Miller & Kreisel Sound S-125 Loudspeakers
    • Miller & Kreisel Sound MX-150 THX Subwoofer
    • Musical Fidelity A300 Dual Mono Class A/B Amplifier
    • Audioengine D1 24-Bit DAC Headphone Amp
    • TC Electronic Clarity M Stereo Audio Loudness Meter

Room treatments by RealTraps, BT Acoustics Poland, Primacoustic, and Martienne Acoustics. Cabling and connectors custom made by Will Melone with Canare, Mogami, Neutrik, and Amphenol products.

Analog Recording

  • Otari MTR-10 ¼” 2-track analog tape machine
  • Tascam 424 Portastudio cassette 4-track
  • Teac A4010S 2-track ¼” analog tape machine

Pre-amplification / Equalization / Gain Reduction

  • Altec 1589B Pre (2) (used on The Killers’ Hot Fuss)
  • Chameleon Labs 7602 Neve 1073 Pre/EQ (2)
  • Classic API 312 Pre (2)
  • Dangerous Music COMPRESSOR
  • Federal AM864/U Vari-Mu Tube Limiter
  • ITI MEP-130 Stereo Parametric Mastering EQ Modules (Serial #001/002 – Rebuilt by Joe Malone in 2018)
  • Klontz MES-435s Sontec Mastering EQ w/ MS Encoding
  • Manley Labs Stereo Massive Passive Stereo Tube EQ
  • Manley Labs Stereo Variable Mu® Limiter Compressor w/ HP Sidechain
  • Neve 1073 DPX Pre/EQ/Line Amp (2)
  • Stam Audio SA4000 SSL G Series Buss Compressor
  • Stam Audio SA-EQP1A Pultec Tube EQ (2)
  • Universal Audio 2-610S Tube Pre/Line Amp (2)

Microphones

  • AEA R84 Ribobn (2)
  • AKG D12-E
  • AKG D112
  • Audio-Technica AT3060 Tube
  • Beyerdynamic M 160 Ribbon (2)
  • Blue Mouse FET (low serial transformer)
  • Cascade Vin Jet Ribbon (2)
  • Federal US Senate Landline Phone Mic
  • Neumann KM184 (2)
  • Neumann TLM 102 (2)
  • Neumann TLM 170 (2)
  • Neumann U87 (DC101-FM)
  • Oktava ML-52 Ribbon
  • Oktava MK-319 (2)
  • RCA 77-D Ribbon (WBAL-TV)
  • Sennheiser MD441
  • Sennheiser MD421 (2)
  • Shure SM57 (2)
  • Shure SM7
  • Shure Unidyne 5455D
  • Sony C-100 (2)

Software & Plugins

  • Apple Logic Pro X
  • Avid Pro Tools 12ish
  • Celemony Melodyne 4
  • Fab Filter Pro-L 2, Pro-MB, Pro-Q 3, Pro-C 2
  • HOFA CD-Burn.DDP.Master PRO
  • iZotope Ozone 9 Advanced, RX 7 Advanced, Insight 2, Neutron 2, Nectar 3
  • PSP Xenon Limiter
  • Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machine, VMR 2.0, FG-X, VerbSuite Classics
  • Soundspot Velo2 Mastering Limiter
  • Soundtoys Native Effects V5
  • Steinberg WaveLab Pro 9.5
  • Youlean Loudness Meter Pro

Various Random Fun Toys

  • Baldwin 1984 2025-A Console Upright Piano
  • Roland RE-150 Space Echo Analog Tape Delay
  • Audion Polychord
  • Casio MT68, MT140, RZ1, SK1, SK5
  • Farfisa Pianorgan
  • PAiA Vocoder
  • Roland Juno 106
  • Roland JP-8000
  • Roland CR-8000 Compu-Rhythm Drum Machine
  • Kees Enkelaar Theremin
  • Moog Etherwave Theremin
  • Texas Instruments Speak & Music
  • Silvertone 1964 Twin Twelve 1484 Amp
  • Atari 2600 Synth-cart
  • Danelectro PB&J Analog Delay
  • Sovtek 1990s Big Muff “Black Russian”
  • MXR 1980s Blue Box
  • NoiseKICK FX Baltimore Distortion 1904
  • Keith McMillen QuNexus
  • Alesis ADAT (for that nasty 16bit flavor)