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
    • ADAM Audio P33A Mid-Field Monitors
    • Miller & Kreisel Sound S-125 Loudspeakers
    • Miller & Kreisel Sound MX-150 THX Subwoofer
    • Musical Fidelity A300 Dual Mono Amplifier
    • Audioengine D1 24-Bit DAC Headphone Amp

Room treatments by Real Traps, Primacoustic, and Martienne Acoustics. Cabling by Canare, Mogami, Neutrik, and Amphenol.

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)
  • Joe Meek VC1 Pre/EQ (Gold Edition)
  • 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)
  • Sontec MES-435s Mastering EQ w/ MS Encoding by Klontz Audio
  • 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

Plugins & Software

  • Apple Logic Pro X
  • Avid Pro Tools 12ish
  • Celemony Melodyne 4
  • Fab Filter Pro-R, Pro-L 2, Pro-MB, Pro-Q 2, Pro-C 2, Pro-DS, Pro-G
  • iZotope Ozone 8 Advanced, RX 7 Advanced, Insight 2, Neutron 2, Nectar 3
  • Lexicon PCM Native Reverb
  • Native Instruments Session Strings Pro 2, Shimmer Shake Strike
  • Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machine, VMR 2.0, FG-X, VerbSuite Classics
  • Soundtoys Native Effects V5
  • Steinberg WaveLab Pro 9.5

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)