The Bunker Studio

Neumann SM2 Stereo Mic

aaron — Fri, 24 May 2013 02:56:05 +0000

John found a mint condition vintage Neumann SM2 stereo tube microphone. We’d been wanting to add a stereo mic for some time and this is one of the best options out there. We’re pretty sure this is going to be pretty amazing on piano, drum overheads, room mics and acoustic guitar. It’s probably going to be amazing on everything:) We’ll let you know once we spend some more time with it!

Retro 176!

aaron — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:49:32 +0000

Aaron just picked up a Retro 176 tube compressor. This is the reissue by Retro of the tube precursor to the more famous UA 1176. The UA 176 was designed by Bill Putnam and released by UA in 1961. There’s some great info on the original here.

We’ve been wanting to check one out for a while and it’s already proven to be a worthy addition to the studio. The tone is unique but early impressions place it somewhere between the Gates Sta-Level and Rev A 1176. Super creamy and sounds amazing on vocals, bass, drum room mics so far…looking forward to spending some more time with it. The 176 is currently floating between both rooms but is slated to live in the Studio B racks. Maybe we’ll have to get another for Studio A.

Sonic Scoop features Bunker SSL install

aaron — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:16:36 +0000

Sonic Scoop wrote a feature on the recent install of the SSL 4040E in Studio A. There’s a bunch of pics shot by our good friend David Mason.

We’ve been loving working on the SSL and it’s proving to be great for large mix and tracking sessions. The flexibility of the routing, the sound of the E/G series EQs & channel and Quad compressors have really opened up a world of mix fun! The SSL also makes a great counterpart to the discrete 70s Auditronics 501 now in Studio B.

Eric Harland and Charlie Hunter tracking for The Loop Loft Studio B

aaron — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:03:58 +0000

Eric Harland and Charlie Hunter were in Studio B tracking for The Loop Loft. Super fun session with some sick grooves going down. Modern Drummer stopped by in the morning to take some pics and everyone was digging the Bunker vintage Ludwig kit.

SSL 4040E installed in Studio A

aaron — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:17:18 +0000

We’re very happy to have made a major upgrade to Studio A with the installation of a SSL 4040E console. This console comes from Sony Toronto and was fully refurbished by Sonic Circus. Known as one of the best mixing consoles ever made, the SSL takes Studio A from an amazing tracking space to a world class mix room as well. Complete with the classic E Series Black EQs and with 40 channels of mic pres and 80 channels at mixdown the SSL 4040 has been sounding great in here! The Westlakes have been mounted on Sound Anchors stands and are now powered with Bryston 4Bs. A big thanks to all the guys from Sonic Circus especially Steve Laisi, and our local wiring/tech guru John Charette.

Our much loved Auditronics console moved from Studio A into Studio B. We also took the opportunity to install new hardwood flooring and rebuild racks and rewire the control room. B is turning into a very flexible tracking and mix room also, and we’ve really been stretching the boundaries in there with some larger tracking sessions.

Daking FetIII

aaron — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:41:15 +0000

We recently added the Daking Fet III Stereo Compressors in both Studio A and B. We love the way these sound on mix bus, overheads, room mics and much more. It’s a super transparent compressor which still imparts a little tone. Definitely a new favorite around here.

Pair of Blackspade UM17 mics added

aaron — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 02:52:22 +0000

We just added a pair of the new Blackspade UM17 large diaphragm tube microphones to the collection. We tried them out on a drum tracking session for The Netherlands and fell in love with them. In the last few days they were used as drum overheads again on a film date, and then as piano close mics on a Doe Paoro tracking session. They’re a great addition and give us another very useful color on stereo sources…also looking forward to trying them out on acoustic guitar, bass, horns etc!

John Medeski and Adam Deitch Video

aaron — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:19:04 +0000

Here’s a little footage of John Medeski and Adam Deitch jamming as we were setting them up for a trio session with Skerik back in Jan 2012.

Neumann Fet 47 joins the family

aaron — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 03:27:25 +0000

We’re very happy to add a Neumann U47 fet to the mic locker. It’s one of the classics often used on kick drum, bass amp, upright bass, vocals and pretty much anything else.

Mytek Private Q in Studio B and more gear

aaron — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:07:19 +0000

Studio B has the Mytek Private Q installed now giving us even more flexibility for tracking in that room. We’ve also added a great Bluestripe 1176 clone to Studio A’s compression rack. We like it so much we’ll be building a few more in the next few months.