Welcome to the boffins page! Here you will find information about Simon’s preferred professional (and not so professional) audio equipment.
Simon prefers to mix on SSL consoles, that’s why he bought one! It’s not just because they’re one of the best ranges of board – it’s primarily because that’s what he trained on. Having said that, he likes Neves as well, particularly vintage ones. G series SSLs with E series EQs are one of his favourites – properly regarded as a classic pop mixing desk.
Like almost everyone else in professional music production, he uses Apple Mac computers running Protools and Logic. Why both? Simon says (!!): “Protools is great for mixing, it’s the ultimate multitrack tape machine! The audio editing is superb, the sync options are great and it’s pretty solid – I need to know that I can rely on it during a mix. Logic’s a different kind of animal – I find it a great tool for production – the midi editing is comprehensive, it’s intuitive, you can configure it your own way and it’s packed with highly useable instruments and plugs. I’d say that Protools is for engineers and Logic’s for producers. I do both, so I use both!”
As far as outboard gear goes, Simon’s studio standard favourites are – 1176, LA2A, Mutronics Impressor & Neve 33609 compressors, GML Eq, Eventide H3000, Bricasti M7 reverb, Lexicon PCM70(V.3) & 480L. He also has a few specials installed in Hub II: Focusrite ISA430 mk2 (which he endorses), SSL X-Rack loaded with dynamics modules and two custom built stereo compressors. Simon has also got a big box of mix toys including an Adrenalinn II, Focusrite Liquid Mix, Radial X-Amp, various guitar pedals and a bunch of mini-speakers.
Simon’s midfield monitors in Hub II are Focal Twin 6 Be with a Focal Sub (which he also endorses). When it comes to nearfield monitors he’s still pretty old school – NS10s and a mono Auratone are present and correct at all mixes and are also installed in Hub II along with a pair of NHT M00s. Other monitors that he’s liked are KRK E8s and V6s, Genelec 1031s and Acoustic Energy AE1s.