A&M STUDIOS ROOMS "H" AND "M"

A&M RECORDS STUDIO H

Affectionately known as "Herb's Room." Herb Alpert recorded My Abstract Heart here and Lani Hall used Studio H to record her vocals.

A&M RECORDS STUDIO M

M for Mixing, mixdown and remix in this dedicated suite. The control room measured 14' by 18' and its lounge/overdub booth was 9' by 10'. 

The studio was updated in 1988 by Continental Studio Builders (CSB).

A&M Studios had three mixing rooms. The Mix 1 console was built in-house in 1981 with 32 channels, QE eps, 8 aux quad buss. Mix 2 was a quad room. Mix 3 was identical to Mix 1. 

MIX AND MASTERING

"I'd been doing a lot of work for [A&M Records] even before they opened the studio complex. I got to know everyone at A&M very well. When they were planning to open their own studios, I saw it as an opportunity to move up in the field...I was ambitious and wanted to get ahead. It was a terrific opportunity. I told A&M that I wanted to work for them and they hired me right away. If I ever had to work for anyone else again, I'd work for Herb [Alpert] and Jerry [Moss], co-founders of A&M Records."--Bernie Grundman, Mix Magazine, December 1997

Bernie Grundman founded A&M's mastering division. 

Original Scully lathes at A&M Studios had a Neumann custom A&M lift-drop suspension unit that made it possible to control groove depth electronically. They had Westrex stereo heads. There were only five suspension units made. 

In 1983, A&M Studios used Scully lates fitted with Capps computer that was redesigned by A&M. The mastering console was designed and built by A&M. The tape matches were MCI with ATR heads and modified ATR electronics. Monitor speakers were assembled by A&M with Tannoy and EV components with H&H amps. Modified UA EQ limiters, CSG or mono discs and De'S'ing equipment designed by A&M.

By 1998 there were six mastering rooms with vacuum tube and solid-state tape equipment and custom A&M console but without relays, coupling capacitors or transformers. The mix room had an SSL 6072 E/G Series desk.

STUDIO M EQUIPMENT