The Sound Issue 2016 Studio Focus: Delta King Studios

Answered by: Ben Wood, engineer/producer

Studio address: Level 2, 822 George Street, Sydney

How long has the studio been running? In its current form, we're brand new! But before we joined forces, King Sound Studios has been running since 2011, and Delta Studios started in Dec 2014.

What makes your studio different? The personal touch is something that gets mentioned by our clients. We are a small, boutique studio so we put a lot of care and attention into everything that comes through the door.

What's your favourite piece of equipment you have in the studio? How can you choose a favourite! A good talking piece is my 1974 Neumann U 47 fet microphone, that is branded 'Trident Studios' (Queen/Bowie etc). Just imagine the musicians it has recorded...

Do you find you specialised in specific genres? Not specifically, but if you had to narrow it down it would be more pop/R&B/indie/metal/rock/singer-songwriter/hip hop. I suppose that isn't really narrowing it down!

Who have been your favourite artist(s) to come in? We had Diplo, Galantis, MK and Matoma in the studio while EMC Sydney was on. They were a lot of fun, even though they pushed our monitors to their limits!

What do believe has been the most well produced album of 2016 so far? James Blake — Radio Silence (Blake/Rick Rubin) is very good. The production is sonically and technically interesting, yet so sparse and dynamic. Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool is pretty awesome too.

What services does your studio offer? We offer recording, mixing and mastering services for all styles and genres, with a variety of packages to suit all budgets.

Do you prefer analogue or digital? Recording with tape is fantastic, and I love using it, but most bands simply can't justify the expense of working with it. I usually mix using a hybrid of digital and analogue equipment.

Who would be your dream artist to have record/rehearse in the studio? Probably a soul legend, like Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye or Ray Charles (with their bands). The musicianship on those old records is ridiculous.