Sweetwater Studios has gone through a lot of changes lately. While the studios here at Sweetwater have always offered top-notch recording services, our recent upgrades have made it a truly world-class destination. We’ve recently attracted the attention of such high-profile engineers as Mike Miller (Lil Nas X, Harry Styles, Adele, Macklemore) and Mark Parfitt (Justin Bieber, Kehlani, Omah Lay) as well as award-winning artists like Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Animals As Leaders. We sat down with Sweetwater Studios’ producer/engineer Shawn Dealey to discuss the studio’s history, its recent technology updates, and what the future holds.
Sweetwater Studios: A Brief History
Sweetwater Studios is embedded in the company’s very DNA. Many people may not realize that the studio pre-dates our retail business by about a decade. “Most people think of Sweetwater as just an online retailer,” Shawn says. “But Sweetwater Studios played a huge part in this company’s history, starting in 1979 when Chuck Surack started recording out of the back of his VW van.”
Even after Sweetwater became a Kurzweil dealer in 1986 and a full-fledged pro audio reseller by 1990, we always maintained a working recording studio, first in Chuck’s home, then at our previous Bass Road location, and now at our present location on US Highway 30.
When Sweetwater moved to our current campus in 2006, we took the opportunity to build world-class recording studios from the ground up. We hired Russ Berger Design Group to design the space, which opened for recording in 2008.
Sweetwater Studios has seen numerous changes and upgrades since its beginnings, including the installation in 2013 of a custom Avid S6 control surface with 32 channels of Rupert Neve Designs processing, ATC studio monitors, and a rotating collection of high-end outboard gear in Studio A. That hybrid setup allowed us to create a workflow that suited a wide range of preferences — with faders and a host of analog gear or entirely in the box.
A Beautiful Tracking Space Complete with Classic Rupert Neve Sound
As the studio’s direction changed, so did the gear requirements.
“We were looking to attract more customers and artists that were interested in tracking full records,” Shawn explains. “These artists were interested in a really great-sounding studio with a large-format analog console as its centerpiece.”
As a result, Studio A upgraded its sound and workflow with a 32-input Rupert Neve Designs 5088 console, which houses a sizable cache of RND Shelford 5052 mic preamp/inductor EQ modules and 5051 inductor EQ/compressor modules. “We took a lot of the infrastructure we already had and put that into the new 5088 console,” Shawn notes.
The 5088 is an absolute top-tier analog console — the crème de la crème of mixing desks. “A Rupert Neve Designs piece of equipment means a lot to me,” Shawn exclaims. “When I got into using the Rupert Neve Designs equipment like the 5052s — the Shelford stuff — it felt like a continuation of his past designs, and it allowed me to work in a more sonically pleasing way where I had all the things I wanted at my fingertips.”
Surrounding Ourselves with Immersive Audio
In 2022, Sweetwater upgraded our Studio B to a Dolby Atmos mix room. Studio B now boasts a 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos system comprised of PMC speakers and an Avid MTRX interface. “We transitioned from a surround sound and stereo mix room to a certified Dolby Atmos mix room for Spatial Audio,” Shawn explains. It was a complex endeavor too. “To do it, we had to remove the analog console and pull out the existing furniture and producer desk,” Shawn recalls.
We partnered with Dolby to certify that our room was up to spec and enlisted the help of PMC to ensure a smooth speaker install. “PMC has been at the forefront of Dolby Atmos technology, so they have a lot of insight into the technology and how to implement it with their speakers,” Shawn states. And we’re happy with the results. “We have what we feel is one of the best-sounding Dolby Atmos mix spaces,” Shawn exclaims.
And, according to Shawn, we’re just getting started. “We scaled down to a simple desk for a monitor and control interface more appropriate to Atmos mixing.” Shawn further advises that a smaller controller, such as an Avid S1 or an Avid Dock, along with a mouse and keyboard is really all they need to control a Dolby Atmos mix.
The Times They Are A-Changin’
Within the past year or so, there’s been a significant paradigm shift within the recording industry, primarily driven by Apple’s push toward Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. And Sweetwater Studios is leading the charge. “There’s been so much development and growth in the technology and workflows,” notes Shawn.
“People are going back and remixing certain projects in their back catalogs for Spatial Audio,” Shawn states. “Labels have been hiring mixers to mix projects without involving the artists,” Shawn continues, “but artists want to get more involved because they’re starting to see the potential of the creative development of their music in Spatial Audio.”
Shawn explains that, while movie mixers are well acquainted with Dolby Atmos, most music mixers are unsure how to approach the technology. “It’s a learning process,” explains Shawn “The advantage of working at Sweetwater Studios is that we’re experienced with the format — we’ve already worked through the pitfalls and mistakes, so we can help our clients avoid those mistakes.”
And Shawn believes that the Dolby Atmos room at Sweetwater Studios is the premier place for Atmos-curious engineers to get their feet wet. “We have a hypercritical listening space,” he exclaims. “You can be sure that what you hear in this room will stand up and sound right outside that room — we’ve had great translation.”
According to Shawn, what you hear in our Dolby Atmos room won’t change when you listen on headphones, Apple AirPods, or consumer speakers. “Customers can have fun in the studio, creating in this awesome space with a bunch of great speakers, then take it to a smaller commercially available medium and share that experience with their fans.”
A World-class Destination Studio
Thanks to our 5088 console and Dolby Atmos mix room, Sweetwater Studios has become a bustling place — a true destination studio. “It’s one of the few places you can come and record specifically for Spatial Audio,” Shawn states. “We’ve been able to track through the 5088 in Studio A while monitoring in our Atmos room,” he continues. “I can listen actively in a rendered Atmos monitoring situation and make critical microphone placement choices.”
Shawn also explains that, since many artists don’t own the rights to their masters, they’re re-recording their back catalog. “Larger records that are 20–30 years old are being re-recorded for re-release,” Shawn explains. “For example, we’re working with Kenny Wayne Shepherd for an anniversary release.”
“Moving forward, we can record instruments or vocals with spatialized microphone techniques,” Shawn expounds. “Then we use those tracks in the mixing process, and it makes a huge difference!”
Shawn notes that recording with Dolby Atmos in mind is still a new concept. “It’s all sort of developing,” he notes. “But we’re trying to push it as much as we can.”
Shawn also emphasizes that Sweetwater Studios occupies a unique position within the recording industry. “There are studios — really nice studios — all over the country, but few, if any, are attached to a multibillion-dollar retailer,” he says. “The world’s largest music store is right here along with one of the largest warehouses full of musical equipment — it’s like Santa’s Workshop for musicians when it comes to having anything you could possibly dream of using.”
Shawn also counts Sweetwater Studios’ location in Indiana, what some consider a “flyover state,” as a huge plus. “Fort Wayne is a quaint town,” he says. “It allows you to work on your projects for long hours with no distractions,” he continues. “You can get hyperfocused on making and creating music with no record label people, no buddies, and fewer things around to sidetrack you.” You may be surprised by the excellent restaurants and amenities Fort Wayne offers. Come and see us, and we’ll show you what you’re missing.