Stonebridge Studios has been busy recording music in its converted 1860s barn since 2006. Complementing the live room’s classic post-and-beam construction and 21ft-high ceilings is its latest acquisition – a 32-channel Rupert Neve Designs 5088 console loaded with Portico 5033 EQs and Shelford 5052 mic preamps, alongside a Rupert Neve Designs Master Buss Processor.

Owner of the US DC Metro area facility Stuart Martin says the studio grew out of his life as a musician, and that he places great importance on the studio’s relaxed environment. ‘Trees, horses, and a pond are visible from the studio, which lends itself well to the folk, jazz, rock, country and bluegrass albums that I have recorded and/or mixed here,’ he says.

Wshin to change his workflow ‘from a visual to a more aural approach’, Martin began his research for a new console by reading all he could, attending AES shows, and visiting many studios. ‘Out of the many choices of new and refurbished consoles, the 5088 offered the best combination of sonic integrity, flexible routing, expected reliability, and customisable configuration,’ he reports.

‘Unlike any other consoles I have had, the mix bus offers a very open sound without folding – the headroom is tremendous. I love how the console sounds. It can perform exceptionally clean, spacious mixes – great for acoustic music – however, its most interesting sonics are encountered when pushing the mix buss. While the console offers harmonic richness with “buried vu meters”, the sound stage never collapses.’

The first project mixed on the new console was a David Bowie tribute album featuring more than 40 artists drawn from the DC Metro area, organised by Bandhouse Gigs. ‘I’ve done six of these albums for this client, and they insist that this is the greatest work that I’ve done for them.

‘The 5088 is the smartest purchase I’ve made for the studio,’ he adds. ‘I wish I had bought it years ago.’