SSL Duality expands the horizons of the legendary Robert Lang Studios in Seattle

A key element of Duality for high production is the hybrid workflow design that bridges the gap between analog and DAW workflows.

Robert Lang Studios is a living legend. This two-room facility serving the creative community of Seattle and the Northwest United States has an illustrious history as a creative space for groups like Nirvana, Dave Matthews Band, and legendary producers like Butch Vig and John Goodmanson. As part of its continued business development and delivery of higher education in collaboration with local universities, the facility has upgraded one of its control rooms with a Duality console from Solid State Logic.

A perfect example of the studio's deep connection to the Seattle music scene, Robert Lang Studios recently played a role in the Foo Fighters' new album, Sonic Highways, “a love letter to the history of American music” set for release on November 10. The LP was recorded in eight different cities and features songs about a “local legend” from each one. Using the studio's fully restored SSL 4000 E Series console, the group recorded one of the songs on the LP.

“While working on the album, Dave, Butch [who worked with Grohl on Nirvana's best-selling Nevermind] and I decided to use 24-track analog recording driven by the legendary SSL 4000 E Series console,” Lang says. "Prior to Dave's arrival, we had just opened a sound room, which gave us the fortune of working with the band on the HBO miniseries Sonic Highways. All of this was created in our large live room, which can be served from the E-series control room or from the Duality."

The docu-series, which will be released on October 17, focuses on the making of the album and the stories behind the songs, so Robert Lang Studios was an ideal location for one of the sessions. Also home to Scott McKinley's Seattle Music TV (SMTV) shows, the sound room is powered by the E Series, Studer A827 twin 24-track and two-inch tape machines or the Duality which takes analog, digital recording and mixing. A recent addition to Robert Lang Studios, Duality has opened new business horizons as Lang and local Shoreline Community College develop plans to collaborate on teaching the next generation of engineers.

“The Duality room is a game changer for our studio complex,” adds Lang. "I have been doing a student education program here for several years and we have added Duality not only to serve commercial clients in the Northwest area, but also to attract more students in the school's advanced courses. There are plans to add Duality to the curriculum for students in the Music Technology Department's Continuing Education program, offering them the opportunity to work with some of the top teams in the industry. Both Shoreline Community College and the city of Shoreline have approached us to solidify partnerships that “They allow us to strengthen the entertainment industry in the Seattle metropolitan area.”

A key element of Duality for high-end music production is the hybrid workflow design that bridges the gap between analog and DAW workflows. “The flexibility of the Duality is incredible,” says Lang. "You have control of the digital audio workstation that correlates perfectly with the analog side. My hat goes off to all the SSL engineers out there who really developed something that goes far beyond just being another console. Being able to have that connection between analog and digital, with ProTools control set up on the console and the ability for artists and producers to bring in a hard drive and almost immediately start mixing is just unique. The VHD mic preamps are also very powerful at creating a wide color palette. “With SSL in our studio, we look forward to a bright future as leaders in music production and education in the Northwest!”

To expand horizons, Lang is in the process of creating a student center as the newest addition to the studio complex, as well as building a second studio/musical escape called Estudio Litibu, just around the corner from Punta de Mita, Nayarit, Mexico.