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While studio trends come and go, true quality is measured in decades. For producer Tom Harney, the Audient ASP8024 remains a testament to that endurance. 25 years after its first session, the console is still the centrepiece of his workflow, proving that great engineering never goes out of style.
Originally purchased as a demo unit back in early 2000, Tom’s desk has been a constant through decades of sessions. While Tom appreciates the robust British engineering, the studio’s resident critic, Athena the cat, has her own reasons for loving the desk. Despite Tom’s best efforts, she has claimed the console as her official bed – drawn to the warmth of the analogue circuitry (and the best seat in the house).
Recording Samba: The Art of the Low End
Tom’s recent work highlights why his console remains his go-to for complex arrangements. He’s been busy with the Gafieira Pura album – a vibrant Samba project that required a meticulous, layered approach.
“When mixing Samba, you have a lot of low end to contend with,” Tom explains. “You’re trying to balance the Surdo drum, the bass guitar and the kick drum all at once.” To manage this, Tom tracked the project in stages: foundation first (bass, keys and drums), followed by a five-piece horn section, and a staggering ten tracks of percussion before finally adding guitars and lead vocals.
Performance Over Outboard
While Tom’s rack is far from empty, he finds himself reaching for the Audient onboard mic preamps time and time again, even over expensive boutique outboard gear. “The band loves the clean sound we get from the console,” he says. In fact, for the Gafieira Pura sessions, the entire drum kit was tracked exclusively through the desk.
“The console is always ready for larger track count songs,” Tom notes. “I’ve noticed that in high-track-count mixing, you can really bend the sound of the desk in a good way.”
Ergonomic Workflow & Routing
It’s not just the classic analogue sound that has kept Tom loyal for a quarter of a century; it’s the thoughtful design that makes long sessions a breeze. He’s a particular fan of the routing flexibility. “I love the fact that the inserts are always sending. I’ve actually used that feature to feed my headphone system, which is incredibly handy.”
From producing the music for the Jordan Yacht and Ship site to his current project with Raul Stefano, Tom’s console has seen it all. As he celebrates 25 years with the desk, it’s clear that whether it’s tracking 10 channels of Brazilian percussion or providing a nap spot for Athena, this piece of heritage gear is nowhere near retirement.
