Why does a VR studio
have a console archive?

Studer A80 (2-track mastering)

The mastering standard. Abbey Road, Capitol, Decca — the final master of almost every major classical and pop recording of the 1970s passed through an A80 ¼ inch 2-track. Nothing before or since has matched its speed stability.

Ampex MM-1000

Rumours. Tapestry. Physical Graffiti. The American workhorse at RCA Studio B and beyond — the machine that captured the sound of rock and soul at its peak.

MCI JH-24

Found in studios from Miami to Nashville to LA. The affordable professional standard that made 24-track recording accessible industry-wide.

Revox B77

The affordable Studer sibling that made professional-grade recording accessible to independent studios and home recordists everywhere.

Neumann U 47

Frank Sinatra's Capitol albums. The Beatles at Abbey Road. By most engineers' reckoning — still the finest microphone ever made.

RCA 44-BX

The ribbon mic that defined American radio and Hollywood recording. Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Glenn Miller — all through the 44-BX.

Telefunken ELA M 251

Fewer than 500 ever made. Every one of them is still in use somewhere. Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Diana Krall — all recorded on 251s.

Shure SM7B

A broadcast mic that became a recording legend. Bruce Swedien chose it for Michael Jackson's lead vocal on Thriller. The rest is history.

Abbey Road Studios

The most famous recording address in the world. Studio Two is preserved almost exactly as it was during the Beatles sessions.

Electric Lady Studios

Jimi Hendrix's personal studio in Greenwich Village. He died months after it opened. The room outlived him by half a century.

Muscle Shoals Sound

Four session players in Alabama created a groove that pulled the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Dylan south.

Hansa Tonstudio

Bowie. Eno. Visconti. Within sight of the Berlin Wall. The Meistersaal sessions produced Heroes — and possibly the greatest record ever made.

Producer · Arranger

George Martin

The producer who made experimentation possible.

Engineer · Producer

Tom Dowd

The Manhattan Project physicist who pioneered linear faders.

Producer · Arranger · Composer

Quincy Jones

Sinatra, Thriller, We Are the World — seven decades.

Engineer · Producer

Al Schmitt

23 Grammys across six consecutive decades.