{"id":52395,"date":"2023-09-15T11:13:38","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T10:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/?p=52395"},"modified":"2023-09-15T11:17:12","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T10:17:12","slug":"dynaudio-studio-masters-justin-stanley-core-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/2023\/09\/15\/dynaudio-studio-masters-justin-stanley-core-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Dynaudio Studio Masters: Justin Stanley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"article-wrapper\">\n<p><strong><em>This article originally appeared on <a title=\"Studio Masters: Justin Stanley | dynaudio.com\" href=\"https:\/\/dynaudio.com\/magazine\/2023\/august\/studio-masters-justin-stanley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dynaudio.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52396\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio_Core_47.webp\" alt=\"Music Producer Justin Stanley in his L.A. Studio\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio_Core_47.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio_Core_47-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio_Core_47-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio_Core_47-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p><strong><em>Images courtesy of: <\/em><\/strong><a title=\"Henrik Kastenskov | World Press Photo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldpressphoto.org\/henrik-kastenskov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Henrik Kastenskov<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Dynaudio visits Producer, Engineer and Musician Justin Stanley in his L.A. Studio<\/h2>\n<p>Justin Stanley has been in the music business for decades \u2013 and his catalogue of collaborations is impressive, to say the least: Prince, Eric Clapton, Beck, Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion, Quincy Jones and many more. Credentials box: checked.<\/p>\n<p>Heading to Justin&#8217;s studio for the day in downtown Los Angeles, the Dynaudio team&#8217;s goal had been simply to find out how he&#8217;s getting on with his Core 47\/Core Sub-based 5.1-channel rig &#8211; but that original intention quickly turned into something of a footnote!<\/p>\n<p>Justin undeniably loves the sound he gets from the system (\u201cIt\u2019s a sonic space that you can live in the whole day and be really pleasantly absorbed with\u201d), but the conversation quickly veered away from one about speaker calibration, cone materials or crossover frequencies.<\/p>\n<p>It immediately became clear that, to Justin, gear \u2013 of whatever vintage or pedigree \u2013 is simply a collection of tools that facilitate the creative process. And when you sit with someone that passionate about the music above anything else, you just want to explore that path.<\/p>\n<p>And that&#8217;s exactly what happened, and in more detail than anyone could have imagined!<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 0 auto; text-align: center;\">\n<div>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Dynaudio Studio Masters | Justin Stanley<\/h4>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dynaudio Studio Tours | Black Tornado Studio\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mnqMLth8BZo\" name=\"Black Tornado studio tour video\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">See more videos at <a title=\"Subscribe to the SynthaxTV YouTube channel\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/subscription_center?add_user=synthaxtv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Synthax TV<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>\u00a0<\/h2>\n<h2>A dark den of creative forces<\/h2>\n<p>Step out of the California sun into Justin\u2019s studio\/playground and it takes a couple of minutes for your eyes to adjust. Vintage lamps and fixtures provide the dimmed light, and the vibe is warm and welcoming. And the place is huge \u2013 much bigger than you\u2019d think from its nondescript door on an anonymous street. Inside it\u2019s like a maze, with each corner-turn revealing yet another studio, drum-room, vocal booth or control-room. They\u2019re all densely packed with instruments and gear.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;re left with no doubt that he\u2019s living in the moment; when inspiration strikes, there should only be seconds between that first thought and hitting \u2018Record\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Justin says this is how he always works \u2013 regardless of whether the subject is a legendary artist with more Grammy awards than shoes, or the editor of a speaker-manufacturer magazine. Dynaudio&#8217;s Creative Director, John, eventually got roped in \u2013 in a very hands-on way \u2013 during an interview that quickly developed into a live jam\/studio session.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio_Core_47-Studio.webp\" alt=\"Producer Justin Stanley's downtown L.A. Studio\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio_Core_47-Studio.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio_Core_47-Studio-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio_Core_47-Studio-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio_Core_47-Studio-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>The Justin Stanley recipe<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not a pre-production person,\u201d Justin says in his mellow Aussie accent. \u201cI listen to the songs, I look at arrangements, but beyond that it\u2019s instinctual, where they\u2019ll come in and we\u2019ll go: \u2018Let\u2019s try this song, starting here,\u2019 maybe the guitars or whatever. Just find the key, the vocal placement, and then I\u2019ll just kind of feel it. And that can be reactive to the mood I\u2019m in or they\u2019re in, or what we\u2019ve talked about. You have to be very vulnerable and able to share yourself with the people in the room.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To illustrate that mindset, Justin shares a tale from a session he did with Celine Dion, Quincy Jones and a host of other well-known engineers: \u201cShe was singing a take, and then one of the guys went to stop her. \u2018Why don\u2019t you try going up there at the end?\u2019 The next guy was, like: \u2018Do you mind phrasing that a little bit differently?\u2019. It happened three times. The fourth time, when they stop the tape, and before anyone can say anything, Quincy stands up and says: \u2018Will you just let the woman bloody well sing?\u2019 She did one more take and that was it. It was beautiful! Sometimes you\u2019ve just got to shut up and let the artist do their thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the Justin Stanley Way, and that\u2019s how he goes about it when he hands John a delicious 1970s Fender Stratocaster.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52406\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-guitars.webp\" alt=\"Electric and acoustic guitars hung on a studio wall\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-guitars.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-guitars-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-guitars-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-guitars-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; margin: auto; width: 85%;\">\n<div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">\u201cIt\u2019s a sonic space that you can live in the whole day and be really pleasantly absorbed with\u201d<\/h2>\n<p class=\"testimonial-name\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Justin Stanley, on his Dynaudio Core system<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"clear: both;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-52408\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio-interview.webp\" alt=\"Music Producer Justin Stanley hidden in shadow\" width=\"475\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio-interview.webp 750w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio-interview-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio-interview-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio-interview-267x268.webp 267w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Dynaudio-interview-75x75.webp 75w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 475px) 100vw, 475px\" \/>\u2018Play something for me\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Dynaudio&#8217;s Creative Director is a capable heavy-rock guitarist, albeit with a Grammy-free mantelpiece back home. But that isn\u2019t relevant to a producer with Justin\u2019s approach, as he works on the premise that every artist brings something different into the studio. Whatever that might be, music will happen!<\/p>\n<p>To get started, Justin programs a beat on a vintage step-sequencer, records it and loops it in Pro Tools. Then he adds a vintage tremolo device to the guitar signal and adjusts the effect to roughly the same tempo as the beat while John noodles around with different chord progressions. (He later said this was not his usual style at all; the laid-back beat he was given forced some entirely different stuff out of his fingers.) Along the way, Justin apparently hits the record button, and all of a sudden has a guitar part that he quickly edits and loops along with the beat in Pro Tools.<\/p>\n<p>At no point did he try to guide John in any particular direction, suggesting alternative chords, different playing styles or settings on the guitar. He was just in the room being part of the process, choosing the section he wanted to use on his own terms. After all, he is the producer\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Gibsons and Moogs and tablas and\u2026<\/h2>\n<p>Justin started out as a drummer, but as a child he never said: \u201cAll I want to do is play the drums\u201d. He said: \u201cAll I want to do is to make music.\u201d Notice the difference?<\/p>\n<p>Today, Justin plays a wide variety of instruments. While he might not be a virtuoso on all of them, he\u2019s very much capable of expressing himself \u2013 and, thanks to his fundamental musicality, he manages to play just what is needed from a pure musical perspective. It\u2019s all about being present in the room and finding meaningful ways to serve the musical process.<\/p>\n<p>Back to the track. Justin lays down a groove on the bass \u2013 he goes with the second take and quickly edits it to fit the Pro Tools arrangement. The next step is some subtle Indian percussion, as he hands John a tabla and points an SM57 in his direction. Again, no guidance; just encouraging the artist to play something and see where it goes.<\/p>\n<p>Next up, Justin leaves the room to record some real drums, which he nails almost immediately, and they just sit organically in the music right away \u2013 sound-wise and groove-wise. Now, the track has an extra layer that makes it crave yet another round of electric guitar. Justin decides that John needs a Gibson SG with some gain to give it a shot of pure rock. And finally, he fires up a lovely old Moog synth, which pulls in a different direction yet blends in very nicely.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52410\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Studio_Gear.webp\" alt=\"Some of Justin Stanley's studio gear\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Studio_Gear.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Studio_Gear-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Studio_Gear-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Justin_Stanley-Studio_Gear-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Virtuous vibes and rolling tapes<\/h2>\n<p>The track ends up being a relaxed, stoner-ish, behind-the-beat groove with some added rock spice. It remains nameless, and it will neither be released nor earn our editor his first Grammy. It wasn\u2019t even mixed. It was just a fun jam in the studio \u2013 but with a great musician and producer, who has an alternative and highly inspirational approach. As experiences go, it was a real eye-opener.<\/p>\n<p>Justin\u2019s a master at reading vibe and adding bits and pieces (using whatever instrument) that make arrangements shine. Perhaps that\u2019s the real magic: making artists relax in his presence and ultimately be so comfortable that they deliver stellar performances when the tape is rolling.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of tape, that was one of the few gear-related bits Justin was happy to talk about: \u201cI love tape, but it\u2019s such a debate. It blurs the lines a bit, which I love. It also gives you time to think between takes. You can only fit three songs on a reel \u2013 and then when you\u2019re rewinding you\u2019ve got this moment where you\u2019re contemplating what to do next. Just the sound of that tape; it\u2019s soothing. Digital doesn\u2019t allow that. Anything goes, which is the upside, but you have to create that space to reflect \u2013 make a cup of tea or whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>(Justin makes a great cup of tea.)<\/p>\n<p>That particular point taps right into Justin\u2019s overall approach to music, producing and recording: be present here and now and reflect on what\u2019s happening. What happens next could be anything, but if you keep an open mind (and open ears), it could be something great.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho knew he had it in him?\u201d, Justin says, finally, of the impromptu performance. \u201cThat\u2019s great. That\u2019s awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dynaudio came with an ambition to talk about speakers, converters, preamps, microphones, plug-ins, equalizers, compressors and whatnot, but what they got was something else &#8211; the opportunity to spend an afternoon in a genuine musical playground.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Additional words:<\/strong> John Steward<br \/><strong>Pictures:<\/strong> Henrik Kastenskov<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-49177\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Dynaudio-Core-Family-7-59-horizontal.jpg\" alt=\"Dynaudio Core 7 (upright) and Core 59 (horizontal) studio monitors\" width=\"401\" height=\"178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Dynaudio-Core-Family-7-59-horizontal.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Dynaudio-Core-Family-7-59-horizontal-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Dynaudio-Core-Family-7-59-horizontal-1024x455.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Dynaudio-Core-Family-7-59-horizontal-768x341.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Additional Links:<\/h3>\n<p><a title=\"Dynaudio Core Series | Synthax Audio UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/dynaudio\/dynaudio-core-series\/\">See the full range of Dynaudio Core Series Monitors<\/a><\/p>\n<p>To find out where to buy Dynaudio studio monitors in the UK, visit our <a title=\"Dynaudio UK Dealers | Synthax Audio UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/dynaudio-uk-dealers\/\">Dynaudio UK Dealers<\/a> page.<\/p>\n<p style=\"clear: both;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"head-img alignleft\" style=\"margin-top: 32px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Dynaudio-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Dynaudio PRO Studio Monitors logo\" width=\"177\" height=\"23\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Dynaudio is world-famous for making hand-crafted high-end loudspeakers for living rooms, home cinemas, cars and professional recording studios.<\/p>\n<p>Since the beginning in 1977, the company has made iconic products rooted in a love of music and film \u2013 reproducing exactly what the artist intended. Nothing more, nothing less.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<style>\n\nh1 {\n  line-height: 36px;\n}\n\n.article-wrapper p, .article-wrapper li {\n  font-size: 130% !important;\n  line-height: 26px !important; \n}\n\n.article-wrapper em {\n  color: #7d7d7d;\n}\n\n.article-wrapper h3, .article-wrapper h2 {\n  letter-spacing: 0.01em !important;\n}\n\n\/*\n.article-wrapper-heading {\n  letter-spacing: 0.01em;\n}\n*\/\n\n.eightCol {\n  padding: 0 !important;\n}\n\n.wp-block-separator {\n  margin: 10px;\n}\n\n.footer-top-wrapper {\n  padding-bottom: 0;\n}\n\n\n.footer-text {\n  font-family: \"Helvetica Neue\", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; \n  font-size: 24px; \n  font-style: normal; \n  font-variant: normal;\n  font-weight: 400;\n  margin: 20px 0;\n}\n\n.footer-text p {\n  line-height: 32px !important;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 960px) {\n\nh2 {\n  font-size: 21px;\n  line-height: 28px;\n}\n\n  .head-img {\n    width: 98vw;\n    display: flex;\n    justify-content: center;\n    margin: auto;\n    clear: both;\n  }\n  \n  .separator {\n    display: none;\n  }\n\n.article-wrapper p, .article-wrapper li {\n  font-size: 130% !important;\n  line-height: 22px !important; \n}\n\n.article-wrapper h3, .article-wrapper h2 {\n  letter-spacing: 0.139em !important;\n}\n\n.article-wrapper > .quote h3 {\n  letter-spacing: 0em !important;\n}\n\n\n}\n\n<\/style>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article originally appeared on Dynaudio.com. Images courtesy of: Henrik Kastenskov Dynaudio visits Producer, Engineer and Musician Justin Stanley in his L.A. Studio Justin Stanley has been in the music business for decades \u2013 and his catalogue of collaborations is impressive, to say the least: Prince, Eric Clapton, Beck, Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion, Quincy Jones&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":52422,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[4,494],"tags":[2120,592,2198,2051,795,1467,919,2199,2200,2052,664,633,794,564,881,563,2149,2056,74],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52395"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52395"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52496,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52395\/revisions\/52496"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}