GC Pro Spotlight: Rafa Sardina's After Hours Studio

While no one can question the success of Rafa Sardina's CV (seventeen Grammy® nominations for a slew of multi-platinum recordings), his client list can resemble an iPod set to random shuffle. Just when you start thinking of Rafa as a mixer/producer of huge Latin artists like Luis Miguel, Alejandro Sanz, Marc Antoine, and Antonio Orozco, you see he's also worked with Stevie Wonder, Dr. Dre, and Dru Hill. By the time you get to Soul Coughing and Sheryl Crow, not to mention Macy Gray and Mariah Carey, you begin to understand Rafa's universal appeal.

Rafa is a long-time client of GC Pro, and has recently added an SSL AWS 900+ to his not-so-modest personal recording environment, After Hours Studio. We caught up with this busy professional for a pre-holiday edition of GC Pro Spotlight.

GC Pro: Rafa, tell us a little about what got you into music and recording in the first place.

Rafa Sardina: My beginnings had really nothing to do with engineering. I started like anyone else in this business, for my love of music, and playing guitar. I, in fact, went through four years of medical school before stopping everything and giving audio engineering a try.

GC Pro: What were some of your early experiences in music?

RS: I had my first studio experience at 15 as a guest. My cousin’s band got signed and recorded an album. I loved the whole process and the creativity involved with every aspect of it. It stuck with me!

GC Pro: So, why did you transition from being primarily a musician to getting into audio engineering and mixing? What were some of the steps of that process?

RS: It really was a straight path and never truly planned. I started engineering after attending a short school program and got into working shows as a FOH, monitor engineer, event producer and so on. I really worked in every aspect of the music business before jumping into studio work. I think it helped me have an overall understanding of the industry from the very beginning.

GC Pro: Many of the engineers and producers we talk to develop their reputation in one style of music, be it hip hop, rock, country or whatever. On the other hand, you have a wide variety of artists and styles on your resume. Why not just stick with one genre to specialize in?

RS: I never got into the business thinking I would limit my reach into it. I enjoy every genre and it allows me to fulfill my musical journey. I feel really fortunate for being able to work with such diverse projects.

GC Pro: I understand that even recently, you're doing new stuff that's coming from all kinds of directions, musically.

RS: I just finished a Big Band/Orchestral Christams album and jumped straight into finishing mixes for a Latin project, Alejandro Sanz, which included a collaboration with Shakira; afterwards I got to work on a hip hop album, and just started production on a pop/rock act. I think this diversity not only benefits me, but the artists I get to work with.

GC Pro: Let's talk a little about your processes as an engineer, mixer and producer. I see you've worked on records all over the place, from Miami through many of the more well-known rooms here in LA. What are some of your favorite places to record and mix, and why?

RS: Ocean Way Recording is still the Holy Grail of what being a great studio means. Those are the studios were I got my first chance in LA. I also enjoy working in many other studios like Chalice Recording, Capitol, Record Plant, Right Track.

GC Pro: What is it that sets those places apart?

RS: To me, great acoustics are a must, and then the equipment, microphone collection... and maintenance!

GC Pro: You recently installed an SSL AWS 900+ in your studio After Hours. Tell us your initial thoughts on the console, as well as how it's been implemented in your Pro Tools system and the rest of your studio.

RS: I installed the SSL as the “missing link” in my studio. I have a great collection of gear and microphones at After Hours, but never had, until now, the mixing board that would allow me to work the way I am used to. It gives me the sonic and logic flexibility to accomplish any task.

GC Pro: How is the AWS 900+ being used?

RS: I mix through it, use it for tracking… I use a combination of the SSL and other summing amps to be able to mix “outside the box” like I would in any other major studio.

GC Pro: That has to feel good, getting that big studio sound and flexibility in your personal space.

RS: It has truly made my studio a fully professional facility. I really feel “at home” at After Hours. I couldn’t compare it to any commercial studio at this point. It’s my dream facility come true!

GC Pro: Beyond the SSL, you've accumulated a very impressive selection of gear here. Tell us about some gear you can't live without, or wouldn't want to (Note to readers: see below for the full After Hours gear list).

RS: I love all of my EAR (Esoteric Audio Research) gear, it really rocks. The Inner Tube Atomic Squeeze Box... cool name! (laughs)

Of course, there's my microphone collection including my extensive line of Audio Technicas, and some other old effects like the EMT 250, Eventide SP-2016’s…

GC Pro: What has your experience working with GC Pro been like?

RS: It has always been such a “don’t worry about a thing” experience. (It's) up to the point that it doesn’t matter where I might be working -- LA, Miami, New York, Seattle, wherever -- they have always offered amazing support. From lending me pieces of gear I needed right away, to offering technical support, to solving last minute challenges, whatever it took.

GC Pro: We're always curious as to what busy studio professionals do with what little time off they have. What do you do when you're not doing anything that relates to making and recording music?

RS: I really enjoy playing with my four year old son. He is truly an adventure. He is already amazed about the studio world. Plays drums, guitar, piano… who knows?