Buffalo, New York – Apr. 2013:
James Calabrese, owner of Soundscape in Buffalo, New York has purchased a 32-channel 1608 with an expander. The veteran composer, engineer and studio-owner chose the 1608 console as the prized piece of his upstate New York dwelling.
"I first heard an API when I was in New York helping to cut tracks for Miki Howard's debut album Come Share My Love and the engineer used a lunchbox® to EQ the massive electric piano part," says Calabrese. He has been in the market ever since.
His studio also features other API gear such as the 3124 four-channel mic pre, a 500V rack, and four 550 EQ's, as well as two 525 compressors, now in the console. The console was purchased from API rep, Vintage King of Detroit.
James started as a composer, where he recorded original music for commercials, corporate and broadcast video scoring, in pop, rock, jazz, and classical styles. Some clients include Fisher Price, Hasbro, Xerox, Kodak, Phillips Electronics, and artists like Pointer Sisters, Ray Charles, and the GooGoo Dolls. He even co-wrote the track, Where You Are on Whitney Houston's multi-platinum second album, Whitney. "I've collaborated with New York composer Ken Higgins to score a few films and documentaries along with the globally-syndicated miniseries Hemmingway for Daniel Wilson Productions," he says of his experiences.
As of late, he has completed sessions on his new 1608 with pianist arranger transcriber Krista Seddon, remixed a tune for LA-based guitarist Michael Campagna for a Varese Sarabande library, and has also mixed an Old Navy commercial.
"There really wasn't any other choice," says Calabrese. "I'm still only at the beginning of my knowledge of the 1608; still learning the center section, love the sound, love the build quality and I'm looking forward to some larger tracking sessions in the next few months. I liked the fact that API was going to be around a while. I wanted a desk that I'd probably keep the rest of my career."