Studio Interviews: Lito’s Place

After sending the photo you see beneath to us through Facebook, we had to learn more about Lito’s Place. We joined owner and audio engineer Manolito Galea for the full story…

Interviewee Manolito Galea
Position at studio Owner & Audio Engineer
Contact info@litosplace.com
Web www.litosplace.com

Tell us a little about your studio…

Lito’s Place is a recording studio formerly known as Wave Recording Studio that was first est. in 1990 in Floriana, Malta.

What kit are you using?

Mixers

• Audient 4816
• Slate Raven MTi2
• Audient ASP510 Surround sound Controller
• Presonus Central Station
• Tascam LM-8ST
• Yamaha 01V/96 VCM

Outboard gear

• 2 Avalon Vt-737 valve
• 1 Audient ASP 800 (8-channel mic preamp)
• 2 Focusrite OctoPre MK II Dynamic
• 1 SSL Xlogic Alpha VHD Pre
• 1 TL-Audio 5051 Ivory 2 valve pre-amp
• 1 Warm Audio WA76
• 1 Yamaha SPX-990

Monitors

• Adam S1X
• Avatone Mixcube
• B&W 802 studio monitors
• Focal Trio 6 BE
• Focal Solo 6 BE (5.1 system)
• Martin-Audio C115 (Live Area)
• Lab. Gruppen amplifiers
• Hear Technologies System
• X2 AKG K240
• X2 Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
• X2 Beyerdynamic DT-100
• X1 Beyerdynamic DT-150
• X1 Beyerdynamic DT-770
• X3 Beyerdynamic DT-231 Pro

Interfaces

• Apogee Symphony 16 I/O
• Avid HD 16 I/O
• Audient iD22
• Motu 24 I/O and 2408 MK3

Microphones

• AKG C-414, D-112, C-1000, C-411, CK 77 and C-547 BL
• Audix D6 and ADX 51
• Audio-technica ATM-35 and 800 series AT 831R
• Beyerdynamic MCE 81TG, Opus 65, Opus 67, Opus 62 and M500N
• DPA 4099P
• EV RE-20, BK-1 and N/D 408B
• JZ Black Hole BH-1 and BH-3
• Neumann U87i and TLM 102
• Rode MTV Valve studio microphone, NT-3 and NT-5 (match pair)
• Sennheiser MKH 40
• Shure SM7B, Beta 58A, Beta 56A, SM58 and SM57
• Vicoustic Flexi Screen

Which DAW do you use and why?

At Lito’s Place I use both Logic Pro X & Pro Tools HD. I prefer to use Logic Pro X for music production & Pro Tools HD for ADR’S

Favourite gear?

My favourite piece of gear is my Audient console, it’s flexible when it comes to routing & the pre amps are very clean. It’s the core of the studio!

How often do you upgrade your studio?

I carry out upgrades, updates and servicing of equipment approximately every 6 months. Sometimes I invest heavily on software and sometimes on hardware and instruments.

How do you use your studio?

I’ve been working in this business for over 26 years as a full time engineer and recording studio. The opening days are from Monday to Friday. I work for Maltese & international artists, as well as collaborate with foreign companies such a BBC, Sky Drama, Columbia pictures, Warner Bros pictures and many others. So work is varied due to the studio’s flexible setup.

The studio caters for various genres of music ranging between classical, jazz, and contemporary music production.

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What is next on your shopping list?

My next shopping list will be some more outboards so I will be better equipped for hybrid mixing. Also at the beginning of the New year I’m due for a new Mac Pro…

Anything annoy you about your set-up?

Not at all! Three years ago, I re-designed the entire studio based on my experience in the job and with the help of a team of reliable professionals in the various elements that make up a professional, acoustically correct and high-spec studio.

What is your dream piece of gear?

I am quite happy with my gear, but if one day I move from my present premises to larger ones I would consider a larger console, namely the Audient Heritage or SSL AWS.

What is your top piece of production advice?

My advice is to keep updated both in training and equipment. “You never know enough and keep the passion for the craft alive.”

What is the one piece of advice you would give someone starting out building a studio?

When starting out in building a studio, one should seek to invest in good sound acoustic treatment & studio monitors as they make the whole difference to your final product.