Mike Elizondo

With a career as a songwriter and producer that began as a protégé to Dr. Dre, Mike Elizondo has been the musical creative source on platinum hits from artists like 50 Cent, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and many more. Elizondo has recently contributed his writing and production chops to current and upcoming records from Pink, Fiona Apple, and others. Additionally, dozens of other top-notch artists have employed Mike’s formidable skills as a session bassist, keyboardist and guitarist.

Elizondo’s beautiful new Phantom Studios is indeed located adjacent to his home, but that’s about the only thing that’s “home studio” about it. He has been using the studio to write and record with the established artists he works with, as well as helping to develop new and upcoming talent. Built into the hillside behind his house, the room is centered around an SSL AWS 900 Analogue Workstation System. GC Pro also supplied the studio with a full complement of new and vintage instruments, outboard gear and mics, and more.

When asked by GC Pro why Mike chose the AWS 900, he replied "I was just immediately blown away at how functional it was, and how compact it was as well." he went on to comment: "It was actually very easily adaptable. The control surface aspect of it, I found very user friendly. Being able to navigate through what it can do…everything was right there, easily recalled. ...The analogue aspect of it, I was already familiar from using other SSL boards. It became this great unit where all the digital and the analog boards that I’ve used in the past became one, with the snap of a button being able to swap back and forth. It’s just amazing, being able to store everything in your Pro Tools session, and easily recall it and go within a matter of seconds… it’s just unbelievable."

To view the rest of the interview of Mike with GC Pro, please click here.