www.mackietone.com/articles/best_friends.asp -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 5/24/2001
Last Visited: 2/27/2003
Jeff Gross in his studioLos Angeles producer Jeff Gross' new ‘Best Friends'
Based in California's San Fernando Valley, producer Jeff Gross is the proud owner and operator of 144 Studios.Let's clarify something right from the start...
...
Jeff Gross in his studioBased in California's San Fernando Valley, producer Jeff Gross is the proud owner and operator of 144 Studios.Let's clarify something right from the start, the studio's name is 144 Studios, Gross does not operate 144 actual studios.Originally starting on drums while attending high school in New York State, he discovered electronic music after moving to California to attend the Dick Grove School of Music.Gross knows the value of good recording gear from both the position of a musician and a producer."I understand the needs of the artist from both sides of the mixing board," Gross says.
Gross started playing percussion the Los Angeles based Naked to the World while in school.From there he ended up doing sessions and live gigs with artists that included Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Carly Simon, and Dwight Yoakam.
During this busy and exciting time, Gross began working on field production recording for television and film projects in Los Angeles.He started building an impressive resume by writing music for Baywatch, MTV's Road Rules and Real World programs, and a local Los Angeles Fox TV affiliate.In addition, he composed nationwide spots for CNN, worked as a percussionist for Gary Wright (of "Dreamweaver" fame), and MTV's on-air talent and musical director Jon Ernst ("Jon's band gigs all over LA," Gross says).
When Gross started building his own studio, Mackie mixers became an integral element."I have had almost every Mackie mixer known to mankind--the 1202, 1604, 24•8 and finally the 32•8," Gross says.He is currently working with Jamestown, a local L.A. band who, according to Gross, "is very close to getting signed to a major deal."Other projects include the third Spanish Guitar recording from Yussi (Ricky Martin's guitarist), and the film "Pool Hall Junkies," that stars Chazz Palmintieri, Christopher Walken, and Rod Steiger.
Gross' latest additions to his studio consist of the Digital 8 Bus and a pair of HR824 monitors."The D8B is by far, the best (mixer) that money can buy," Gross says."In this range of digital mixers there is really no competition.I like its flexibility and ease-of-use.You don't have to scroll through endless menus, deal with those ever-present data wheels, and it's easy and fast to get around on.If you're panning or using aux sends, you just hit a button and the unit changes to what you need, no scrolling through unreadable menus."
The core of his recording setup consists of 3 Alesis ADAT XTs digitally interfaced with the D8B.
...
Gross just finished up production work on "My Best Friend," the latest release from L.A. based singer/songwriter Roger Len Smith, a.k.a. RAJ."My Best Friend" features Rami Jaffee and Ben Peeler (Wallflowers), Victor Bisetti (Los Lobos), and former Grant Lee Buffalo drummer, Joey Peters, among others."We had to come and go with the mixing, often weeks at a time," Gross says."But with the D8B we can take off, come back and boom--it's all still there, just as we left it.I don't have to repatch outboard gear like before.Recall is a very exciting feature--and with the automation there's no more ‘let's get five or six hands on the console.' It's a time-life-saver for all involved."
Gross trusted the wisdom of a good friend when choosing new monitors for his studio."A buddy of mine who worked on the Santana record, Matt Spindel, told me, ‘don't even go listen to them.Go buy a pair.Just trust me on this one,'" he says."Well, it's incredible for me to not hear something before I buy it.But I trust Matt--we have similar ears.I trust his instincts and I trust Mackie.Guess what?I love 'em.I use them as my primary near field monitors because they're so versatile."
32 online sources [ view sources ]
Profile is not claimed [ claim profile ]
