Recording Engineer/Designer Alan Sides Talks 5.1 Audio, DSD and More...

Famed Recording Engineer and Speaker Designer Alan Sides, owner of Ocean Way Studios, is featured on this week's edition of Home Theater Geeks on the TWIT network.
In this interview, Sides talks about 5.1 audio, Direct Stream Digital (DSD) and many other audio and music topics. Recommended watching !





Home Theater Geeks, Episode #199 - Alan Sides, Owner/Engineer, Ocean Way Studios
http://twit.tv/show/home-theater-geeks/199


Also worth watching, the previous week's edition that covers the upcoming Dolby Vision system to improve High Definition and 4K TV and Computer Video Quality - arriving in later 2014 or early 2015.
http://twit.tv/show/home-theater-geeks/198

Shouldn't is say, "Alan Sides, former Owner/Engineer of Ocean Way Studios?

http://www.prosoundnetwork.com/article/ocean-way-hollywood-sold/15976

Bonzodog said:

Shouldn't it say, "Alan Sides, former Owner/Engineer of Ocean Way Studios?

http://www.prosoundnetwork.com/article/ocean-way-hollywood-sold/15976

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If you visit the web site for Ocean Way Studios Hollywood, it says "Allen Sides is not only the owner of Ocean Way Recording, he is also one of the most respected engineer/producers in the music industry. Sides began his distinguished recording career in 1968 and opened his first studio, Ocean Way, in Santa Monica, 1973. In 1977, he purchased the renowned United Recording and relocated to Hollywood. In 1979, he acquired Western Recording and consolidated both venerable operations into Ocean Way. Record One became part of the Ocean Way family in 1988. In 1997, Ocean Way Nashville opened on famed Music Row."

So it sounds like he still owns the Hollywood studio named Ocean Way, not to mention the one in Nashville.

See http://www.oceanwayrecording.com/about-allen.php

Alan talked a bit about 5.1. One of his comments was to the effect that he preferred 5.1 mixes where the rears contained only ambient sounds. Very disappointing. On the other hand in regards to digital recording in general he was completely excited about the ability to record at 192Khz sample rates.

wavelength said:

Alan talked a bit about 5.1. One of his comments was to the effect that he preferred 5.1 mixes where the rears contained only ambient sounds. Very disappointing. On the other hand in regards to digital recording in general he was completely excited about the ability to record at 192Khz sample rates.

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He also mentioned a 5.1 mix he did with Phil Collins, that includes "In The Air Tonight" that is still in the vaults. Hmm....

bmoura said:

He also mentioned a 5.1 mix he did with Phil Collins, that includes "In The Air Tonight" that is still in the vaults. Hmm....

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Cool info thanks Mr.M but personally I'd want an active discrete surround mix of that particular record, rather than a rear-ambience experience, so it can stay in the vaults if its ambience only

fredblue said:

Cool info thanks Mr.M but personally I'd want an active discrete surround mix of that particular record, rather than a rear-ambience experience, so it can stay in the vaults if its ambience only

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Who knows how he mixed Phil Collins or the others into Surround? While Sides may prefer an ambient approach, that's not necessarily what the artist wants - or will approve.

bmoura said:

Who knows how he mixed Phil Collins or the others into Surround? While Sides may prefer an ambient approach, that's not necessarily what the artist wants - or will approve.

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Who knows, very true.. though at this rate we'll never know!

fredblue said:

Cool info thanks Mr.M but personally I'd want an active discrete surround mix of that particular record, rather than a rear-ambience experience, so it can stay in the vaults if its ambience only

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I agree, why bother with just ambience, maybe it'll be released on Silverline!

DuncanS said:

I agree, why bother with just ambience, maybe it'll be released on Silverline!

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While Sides may personally prefer Ambient Surround mixes - and those do have their fans (look at the many, many Ambient Surround SACDs issued on Chesky Records, for example.)
There's no way of knowing how the Phil Collins 5.1 mix - and the others - were done.

Now, Sides did mention the Joni Mitchell album Both Sides Now that came out on DVD Audio that he mixed to DSD.
I'd have to go back and listen to that one to see if the 5.1 mix there was ambient or not.

bmoura said:

If you visit the web site for Ocean Way Studios Hollywood, it says "Allen Sides is not only the owner of Ocean Way Recording,

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From Hudson Pacifics web site: "primarily resulting from our acquisition of the Ocean Way recording studio"

http://www.hudsonpacificproperties.com/news/second-quarter-2013-financial-results

All I know is I no longer send my bills to Ocean Way, and the checks I get say "HPP".

Time for Ocean Way to update their web site, or maybe they still want to trade on Allen Sides reputation.

Sunset Gower Studios, Sunset Bronson Studios and Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, CA are owned by Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE: HPP). http://www.entertainmentcareers.net/Ocean_Way_Recording/Receptionist/job/156162/

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. recently bought Ocean Way Recording Hollywood. They plan to upgrade the furniture, but expect staff and operating facilities to stay the same. Representatives from Hudson are excited about the acquisition, saying that they are a part of history, since the studio is so historic. Allen Sides of Ocean Way also expressed satisfaction with the sale.

http://bobbyowsinski.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-iconic-ocean-way-studios-sold.html

http://biz.yahoo.com/e/130808/hpp10-q.html

http://www.sonicscoop.com/2013/02/13/ocean-way-recording-sold-to-hudson-pacific-owners-of-adjacent-sunset-gowersunset-bronson-studios/

Yep, time to update their web site.

Bonzodog said:

From Hudson Pacifics web site: "primarily resulting from our acquisition of the Ocean Way recording studio"

http://www.hudsonpacificproperties.com/news/second-quarter-2013-financial-results

All I know is I no longer send my bills to Ocean Way, and the checks I get say "HPP".

Time for Ocean Way to update their web site, or maybe they still want to trade on Allen Sides reputation.

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In the video, Sides is participating via Skype in Southern California. It's not clear if he's at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood or at Ocean Way Audio.