Trident A Range

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Trident A Range consoles were originally built by and for Trident Studios. When word spread about this revolutionary new multi-track recording console design, other studios placed their orders and Trident Audio Developments was formed. Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles was one of the early recipients of one of the first production models. David Bowie, Rod Stewart, and Frank Sinatra are among the early artists who first recorded hit records on Cherokee's first A Range console. With only 13 consoles ever built of this model, the Trident A Range has attained a near mythical status in the professional recording industry.

Trident Studios recording studio

Trident Studios was a British recording facility, located at 17 St. Anne's Court in London's Soho district between 1968 and 1981. It was constructed in 1967 by Norman Sheffield, a drummer of former 1960s group the Hunters, and his brother Barry.

Cherokee Studios was a recording facility in Hollywood, founded in 1972 and closed in August 2007 to make way for a new building, after 35 years of operation under the Cherokee name as a well-renowned studio. Under the direction of a leading green developer, the site will become the Lofts @ Cherokee Studios – a Green LEED Platinum Live/Work complex offering professional recording studios in select units designed by Cherokee owner, Bruce Robb.

David Bowie British musician, actor, record producer and arranger

David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter and actor. He was a leading figure in the music industry and is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, with his music and stagecraft having a significant impact on popular music. During his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at 140 million albums worldwide, made him one of the world's best-selling music artists. In the UK, he was awarded ten platinum album certifications, eleven gold and eight silver, and released eleven number-one albums. In the US, he received five platinum and nine gold certifications. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

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"Though it had a very limited run, the Trident A Range console gained a reputation for its very distinct and pleasant sound with a very "musical" EQ section. Along with channel strips from early Neve and Helios consoles, original Trident A Range modules have kept a healthy resale value and are much sought after by engineers who like to combine old-school analog gear with leading-edge digital recording technology." [1]

Cherokee Studios & Trident A Ranges

Cherokee Studios and Trident A Ranges have a long history together. Cherokee was one of the first customers for the new console, and the first recording studio in the United States to take delivery and begin recording with one. Cherokee Studios became synonymous with the Trident A Range console as the boards recorded over 300+ gold and platinum records while working at the world famous studio during its 35+ year run.

In the 1970s, Cherokee's owners the Robb brothers (the Robbs) had been looking for a console when they heard Harry Nilsson and The Beatles "Hey Jude." The recordings sounded so different from anything else at the time that they hunted down the common denominator – the recording console at Trident Studios in London.

The Robbs

The Robbs were an American 1960s pop and rock band from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. They are best known for being the house band on Dick Clark's mid-1960s show Where The Action Is. They are also known for placing the most singles on Billboard magazine's "Bubbling Under" chart without ever once crossing over into the Billboard Hot 100.

The Robbs were transitioning from their ranch studio to the former MGM records space on Fairfax. While they were making their very important console decision, they had received 2 channels from Neve, Helios and Cadac. At the last minute, 2 Trident A Range modules arrived from England in an inelegant mess inside a box. They mic'd a set of drums, pit the modules against each other and the Tridents made such an impression that it was no longer a contest. They ordered their first console, and ultimately purchased four (3 new directly from Trident Audio Developments and 1 from a broker).

Of the four A Ranges Cherokee owned, they still own two (the first console ever purchased which became their Studio 3 console and the one purchased through the broker with the additional inputs added which became their Studio 1 console.) Number 13 was sold to Smart Studios in Madison WI, and is the console in their downstairs "A" room.

Smart Studios

Smart Studios was a recording studio located in Madison, Wisconsin. It was set up in 1983 by Butch Vig and Steve Marker to produce local bands. The studio produced bands such as Killdozer, The Smashing Pumpkins, L7, Tad Juster, and Nirvana. After initial production and remix successes, the building became the focus of operations for Vig and Marker's own group, Garbage, who released their debut album in 1995.

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References

  1. Mix Magazine July 1, 2001