Dan Malsch, a skilled mixing engineer with multiple Grammy nominations, mixes Ghost's latest album Skeletá utilizing Solid State Logic's Duality Pro-Station console.
In the world of hard rock music, Ghost's latest album, Skeletá, has made a significant impact, debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. A key contributor to this success was the mixing approach of Dan Malsch, who leveraged the Solid State Logic (SSL) Duality Pro-Station console during the recording process.
Malsch, a multi-Grammy-nominated professional, has worked with a variety of artists including Avenged Sevenfold, Gojira, and Bowling for Soup. For Skeletá, he found the SSL Duality console at IMRSV Music in Stockholm, a console he had never used before. Malsch was impressed by the console's clean sound combined with a harmonic drive, which allowed him to create a mix that was "open-sounding, punchy and clean."
The Duality console's workflow was a "dream and a pleasure to work on," Malsch said, praising its speed and precision. Compared to the vintage SSL 4000 E/G+ console at his own Soundmine Recording studio, the Duality EQ was more precise and less broad-sounding, which suited the more polished production style of Skeletá. This precision helped define the album’s sound, making it more refined without losing energy.
The harmonic character available on the Duality was something Malsch could selectively engage, adding musicality to what might otherwise be a very clean sound. This technical and sonic synergy contributed significantly to the album's success, as it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, a celebrated milestone for the band in both commercial and critical terms.
While Malsch heavily relies on his SL4000 console and E series outboard equipment at Soundmine, he is considering a change after his experience with the Duality in Stockholm. Malsch's collection at Soundmine includes an SSL Fusion for width on the mix bus and an UltraViolet Stereo EQ 500 Series module. He sometimes puts the UltraViolet Stereo EQ 500 Series module on his mix bus for the top end.
In his own studio, Soundmine Recording, located in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, Malsch replaced his 4K master bus compressor with THE BUS+ for cleaner pop productions. Malsch mixes in stereo in the Atmos room at Soundmine but needs additional controllers due to the absence of a console.
Malsch's assistant, Basma Jabbar, was instrumental in the mixing process, helping with recalls, maintaining a positive work environment, and ensuring Malsch had food during their 16-hour workdays.
In summary, the combination of Dan Malsch's mixing approach and the sonic capabilities of the SSL Duality console shaped the sound of Skeletá and played a significant role in its commercial and artistic success.
| Aspect | Contribution to Skeletá Sound | |-------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------| | SSL Duality Console | Clean, punchy, and open sound; precise EQ; harmonic drive option; fast workflow | | Comparison to SSL 4000 | Duality more precise EQ, less broad than vintage SSL 4000 E/G+ | | Mixing approach by Dan Malsch | Polished, modern hard rock sound with clarity and punch |
In the realm of contemporary music production, Dan Malsch's choice of the SSL Duality console, particularly its clean sound and harmonic drive, significantly contributed to the polished, modern hard rock sound of Ghost's album Skeletá. Malsch's experience with the Duality console at IMRSV Music in Stockholm, which he had never used before, stood out against his usual SSL 4000 console at Soundmine Recording studio due to its more precise EQ and faster workflow. Furthermore, the harmonic character available on the Duality allowed for a refined yet energetic mix that echoed through the digital audio world, ultimately impacting the commercial and artistic success of the album.
