Location: Hollywood, California

Owners: Clay Blair, House Engineer

API Gear List: 40 Channel 1975 custom API console with 550A, 554, 550b and 560 EQs, 2500

Boulevard Recording has a live room, vocal booth, iso hall, control room and lounge. Owner Clay Blair says "we've recorded bands with up to eight people live and it sounded fantastic. The studio didn't have an iso booth until 1975 when Thelma Houston was doing her "Sheffield Labs" direct to lathe album. She needed isolation for her background singers to do everything live."

From the Desk:
Since the studio opened in 1967 (then called "Producer's Workshop"), Boulevard Recording has been home to some true music legends. Blair listed some of these legends, including Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Carly Simon, Liberace, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, The Rolling Stones and John Lennon. Blair adds: "The studio is where Pink Floyd parked for 3 months finishing 'The Wall'. They did some recording in England but almost everything was redone or overdubbed in L.A. at Producer's Workshop."

Boulevard Recording still sees a lot of big names on its custom API, including Moby, who has been working on his newest album. The Cult has been in the studio off and on for the past two years, and plans to release a new record soon. Blair says "I did a Richard Thompson record last year and it came out on a deluxe edition of his new album, 'Still'." Other artists who have worked at Boulevard recently include Christina Perri, Eric Rosse, and Jarryd James (working with Lorde producer Joel Little on his new album).

On API:
Blair had this to say about the API console's sound: "The thing I really love about API is how true it is to the source but at the same time adds a musical punch to everything! It's like another dimension on drums. It's also so easy to mix. It just sounds musical. We love our API and wouldn't trade it for anything."

For more on Boulevard, including more photos of their custom API console, find them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

API's "From the Desk of" is a semi-monthly feature showcasing activity in studios with API consoles. If you'd like to have your studio covered please contact Jen Schiller: jschiller [at] apiaudio [dot] com.