Atlanta, Georgia - Nov. 2011:
When producer Dan Hannon and engineer Brad Fisher decided to purchase an analog console for their production company, they knew just where to turn to get the sound they'd been looking for — an API 1608.

"We fell in love with the ease of working on a console after working in the box for so long," said Hannon, who, when researching consoles, had traveled with Fisher to Nashville's Blackbird Studio for a 1608 demo. "We almost decided on the spot that we wanted our own. Even before going to Blackbird, we'd heard great things about the board from Joe Chiccarelli, who had worked on The Killers' own 1608, and was actually at Blackbird doing overdubs on the desk when we visited. Then we watched the Foo Fighters documentary 'Back and Forth,' which was a great endorsement."

Already having an established working relationship, Hannon and Fisher formed Eldest Only Productions in 2009, offering songwriting, production, recording, engineering, mixing and artist management services. The two had previously worked together in the summer of 2006 when Fisher interned for Hannon's first company, Counterfeit Mistress Productions, while on a break from Berklee College of Music. Since acquiring their own 1608 earlier this year, Eldest Only Productions has recorded and produced multiple projects including the album Simple Math by Manchester Orchestra and young rock band Asherel's debut record.

"We've really been euphoric ever since we got it," said Hannon. "It's absolutely fantastic. There are so many advantages to having it, never mind that it's an API." Hannon and Fisher specifically cited a much faster mix time than when they mixed solely in Pro Tools, easier tracking and overdubbing, and flexible routing with the 1608.

Fisher added, "Its aggressiveness allows us to both track and mix very quickly, which is really, really awesome. The finished products retain all the energy of the original tracks. Having the availability of all that headroom was something we weren't accustomed to with Pro Tools and the results we've had so far are just amazing."

The team at Eldest Only Productions recently finished the band Art Decade's debut full-length album, Western Sunrise, and is currently working on Right Away, Great Captain!'s third album titled The Church of the Good Thief as well as rock trio Cusses debut LP — all with the help of the studio's 1608.

According to Fisher, "The sound we've been chasing so long is finally at our fingertips."