AKG Microphones And JBL Studio Monitors Drive The Lonely Island’s Star-Studded Sophomore Album Turtleneck & Chain

The entire recording and mixing process, from demo vocal tracks at Saturday Night Live studio offices to mixing in New York City’s Downtown Music Studios, was coordinated between multiple AKG C 414’s and JBL LSR6300 series studio monitors. Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone and Andy Samberg - “The Dudes” of The Lonely Island - offer 19 new tracks and skits featuring Michael Bolton, Akon, Snoop Dogg, Niki Minaj, Rhianna, Beck, Santigold and Justin Timberlake on their latest album, now available.

Selected to mix the entire Turtleneck & Chain album, GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer Jason Goldstein utilized an AKG C 414 XLS for vocal overdubs of the original recorded demos The Lonely Island provided for mix, which were also recorded on Samberg’s personal C 414.  Although the tracks are humorous in nature, The Lonely Island team is meticulous in ensuring their songs are perfectly assembled to deliver punch lines flawlessly.

“We mixed the songs as if they were truly jokes - meant to be understood the first time they were heard - so it was important each one-liner, each syllable, however quick or random it was, was perfectly delivered and audible the first time you listen,” said Goldstein.  “You don’t want to be listening to the song while asking yourself ‘what was that joke again?’  The C 414 is a great-sounding mic that allowed us to make a great record.  We were even able to make use of the many demo tracks the group recorded themselves at the SNL studios without re-recording, which only emphasises the superior quality of the C 414.”

While mixing, Goldstein continues to rely on the JBL LSR6300 series studio monitors.  Schaffer, Taccone and Samberg knew what Goldstein could bring to a track after listening to his previous work, so The Lonely Island, who are very emotionally attached and involved in their music, trusted their recordings to be of the same quality.  With their own headphones and a monitoring system short of a professional audio setup, the group was pleased to hear their final work playback out of the LSR’s.  Goldstein’s monitors brought a reference of quality to each track that would not only sound perfect during studio playback, but through any means of listening from laptops, YouTube and MP3 players to phones and digital shorts on Saturday Night Live. 

“The LSR’s are my go-to reference as they provide the high-quality playback we need to ensure the best service to our clients,” continued Goldstein.  “If it sounds great out of the LSR’s, it will sound great anywhere. The AKG mics also provide a consistency and quality needed for a high-energy record such as this.”

AKG C 414’s can be seen in The Lonely Island’s latest SNL Digital Short, Jack Sparrow, featuring Michael Bolton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY

For more information on The Lonely Island, please visit http://www.thelonelyisland.com/ and for Jason Goldstein, http://www.jasongoldsteinmixer.com/.