Skunk Anansie and Little Angels drummer Mark Richardson just bought himself a pair of ASP880s, the 8 channel mic pre & ADC from Audient.

After 25 years in the business, Richardson is no stranger to making records, yet it is only recently that he has ventured into the technology side of recording. “I am just in the process of setting up my first home studio with serious kit” he says. “It’s been possible to record demos at home for many years now, but we have entered a realm now where technology has reached such an advanced level, high quality hardware is getting affordable.” The 8 channel mic pre from Audient has caught his attention in particular, since fellow drummer and ‘session ace’ Ash Soan recommended it to him. “I’m amazed at the quality of the ASP880s and although it’s early days, I’m blown away.

 

“Early signs are very good indeed”

 

“We have started writing a new Skunk record, and I plan to use this new set up to record drums at home,” he explains. Not content with just the one new challenge, he continues, “My production company has been working hard filming the guitar tutorials for a new music college in Detroit called the Detroit Institute of Music Education (DIME). We have just won the contract to start recording the content for the drum degree, which I will record here at my house too. I can’t wait to get cracking on both. Without the [Audient] mic pres it just wouldn’t happen,” adds Richardson. “I have been working on the sounds this week – early signs are very good indeed.”

 

“Audient has opened up a whole new set of possibiities”

 

DIME is Little Angels’ guitarist Bruce Dickinson’s latest venture, billed as “a music college like no other – custom built for serious musicians who desire a long term, professional career in modern music,” according to the website.

Busy with Skunk Anansie’s resurgence, Richardson also finds time to do sessions. “Last year I reunited with my Little Angels pals to play with them for the first time in 20 years, and this year I’ve been touring with Amy MacDonald,” he says. With his new professional studio set up at home, Audient reckons he’s going to be busy for a while. Richardson agrees. “Audient has opened up a whole new set of possibilities!”