Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Charlie Simpson (Busted, Fightstar) has been getting acquainted with his new Audient ASP4816 console, which he installed in his Surrey-based studio recently. “I love using the ASP4816. It’s the perfect size for my studio and the routing capabilities are amazing. Though the desk is fully analogue I have managed to set it up in a way that it can be used in a modern/hybrid way,” he says.

It’s that hybrid capability that really appealed to Charlie, especially when it came to recording drums. “I love playing and recording drums, so to be able to have a space where I can now record live drums through a desk has been a game changer,” he says. With the ASP4816 at the hub, he has everything running through three UAD Apollos, and asserts that the ASP4816 has “massively expanded” his creative possibilities. “I can use the aux sends of the desk to route through digital reverb room emulations which sound so realistic these days. My live room isn’t huge, but this setup allows me to create a great close mic sound with the desk and then utilise the Apollos for the room,” he explains.

Having recorded albums in commercial studios with Busted, Fightstar and latterly his own material, he’s been around desks over the years, but confesses to never having used one on his own before. “I was a little intimidated when the ASP4816 arrived. I had pretty much always worked in the box, so I was amazed at how quickly I was able to learn on the ASP4816. It’s such an intuitive desk to use and within about a month, I was using it as if I’d had it for years.”

He continues, “The bus compressor in the ASP4816 stood out to me straight away, it has such an amazing sound. I was also blown away by the EQ’s. To get a desk that sounds this good at this size and price point is pretty astonishing.”

Specifying the gear himself, Charlie took his time and considered carefully how it would best serve his workflow. “I mostly use digital plugins, but there are a few choice bits of hardware I got that either don’t have digital emulations or just don’t match up to the sound of the hardware.” Thanks to the ASP4816, he now has the best of both worlds.

He timed his upgrade to coincide with the launch of his Patreon site, Charlie can offer his fans a ‘virtual front seat’ in his studio (and an excellent view of the Audient desk) as well as various options for his core audience to connect with him. “I’ve been blown away by the reaction to the Patreon launch,” he says. To see what that’s all about, click through here.

With his studio and Patreon site up and running, Charlie can put all his efforts into recording his next solo album, which is due for release towards the end of the year. “It’s been amazing to self produce for the first time,” he says. He’s also looking forward to celebrating 10 years since his first solo album, Young Pilgrim came out, with a show at the Kentish Town Forum scheduled for 5th November 2021.

www.audient.com