Stav cut his teeth at Air Studios London at the peak of the recording industry’s heyday. It’s almost impossible to convey what it was like working at Air Studios in the late 70s. It was a hit factory in the truest sense of the word. Each day, each week, each month, was packed with morning, afternoon, and evening sessions with Britain’s top bands and producers. This density of work meant that 10 years experience at Air would take 100 years to gather today.

If you like the secrets revealed in Stav’s writings, remember, they are just a tip of the iceberg of experience behind the man that goes into making your production sound great and alive.
The combination of Stav’s unique experience and working on his dream come true Smart Console, is what the Stav Sound is all about.

It’s important to understand a philosophy Stav holds dear. After working with lots of famous artists, and some not so famous artists, Stav’s come to the conclusion that you must treat everyone like a superstar. Why? Because if you treated a bona fide superstar badly they would not perform at their best and likely walk out of the session.

Therefore the ONLY choice is to treat everyone like a Superstar to unleash their true potential. And isn’t that our job? Of course it is. If you’ve got some crazy original idea that probably won’t work, Stav gets excited because that’s where the breakthroughs come from.

If you enjoy Stavs Word, you should book a mix session with the master himself putting his spin on your music.

Equipped with the amazing E72 Smart Console, designed by Stav and Smart AV, every mixing technique you’ve read about in Stavs Word or Mixing With Your Mind, plus many more (still secret), are used to shape your mix.

Hear what one StudioStav client wrote:

Imagine my surprise when you provided me with my dream mix (I was 120% satisfied). This mix you’ve provided me with simultaneously realizes what are often paradoxical concerns: ie. achieving the sound that was in my head whilst also giving a sound that’s great on a variety of listening environments (there’s no need for a ‘PLAY LOUD’ sticker on this baby ha ha). More importantly, you were confident enough in your own mastery of your art to listen (so thoroughly) to the thoughts of someone infinitely less experienced than yourself (but with nonetheless a real passionate vision) and sacrifice your own mix vision somewhat to accommodate the client’s target. You listened to every last jot of my brief and provided the story my rough mix was telling, only much, MUCH better. I don’t know of any other professional mixer that would have the humility to do that so selflessly, and for that I am truly grateful Stav.

Your mix is infinitely more subtle than my rough mix but it tells the same sonic story –  it sounds more complex, detailed…organic! The combination of subtlety and complexity really draws me into this mix and makes me want to listen to it again and again, not just for the parts where it starts to swing but also just for the ‘weight’ and clarity of the pure sounds. This is a 3D kaleidoscope version of my original 2D sketch. It’s a 35mm, no…a 70mm print, where mine was a 8mm home movie (but they’re telling the same tale). 

You were willing to listen to my feedback and to involve me in the process without condescension…you actually cared about the song and what the song/record needed. The process itself was a great learning experience for me (getting to the final mix – in retrospect – was as much fun as listening to the end result) …good mixes will outlive us all!

Til next mix – Marshall Heiser – Southport, Qld

Michael Paul Stavrou: 0403 441 848 or Contact Stav