Introducing the Larrabee Creator Edition M1

Eighteen-time GRAMMY®-winning mixing engineer and owner of Larrabee Studios, Manny Marroquin, credits a rock legend, the father of disco, and a renowned session drummer for guiding the choices that have shaped his impressive career. If it weren’t for Led Zeppelin, Giorgio Moroder, and Abe Laboriel Jr., the first console in Wrensilva’s Creator Edition series might look—and sound—very different.

Crafted in partnership with Manny Marroquin, the Wrensilva Larrabee Creator Edition M1 pays homage to 55 years of sonic legacy and cultural impact at Larrabee Studios, with design touches that reflect both Manny’s heritage and the studio’s history.

Growing up in Guatemala, Manny was immersed in music—it was everywhere, from his home to the streets. Listening to Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” and the thunderous beats of John Bonham inspired him to pick up drumsticks. At 15, he auditioned for the Hamilton Academy of Music in Los Angeles, the largest performing arts magnet school in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

When it came time to choose a major, he made a decision that started him on a path that would eventually lead him to Larrabee Studios. “I remember hearing this drummer, Abe Laboriel Jr.,” Manny recalls. “I had never heard anything like him. He’s one of the greatest drummers out there. I thought, ‘I’ll never, ever be that good.’ He’s the guy who killed my drumming career.”

With drumming no longer on the table, he selected “Electronic Music” (music production) on his school application. He soon discovered the art of mixing. “From there,” he says, “I knew that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Larrabee Studios has a storied history, dating back to 1969 when jazz drummer and record producer Jackie Mills and his wife Dolores Kaninger purchased the original West Hollywood studio from singer-songwriter Carole King and her husband/songwriting partner, Gerry Goffin.  Cher, Roy Ayers, Janet Jackson, Fleetwood Mac and George Clinton recorded at Larrabee while the Mills family was at the helm in the 70s and early 80s.

Jackie and Dolores’ son Kevin Mills took over studio operations in 1985. He upgraded the space and equipment, and in 1991 he acquired Oasis Recording Studios in North Hollywood—owned by Giorgio Moroder, the last of the aforementioned characters in Manny’s trio of formative influences.

Giorgio recorded some legendary tracks at Oasis Studios: Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” (1986), the Oscar-winning Midnight Express score (1978), and Irene Cara’s “What a Feeling” (Flashdance, 1984). The first major project at the newly renamed Larrabee North was Michael Jackson’s eighth studio album, Dangerous. Landmark albums from Madonna (Ray of Light), Prince (Diamonds and Pearls), and Dr. Dre (2001) soon followed.

Manny had been working in Studio 2 at Larrabee—Moroder’s former room—for years when, in 2008, he got a call from Kevin Mills: “I’m getting out,” he said, “If you want to buy it, go for it.” After careful consideration, that went from “I’m a studio rat, not a studio owner” to “wait, so someone could take my room?!” the realization that someone else might take over Studio 2 pushed him to act. He bought Larrabee North with the vision of creating a hub for the music community: a place where you could write, record, mix, master, perform, and even stay.

Today, Larrabee boasts ten studios, a mastering bay, stylish loft apartments, and a restaurant. “The goal was to build a studio big enough to put a restaurant in it,” Manny says. That vision became Verse—a modern supper club where music meets fine dining. The acoustics are studio-grade, with 52 speakers placed throughout the space, delivering sound worthy of the Larrabee name. Guests enjoy both live performances and curated playlists selected by Manny himself.

True to his understated style, Verse has a discreet entrance on Lankershim Boulevard in Toluca Lake. If not for the valet and the address above the door, you might miss it. Inside, the cozy, dimly lit space offers a soothing escape from the SoCal sun.

Since purchasing Larrabee in 2008, Manny has mixed award-winning records in Studio 2—the room he couldn’t let go of. Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Leon Bridges, Bruno Mars, and Paramore have all collaborated with him to take their music to that “next level." Manny says, “My job is to take what they’ve done and hopefully get it to the level they imagined but couldn’t quite reach. Maybe they would have, given more time. Or maybe they’re just too close to it. So they call someone they trust.”

Manny is one of Wrensilva’s expert sound advisors who help tune the consoles to achieve the Wrensilva Signature Sound: warm (room-filling), true (to the instruments), and faithful (to everyone who made the record—from musicians to engineers). Co-Founder and Head of Audio Scott Salyer likens the process of tuning a Wrensilva console to working at a mixing desk. Collaborating with an award winning mixer like Manny to help “bring the studio home” is part of that successful process and led to the very first Creator Edition M1 console. 

“It already sounded great,” Manny says. “But I started listening to records I’ve worked on to compare to the sound in the studio. I’d say, ‘Maybe drop 1k by 1dB…’—just enough that, oh, there it is. Now it sounds exactly like I heard it in the studio. Listening in the studio is life-changing. I used to take it for granted. Now it feels like entering a sonic temple.”

Wrensilva Co-Founder and Chief Design Officer Debra Salyer adds that the M1’s design was intended to “bring the studio home.” Details like the leather trim, tactile knob feel, and mix of materials are inspired by recording studios. Working with a world-class mixer like Manny made the Larrabee Creator Edition M1 deeply personal and grounded in Wrensilva’s tradition.

The console’s design reflects Manny’s roots. “It’s already beautiful,” he says. “I just wanted to add enough to reflect who I am while keeping its integrity.” The result draws inspiration from the Guatemalan flag—sky blue and white. The apron features sky blue leather stamped with Manny’s signature and “Established in 1969,” honoring Larrabee’s legacy. Blue and white stripes accent the legs and interior—an homage not only to his heritage but also to Guatemala’s national soccer team.

“I like to keep it classy,” Manny explains. “It’s about the art, not me. The front of the jersey, not the back.” At Larrabee Studios, you won’t see walls filled with gold and platinum records. The exterior is an unassuming brick façade, but inside it feels more like a luxury spa—with minimalist decor, natural tones, plants, skylights, and a soothing water fountain.

“The design of the console is simple, but so thoughtful,” he adds. “That one color—blue—means so much. And Larrabee… that’s part of my history. I think we did a great job. It’s super classy.”

Manny worked closely with Debra Salyer at Wrensilva’s San Diego headquarters to refine the design. “Many placements, especially the leather, were Manny’s idea,” she says. “He even added hidden touches, like a blue hint in the leveling foot and a brass coin embossed with his personal insignia—based on Guatemalan mountains—on the lid.”

Only 55 consoles will be made—a nod to Larrabee’s 55-year legacy. Key features include:

• Sky blue and white leather interiors and record pocket linings
  
  
• “Established in 1969” and Manny’s signature stamped on the apron
  
  
• Brass coin with Manny’s insignia embedded in the lid
  
  
• Brushed aluminum legs with sky blue accents
  
  
• Numbered brass plate (1–55)
  
  
• A curated vinyl collection featuring three albums mixed at Larrabee

Bringing it all full circle, Manny reflects: “If I’m Led Zeppelin, I want people to hear our music the way we intended. When you listen to ‘Black Dog’ and think, ‘What is that? Are those even drums?’ and then you hear Jimmy Page’s tones—it’s captivating.”

When music is heard the right way, it becomes the most powerful art form. It transports you back—to that moment you first heard it. And Manny believes Wrensilva is helping to carry on that tradition.

The Wrensilva Creator Series honors the homes of modern music—the sound, and the creators behind it.