Craftsmanship

Wrensilva Sound: Listening Sessions With Giles Martin

Giles Martin, Grammy Award-winning producer and mixer, sat with us to talk music
and more during a final tuning session of the next generation Wrensilva Record Console Collection.

The son of legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin (often referred to as the “fifth Beatle”), Giles carved out his own place in the music industry, initially as a producer for what would become the psychedelic rock band Kula Shaker. From his studio in the legendary Abbey Road Studios, he’s since worked with indie bands and major labels alike, produced the soundtrack for the Beatles/Cirque du Soleil showLove, worked with music icons like Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Elton John, and many others and has collaborated on various TV and film projects with directors Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, and more.

Giles Martin spins records on his Wrensilva M1 during the listening session at Abbey Road Studios.

He notes that remixing vinyl is rarely a flawless process. The imperfections can be what makes an older track all the more memorable and special—those unexpected, organic moments, like hearing John Lennon’s voice in the middle of Strawberry Fields now that a version of the track is remixed in stereo.To fully appreciate the sound and the work that goes into it, a well-designed system can help. “The great thing about Wrensilva is that you know they sound really good. It creates a warmth,” says Giles. “You try to explain it to people. They go, maybe you’ve just lost your mind completely. Then you show them what it is, and they go, that’s beautiful. And they hear it, and they go, Oh my god. Now I know what I need to have.”

“You want to be hugged by your music.”

Giles Martin

In his Abbey Road Studio Giles listens to a WrensilvaM1 Record Consolein Natural Walnut

Even from a technical standpoint, Giles sees Wrensilva as a partner in the production process. “Now with the Wrensilva units in the actual studio, we do a lot more listening to cuts. I can flip the Wrensilva and go,What’s it like? If I just sit on a sofa and ask,Am I enjoying this? Then I can compare vinyl cuts from the turntable back through the studio speakers again,” explains Giles. “I found this weird EQ stuff and applied it to the Wrensilva for my Pro Tools rig. We have Pro Tools now running through the Wrensilva as well.”To Giles, hearing each remastered song on a high-quality console makes all the difference. In listening to the track “Now and Then” by the Beatles, he shares, “There was a heavy emotion immediately when it started playing. I spent a long time making that record, and maybe even longer talking about it. There’s a weight behind that song.” In fact, Giles was personally asked to work on the track by Paul McCartney. “And when you work on something like that, you’re an impostor, you know? I realized my dad should be doing this, and he’s not here anymore,” he explains. “But it’s the same with Paul. He feels like it’s John’s song, but he’s not here. So you just pretend they’re in the room with you.”We’re certainly grateful to have Giles in the room with us.

The new Wrensilva Record Consoles have a presence. For some, it’s the elegance of the hand-selected hardwoods in an elevated design that nods to the traditional consoles, but for professionals like renowned producerGiles Martin, it’s all about the music.To create an unparalleled listening experience, collaboration with the world’s best music creators is crucial, these insights help shape everything about our collection. As part of that development collaboration, Giles joined us for a final listening session with an all-new, next generationWrensilva Record Console, sharing his stories and passion for quality sound.

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