Global music industry marketplace ANALOGr is supervising the online auction of recording equipment from the estate of respected and much-loved engineer/mixer Al Schmitt (1930 - 2021). Launched in 2021, ANALOGr was established to provide the equitable and responsible transfer of prized music industry items of historic and functional value.
With 23 Grammy Awards and more thant 150 Gold and Platinum albums, Al Schmitt was the most honored and celebrate engineer/producer in the history of recorded music. Close friend and fellow engineer/mixer Niko Bolas said, "Al was a master of the art of recording, a mentor and an inspiration to many, but while working with him alone, I realized that every day he just loved the work and was always exploring. I'm very pleased with the way Thomas Scriven and ANALOGr are handling this auction with care and responsibility. Al wanted his gear to be put to good use and continue to make memorable music."
Friend and longtime collaborator Steve Genewick commented, "Al worked in the recording business during times of great changes and technology evolution. He started in the days of mono, sometimes working with only one microphone, where he became a master of capturing the power and subtleties of musical performance. There is no way that I could explain how much I learned from him."
The most prized of Schmitt's collection already sold was a pair of vintage Neumann U67 condenser mikes with wooden cases, shock-mounts and power supplies. These two historic U67's were a mainstay on many of Al Schmitt's records ranging from Bob Dylan & Diana Krall to Natalie Cole's "Unforgettable." The first of the U67's has a Klaus Heyne modification and was previously owned by Al's longtime friend and producer Tommy LiPuma. The second was a microphone originally from Blackbird Studios in Nashville.
The Al Schmitt Collection at ANALOGr:
analogr.com/l/the-al-schmitt-historical-gear-collection
"Al Schmitt's discography is jaw-dropping," added top drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. "His studio skills as a recording engineer and mixer were just mesmerizing, day after day, album after album, yet he was a man who was always very sensitive to the artists and their dreams, treating everyone with equal care and respect."
