As a band that’s always chasing new sounds, new textures, and new ways to spark creativity, we’re constantly on the lookout for tools that can expand our sonic universe. Whether we’re working in our home studios, bouncing ideas between Brooklyn and Jersey, or shaping the next chapter of the Cyborg Man saga, we love anything that helps us break out of the usual workflow and hear our music in a new light.

That’s why Ocean Way Studios Deluxe from Universal Audio caught our attention.

This isn’t just another reverb plug‑in. It’s a full acoustic recreation of one of the most iconic recording spaces in the world — Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood — rebuilt inside the DAW with dynamic room modeling, historic gear chains, and the ability to “re‑mic” your tracks as if they were physically being played in those rooms.

For a band like us, that’s a big deal.

🌊 Why Ocean Way Studios Deluxe Stood Out to Us

Ocean Way Studios Deluxe models Studio A, Studio B, and the Putnam‑designed reverb chambers that shaped decades of legendary recordings. What makes it different is how it treats space: instead of slapping on a reverb tail, it simulates the entire acoustic environment — the walls, the reflections, the mic positions, the consoles, the gear.

A few features immediately grabbed us:

• Dynamic Room Modeling that lets us place vocals, guitars, drums, or synths into the room and choose mic positions like we’re actually there.
• Historic signal chains including Focusrite 110 EQs, Dalcon consoles, Fairchild 670, LA‑2A, 1176LN, dbx 160, and more.
• Three legendary reverb chambers that add depth without washing out the mix.
• Native compatibility, meaning we can run it without UA hardware — perfect for our hybrid setup.

For a band working across multiple spaces, this is the closest thing to teleporting our tracks into a world‑class studio.

🎛️ How We’d Use It in Our Workflow

1. Re‑miking Vocals for Bigger, Cinematic Presence

A lot of our vocal tracks start dry and intimate. With Ocean Way, we can “re‑record” them through Studio A or B, choosing different mic distances and room sizes. It adds dimension without losing clarity — perfect for the atmospheric, pulse‑driven style we love.

2. Giving Guitars a Real Room to Live In

Instead of stacking reverbs and delays to fake space, we can run guitars through the modeled UREI 813 or Altec A‑2 setups. It gives the guitars a natural sense of air and realism that’s hard to get in a small room.

3. Making Drum Tracks Feel Like a Live Session

Even if we’re working with programmed drums or samples, Ocean Way can “re‑mic” them into the room, adding punch, width, and life. It’s a way to get that classic studio drum sound without booking a giant room.

4. Sound Design for Cyborg Man & Other Concept Projects

The reverb chambers are incredible for creating eerie, cinematic tails — perfect for the sci‑fi worldbuilding you’ve been doing with Cyborg Man and the more atmospheric Schmegmatics tracks.