SAE Magazine 12-2

Javier Limón was the producer and we were look- ing for a very natural sound. For example, at the mastering stage I said to Javier that we could put it through an analogue tape and I prepared two separate masters, one using the analogue tape, and the other without. He listened to both and, without knowing which was which; he chose the one that had been put through tape. The tape highlighted everything, it made Buika’s accent even softer, the double bass gets to each note. The tape provided texture and “noise”… well, it’s not actually noise, just that as it goes through the analogue tape, the silence is “audible”. And it worked! What has changed for Caco since he won the Grammy? For me, nothing has changed. You don’t work to win prizes. I think what changes is other people’s perception of you, they see you differently. I’m still working the same way but I have a lot more friends on Facebook (laughs). It is surprising that you take on both the recording and the mixing, as well as the mastering in many of your projects. What is your opinion on a single person taking on the mixing and mastering processes? It depends. Sometimes it can be very positive if you have a specific sound in mind and know exact- ly what you want, you just have to render it. Other times you have a mix and you want someone else to give it a different approach, a different vision and to improve it. Maybe after a different engineer works on it, it will have what you were looking for! A couple of months ago you taught a class to a group of SAE Institute Madrid students at PKO’s Studio 1. What was the experience like? The guys were really interested and I think they liked it a lot. It was a very practical class about a live recording that we did here. We started to look at signal flow step by step and test different kinds of equipment. We used different tracks to test how a Manley or a Pultec work… I tried to teach them that there are a lot of different ways to work and that they are all fine, it’s just a matter of taste. We also made different mixes and did some tests with the console. They were all super engaged and could follow the class no problem, they came with a good base. They didn’t want to leave and we almost had to kick them out (laughs). But you know, you go into the studio and time flies, I get that too. I really enjoyed sharing my experience with them and I will be available if you ever want me to teach any other classes. There was also a SAE Institute Madrid student, Taki Tekyurt, who came here to do a traineeship. What did you think about his work? He was here to do a traineeship and I am sure as soon as a vacancy opens up, he will be the one to get the job. He knows everything about the studio, the equipment, where everything is. He is a really cool guy and gets along with everybody. ➤ Abdón Hervás (left) and Caco Refojo (right) talking in front of the Neve VR console in Studio 2. 45 People & Business // Caco Refojo Index

SAE Magazine 12-2

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