Laser Etched Valve Compressor Faceplate
Capitol Records Building in Hollywood
Mastering Technician Building the Compressor
Designing Custom Mastering Equipment for a Legendary Studio
QUICK READ ➤ The Capitol Mastering Console was designed as a custom piece of high-end mastering equipment for the legendary Capitol Studios. The faceplate design was crafted to honor the studio’s rich history while ensuring an intuitive, high-performance experience for the Capitol Mastering team.
Project Overview
This project centered on creating a sleek, modern mastering console that seamlessly integrated into the historic Capitol Studios environment. Under the creative direction of Dave Matli at Matli Group, I worked closely with Capitol Mastering’s engineers to design a faceplate that honored the studio’s iconic mid-century modern aesthetic while meeting the practical needs of professional mastering workflows.
Drawing inspiration from the architecture of the Capitol Records building and the timeless elegance of vintage studio gear, the design balances form and function. I focused on interface clarity, paying close attention to knob placement, typography, and visual hierarchy to ensure intuitive usability for engineers during high-precision sessions.
One of the primary challenges was designing within strict spatial constraints imposed by both the hardware manufacturer and Capitol’s engineering team. Through close collaboration with the mastering engineers, we carefully refined control placement to create a layout that was both efficient and visually cohesive.
The final design merges engineering precision with classic studio design principles, resulting in a console that not only performs at the highest level but also visually embodies the legacy of Capitol Studios. Seeing it in daily use by world-class engineers stands as a testament to the success of the project.
