At Panama Sound, we believe the best recordings come from the perfect mix of great gear, thoughtful engineering, and an inspiring space. We’ve built our studio to capture performances with precision and warmth, giving you results that stand alongside major studio productions. That is the Panama Sound Difference!
Our Core Recording Path
- RME UCX II Audio Interface – Transparent preamps, ultra-low noise, and rock-solid reliability make this the heart of our studio. Every detail of your performance is preserved from the first note to the final mix.
- Focusrite ISA One – A modern classic built on Rupert Neve’s legendary transformer-based preamp design, the ISA One delivers rich, musical tone with incredible detail. Its Lundahl input transformer adds warmth and depth, while the wide gain range handles everything from delicate ribbons to hot condensers. With a variable impedance selector, independent DI channel, and pristine headroom, the ISA One excels at capturing vocals, acoustic instruments, and bass with character and precision. At Panama Sound, it’s one of our go-to tools for giving recordings that unmistakable high-end polish.
- Mac Mini (M4) running REAPER 7 – A powerful, stable platform for recording, editing, and mixing, paired with REAPER’s flexibility to adapt to any session style.
Accurate Monitoring
- Kali LP-6 Monitors – Honest, accurate studio monitors that reveal every nuance during mixing.
- Sennheiser HD600 and Sony MDR-7506 headphones for trusted reference listening.
- miniDSP EARS + REW + RME TotalMix FX calibration – We custom-measure and EQ our HD600s for perfectly flat response, so what we hear in the studio translates seamlessly everywhere else.
- Avantone MixCube – The modern reincarnation of the classic “cube” reference monitor, the MixCube is designed to reveal the truth about your mixes. Its single, full-range driver and sealed cabinet emulate the limited-bandwidth speakers your music will encounter in cars, laptops, and consumer devices. By stripping away hyped bass and airy highs, the MixCube forces you to focus on the midrange—the critical zone for vocals, guitars, and overall mix balance. At Panama Sound, we use the MixCube to ensure your music translates beautifully to any playback system.
The Art of Capture
Every performance has its own sonic fingerprint, and the right microphone choice is key to bringing that out. Our collection covers a wide range of tones and textures, letting us match the mic to the music rather than forcing one sound onto every project.
Ribbon Microphones – Warmth and Smooth Detail
- AEA KU5A – Supercardioid ribbon with rich, natural tone and excellent rejection of room noise.
- Beyerdynamic M160 – Hypercardioid ribbon prized for its smooth highs and tight, focused pickup pattern.
Large-Diaphragm Condensers – Clarity and Presence
- Shure KSM44 (pair) – Multi-pattern workhorses for vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, or stereo ensemble capture.
- Shure KSM32 – Neutral, transparent condenser that captures performances without coloration.
Small-Diaphragm Condensers – Precision and Detail
- sE Electronics sE8 Matched Pair
Our sE8 small-diaphragm condensers capture performances with stunning clarity and realism. Perfect for acoustic instruments and stereo techniques, they deliver smooth highs, tight lows, and natural detail — bringing every nuance to life at Panama Sound.
Dynamic Microphones – Character and Punch
- Shure SM7B – A studio classic for intimate, close-miked vocals and voiceover.
- Shure SM57 – The industry standard for guitar amps, snare drums, and punchy midrange sources.
The Space At Panama Sound
Our WWII-era home studio features a bright, vaulted L-shaped recording room with natural acoustic character. Instead of trying to deaden it completely, we embrace its organic sound, using careful mic placement to capture depth, dimension, and life that can’t be faked with digital reverb.
At Panama Sound, our tools, our ears, and our space work together to remove technical barriers so your creativity can shine.