2019 is here, and before we get caught up in the new year, we’d like to reflect on the numerous highlights throughout 2018. Read on to check out some of the highlights.
GRAMMY Winners Galore
Our popular proSESSIONS series allowed us to team up with some of our most popular brands in order to introduce our customers to the masters behind countless multi-platinum albums and GRAMMY wins. We were honored to host legendary engineers like Al Schmitt (Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Steely Dan), Sylvia Massy (Prince, Johnny Cash, Tool), and Brian Vibberts (Lauryn Hill, Green Day, Mariah Carey).
Of course, we also get to spend time with the top hit-makers of today including Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, P!nk, Fall Out Boy), F. Reid Shippen (Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Shania Twain), Francesco Cameli (Ed Sheeran, Flyleaf, Korn), and Jonas Jeberg (Demi Lovato, Nicki Minaj, Selena Gomez).
Since our Los Angeles location is located just minutes away from some of the largest film and television studios, we were happy to have post-production gurus Micah Loken (Homeland, Call of Duty, The Duel) and David Bach (Dunkirk, Suicide Squad, Argo) give us an exclusive look into their tips to audio on the silver screen.
Of course, the year was packed with plenty of other events and special guests, which you can check out HERE.
Grand Opening – Nashville
On top of all the great events, 2018 saw us open our newest location in the heart of Nashville’s legendary Berry Hill neighborhood. We couldn’t be more pleased with the warm welcome we received from our new neighbors, which include iconic studios like Blackbird Studios, Sputnik Sound, House of Blues Studios, and Addiction Sound.
From up and coming musicians to GRAMMY-winning producers, we had a packed house and tons of fun at our Grand Opening celebration. We had a blast watching the Nashville community get hands-on with the latest gear in our state-of-the-art demo studio. With over $50,000+ in gear giveaways including two full Studio Makeover prizes, the excitement was tangible. Of course, there was plenty of swag from each brand and 40+ chances to win new gear, giving everyone a chance to bring something home!
We couldn’t have done it without the help of our title sponsors Avid, Universal Audio, API, Genelec, Triad-Orbit, and DPA Microphones. They not only contributed amazing giveaways, but they were all present to show off their latest releases and offer hands-on demos.
To everyone that came to the event, went home with a giveaway, helped make it happen, or gave love from afar, the team at Westlake Pro wants to give a big THANK YOU! We look forward to being Berry Hill’s go-to source for the latest in pro audio and studio design.
The Latest Gear and Exclusive Insight
While our proSESSIONS series offers our clients a chance to meet the hitmakers using the latest gear, Sound Bites gives you the chance to get hands-on with the hottest releases in audio. 2018 was a veritable avalanche of new high-profile products like iZotope RX 7, Townsend Labs Sphere L22, SSL Fusion, and the Sequential Prophet X. Antelope Audio teamed up with newcomers Kali Audio to show us their latest in microphone modeling and studio monitors. For those in need of deep bass, Amphion came by with Dave Pensado and Herb Trawick to show us their new BaseTwo25 low-frequency extension system. Focusrite Pro came through to show us the deep connectivity DANTE brings to pro studios and live sound. On the other end of the spectrum, Native Instruments celebrated their 15th anniversary with Komplete 12 and a wealth of new releases. Universal Audio surprised us all with a triple play of their Arrow, OX Amp Top Box, and the fully redesigned Apollo X line of interfaces.
We got to get more personal with Markus Resch, the man that’s been keeping the classic Mellotron alive with an in-depth look at the instrument’s history. On the other hand, we gave you a chance to get more personal with Steven Slate with a live-streamed AMA. Composer and Sound Designer Anthony Baldino sat with us for a Q&A to discuss his otherworldly sounds for the Marvel blockbuster Venom and explained how his workflow has changed ever since he got his new set of ATC monitors.
Special Sales, Online Financing, and Holiday Cheer
Along with the giveaways, appetizers, and catering offered at our events, we’re always happy to work with our vendors to provide special discounts for our customers. One of our most exciting exclusives come from Universal Audio and have been extended into 2019! Get $500 off the new Apollo X when you trade in ANY old interface. Of course, if you still haven’t experienced the power of UAD-2 plug-ins, you can try them out at home or in your studio with our exclusive demo program!
One of the other things we were excited to announce in 2018 is our new online financing programs! Take advantage of up to 12-months deferred interest financing to start your new year strong.
To have a proper send off to the year, we hosted a huge Holiday Sale at our Los Angeles location. Featuring free food, an open bar, and of course, HUGE discounts on some of the hottest gear, it was another successful event. To add to it, Dave Pensado and Herb Trawick, the hosts of Pensado’s Place came by for an exclusive seminar, while brand sponsors from Avid, KRK, DPA Microphones, and AEA were all present to give us hands-on demos of their latest products. We had a huge crowd of happy shoppers who all stuck around for the festivities and the $15,000+ of gear giveaways from Avid, Neumann, DPA Microphones, AMS Neve, Universal Audio, iZotope, Shure and more!
2019 Here We Come!
Obviously, 2018 was a hugely busy year for everyone involved, and we want to thank our teams in both Los Angeles and Nashville, along with our Studio Design team who have been busy with some of the most cutting-edge studios and soundstages in the industry. Lastly, we couldn’t do any of this without our customer base, and we hope you’re having a blast with your new gear! We have some big stuff planned for 2019, so keep in touch for the latest gear and exclusive access in Pro Audio.
