67 Years of Sunset Sound’s Legacy and the Unforgettable Craig Hubler
I grew up in a small village in the UK, where the rain never seemed to stop. Back then, the world beyond felt distant, almost mythical, and nothing captured that feeling more than the back covers of albums. I would sit for hours, pouring over liner notes, absorbing every detail. The Doors' records were a particular obsession. I would see the words "Recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California," and my imagination would take flight. What was this place? It conjured images of sun-drenched boulevards, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and a studio bathed in golden light, far removed from the grey skies outside my window.
Years later, I found myself in Los Angeles, not just visiting, but becoming part of its musical fabric. Sunset Sound was no longer a distant dream but a reality, a place I would come to know intimately. The studio had been created in 1958 by Walt Disney’s Director of Recording, Tutti Camarata, converting an old automotive repair garage into something extraordinary. Even in the 1960s, Sunset Sound had been pioneering—its sloped floors, originally designed to have oil drain, eliminated standing waves and unwanted sonic reflections, gave the rooms a unique clarity. That same clarity is embedded in some of the most legendary recordings ever made.
Walking through those doors for the first time, I could feel the history in the walls. This was where The Doors recorded their first two albums, capturing the raw energy of Jim Morrison’s voice, the haunting organ lines, and the hypnotic rhythms that defined a generation. It was here that some of Pet Sounds was crafted, where Led Zeppelin, Elton John, and Prince left their indelible marks. To stand in those rooms, knowing that Exile on Main St. had echoed through these walls, that Janis Joplin’s voice had once soared in this very space, was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Sunset Sound became a second home, a place where music felt alive, where the past and present intertwined. Whether tracking or mixing, the spirit of those who had come before seemed to linger. The ghosts of countless sessions, of breakthroughs and frustrations, of magic captured on tape, were always present. It wasn’t just nostalgia—it was tangible, something that seeped into every recording done there.
By the time I was working in studios, Sunset Sound had already expanded its legacy. In 1981, Camarata acquired The Sound Factory, another legendary Los Angeles recording space. Between these two locations, Sunset Sound remained at the heart of the city’s recording culture. Even decades after its inception, artists continued to be drawn to it, from Guns N’ Roses to Disney’s Frozen soundtrack. The technology evolved, but the essence of Sunset Sound remained unchanged—an alchemy of acoustics, history, and a touch of California magic.
To think of that kid in the UK, staring at those album credits, it still amazes me that I not only walked through those doors but left my own imprint in the very rooms where my heroes once stood. That mythical studio in far-off Los Angeles became my reality, and the music created there continues to resonate, just as it did when I first dreamed of it from a rainy village so many years ago.
Craig Hubler, the longtime studio manager, was an integral part of Sunset Sound. He welcomed everyone who walked through the doors, understanding how to treat clients, nurture relationships, and uphold the studio’s legacy. He never made it about himself—in a world where everyone is trying to gain some kind of advantage for themselves, Craig knew the studio’s legacy and place in musical history, always putting the studio ahead of his own needs—making him the consummate studio manager. Craig cherished Sunset Sound, and his dedication to its history and continued excellence was unmatched. He passed away a few years ago, and he is sorely missed. There is a link here to a studio tour I did with him a few years ago. Craig was a legend who truly cared about Sunset Sound, ensuring it remained a place of magic for generations of musicians. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU3nz...
Produce Like A Pro
67 Years of Sunset Sound’s Legacy and the Unforgettable Craig Hubler
I grew up in a small village in the UK, where the rain never seemed to stop. Back then, the world beyond felt distant, almost mythical, and nothing captured that feeling more than the back covers of albums. I would sit for hours, pouring over liner notes, absorbing every detail. The Doors' records were a particular obsession. I would see the words "Recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California," and my imagination would take flight. What was this place? It conjured images of sun-drenched boulevards, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and a studio bathed in golden light, far removed from the grey skies outside my window.
Years later, I found myself in Los Angeles, not just visiting, but becoming part of its musical fabric. Sunset Sound was no longer a distant dream but a reality, a place I would come to know intimately. The studio had been created in 1958 by Walt Disney’s Director of Recording, Tutti Camarata, converting an old automotive repair garage into something extraordinary. Even in the 1960s, Sunset Sound had been pioneering—its sloped floors, originally designed to have oil drain, eliminated standing waves and unwanted sonic reflections, gave the rooms a unique clarity. That same clarity is embedded in some of the most legendary recordings ever made.
Walking through those doors for the first time, I could feel the history in the walls. This was where The Doors recorded their first two albums, capturing the raw energy of Jim Morrison’s voice, the haunting organ lines, and the hypnotic rhythms that defined a generation. It was here that some of Pet Sounds was crafted, where Led Zeppelin, Elton John, and Prince left their indelible marks. To stand in those rooms, knowing that Exile on Main St. had echoed through these walls, that Janis Joplin’s voice had once soared in this very space, was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Sunset Sound became a second home, a place where music felt alive, where the past and present intertwined. Whether tracking or mixing, the spirit of those who had come before seemed to linger. The ghosts of countless sessions, of breakthroughs and frustrations, of magic captured on tape, were always present. It wasn’t just nostalgia—it was tangible, something that seeped into every recording done there.
By the time I was working in studios, Sunset Sound had already expanded its legacy. In 1981, Camarata acquired The Sound Factory, another legendary Los Angeles recording space. Between these two locations, Sunset Sound remained at the heart of the city’s recording culture. Even decades after its inception, artists continued to be drawn to it, from Guns N’ Roses to Disney’s Frozen soundtrack. The technology evolved, but the essence of Sunset Sound remained unchanged—an alchemy of acoustics, history, and a touch of California magic.
To think of that kid in the UK, staring at those album credits, it still amazes me that I not only walked through those doors but left my own imprint in the very rooms where my heroes once stood. That mythical studio in far-off Los Angeles became my reality, and the music created there continues to resonate, just as it did when I first dreamed of it from a rainy village so many years ago.
Craig Hubler, the longtime studio manager, was an integral part of Sunset Sound. He welcomed everyone who walked through the doors, understanding how to treat clients, nurture relationships, and uphold the studio’s legacy. He never made it about himself—in a world where everyone is trying to gain some kind of advantage for themselves, Craig knew the studio’s legacy and place in musical history, always putting the studio ahead of his own needs—making him the consummate studio manager. Craig cherished Sunset Sound, and his dedication to its history and continued excellence was unmatched. He passed away a few years ago, and he is sorely missed. There is a link here to a studio tour I did with him a few years ago. Craig was a legend who truly cared about Sunset Sound, ensuring it remained a place of magic for generations of musicians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU3nz...
1 month ago | [YT] | 71