Austin, Texas’ Bismeaux Studios was the site of the historic recording of “Willie and the Wheel” featuring Willie Nelson with Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel. This critically acclaimed CD, released in February, was one of many tracked and mixed using Lynx Aurora 16 converters, which Bismeaux adopted in 2007.

Bismeaux’s primary recording system consists of an AMD processor-equipped computer running Nuendo, with two Aurora 16s interfaced using the Lynx AES16 cards. Aurora’s built-in SynchroLock clock serves as the studio’s master clock.

“Before we acquired the Aurora converters, we tested and compared them to the other pro level converters on the market. Our goal was to be able to hear back what the room sounded like and to properly hear the instruments. We wanted no coloration, either adding or subtracting. We wanted transparent sound, good imaging, and a nice clean representation of what we were trying to record,” stated chief engineer Sam Seifert. “Once we switched to Aurora, what we noticed more than anything else was that we heard our room. We heard the room’s nuances and the funky things that we liked. We started to be able to see and hear a detail in our sound. That was a big thing for us, especially Ray.”

“With the Auroras, what you give em', is what you get back. Big Bottom, Clean top, and the stability to record at whatever sample rate you want,” was how Benson characterized his Aurora converters. “Once you try em', they'll be in your rack for good.”

Seifert expanded on Rays comments: “Aurora is a very smooth sounding converter. We do not hear the harshness in the upper mids that we have heard with other converters. We like to have a lot of low end and a lot of warmth and we feel we get that in a very natural way with Aurora. The sound that you’re feeding the Aurora is what you get back, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Bismeaux Studio provides state of the art recording services in Austin, TX, having recorded many of County Music's elite. Housed in the "A" room is a Vintage 1960's API from RCA Studio "B" along with a wide collection of vintage and original outboard gear. Studio "B", their newest room built in 2005, is used for 5.1 mixing, teaching Nuendo/Cubase classes, and mixing/overdubs. Check out www.bismeauxstudio.com to take a look at the gear and the studios, as well as clients and albums that have been recorded there.