CASE STUDY

OPPORTUNITY

Provide John “Lou” Lousteau, accomplished

engineer and producer and Chief Engineer

at Foo Fighters’ Studio 606, reference

monitors with tight lows, transparent highs

and impressive accuracy.

SOLUTION

Lousteau recently installed a pair of JBL

7 Series monitors at Studio 606 for their

exceptional output, stunning detail, and

unparalleled clarity.

FOO FIGHTERS STUDIO 606, LOS ANGELES

Lousteau is an accomplished engineer and producer who has worked with artists like

Foo Fighters, Iggy Pop and Joan Jett. Lousteau is the chief engineer at Studio 606, which

is owned by rock icons the Foo Fighters. Lousteau also records at Foo Fighters drummer

Taylor Hawkins home studios, as well as his own home studio. Lousteau recently

installed a pair of JBL 7 Series monitors at Studio 606 for their exceptional output,

stunning detail, and unparalleled clarity. Lousteau was so impressed with their detail and

clarity that he equipped his and Taylor’s studios with them as well. Now Lousteau can

enjoy consistently great sound between all three studios.

“We’ve used monitors from dozens of different brands over the years, but there’s

something special about the JBL 7 Series—they just speak to me,” said Lousteau.

“Something about them sounds really good. They have a tightness in the low-end, and

the mids and highs and really transparent and clear—they’re super accurate. As soon as

I heard them, I was like ‘Oh, those are killer!’ Within two months I bought a pair for my

house and for Taylor’s house.”

Lousteau started his career as a runner at Studio 606 in the early 2000s, just before

digital audio and home studios began to take over.

“I was playing in a cover band in Knoxville, TN and my buddy Nick Raskulinecz was

starting to do well as a record producer out in LA,” said Lousteau. “Nick offered me a job

as a runner at Studio 606, so I moved to LA and started working as his assistant—which

is where I met the Foo Fighters. Within eight months, Nick decided to move back to

Nashville. After he left, I was friendly enough with Taylor [Hawkins] and Dave [Grohl] that

they offered me the gig.”

Lousteau learned to record on analog equipment, giving him a unique insight into making

records in the digital age.

“ With the 7 Series I know I can

trust the low-end in all three

studios. They translate really

well. Now I can go between any

of the three studios and I know

exactly what it sounds like—

it’s awesome.”

RECORDING

“I try to go super organic when recording,” said Lousteau. “I want to record a microphone

on an amplifier. I want to record a drum kit, you know? I try to tailor the instrument to

the sound. That’s what I love about the 7 Series—the midrange really lets you know when

you’re giving it too much. They’re also really loud, which is a great for working with a loud

drummer like Taylor.”

Lousteau takes a unique approach to mixing, focusing on the drums and vocals first. The

JBL 7 Series monitors allow him to dial in the foundation of the track, while highlighting

potential frequency problems.

“I start with kick and snare and try to get a nice blend,” said Lousteau. “When I feel like

they are in a comfortable spot, I bring up the vocal next. Like, ‘Where are the vocal and

the kick and the snare going to sit?’ In a rock song, that’s really prevalent—that’s what

you’re hearing right up front. Then I bring in the guitars and try to fill the space around

that. The guitars have to sit with the vocal but outside the vocal. The last thing I’ll blend in

is the bass.”

Lousteau says the thing he loves most about the 7 Series monitors is how his mixes

translate to other systems.

“The control room at my house is in a spare bedroom, and at Taylor’s place isn’t even

treated—it’s a guesthouse,” said Lousteau. “With the 7 Series I know I can trust the low-

end in all three studios. They translate really well. That’s the biggest thing—I trust them

in almost any room. Now I can go between any of the three studios and I know exactly

what it sounds like—it’s awesome.”

“We’ve used monitors from

dozens of different brands

over the years, but there’s

something special about

the JBL 7 Series—they just

speak to me. Something

about them sounds really

good. They have a tightness

in the low-end, and the

mids and highs and really

transparent and clear—

they’re super accurate. As

soon as I heard them, I was

like ‘Oh, those are killer!’

Within two months I bought

a pair for my house and for

Taylor’s house.”

PRODUCTS USED

JBL 7 SERIES REFERENCE MONITORS

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“ I try to tailor the instrument

to the sound. That’s what I

love about the 7 Series—the

midrange really lets you know

when you’re giving it too much.”