The Boffin Island Team
Steve Culnane
Steve started his career at the BBC in 1974 before moving to the recording industry and becoming involved in building or maintaining legendary studios such as Air Lyndhurst, Air Monseratt, Westside, Wessex and many more. In the 1990’s he took a sideways step into education, setting up and supervising the prestigious recording technology course at City Of Westminster College before returning to the coalface as head tech at Funky Junk/Boffin Island.
There can be few more experienced studio techs in the world. In particular, Steve can proffer unrivalled advice to anyone contemplating building or installing a professional studio. As opposed to the dozens of self-proclaimed ‘studio consultants’ littering the modern industry, Steve has been there and done it many times at the highest level. Indeed, he even has the t-shirts. Unfortunately, he can’t remember which pub he left them in.
Dave Way
It is highly probably that nine out of this week’s top ten albums were recorded with at least one microphone serviced, overhauled or rebuilt by Dave Way.
After a degree in electronics and several years working alongside legendary tech, Neil Perry, in Bath, Dave joined Funky in the mid 1990’s as our vintage tech and has been loving repairing mics, Neve modules and desks and tube equipment ever since.
Without question the most experienced mic techs in the UK (and amongst the top few specialists in Europe) Dave keeps a cupboard full of rare and valuable spares, including over fifty vintage mic capsules and a shelf full of tubes, including VF14’s and AC701s.
Dave’s list of mic clients reads like a who’s who of the music industry and ranges from leading studios to top producers and musicians.
Mattia Sartori
We discovered Matt in a cupboard at Mayfair studios (a sign on the door read ‘service department’) and took pity.
Two years later, Mattia has developed into one of the most thorough and conscientious young audio service engineers in the country.
Although largely responsible for mainstream repairs, Matt also undertakes custom modifications to enhance the performance of certain pieces of equipment. Fluent in Italian and with excellent Spanish, Mattia has become an indispensable fixture in Boffin Island.
Something of a Protools expert.
Adam Pope
A recent recruit, Adam joined Boffin Island after ten years as the main tech at FX rentals, where he was responsible for servicing a wide range of outboard and analogue and digital machines. A highly skilled and experienced engineer, with detailed knowledge of Radar and Protools
Bob Stewart
Familiar to many as head tech at Townhouse Studios, Bob has particular responsibility for servicing and refurbishing SSL consoles. His wide-ranging knowledge of outboard and monitors allows us to offer an even better service to our growing client base of professional clients.
Regular freelances
Chris Notton
Chris started life at Decca in the 1960s before moving to Abbey Road in the 1970s. An expert with analogue Ampex, Studer and Otari tape machines, he formed his own company in the 1980s specialising in servicing tape machines.
Although responsible for our analogue tape machines, Chris brings decades of experience to bear in renovating power amps, consoles and vintage outboard. Truly a legend in the UK audio industry and the only tech I know who still makes tea in the pot rather than a cup.
Lincoln Fong
Lincoln was staff engineer at the Cocteau Twin’s September Sound Studios before being recruited by Pete Townsend as head engineer for his Eel Pie studios. Although he continues to take care of Pete’s equipment, he chose to go freelance last year, since when we’ve booked all his available free time.
Lincoln’s attention to detail and skills are increasingly focused on making custom racks for Funky Junk, in particular a range of Focusrite ISA 110 and Calrec eq racks that are gobbled up by discerning customers as quickly as he can make them.
A valuable adjunct to our team.
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