Ken Kreisel Sound and Design, California (2025)

05/05/2025

MAY THE 4th (FORCE) BE WITH YOU...ALWAYS!!!

This post is dedicated to James Earl Jones who passed away last September 2024. Since that time, I have been meaning to post something about his passing and about my working with him at his California USA home on his Miller & Kreisel Sound/M&K Sound THX speaker system given to him as a gift from George Lucas around 1992.

Jones is one of my all-time favorite actors and a great person.

The need for me to custom design a very special center channel THX speaker to fit above his 7" shelf above his 35" TV was the catalyst for a whole new line of highly successful Miller & Kreisel Professional THX studio monitors which became a world standard in top studios around the world.

Please read the following PRO SOUND NEWS magazine interview of me, from 2000. I talk (on page 2 and highlighted in yellow) about how the custom James Earl Jones Miller & Kreisel THX system helped me create for George Lucas' Skywalker Sound/Skywalk Ranch Studio a requested custom studio monitoring system to be used for their updating of their first three Stars Wars movies for rerelease starting in 1997 and later for the new Episodes 1, 2, and 3.

Here is the Pro Sound News interview link:

https://www.kreiselsound.com/_assets/View_from_the_Top_copy_of_original.pdf

Being one of the very first THX licensees back in 1990 and also working with all the terrific award-winning recording engineers at Skywalker Sound (Skywalker Ranch), was the most fun a Star Wars enthusiast like me could ever have.

May the Force Be with You...Always!!!

and

Good Sound and Good Bass to You...Always...KEN

05/04/2024

MAY THE 4th (FORCE) BE WITH YOU...ALWAYS!!!

Being one of the very first THX licensees (The Tom Holman Experiment) back in the 1990's and also working with all the terrific award winning recording engineers at Skywalker Sound (Skywalker Ranch) was the most fun a Star Wars enthusiast like me could ever have.

I am not sure I can do a better May 4th post than I did last year:

MAY THE FORCE (4th) AND THE BASS BE WITH YOU...ALWAYS!!!

Hear it the way they hear it!

Here is a PDF link to the original "SOUND WARS" article in HDTV Magazine:

https://www.kreiselsound.com/_images/timeline_files/Sound%20Wars%20HDTV%20Etc.pdf

Here are some Star Wars related photos including a screen credit on Episode 3 (also got screen credits on Episodes 1 & 2) plus a photo of my Lightsaber (and young Anikan Skywalker, look carefully at the photo) and also a photo of the KEN KREISEL demo room in Asia with more Atmos speaker channels added including multiple ceiling subwoofers.

KEN

02/21/2024

Today, February 20, 2024, marks the 50th anniversary of the 1974 release of Steely Dan’s iconic Pretzel Logic album on ABC Records which included their US top 5 single “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaxMrzrkzwI ) which has been loved and used for demo by audiophiles around the world for all these 50 years, including me. In 1973 I personally designed and installed the very unique audiophile studio monitoring system used to mix Pretzel Logic at Cherokee Studios in Chatsworth, California. The stereo monitoring system I designed included two dual 12” balanced push-pull subwoofers which later would be called “THE BOTTOM END!”

The story behind my audio involvement with Walter Becker and other members of the band, including their brilliant and innovative audiophile recording engineer Roger “The Immortal” Nichols and their ABC producer Gary Katz, is historic for me as it led to the 1974 creation of Miller & Kreisel Sound, Inc. and the rest is audio history as they say.

It seems like only yesterday when Walter Becker first walked into Jonas’ well-known Beverly Hills California high-end audio salon on Wilshire Boulevard (Jonas Miller Sound) around 1972, looking exactly as he did in the attached photograph. Walter Becker and Donald Fagan had recently moved to Los Angeles from New York to work with ABC Records (you can read all about their history on the Internet). Walter was an avid New York audiophile, and our store had an international reputation with an elite clientele of Hollywood film and recording celebrities, studio executives, studio recording engineers, and of course audiophiles.

In 1969 I was 18 years old (just graduated Beverly Hills High School), became a customer of Jonas’ store and immediately started working part time that summer while being a premed student. My very first customers were Barbara Hershey and David Carradine (that’s another interesting story for another day). I quickly became a partner in the store and started designing and building custom subwoofers for our customers with Quad Electrostatics and Audio Research Magneplanar speakers. Walter bought a set of Quad ESL’s and Walter and Roger Nichols (and other band members) became regular visitors to our store. In 1973 Walter and Roger asked if I could design and install a reference studio monitoring system for mixing their new album. I said no problem!

The stereo studio monitoring system I designed included two somewhat “innovative and revolutionary” (at the time) totally balanced 12” push-pull subwoofers which I changed at the last minute to non-push-pull because I was concerned about the exposed rear facing magnets being dangerous in a studio environment which, in those days, used only magnetically sensitive analog tape and tube type video monitors.

The extremely flat response monitoring system was a big hit with all the engineers and musicians at Cherokee Studios. They all especially loved the subwoofers and everyone wanted to buy the balanced dual driver subwoofers for their home sound system.

….to be continued….KEN

12/24/2023

I am not sure I can do a better Christmas and New Year greeting than the one I did last year (2022) which I am duplicating below with a few additions:

I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Healthy and Happy New Year 2024.

Here is a photo of me from a number of years ago. I used this photo for an M&K Sound/Miller & Kreisel Sound USA Christmas card. My two cats were named Jazzical and Rhapsody, named after two of my favorite CD recordings which I produced and engineered called "Jazzical Class" and "Rhapsody In Blue" (featuring pianist Wayne Bedrosian). My cats were very good friends with my German Shepherd dog named Shatzie.

Good Sound and Good Bass to all of you...Always!...KEN

This photo from a few years ago is of my daughter in a Santa Claus costume designed and made by my mother Betty Kreisel Shubert (still going strong at age 99) who is a Hollywood costume designer. And yes, the puppy is a real Bichon Frise puppy and owned by my sister.

I have always loved the traditional music of Christmas. Over 25 years ago I produced an album called "The Music of Christmas-An Orchestra of Angels" performed by keyboard artist Wayne Bedrosian. It was recorded using some of the early MIDI equipment where each instrument of the orchestra is reproduced from actual recorded electronic samples of real instruments. During the mixing of the recording, the entire orchestra is recreated by a tall stack of MIDI electronic sampler boxes with each box reproducing one to several instruments of the orchestra all controlled by a computer.

Today’s MIDI equipment is far more sophisticated and better sounding than it was 27 years ago. I have started several times to re-record and to remix this album's original MIDI files in multichannel surround using modern MIDI gear, first in 5.1, then in 7.1. Maybe by next year I will have the time to re-record and re-mix the album in the Dolby Atmos format. The original MIDI format files allow me to re-record the album in an almost unlimited number of channels and in the latest high bitrate format.

In the meantime, here are some of the original stereo tracks from 25+ years ago, in iTunes AAC .mp4 format. I hope you enjoy them.
For best sound quality, I recommend playing these tracks in iTunes or QuickTime.

You can left click the file name link below and play the tracks in your browser or do a right click and SAVE AS and stream them into iTunes.

Enjoy,
Ken

Away In A Manger
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/Away_In_A_Manger.m4a
O Holy Night
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/O_Holy_Night.m4a

Stille Nacht/Silent Night
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/Silent_Night.m4a

Joy to the World
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/Joy_To_The_World.m4a

What Child Is This
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/What_Child_Is_This.m4a

05/05/2023

MAY THE FORCE (4th) AND THE BASS BE WITH YOU...ALWAYS!!!

Hear it the way they hear it!

Here is a PDF link to the original "SOUND WARS" article in HDTV Magazine:

https://www.kreiselsound.com/_images/timeline_files/Sound%20Wars%20HDTV%20Etc.pdf

Here are some Star Wars related photos including a screen credit on Episode 3 (also got screen credits on Episode 1 & 2) plus a photo of my Lightsaber (and young Anikan Skywalker, look carefully at the photo) and also a photo of the KEN KREISEL demo room in Asia with more Atmos speaker channels added including multiple ceiling subwoofers.

KEN

12/25/2022

I am not sure I can do a better Christmas and New Year greeting than the one I did last year (2021) which I am duplicating below with a few additions:

I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Healthy and Happy New Year 2023.

Here is a photo of me from a number of years ago. I used this photo for an M&K Sound/Miller & Kreisel Sound USA Christmas card. My two cats were named Jazzical and Rhapsody, named after two of my favorite CD recordings which I produced and engineered called Jazzical Class and Rhapsody In Blue (featuring pianist Wayne Bedrosian). My cats were very good friends with my German Shepherd dog named Shatzie.

Good Sound and Bass to all of you...Always!...KEN

This photo from a few years ago is of my daughter in a Santa Claus costume designed and made by my mother Betty Kreisel Shubert (still going strong at age 98) who is a Hollywood costume designer. And yes, the puppy is a real Bichon Frise puppy and owned by my sister.

I have always loved the traditional music of Christmas. Over 25 years ago I produced an album called The Music of Christmas-An Orchestra of Angels performed by keyboard artist Wayne Bedrosian. It was recorded using some of the early MIDI equipment where each instrument of the orchestra is reproduced from actual electronic samples of real instruments. During the mixing of the recording, the entire orchestra is recreated by a tall stack of MIDI electronic sampler boxes with each box reproducing one to several instruments of the orchestra all controlled by a computer.

Today’s MIDI equipment is far more sophisticated and better sounding than it was 25 years ago. I have started several times to re-record and to remix this album in multichannel surround using modern MIDI gear, first in 5.1, then in 7.1. Maybe by next year I will have the time to re-record and re-mix the album in the Dolby Atmos format. The original MIDI format allows me to re-record the album in an almost unlimited number of channels and in the latest high bitrate format.

In the meantime, here are some of the original stereo tracks from 25+ years ago, in iTunes AAC .mp4 format. I hope you enjoy them.
For best sound quality, I recommend playing these tracks in iTunes or QuickTime.

You can left click the file name link below and play the tracks in your browser or do a right click and SAVE AS and stream them into iTunes.

Enjoy,
Ken

Away In A Manger
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/Away_In_A_Manger.m4a

O Holy Night
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/O_Holy_Night.m4a

Stille Nacht/Silent Night
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/Silent_Night.m4a

Joy to the World
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/Joy_To_The_World.m4a

What Child Is This
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/What_Child_Is_This.m4a

05/05/2022

MAY THE FORCE (4th) AND THE BASS BE WITH YOU...ALWAYS!!!

Hear it the way they hear it!

Here is a PDF link to the original "SOUND WARS" article in HDTV Magazine:

https://www.kreiselsound.com/_images/timeline_files/Sound%20Wars%20HDTV%20Etc.pdf

Here is a photo of my Lightsaber (and young Anikan Skywalker, look carefully at the photo) and also a photo of the KEN KREISEL demo room in Asia with more Atmos speaker channels added including multiple ceiling subwoofers.

Ken Kreisel

12/25/2021

I would very much like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Very Healthy and Happy New Year 2022!

This photo from a few years ago is of my daughter in a Santa Claus costume designed and made by my mother Betty Kreisel Shubert who is a Hollywood costume designer. And yes, the puppy is a real Bichon Frise puppy and owned by my sister.

I have always loved the traditional music of Christmas. 25 years ago I produced an album called The Music of Christmas-An Orchestra of Angels performed by keyboard artist Wayne Bedrosian. It was recorded using some of the early MIDI equipment where each instrument of the orchestra is reproduced from actual electronic samples of real instruments. During the mixing of the recording, the entire orchestra is recreated by a tall stack of MIDI electronic sampler boxes with each box reproducing one to several instruments of the orchestra all controlled by a computer.

Today’s MIDI equipment is far more sophisticated and better sounding than it was 25 years ago. I have started several times to re-record and to remix this album in multichannel surround using modern MIDI gear, first in 5.1, then in 7.1. Maybe by next year I will have the time to mix the album in the Dolby Atmos format. The original MIDI format allows me to re-record the album in an almost unlimited number of channels and in the latest high bitrate format.

In the meantime, here are some of the original stereo tracks from 25 years ago, in iTunes/QuickTime AAC/mp4 256kbps format. I hope you enjoy them. For best sound quality, I recommend playing these tracks in iTunes or QuickTime.

You can left click the file name link below and play the tracks in your browser or right click and do a SAVE AS and stream them into iTunes.

Enjoy,
KEN

Away In A Manger
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/Away_In_A_Manger.m4a

O Holy Night
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/O_Holy_Night.m4a

Stille Nacht/Silent Night
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/Silent_Night.m4a

Joy to the World
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/Joy_To_The_World.m4a

What Child Is This
http://www.kreiselsound.com/_music/What_Child_Is_This.m4a

05/04/2021

MAY THE FORCE (4th) AND THE BASS BE WITH YOU...ALWAYS!!!

Hear it the way they hear it!

Here is a PDF link to the original "SOUND WARS" article in HDTV Magazine:

https://www.kreiselsound.com/_images/timeline_files/Sound%20Wars%20HDTV%20Etc.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1L3rVsqIvCz7lFH8nFmBqzMo7DTaBlCE-hD16CFGVlLbJqyhEzbvCZhkM

Here is a new photo of the KEN KREISEL demo room in Asia with more Atmos speaker channels including multiple ceiling subwoofers.

Ken Kreisel

12/20/2020

Today, December 19th is Maurice White's birthday and I thought I would repost this picture and my original Facebook post of Maurice in his famous Kalimba Music studios as it shows a side of him rarely seen by the public, that of the brilliant music industry executive and cutting edge recording studio owner. His Kalimba Music studios was one of the first studios to start recording and mixing music in 5.1.

Here is my original February 2016 post:

Maurice White 1941-2016

We are all saddened at the recent news of the death of music icon Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. I had the great pleasure of talking with him in his Kalimba Music recording studio and working with his studio engineering team to install Miller and Kreisel Professional 5.1 studio monitor systems. The photo below was for an article in PRO SOUND NEWS magazine around the year 2000. Maurice enjoyed hearing that every Miller & Kreisel Sound/M&K speaker and subwoofer we ever built since about 1983 was tested on our USA production line using a special edition Japanese CD mix of his "Let's Groove"...KEN

From his official website www.kalimba-music.com :
"THE LIGHT IS HE, SHINING ON YOU AND ME"

— with Maurice White - EWF Legacy and Ken Kreisel

05/05/2020

MAY THE FORCE (4th) AND THE BASS BE WITH YOU...ALWAYS!!!

Hear it the way they hear it!

Here is a PDF link to the original "SOUND WARS" article in HDTV Magazine: https://www.kreiselsound.com/_images/timeline_files/Sound%20Wars%20HDTV%20Etc.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3FCIQDAVUPMOCV_UiB7UjyiwTCbHYpW90vQ6VdcEgwCFMVADNggP-7nkU

Ken Kreisel

Ken Kreisel Sound and Design

05/05/2025

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02/21/2024

12/24/2023

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