Inside Kingsize Soundlabs: Dave Trumfio on 25 Years, Studio Evolution, and the Producer Room Model
Dave Trumfio has been a fixture in professional recording for nearly four decades—from engineering Chicago house music and Midwest death metal in the late ’80s to producing OK Go, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, and countless indie records that defined the ’90s and 2000s. In our latest video conversation at Kingsize Soundlabs in Los Angeles, Dave shares his journey from Chicago’s burgeoning electronic and indie scenes to building one of LA’s most respected producer studios. Twenty-five years after opening Kingsize LA, Dave recently completed a major studio overhaul with Providence Sound & Vision—replacing his beloved Neve 8068 with an SSL Origin console, curating a “greatest hits” outboard rack, and rethinking what a commercial studio needs to survive in the modern era.
From Chicago House to Indie Rock: The Origins of Kingsize
Dave Trumfio’s professional recording career began at 19 as an apprentice at Sea Grape Studios in Chicago during the late 1980s, where he engineered for artists across many genres, from the burgeoning Chicago house music scene to Midwest death metal bands. After learning the technical foundations of recording to tape with MIDI sequencers and drum machines, Dave moved his studio into a basement to work with the DIY punk and indie rock bands he was passionate about—early Liz Phair, the Handsome Family, and emerging Chicago artists who couldn’t afford commercial studio rates. In the early ’90s, Dave and his friend Mike Hagler built the first Kingsize on Western Avenue in Wicker Park, where Dave established himself as a key figure in the Chicago recording scene before his eventual move to Los Angeles.
Building the “Producer Studio” Model in Los Angeles
After moving to Los Angeles and realizing that working at established studios on indie budgets meant earning almost nothing after paying for studio time, Dave decided to build Kingsize LA around 2001. He recognized that the producer-owned studio model was relatively unique in LA at the time. Most engineers either worked in large commercial facilities or garage setups, with few professionally built studios owned by working producers.
Kingsize LA provided not just a great-sounding room but a full complement of instruments, amplifiers, microphones, and outboard gear included in the rate, eliminating the expensive cartage and rental fees that traditional studios required.
As the industry evolved, Dave expanded the producer studio concept by building “audio offices” – month-to-month producer rooms where engineers could set up their own gear in professionally designed, acoustically treated spaces. Today, this model continues with over 40 producer rooms across the Rock Block area in Eagle Rock, housing some of the biggest working producer-engineers in Los Angeles.
The Modern Overhaul
After collaborating with Providence Sound & Vision founder Jeff Ehrenberg for over two decades on various studio projects, Dave embarked on a major overhaul of Kingsize’s main room in 2024-2025, making the difficult decision to replace his beloved Neve 8068 console after 20 years. Dave and Jeff chose the SSL Origin console for its reliability, versatility, and interchangeable channel cards that cover all the sonic bases clients expect when they think about booking a studio with a “real console.”
The outboard gear collection was overhauled, moving away from esoteric boutique pieces toward what Dave calls the “greatest hits”—gear that working engineers immediately recognize, including Tube-Tech CL 1Bs, Empirical Labs Distressors, Neve 33609 dynamics, and the Q2 Comprex F760 reissue.
Jeff’s hands-on approach made the process seamless, bringing gear directly to the studio for extended demos rather than forcing decisions based on specs alone. After over a year with the new setup, tech bills have dropped while reliability has soared, proving that the driving philosophy worked: build a studio where everything functions reliably so clients never face equipment failures during critical sessions.
Building Your Own Studio?
Whether you’re just starting out or refining a world-class facility, Providence Sound and Vision is here to help. From gear recommendations to custom wiring, acoustic treatment, and immersive audio design—we’ve helped build studios of every shape and size.
Reach out below and let’s talk about what you’re working on.
Let’s bring your vision to life.
