Seriously though, how often are all those buttons and knobs used on these consoles in studios?
A lot, I think, but I really don't know anything much about it, realised that especially when I saw some big ones.
Recently saw a video on defunct recording studios, big complex built at Radio Bophutatswana [in South Africa, was the name of a semi-independent homeland/reservation] in 1990s...seems it was hardly used, millions of US$ in it...
massive mixing consoles. Interview with the Focusrite CEO/boss - I didn't know that was their main business before getting into pro audio interfaces. The stuff is great, state-of-the-art at the time but it was just before it become superseded by new generation digital.
They got Van Der Hul, I think, to get monster amplifiers built for it... which disapeared overnight when company was being liquidated, and then found their way into various hands.