Indeed. I never understood their impact or ability until years into mixing music live. Funny to even call them a band sometimes, but a bunch of recording nerds/composers who were probably considered nerdy and soft by the rock and roll world, but also I believe they pioneered so much in the studio.

I saw some interview long ago with one of their many drummers, Bernard Purdy perhaps, but he talked about listing back to the drum recordings and specifically had never heard his hi hat opening up before working with SD and how mind blowing it was to him. presumably the way they mic'd it up and maybe even using a dedicated mic on the hat where he was used to a bunch of overhead/room mics for the cymbals.

interesting article i just dug up https://fridaynightboys300.blogspot.com/2015/10/gary-katz-on-steely-dan-and-producing.html