Working in a recording studio is much like any other profession. After all, with new advanced gear coming out daily, there is a constant education curve that engineers, mixers and producers must follow. With the formation of the
Studio Prodigy Master Class Series, founder Ryan Hewitt has helped to make the education process a lot easier.
By bringing together younger generations of music practitioners with the founding representatives of the industry, Studio Prodigy MCS has brought about a unique curricelem and set it in the only place worth learning, the recording studio. By using some of the best studios in the world, Hewitt has guaranteed that legendary producers and engineers can show those just learning some of the major tricks of the trade. In two upcoming courses, presented by Vintage King, Hewitt will bring in studio legends Eddie Kramer, Francis Buckley and Chris Bellman for insightful lectures.
As the leader of
Studio Prodigy Session Four, Eddie Kramer truly needs no introduction for those indoctrinated in the world of rock. Born in Capetown, South Africa, Kramer would get his start engineering two Beatles singles before moving onto work with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones.
Taking place on June 21 and 22 at the infamous East West Studios, Kramer will talk about his recording techniques on the first day while cover mixing on day two. Walking through the studio's expansive 80-input Neve 8078, Eddie will inform students just what it takes to capture a truly classic rock performance.
Kramer's engineering work on Traffic's Mr. Fantasy helped the album reach its status as one of the greatest records of the late 1960s.
As a part of the second session, Chris Bellman and Francis Buckley will be teaming up for an advanced course on June 28 and 29 at Bernie Grundman Mastering Studios in Hollywood. Bellman, whose mastering credits include Tom Petty, Neil Young, Carole King and Van Halen, has been working in the industry since the lates 1970s. Francis Buckley got his start in the early 1970s, and has since worked on projects for Black Flag, Quincy Jones and Alanis Morisette.
With a unique focus on mastering for both analog and digital,
Studio Prodigy Session Five will focus on the differences between both mediums. Considering the rebound of vinyl in recent years, it's important to note that mastering is a completely unique process. Throughout the course, each student will bring a mix for Chris to master and it will then be cut straight to acetate.
Few albums can touch the rock 'n' roll panache of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Damn The Torpedos, which was mastered by Chris Bellman.
Thanks to the genius of guitarist Greg Ginn, producer SPOT and Fracis Buckley's mix, Black Flag's
Damaged stands firm as a classic punk rock record.
If you're interested in attending these sessions, please know that they are advanced classes that involve a back catalog of recorded works and previous studio knowledge. You can send in your music and info to
Studio Prodigy MCS for consideration and, hopefully, you'll make the cut for this once in a lifetime courses.
