Recording Studio

The original version of this article appeared in the first issue of Vintage King's Playback. If you haven't subscribed digitally to our new magazine, you can do so right here. Here at Vintage King, we often get asked, “How do I build a studio for _____ amount of money?” This question is an interesting one, and we can certainly help you find an answer that fits within your budget. The starting point is most likely a question that you must ask yourself: “What is the goal for my studio?” In upcoming issues, we’ll be tackling how to build out several kinds of studios on a budget, but for the purposes of this article, we thought it best to start out with the essential gear needed for a basic recording and mix room. We’ll be covering three pieces of gear in particular: microphone, interface and monitors. Continue reading →

The DAD DX32R from NTP is an extremely handy piece of kit for all kinds of studios, including recording spaces, post production rooms and audio distribution installations. This summer, NTP is offering a special savings of 30% off the interface and router. This means you can save $800 when picking up the DAD DX32R and expand your I/O and so much more for less. So what all can the DAD DX32R do? At its core, the DX32R is a digital audio bridge. The interface can be used to expand your studio's I/O channel count and provide a bridge between AES/EBU, MADI and Dante IP audio networks. It does all this with near zero latency while offer flexible patching and routing of your digital audio signal. Continue reading →

When he isn’t mixing for film and TV, Louis DeFelice is building custom studio desks and racks for his new studio furniture company, Carpenter Studio Gear. Since starting the brand in 2020, things have picked up rather quickly for Louis. He's won over lots of fans with an aesthetic that blends simplicity and durability with a mid-century modern style. We recently sat down with Louis as a part of our Behind The Gear series where we talk to the makers behind our favorite pro audio brands. Continue on to read our conversation and learn how Louis got his start in woodworking and why he feels it's important to invest in good, affordable studio furniture. Continue reading →

At a young age, Jesus Martinez began learning the art of the requinto (a unique tenor guitar with Latin roots) under his father’s tuteledge. This passing of the torch moment would inspire a love for the music of his familial homeland and lead Jesus to study at the Berklee College of Music. After attending Berklee, Jesus became a founding member of Tres Souls, a group that embraces the sounds of 1940s bolero music. While plotting out an EP release, the budding engineer and producer decided to start his own studio and Decibel Studios was born. Continue reading →

For nearly 20 years, Trinnov Audio has been helping studios, post-production facilities and even cinemas optimize their sonic performance. How are they achieving this? By offering powerful room calibration and correction systems that ensure your monitors and room are offering an accurate representation of your audio output. In this Buyer's Guide, we'll take a closer look at how Trinnov Audio’s versatile hardware and innovative software can help improve your workflow. No matter whether you're working out of a large-scale commercial facility or a home studio, there is a solution from Trinnov that will fit your needs and keep your clients happy with your work. Continue reading →

When it comes to studio gear, engineers love experimenting with all kinds of microphones, mic pres, compressors, EQs and whatnot. The more flavors, the better. In terms of studio monitors, pro audio manufacturers strive to keep their designs sounding authentic as possible. This leads us to a common inquiry, “Why do I see so many pictures of studios with multiple sets of monitors? Doesn’t the engineer just pick the right set of monitors that works for them and do their thing?” Well, yes and no… First and foremost, yes, you do want to pick the right set of monitors that works for you. In a sense, speakers are a compass. We choose a set of speakers that we enjoy listening to and we learn them. How does our favorite music sound on them? How does the track you worked on last week sound? Last month? Last year? How do they sound when you turn them up vs. listening to them at a lower level? They become a window to how we hear what we’re working on vs. the rest of the world. Everyone has different opinions and preferences, but at the end of the day, you are the one that is going to spend countless hours in front of the speakers, so you want to pick something that you enjoy working on. Continue reading →

Based out of Des Moines, Iowa, Golden Bear Records is a recording studio and record label run by Bryan and Sarah Vanderpool. The duo found acclaim with their folk-pop band, The Well Pennies, before moving to the Midwest from Los Angeles to start Golden Bear. We recently sat down with Bryan to talk a bit about Golden Bear for our new Studio Spotlight series. Continue reading below to find out about the history of the studio, his experience in the industry and the gear he relies on for every session. Continue reading →

For over two decades, artists from around the globe have been flocking to Maximus Music to find the key to that Southern sound. Owner and founder Ira Parker has propelled the Queen City studio to success and brought in an incredible array of talent including Anthony Hamilton, G-Eazy, Rick Ross, Jadakiss and many more. We recently sat down with Ira for our new Studio Spotlight series to talk about Maximus Music in more detail. Continue below to find out how Ira started the studio, hear his favorite stories about artists working in the room, and discover some of his go-to gear that he picked up from Vintage King Audio Consultant Anthony Erwin. Continue reading →

Since so many of us are cooped up inside, Focusrite Pro thought this was the perfect time to do a livestream. During the At Home, At Home event this past Thursday, the brand showcased its expansive range of gear and gave working engineers the floor to talk about how they use it in their studios. Producer and engineer Garth Richardson (Red Hot Chilli Peppers / Rage Against The Machine) talked specifically about how he transitioned into a home studio set-up with a RedNet-powered rig. There was also a panel discussion featuring world-class mix engineers Rob Burrell and Steve Genewick discussing how they are mixing for Dolby Atmos in their home studio spaces. Continue reading →

2020 has been an unpredictable year, to say the least, but you know what hasn't changed? The fact that you can still rely on a handy piece of IRS tax code to save on gear before the end of the year. That's right, we're here to talk about Section 179. When planning out the scope of your studio for 2021, studio owners can take advantage of Section 179 to make large purchases before the end of December and deduct the price of their new gear from their 2020 gross income. You may be thinking, "I got into studios to avoid hard math," but Section 179 really isn't as complicated as you may think. In fact, it's actually quite simple and the savings can have a drastic effect on your bottom line. Let's dive into talking about Section 179. Continue reading →