New gear and tracking rooms!

Things have been quiet on the Empty Sea website this summer, but certainly not quiet at the studio itself!  We’ve been in the process of improving our recording gear and facilities, so if you’re looking to record this fall, you’ll be interested in learning more.

New Tracking Rooms

Studio G (for Garage)

We’ve been making a lot of sawdust onsite — construction is currently underway to turn Empty Sea’s detached garage building into an additional tracking space and editing suite, also known as “Studio G.”  The finished space will be approximately 10×17 feet with 9′ ceilings, hardwood floors, ample soundproofing, a quiet HVAC system and audio interconnects to the main control room.  We’re currently targeting having the space operational by October 1st and fully equipped by November.

In the long run, Studio G will contain an upright piano, vocal tracking area, and standalone audio workstation, making it ideal for vocal overdubs, isolating a single player or group of players, or as an amp or drum room.  Being detached from the main building, G will be available in conjunction with the main studio, or separably rentable for small projects at a reduced rate.

Studio H (for Hammond)

Usually closed to the public, the back bedroom in the main building has served as a woodworking and electronics shop to keep the studio gear functional and provide for the occasional crafts project! However, these functions are being relocated this fall, leaving room for a third tracking space.  Approximately 11 x 13 feet, Studio H will feature the studio’s Hammond organ and provide another room to isolate a player or amp cab.

New Gear!

In the past few months, we’ve substantially added to the studio’s gear selection.  We’re proud to announce new mics, a new preamp and new hardware reverb units!

Here’s what’s new at the studio:

Microphones and Preamps 

Lauten Oceanus

• Lauten Oceanus – “Clear the air for big revealing sound. Built to give you classic sound under modern low-noise circumstances, the LT-381 Oceanus is a fantastic vocal mic. It’s an original high-performance transformer-less tube condenser microphone that produces full and detailed recordings.”

• Peluso 22 47 SE – a modern day reproduction of the Neumann U47 tube microphone, this mic is ideal for many male vocalists, guitars, and other acoustic instruments which benefit from a strong, beefy midrange.

• Peluso 22 251 – A great choice for many female vocalists, this tube mic is extremely detailed, with beautiful highs and understated mids.

• Beyerdynamic MC 930 Stereo Set – This matched pair of small diaphragm condensers is ideal for micing a variety of acoustic instruments.  In the past few months, I’ve used these on lever harp, guitar, mandolin, cittern, and percussion with great success.

• A  Designs Pacifica Microphone Preamp – a stereo, solid-state microphone preamp with hefty transformers for substantial, authoritative tones when paired with a variety of microphones.

Reverb Processors

Used at mix time to create realistic-sounding spaces, these high-end reverb processors complement the existing studio gear!

• Bricasti M7 Reverb Processor – considered by many to be the most realistic and natural reverb device ever built!  It is truly stunning for putting your tracks into realistic-sounding ambiences.

• Lexicon PCM92 – With 4 decades of experience, Lexicon is regarded as the gold standard in digital audio processing. Building on the legendary design of the venerable PCM81 and PCM91, and the breakthrough technology of the PCM96, the PCM92 represents the most advanced reverb and effects processor in its class.

And that’s not all…

There’s plenty of other gear at the studio already – and more importantly, Michael Connolly’s more than 10 years experience in recording acoustic projects can help your next project sound great!