JCP Recording Studio
News - January 2006 - I added a flatscreen monitor and two studio booms. I have a
drumm loop CD that is a pretty good history of jazz drumming, "The Samplist's Guide
to Jazz Drums" is available from powerfx.com but can also be purchased at bigfish.com.
October, 2004 - Patchbays and monitoring options. Now that the patchbay is operational, I have used it for connecting the Hafler 5-tube pre-amp into the guitar recording path. I could use this procedure for patching any effect; the connections are easily understood and it takes only minute to plug in the patch cables. I setup an aux out/stereo return for using my V-Amp effects on my guitar through the monitors while recording driect to the hard disk with no effects. The multi-channel headphone monitoring is working and these monitor amps are LOUD! The AKG headphones work very well. Also, I can now quickly patch between room monitors - either the tri-amped ESS towers and sub-woofer, or the PC desk monitors.
Summary of Services and Products
JCP Recording is a home project studio that has been using PC-based digital recording since 1998. Services include:
- Sixteen-track recording using Steinberg Cubase SX software, featuring 24-bit analog to digital conversion formats and 32-bit internal processing.
- Audio production including musical arrangements, featuring 32 channel mixdowns, VST digital processing, and a variety of analog signal processing.
- Audio mastering to CD using WaveLab 4.0 software with VST digital processing.
- Studio rentals by the job and by the hour, with engineering.
- On-site sort-run CD manufacturing.
- Management services for extended CD manufacturing runs, specialized graphic design, and CD packaging.
- Management services for music marketing, promotion, and distribution.
- Turn-key sound reinforcement for live music, systems up to 1800 watts to cover most venues and small outdoor engagements.
- Audio Engineering consulting services - all aspects of digital recording systems and turn-key designs, sound reinforcement.
Products Include:
CD releases, industrial soundtracks, advertising jingles, live recording, and mastering for radio broadcast.
Clients Include:
Leibold Associates Inc., Geriatric Jazz Group, North Coast Jazz Project, Island Jazz, Train Wreck (the band), and Frank Nelsen.
About the Studio - Engineering Notes
The audio signal path begins with a Mackie 1604 16-channel mixer and recording channels connected to a Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) 2408 Mark 2, featuring 24-bit, 8-channel I/O. An additional 8-channels are available via a Behringer ADA unit. The computer system is a Milwaukee PC 3.0Ghz Pentium IV with 1024MB of 800Mhz ram, 60GB/80GB/120GB hard drives with an additonal portable 40GB USB drive, using disk image backups and CD project archiving. Primary software is Steinberg Cubase SX for recording and production, Steinberg Wavelab 4.0 for mastering and CD production. MOTU Midi Express 4in/6out midi buss with Emagic SoundDiver for midi device management.
Monitoring playback path is through 26-band graphic EQ and realtime analyzer, feeding bi-amped Heil ESS towers (1978 vintage, great stuff!). Headphone monitoring is available via a Rolls 6-channel headphone amp and a Behringer 6-channel amp with line insert control. Headphones available are (3) AKG and (2) Sony.
The acoustic space is a small but functional 13ft by 18ft, with carpeting and acoustic ceiling. Noise isolation construction consists of double brick walls on three sides, double drywall on one wall and behind the acoustic ceiling, and solid oak doors. Walls are fully treated in 2 inch wedge acoustic foam sound panels as well as special bass traps for a 'neutral' sound. The 'drum room' is currently partitioned to maximize eye contact while reducing bleed-thru. There is an adjacent reception room and separate guitar amp room under construction. Gear access is convenient via six stairs.
Microphones Include:
Large diaphram condensers - Studio Projects C1, (2) Marshall MXL2001, Behringer B1.
Small diaphram condensers - (2) AKG 535, Marshall MXL 603.
Dynamic microphones: (2) Electro-voice RE-20, (1) Sennheiser 421, (4) AKG 3700, (2) AKG 3900, AKG D112, (2) Audix D2, Audix D4, (2) Audix OM5.
Studio Instuments Include:
Roland XP50 sythesizer, Roland GR-33 guitar synthesizer, Fatar 88 key weighted keyboard, Kaysound keyboard controller, Ibanez electric bass, clarinet, violin, Peavey drumset, and misc percussion toys. There is access to a Martin D-40, Takamine 12-string, and acoustic upright bass.
The Guitars below are (in order): Heritage Eagle Classic, Heritage H555 (main guitar for live performance), '82 Electra Howard Roberts w/Bartolini and piezo pickups, Fender Stratocaster Powerhouse w/active pickups, Takamine AEN40C acoustic/electric, Takamine G126 classical guitar, and Godin Multiac ACS-SA solid-body classical guitar synth.
Amplifiers and guitar gizmos include:
Polytone Mini-Brute II jazz amp
Epiphone Galaxy 10 tube amp with various pre-amp and power tubes
Pedalboard - Dunlop Wha, Route 66, Boss chorus, Digitech Jamman
Other - Hafler T3 pre-amp, ADA Mosfet rack amp, 12" and 15" guitar cabinets.
Signal Processing and Software Instruments:
Analog signal processing includes: PreSonus stereo tube pre-amp, Behringer V-AMP 2 guitar amp modeling, Digitech GSP Legend Guitar signal processor, Alesis 3630 compressor, Alesis Midi-verb reverb, and additional Behringer Euro-mixer.
Digital signal processing and mastering tools are extensive and include: all Cubase VST plug-ins, WAVES Gold 3.1, Antares mike modeler, TL Audio parametric EQ, WARP Guitar amp modeler, and additional plug-ins of all types.
Digital instruments include SampleTank XL sampler with full library and Akai sampler playback, Native Instruments B4 'Hammond B3' and FM7 'Yamaha DX7,' and various additional software synthesizers. Also available is Band-in-a-Box sequencing software, Jazz samplist drum loops, Virtual drummer, and Twiddly-Bits drum sequences.
Sound Reinforcement Includes:
Portable studio gear plus (2) Yamaha SV115 mains, and access to (3) JBL Eon 10s.
