Recording Studios: More than 8-track!
By Jason Rolfe
Reprinted w/ permission
     If you are a musician of any kind, in a garage band or jazz trio, you've probably felt the urge at some point to record your music. Recording on the old 4-track recorder that your dad used when he was in college just doesn't cut it after a while. It is true that one can make a good quality home recording nowadays for pretty cheap. But at some point every musician wants the chance to go to a real studio with a real engineer and real recording equipment to do things professionally.
     Depending on what an artists goals are with a recording to make a quick demo or a full length album there are a variety of studios for artists to choose from in Seattle and even some right around the U-District: Vagrant Recording Studio, Jack Straw Productions, and Avast! Recording are a few of these. Erik 4-A (yes, that is his last name) has been a part of the Seattle music scene for over 10 years. He studied music production at The Evergreen State College and, in 1994, opened Vagrant Recording Studio on the Ave. The building is small, with just the right amount of room to hold 4-A's office, studio, and control room (the room where the mixing board, tape machines, and other equipment is located).
     The studio primarily uses 16 and 24-track analog recording equipment, which 4-A has been working with since the mid-80s. Despite what most people will say, 4-A believes analog recording gives you a better sound. The reason for this, he explained, is that with analog recording music is recorded on a sort of curve, giving you a smoother sound. With a digital recording, the music is broken up and recorded as 0s and 1s, which affects the quality of the sound.
     4-A divides his time between engineering and producing, sharing the engineering duties with Dave Miller. A producer, 4-A explains, is someone who is hired to work with the band to help arrange the sounds in a way that works both musically and artistically. The engineer is a technician that records the music to tape. Combining the two is commonplace. But this job is not for 4-A and Miller alone. Its important to have the band co-produce with you, Miller said. I'm not always right.
     4-A has worked with a number of local artists over the years ranging in style from punk rock to art rock to bizarre noise making. These bands have included punk-rockers Sick and Wrong, The Queen Annes, and surf rockers The Boss Martians. 4-A stressed the importance of establishing trust with the bands he works with. Most of all, said 4-A, I want to work with people who want to work. People who have practiced and know their music.
     Another recording studio in the area is at Jack Straw Productions on Roosevelt Way. The Jack Straw Foundation, started in the 1960s, provides support to the art community. JSP works with a variety of different artists working in film, video, music and a diverse range of other media.
     The recording facility at JSP was opened in the late 1980s as a non-profit audio production and training center. Things are done a little differently at JSP than at Vagrant Recording. At JSP, for example, most of the recording is done digitally, though they are capable of recording analog for those who prefer it.
     The recording studio consists of two control rooms and two studios. All are very spacious and well equipped. We have our own team of engineers, explained Executive Director Joan Rabinwowitz. But that doesn't keep us from bringing other people in to work on other projects. Those projects have included African, Brazilian, jazz, rock, classical, and contemporary music. There's something different going on all the time, said Rabinwowitz happily.
     The main goal of JSP is to provide a place of support to artists. Besides recording musicians, JSP also provides training and internships for people who would like to become engineers or producers themselves. Avast! Recording in Wallingford has an impressive history with Seattle music. Owner Stuart Hallerman was live sound man for Soundgarden in the early 90s and did some recording for them also.
     Hallerman, who also studied music production at Evergreen, opened Avast! in 1989 as a 16-track analog recording studio. Like 4-A, Hallerman mainly uses a 24-track analog machine for recording. Kevin Suggs, an engineer who does work at Avast!, pointed out an array of vintage recording equipment which Hallerman has acquired over the years. Its old school around here, he said, laughing.
     The recording process at Avast! is very loose. The engineer will typically work a 12-hour day with the band. Some bands take longer than others to get things done. I've done records in four days and I've done records in a month the bands that have more money and can take more time usually end up with a better recording. Every band is different though, so that isn't always the case, said Suggs.
     Among the artists who have worked with Hallerman (besides Soundgarden) are Built to Spill, Joan Jett, local band Mayfly, Faith and Disease, and others from various musical genres. Most of the bands we work with are guitar bands, said Suggs. Every once in a while we get someone who comes in and does things a little differently.
     When planning to go into the studio, it is important for artists to make sure they have the money, and make sure the studio they are going to work with won't screw them. There are people out there who will just throw a band in a studio, push some buttons, and maybe help out a little so long as they get paid.
     Vagrant, JSP, and Avast! are all places where the music comes first and the people doing the recording will work with the musicians to get things right. All three have been involved with music for at least ten years and with the dedication they put into it, it will be no surprise if they are around in ten more.



Photos by Lee Goldman
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