Unique Recording Studios-R.I.P.

[thethrillfactor]

The place where i got my start is closed.

Another NYC studio staple is gone.

Oh well!!!grudge

[djui5]

that suck's......

Are they selling off all the gear?

[stakeoutstudios]

... and the vultures begin to circle

[DrDeltaM]

It's them of the URS plugins? Will they be discontinued? Or are they focusing pure on the soft maybe

[Mr. Truth]

Originally posted by DrDeltaM
It's them of the URS plugins? Will they be discontinued? Or are they focusing pure on the soft maybe

Bobby and Jo Ann Nathan are two of the finest people in the music industry. They will surely continue to develop their URS plugs, which are some of the finest software plug-ins in the industry.

I totally wish them both well...

Mr. Truth

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by djui5
that suck's......

Are they selling off all the gear?

Yes.

They've already begun.

[Ray Sigmond]

[XHipHop]

I saw their rooms for rent on *************** last week.

Pretty pricey at $4000-$6500 a room (from what i remember) but they were rather large spaces and right in times square!

[shikawkee]

Fun studio, did a lot of great work there. I'm surprised they kept it going this long.

[7rojo7]

Was Tony Dorsey there till the end? I'm at least 9 years away from this scene.

[jlotto]

Studio C was my favorite mix room. Lounge view of square was wonderful.

As more and more songs get mixed in the box with a few outboard pieces, 2bus summing, etc., at private spots, this may just be a prelude of things to come. Hit Factory, Sony stay booked 24/7 but what about everyone else?

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by jlotto
Studio C was my favorite mix room. Lounge view of square was wonderful.

As more and more songs get mixed in the box with a few outboard pieces, 2bus summing, etc., at private spots, this may just be a prelude of things to come. Hit Factory, Sony stay booked 24/7 but what about everyone else?

Studio B was my favorite.

Unique over the last few years did themselves in by forgetting what put them on the map, the engineers and service.

They let the place go and their reputation went down the tubes.

I know to keep up with the joneses(Hit Factory,Sony,Right Track,Quad) is expensive.

But the studio shoulda never got to that point.

Ultimately what did them in is their lease was up.

27 years and poof its over.

Here in town the only thing that keeps the big studios open are the Rap acts. And that is getting played out also as rap sales are going down.

[djui5]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
Here in town the only thing that keeps the big studios open are the Rap acts. And that is getting played out also as rap sales are going down.

wonder what's next.....hair bands again?

[Mr. Truth]

Originally posted by djui5
wonder what's next.....hair bands again?

Nope. American Idol.

Mr. T

[Ruudman]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
...
Here in town the only thing that keeps the big studios open are the Rap acts. And that is getting played out also as rap sales are going down.

Thrill,
are rap sales going down in the US?
Just curious,

ruudman

[jlotto]

Originally posted by Ruudman
are rap sales going down in the US?
Just curious,

ruudman

Sales down across the board. The bootlegging of rap and r&b CDs is an industry on it's own. The recent arrest of DJ Rock in southeast uncovered a whole multimillion dollar a year network that stretches across the USA & Int'l complete w security squad. Go to any high school- students download the latest rap album, burn a bunch and sell them to classmates. That's the new "part time job" and they make more $ than working any fast food or clothing store. Canal St lives and prospers on rap CD bootleggs as well as asian & african spots hidden in buildings in W20's. All have worlwide networks.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by jlotto
Sales down across the board. The bootlegging of rap and r&b CDs is an industry on it's own. The recent arrest of DJ Rock in southeast uncovered a whole multimillion dollar a year network that stretches across the USA & Int'l complete w security squad. Go to any high school- students download the latest rap album, burn a bunch and sell them to classmates. That's the new "part time job" and they make more $ than working any fast food or clothing store. Canal St lives and prospers on rap CD bootleggs as well as asian & african spots hidden in buildings in W20's. All have worlwide networks.

Yeah this is one reason,

The biggest though is that they have pretty much stretched the genre as far it can go.

Also like a lot of the record labels, a lot of the rap A&R's don't take chances.

Its one party record after another.

Its gotten boring and repetitive and the music videos are the same.

It had to happen sometime though, like every genre it has its run and now its time to go back to the shed.

[5150MP]

The biggest though is that they have pretty much stretched the genre as far it can go.

1-Not really, Outkast is still going strong but the Labels don't take chances anymore, they forget it's all about the love and the art.

Also like a lot of the record labels, a lot of the rap A&R's don't take chances.

2-Super true but it's really sparked the grassroots artists movement, Midwest and Mid Southern styles have yet to be really heard.

Its one party record after another.

3-I like to party but there is no substance (not on the Radio anyway) in the music these days, PE where are you???

Its gotten boring and repetitive and the music videos are the same.

4-See #2 above. Art has to be pushed or it becomes stale, too many people are doing music these days for the wrong reasons, money. People buy music for the emotion quality and that has all but dissapeared......... so sad.

It had to happen sometime though, like every genre it has its run and now its time to go back to the shed.

5-There are many underground music types out there, some never left the shed. The music industry is changing and I for one am happy about it. One day the artists will have the power and not the Board of Directors. I'm tired of the old way of screwing artists out of their art and bleeding them dry. The good old boy netword is down for the count...................... and it can't get back up, that's what greed gets you.
My .02
tutt
tutt

[jlotto]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor

Here in town the only thing that keeps the big studios open are the Rap acts.

More and more major Rap acts are starting to do the in the box, few outboard, analog summing thing. The mastering stage is about to take on a new level of importance.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by jlotto
More and more major Rap acts are starting to do the in the box, few outboard, analog summing thing. The mastering stage is about to take on a new level of importance.

Yeah, but you still need the big control rooms for:

A) The "Bigs"- into order to mix the bass you go to be able to hear it

B) More importantly their entourage- It still amazes me at rap sessions to still see so many people that have nothing better to do than to come down to the studio and hang out.

I guess its their way of feeling famous.grudge

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by 5150MP
The biggest though is that they have pretty much stretched the genre as far it can go.

1-Not really, Outkast is still going strong but the Labels don't take chances anymore, they forget it's all about the love and the art.

Also like a lot of the record labels, a lot of the rap A&R's don't take chances.

2-Super true but it's really sparked the grassroots artists movement, Midwest and Mid Southern styles have yet to be really heard.

Its one party record after another.

3-I like to party but there is no substance (not on the Radio anyway) in the music these days, PE where are you???

Its gotten boring and repetitive and the music videos are the same.

4-See #2 above. Art has to be pushed or it becomes stale, too many people are doing music these days for the wrong reasons, money. People buy music for the emotion quality and that has all but dissapeared......... so sad.

It had to happen sometime though, like every genre it has its run and now its time to go back to the shed.

5-There are many underground music types out there, some never left the shed. The music industry is changing and I for one am happy about it. One day the artists will have the power and not the Board of Directors. I'm tired of the old way of screwing artists out of their art and bleeding them dry. The good old boy netword is down for the count...................... and it can't get back up, that's what greed gets you.
My .02
tutt
tutt

Outkast is one group and they've been around for a while.

With the exception of the Black Eyed Peas, its rare to see a group like De La Soul or a Tribe Called Quest on a major label(not like in the old days).

I was told the next big movement in Rap will be the Rap/rock thing again but with African American musicians instead.

The consensus is that the electric guitar has all but dissapeared from Black music in general. So to bring it back would be something new or different.

Its funny when i was growing up, it was normal to see R&B bands with electric guitars.

Now its a rare thing...so are R&B bands!!

[BevvyB]

Originally posted by 5150MP
The good old boy netword is down for the count...................... and it can't get back up, that's what greed gets you.

We're just switching networks, that's all.

[jazzius II]

Originally posted by jlotto
More and more major Rap acts are starting to do the in the box, few outboard, analog summing thing. The mastering stage is about to take on a new level of importance.

Will all the plugins available, mastering may be about to take on a new level of futility.

[jazzius II]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor

I was told the next big movement in Rap will be the Rap/rock thing again but with African American musicians instead.

The consensus is that the electric guitar has all but dissapeared from Black music in general. So to bring it back would be something new or different.

Its funny when i was growing up, it was normal to see R&B bands with electric guitars.

Now its a rare thing...so are R&B bands!!

yes yes, i agree, Thrill!........let all the sad rap hangers-on go get jobs.....and let's cart all the rap stars off to Wall St./prison where they belong.....what we need is a new Hendrix/Prince/J.B........what about some dancing again already?..........that's what bugs me most about the current state of the RnB/Rap game......no dancing, just hoes and cars and bottles of booze.......fuk that shit up the a-hole........i wanna see someone bust a move!.........that's why i rate BEP 'cause although they've gone a bit cheesy, at least they move a bit (Will.i.am's actually a pretty cool dancer).

[ttauri]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
I was told the next big movement in Rap will be the Rap/rock thing again but with African American musicians instead.

The consensus is that the electric guitar has all but dissapeared from Black music in general. So to bring it back would be something new or different.

I just was at this show with two bands moving in that direction. Took me by surprise, though I wasn't really feeling it. Kinda weird hearing crunchy electric guitar and Boyz II Men-style melisma-cized soul belting.

Anyway, too bad about Unique. Seeing pictures of MIDI City was, I think, the first time I experienced gear lust.

Peece,
T. Tauri

[5150MP]

It's not cool to dance these days, this is sad.
Young people don't seem to be as happy these days, too much negative TV has them thinking the world will end any day now, this is also just too sad.

[jlotto]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
Yeah, but you still need the big control rooms for:

A) The "Bigs"- into order to mix the bass you go to be able to hear it

B) More importantly their entourage- It still amazes me at rap sessions to still see so many people that have nothing better to do than to come down to the studio and hang out.

I guess its their way of feeling famous.grudge

I've worked with many private PT facilities for major artists in the past year who have full blooded control rooms complete w/ "Bigs" and subs. U don't need to spend $250/hr for that anymore. Our control room FMR built and has custom mains and subs and it's all PT HD. Artsists are real budget conscious nowadays. Labels have tighten reins for everyone. That recoup of recording and mixing an album at Sony or Hit Factory is nuts.

They key is too have a nice sized lounge. DVD, big screen, playstation, sofas, TV. and rules: Most artists do not allow entourage in the control room, ever. Only those who are working on the material and manager/label personel. We did a song w/ Mariah Carey on hook in a private facility w/ a nice lounge on E 32nd. Song was mixed there as well.

The entourage thing has begun to be controlled over last 2 years or so after the many incidents at radio stations.

[jlotto]

Originally posted by jazzius II
that's what bugs me most about the current state of the RnB/Rap game......no dancing, just hoes and cars and bottles of booze.......fuk that shit up the a-hole........i wanna see someone bust a move!.........that's why i rate BEP 'cause although they've gone a bit cheesy, at least they move a bit (Will.i.am's actually a pretty cool dancer).

"Bust a move"? Has anyone said that in 15yrs? What kind of rap & r&b music do u listen to? People dance in clubs all night long to rap/r&b songs. In videos, u want people to dance like Janet Jackson? Most of the rap videos are club scenes w people dancing- it's real redundant. Video stories and actual happenings, like Kanye West following his girl thru the airport, or back when Xzibit had the video where weird things happened everplace he went. That's where the video game needs to go or go back to. But budgets restrict that. Most rap videos are shot in one day: early morning outside shots, afternoon studio shots, nightime club shots. all filmed within 24hrs

[jlotto]

Originally posted by jazzius II
Will all the plugins available, mastering may be about to take on a new level of futility.

For label projects everyone still using Sterling Sound, etc for those mastering engineers that have a reference in the genre and can make it "pop and bang".

For those mastering engineers that can't hang in the genre they ain't gonna get no biz except for maybe a quick white label or mixtape single that needs to be done yesterday.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by jlotto
I've worked with many private PT facilities for major artists in the past year who have full blooded control rooms complete w/ "Bigs" and subs. U don't need to spend $250/hr for that anymore. Our control room FMR built and has custom mains and subs and it's all PT HD. Artsists are real budget conscious nowadays. Labels have tighten reins for everyone. That recoup of recording and mixing an album at Sony or Hit Factory is nuts.

They key is too have a nice sized lounge. DVD, big screen, playstation, sofas, TV. and rules: Most artists do not allow entourage in the control room, ever. Only those who are working on the material and manager/label personel. We did a song w/ Mariah Carey on hook in a private facility w/ a nice lounge on E 32nd. Song was mixed there as well.

The entourage thing has begun to be controlled over last 2 years or so after the many incidents at radio stations.

Yeah this is partly true for producing and doing remixes.

PTHD and no SSL huh for mixing rap?

The majority of the major label acts are still mixed in the big studios.

On the entourages thing it depends on the artist.

To have a lounge in a private facility here in NYC is a big time luxury. A 250 sq ft lounge is major real estate and you maybe paying an extra grand a month for it.

Some studios like Quad and Sony let you do whatever you want in the control rooms, so i've seen major sessions where anything goes.

It still a big deal to a new artist to say that they cut a record at the Hit Factory or Sony(which are the one's that are booking the big studios anyway).

Now when they get hit on the backend its a different story.