LA studio echo chamber

6777 · 2nd February 2009

I'm supposed to submit a recording budget for 15 songs to a label that wants to sign my band. Based on this proposed budget, the label will then offer us an advance. I know I won't be satisfied unless I have access to a good, real echo chamber for mixing, and if all goes well, it would be most convenient for that echo chamber to be located inside a Los Angeles-area studio. Keeping in mind that every dollar I propose for the budget is one dollar less we'll get for our advance, what LA studio do I choose?

stike

Dirty Halo · 2nd February 2009

Sunset Sound studio 1 has an amazing live chamber, great people, great studio... and if its good enough for The Doors, Stones, Van Halen and the like... well

-andrews

Tony Shepperd · 2nd February 2009

Capitol Studios. Three kinds of NEVE consoles and 2 great chambers.

heyman · 2nd February 2009

Tony, Capitol's chamber is underground, correct?

Tony Shepperd · 2nd February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyman

Tony, Capitol's chamber is underground, correct?

Yes.

yrplace · 2nd February 2009

Sunset Sound actually has three live chambers. One is just off the controlroom for Studio One and the others are upstairs from Studio 3. they also have some of the best EMT plates around.

For rock music I think you'd prefer the Sunset chambers to those at Capitol which are better for orchestra and pop stuff than rock, but to be honest you might have more luck using a well tuned EMT 140 than any of the live chambers.

Oh and Oceanway has two live chambers and lots of EMTs.

Mark

ITJ · 2nd February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by yrplace

Sunset Sound actually has three live chambers. One is just off the controlroom for Studio One and the others are upstairs from Studio 3. they also have some of the best EMT plates around.

For rock music I think you'd prefer the Sunset chambers to those at Capitol which are better for orchestra and pop stuff than rock, but to be honest you might have more luck using a well tuned EMT 140 than any of the live chambers.

Oh and Oceanway has two live chambers and lots of EMTs.

Mark

If you want to "ROCK" got to Sunset Sound or Sound City.

6777 · 2nd February 2009

Yeah guys. What about the $$$ (a significant factor in securing some commitments, unfortunately)

BrianK · 3rd February 2009

Capitol actually has 8 chambers. They all sound different.

Here's an idea. You have a budget (big or small?) You could book ONE day at Capitol just before you mix. You can print your main parts (vocal, strings, etc) into the chamber and then back into your machine. Take the sound with you when you go mix somewhere.

IF you have a big budget, ALL these places would work well. If your budget is smaller - you can grab "a day" and do this anywhere that has a chamber. I use them a lot when mixing, but it doesn't require a lot of adjustment, you just feed the signal in at a healthy level/tone, and record the output - mono or stereo. You can choose which chamber if they have various ones - longer, shorter, brighter, darker.

It IS a great sound. Compliments to you for wanting it on your work...

6777 · 7th February 2009

Thanks. That's a good idea, but I will try to mix in the studio w/chamber if I can. I'd need 16-track. How do Henson's chambers sound?

BrianK · 8th February 2009

Don't know - have not worked at Henson (A&M) but as Capitol has more chambers, you have more options. Keep in mind that chambers are largely fixed - like a reverb preset; all you can do it EQ the send or returns. They have a length and tone each individually. Call Paula Salvatore at Capitol for rates, and Henson to compare. Good luck.. glad you have a budget!

6777 · 8th February 2009

I need one that's thick with a long decay for 60's-style sunshine lead and harmony vocals - think Pet Sounds or Curt Boettcher productions

phillysoulman · 8th February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6777

Thanks. That's a good idea, but I will try to mix in the studio w/chamber if I can. I'd need 16-track. How do Henson's chambers sound?

hensons are great too.
BTW, you can book a chamber at Capitol and mix via class A lines from your studio of choice ,sent to Capitol and returned to you.

phillysoulman · 8th February 2009

Altiverb have great convolutions of Cello(United Western) cambers as well as many more.
Its way more cost effective too(smile)

mixerguy · 9th February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Altiverb have great convolutions of Cello(United Western) cambers as well as many more.
Its way more cost effective too(smile)

yeah.... but.... in my opinion..... Altiverb chambers do NOT sound the same as the real deal.

I've compared...... (I have had the pleasure to work at many places in LA that have real chambers)

YMMV

Casey · 9th February 2009

Andrews, did you send that CD? I am looking forward to winning our challenge!

Brian has spent much of the last week working on the plates and a couple of well known rooms from another studio near LA, and IMO they are quite accurate.

I hope you have been saving!

-Casey

yrplace · 9th February 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6777

I need one that's thick with a long decay for 60's-style sunshine lead and harmony vocals - think Pet Sounds or Curt Boettcher productions

Well the Sunset Studio one chamber and their EMT's were used on some of Pet Sounds , Good Vibrations and Smile (1967 and 2004) as well as records by the Doors, Love and countless other 60's groups.

BTW if all else fails the sampled chambers from Cello (formerly Western, now East West) in Altiverb work quite well.........

Good luck.......

okydoky · 9th February 2009

hi,

you could try the village recorder in west l.a. they have lots of different options for reverberation.

right.

2nd February 2009	#1
6777 Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 63 Thread Starter	LA studio echo chamber I'm supposed to submit a recording budget for 15 songs to a label that wants to sign my band. Based on this proposed budget, the label will then offer us an advance. I know I won't be satisfied unless I have access to a good, real echo chamber for mixing, and if all goes well, it would be most convenient for that echo chamber to be located inside a Los Angeles-area studio. Keeping in mind that every dollar I propose for the budget is one dollar less we'll get for our advance, what LA studio do I choose? stike

2nd February 2009	#2
Dirty Halo Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hollyweird Posts: 7,373	Sunset Sound Sunset Sound studio 1 has an amazing live chamber, great people, great studio... and if its good enough for The Doors, Stones, Van Halen and the like... well -andrews

9th February 2009	#16
Casey Lives for gear Join Date: May 2003 Location: Cambridge MA USA Posts: 1,077	Andrews, did you send that CD? I am looking forward to winning our challenge! Brian has spent much of the last week working on the plates and a couple of well known rooms from another studio near LA, and IMO they are quite accurate. I hope you have been saving! -Casey __________________ cdowdell@bricasti.com www.bricasti.com My love shall hear the music of my hounds. - Shakespeare

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2nd February 2009	#3
Tony Shepperd Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,711	Capitol Studios. Three kinds of NEVE consoles and 2 great chambers.

2nd February 2009	#4
heyman Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 2,660	Tony, Capitol's chamber is underground, correct?

2nd February 2009	#6
yrplace Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: lost angeles Posts: 1,738	Sunset Sound actually has three live chambers. One is just off the controlroom for Studio One and the others are upstairs from Studio 3. they also have some of the best EMT plates around. For rock music I think you'd prefer the Sunset chambers to those at Capitol which are better for orchestra and pop stuff than rock, but to be honest you might have more luck using a well tuned EMT 140 than any of the live chambers. Oh and Oceanway has two live chambers and lots of EMTs. Mark

3rd February 2009	#9
BrianK Gear addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hollywood Posts: 364	Capitol actually has 8 chambers. They all sound different. Here's an idea. You have a budget (big or small?) You could book ONE day at Capitol just before you mix. You can print your main parts (vocal, strings, etc) into the chamber and then back into your machine. Take the sound with you when you go mix somewhere. IF you have a big budget, ALL these places would work well. If your budget is smaller - you can grab "a day" and do this anywhere that has a chamber. I use them a lot when mixing, but it doesn't require a lot of adjustment, you just feed the signal in at a healthy level/tone, and record the output - mono or stereo. You can choose which chamber if they have various ones - longer, shorter, brighter, darker. It IS a great sound. Compliments to you for wanting it on your work...

7th February 2009	#10
6777 Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 63 Thread Starter	Thanks. That's a good idea, but I will try to mix in the studio w/chamber if I can. I'd need 16-track. How do Henson's chambers sound?

8th February 2009	#11
BrianK Gear addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hollywood Posts: 364	Don't know - have not worked at Henson (A&M) but as Capitol has more chambers, you have more options. Keep in mind that chambers are largely fixed - like a reverb preset; all you can do it EQ the send or returns. They have a length and tone each individually. Call Paula Salvatore at Capitol for rates, and Henson to compare. Good luck.. glad you have a budget!

8th February 2009	#14
phillysoulman Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The City Of Brotherly Love And Sisterly Affection Posts: 8,140	Altiverb have great convolutions of Cello(United Western) cambers as well as many more. Its way more cost effective too(smile)

9th February 2009	#18
okydoky 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended. Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 780	hi, you could try the village recorder in west l.a. they have lots of different options for reverberation. right.