Favourite studios ?

[gainreduction]

Russell,

What are your favourite studios to work in ? Do you have your own place aswell ?

Again, thanx a million for beeing here.

Best, Marcus

[Russell Elevado]

hello marcus,

in new york, where i still reside and do the majority of my work, you can usually find me at avatar studios which used to be the "powerstation" which Tony Bongiovi built in the 80's. they've got an amazing staff and lots of cool gear and mics (including a 670 and 660). they have an 9000J, SSL G+, neve VR and a neve 8068. their techs are seasoned guys (and girl) who have grown up in studios and keep all the old analog gear and tape machines in tip top shape (they look after my gear from time to time as well...yes ). tino passante, studio manager, runs things very smoothly for his clients! they have like 5 studer A800's, 6 emt plates and 2 natural chambers and a collection of vintage instruments. definitely an old school vibe that suits me very well. i'll be doing some of the new D'Angelo there. but who else would let me park my motorcycle in the building?
Avatar Studios: a recording studio at 441 W53rd St. NY 10019

i really like SF Soundworks in san francisco as well and i've been trying to find a project that will go to san francisco so i can work there again. i mixed 3 full albums there: the last blackalicious album "the craft", Goapele (bay area based soul singer) and hargrove's rh factor's last album "distractions". talk about lots of toys. i think Tony's got every cool toy (and usually more than one) known to man, from vintage to the new boutique stuff. (hmmm, i wonder if his kid has a lot of toys?) his main room has a 72 input 9000J and a smaller mix room with a 56 input 9K. Tony Espinoza, the owner, who's also a producer/engineer, caters to the independent artist and creative producer/engineers, like himself. you can get his smaller mix room for like $600/day and he'll fill the room up with great gear! he's passionate about engineering and he is definitely a gear slut. i have great fun working there.
WELCOME TO SAN FRANCISCO SOUNDWORKS, SF SOUNDWORKS, SSL 9000J, TONY ESPINOZA

i also like Quad studios, which was the last studio i was staff at before i went freelance. i was there for about 4 or 5 years. i noticed michael brauer here on the guest spot and he does all his work there. they have 2 9000J's. Roz the studio manager is the oldest friend i have in the industry. he'll take real good care of you there!
Quad Recording Studios NYC

other favorite studios:
Conway studios in Los Angeles has a great vibe. i did nikka costa, saul williams, and blackalicious there.
The Studio (Philly) where i mixed some of the roots stuff and the tye tribbett album. and the roots/ahmir and james poyser have their private studios on the same floor. it's owned by old school string arranger Larry Gold, who is one of the original string arrangers from the whole philly sound era.
also The Plant (sausalito, CA), Right Track (NYC), Elctric Lady (NYC) and the Record Plant (LA).

cheers

[themn]

Hi Russ,

Did you say, ahem, new D'angelo ????

I realise that you can't say too much but how are things progressing with that particular project ?

Peace,

K