End of Legacy A509

[Marlan]

One of my good friends informed me over dinner this evening that he just came from playing the very last film scoring session at Legacy Studios. He said the place was slated for demolition starting tomorrow. Apparently Clinton is next. Can anyone else confirm this? I do not want to send forth erroneous information and start hollow rumors.

If it's true, the age of big studio recording in New York City is truly coming to an end. We know it's been steadily dwindling for quite some time, and of course there will always be some places to go for major studio work, but the Halcyon days are over.

As we all know, the economics of our age run in cycles, but things are really bad and it's going to be a long tome before they get better.

I'm depressed for everyone.

[Marlan]

Legacy Studio A509 Closes | Mix News Article on Legacy Studio Closing A509 Room 48th Street Facility Still Open

[ajfarber]

Clinton sold their building but will continue to operate the studio until the new owners decide how to develop the property.

Legacy A509 was the best room in town for orchestra recording. I have done many film and commercial dates in there. I guess we'll have to go to Kaufman Astoria now.

BTW, Kaufman is a great room but the gear is just so-so. Neve V desk, all solid-state mics and pre's. Great piano though!

Big studios have made their money from big orchestra and big band dates for film, TV and record dates. There is no record business anymore, so even the major labels don't give out the kind of recording budgets for orchestra recording. I'm sure there are exceptions, but not enough to keep NYC studios up and running.

Film and TV dates that are "studio pictures", therefore AFM union dates, are largely done in LA. Any non-union or "all-in" deals have to be recorded overseas. That is what really killed Legacy!

Don't get me started on this union-busting craze we've been experiencing. Needless to say, we're all screwed now that commercial music is either made with computers, bands in their home studios or recorded in Slobovia (a made up Eastern European country).