Hello Everyone! Sorry we haven’t had time to send out an email in a while, we’ve been so busy!
And that’s a good thing! We’ve had several major recording projects that we’ve been excited to finish up, as well as a bunch of studio improvements! One of the biggest things we did this month was to shoot a Live From Bad Racket with Reverse The Curse.
Live from Bad Racket Recording Studio
Henri has been busy building API 500 series preamp modules after finishing his custom guitar cabinet in July; James has been busy in the wood-shop paneling a few different areas and constructing quadratic residue diffusers for the live room; our intern Angie has been busy helping out too! We had two major cassette tape releases with Shale Satans and Ma Holos; we got a baby grand piano we are rehabbing it; and we constructed an enormous analog plate reverb.
We Got A Baby Grand Piano!
Soon we will be unveiling our new baby grand piano, adding to our stock of instruments available for your use during sessions, like a Vintage 70s Fender Vibro Champ. Unlike our previous up-rights, this refurbished piano offers a more mature and full sound, expanding on the variety of keyboard sounds we have to offer for any genre you are looking to record.
Live From Bad Racket with Reverse The Curse
We are especially excited for the release of Reverse The Curse’s new music videos, which we filmed and recorded live from Bad Racket! The filming and editing were done be our good friend Andy Wells. The music videos are a great opportunity to hear our space and how the sound has improved with our additional diffusers.
The video also offers a sample of what our new equipment can do for your sound. We used the newly soldered LOLA preamp on both Ed’s vocals and Joey’s snare drum. You can hear the added warmth and precision of the sound.
Keep an eye on our Facebook and YouTube pages for the videos!
Ed from Reverse the Curse
Microphone Preamp Module Construction!
We had 6 Classic Audio of Illinois VP26 kits that were constructed in 2010ish and we love the way they sound. So we recently decided to order a few more kits. We constructed two API VP312s with GAR2520 op-amps, which sound indistinguishable from a 70’s API recording console. This provides an analog warmth to the sound as it brings the microphone level up to recording level.
We also started the first, of hopefully many, Hairball Audio LOLA preamps. It also has an analog sound, but in different way; sort of a combination between a Millenia and a Neve 1073 preamp. To get overly technical, its a fully differential, two parallel op-amp circuit with a Neve style 1073 input and output transformer. It can be warm, detailed, open, and precise, or overdriven into a pleasant colorized distortion.
We will be building at least 7 more API 500 Series modules for 16 channels of microphone preamps.
Plate Reverb
Using a large sheet of scrap metal, James built a plate reverb that has added a really splashy effect on several projects. Before digital reverbs, plates, mounted in a frame with stereo pick-ups, were a common means of achieving reverb. This became the iconic sound of 70’s reverb. The resulting sound is metallic and storm like, but can be blended with the mix for subdued sparkle.
Diffuser Construction Phase 3
After finishing up our construction of the 12’x2′ diffuser at the end of the live room, and the 8’x2′ control room diffuser with over 3500 different sized blocks. We started building a 4’x8′ diffuser in the middle of the live room. We also did some more wood paneling in two 8 foot sections of rustic pine paneling. Our main room is sounding and looking seriously impressive. We are very glad we have such an ideal room to record in. Give us a call to schedule a tour and check it out for yourself! Get a hold of us at play@badracket.com | 216-501-1204.
Now Booking November & December!
We have some time still open for a few sessions in November and December. Many exciting projects are in the works! Let’s make something awesome together!
