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When you make a recording environment more of a performance environment, you get a magic that can’t be replicated. Our recording studio isn’t one. Bernie Grundman Mastering is a large facility and we felt that between the cutting room and other mastering suites was a perfect area to set up a band and record. We put all of the recording equipment in one of the rooms, no glass windows to peer in on the performers. Lending to the intimacy, we make sure everyone is close to each other enough for good sight lines and minimal sound proofing for the most part.
We like to make things live. We also mix live. Scott Sedillo, our recoding engineer, works his magic while the band is playing. So when we finish a take, that’s it. 2 tracks. Left and right. Recording studios will often add processing or do overdubs (play a solo over a track for example) but we want to capture the most honest performance of the artists. We want to capture it with the best quality we can. That's why we custom design all of the equipment. We make everything except the microphones and cables…even some cables we have are custom built so I guess you could say me make those too.
All of the equipment we use is built by Thomas “Beno” May: chief technical design engineer, & chief technician for Bernie Grundman Mastering, and also by Scott Sedillo : recording engineer & technician for BGM. Ask Beno for something and he’ll make it 10 times beyond what you hoped were possible. He’s a part of the process that is so crucial to the sound of both Bernie Grundman Mastering and Straight Ahead Records.
Bernie Grundman’s work has been synonymous with the word quality and excellence in sound but have you ever had his espresso? Well, you’re missing out if you haven’t. Usually if you’re in session for mastering, Bernie has one of the studio employees make it but during a SAR session, its impressive to see the interest he takes in pulling you one of his hearts greatest accomplishments: Danesi Espresso.
Stewart’s style is all about the artists. Some like to “super-produce” but Stewart just lets the players play. His input is calculated and distanced enough that his influence is non-encroaching. This adds to the Straight Ahead Records experience. This label was born from a love and dedication to sound and music. We make that the priority, we let the musicians tell us their story and make sure that story is well understood.
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