TRY A LAID BACK APPROACH TO RECORDING. THE FIDDLE HOUSE GREAT FOR SMALL PROJECTS AND CONVENIENT TO DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE.
In December, 2000 The Fiddle House installed one of the very first Mackie HDR 24/96 Hard Disk Recorders delivered in the Southeast. In fact, we received the very first one delivered by Chick Cusick of Magic Audio, one of the Southeast's premier Pro Audio dealers. Chick has been a great friend of The Fiddle House and SecTer Records, selecting us to digitally re-master and re-issue his band's 1976 LP, "Rosewater Blue, Preface".
The Mackie HDR features 24 tracks of 24 bit digital recording, with a wide array of editing tools and capabilities. This technology does away with tape altogether, allowing for instant access to anyplace in the recording. With this marvelous new tool, The Fiddle House stays on the leading edge of implementing the latest in digital recording technology.
The new Mackie HDR 24/96
At the heart of The Fiddle House studio is the Mackie Digital 8 Bus mixing console. It has 54 channels and is layered into 24 input channels, 24 output channels, 8 busses, 8 groups, 8 auxiliary busses for connecting to analog outboard processing gear.
The Mackie Digital 8 Bus Console
The Console has self-contained shelf and parametric EQ on each channel, as well as compression, reverb, delay, and other essential signal processing capability. Once on tape, the signal never leaves the digital domain. At mixdown, the console is completely automated and memorizes the mixing engineer's every move. This automation rivals that of the most sophisticated recording facilities costing many times the hourly rate at The Fiddle House.
Sound coloration is always a concern, and Kurt Storey suggested that a Direct Signal path from the microphone to the microphone pre-amplifier directly to tape would give the best quality sound. Among the mics available are Neumann TLM 103's, Audio Technica 4050's and 4033's. Other mics by AKG, Earthworks, Audix, and Shure round out a mic cabinet capable of capturing the smallest detail.
Neumann TLM 103 AT 4050 Earthworks TC30k
Perhaps the secret to the studio is the investment in high-quality microphone pre-amps. This is a major advantage for The Fiddle House sound. As the signal path goes, so goes the ultimate sound recording, and a great pre-amp is a critical component. The clarity and warmth that Buddy looks for comes alive beautifully through the Avalon and Presonus pre-amps.
Avalon VT737SP pre-amp
In addition to the new Mackie HDR 24/96 hard disk recorder, The Fiddle House has are two channels of vacuum tube pre-amps, a pair of Avalon 737s and eight channels of Jensen Class A Presonus mic pre-amplifiers.
The Fiddle House has the incredible Antares ATR-1 AutoTune processor which can do wonders with both vocal and instrumental tracks which are so very close, but need the extra nudge.
Mix down goes to the Alesis Masterlink CD mastering system, which can maintain 48k/24 bit digital resolution, and then burn a Red Book master CD of the project.