The Studio at the Institute for the Musical Arts
The Institute for the Musical Arts has a full-featured recording studio complex contained in a rebuilt, modernized New England barn with two control rooms, two isolation booths, and thousands of square feet of recording space.
Features of the Studio
Control A is a large control room dominated by a classic 40-channel SSL 4000G console connected to a Pro Tools system via Lynx interfaces. In addition, it offers state-of-the-art outboard mic preamps and compressors, studio monitors, and two separate screen displays. Its extensive patch bay allows for easy connection to the 80 different microphone inputs distributed throughout the studio, and a 16-channel interconnect is available if you want to bring your own outboard gear.
Iso A is a large, soundproof isolation booth with 16 microphone inputs that can fit a full drum kit, a vocal group, or other instruments.
Control B is a small control room suitable for editing and overdubbing, with its own Pro Tools system and either Avid or Focusrite interfaces. It may also serve as an isolation booth for Control A during large tracking sessions.
Iso B is a soundproof vocal/instrument booth used mostly for solo overdubbing, with 8 microphone inputs.
An Aviom headphone system allows musicians to set their own cue mixes as desired, from up to 16 sources.
- All of the above rooms were designed by the Walters-Storyk Design Group, a world-renowned acoustical consultant responsible for studios like Electric Ladyland. They may be used separately or together thanks to their soundproof doors and interconnected patch bays.
The Barn
The main studio and performance space is a classic New England post-and-beam barn with high ceilings and offers multiple recording options. A 24-channel PA system is interconnected via mic splitters with Control A, allowing simultaneous live performance and multitrack recording. Five different microphone panels offer up to 56 inputs from the barn, plus headphone and line return interconnects. The unique geometry and wood paneling of the barn give it a wide-open sound and comfortable feel.
The Bunkhouse
This room, separate from the main room, offers 16 mic inputs and is yet another option for a medium-sized space to record from, either to Control A or B.
The Mic Locker
The studio comes equipped with a wide variety of condenser, dynamic, and ribbon microphones from Neumann, AKG, Shure, AEA, and Sennheiser. The stand collection includes six large orchestral mic stands and a variety of standard booms in many different sizes.
Available instruments
- Kawai baby grand piano
- A wide selection of trap kits, snares, toms, and other percussion
- Congas and Udus
- Acoustic and electric guitars and basses
- Classic Fender guitar amps (Deluxe, Super Reverb, Twin) and a variety of others
Other Notes
The AC power for the studio complex is sourced from an isolation transformer to minimize noise. In colder seasons, the barn is warmed by a silent floor radiant heat system. The control rooms and iso booths are fully air-conditioned. Apple Macintosh computers and hard drives for the Pro Tools systems are housed in a separate soundproof machine room. Broadband Wi-Fi is also available.