STUDIO PROFILE
[ 25 TH STREET RECORDING , OAKLAND , CA ] Doug Doppler
The San Francisco Bay Area served as the launching pad for iconic artists including The Grateful Dead , Santana , Journey , Metallica , Joe Satriani , Counting Crows , and Third Eye Blind . Sadly , the tech boom dealt a death knell to the affordable housing and ample rehearsal space that drew musicians to the Bay Area in the first place . This trend has been echoed by studio closures including The Plant in Sausalito , where groundbreaking records like Fleetwood Mac ’ s “ Rumours ” were recorded .
The first time I worked at 25th Street Recording was on a session with iconic producer / engineer Neil Dorfsman ( Def Leppard , Dire Straits , Sting ) for Mercury Recording Equipment . The massive live room , ample isolation rooms , sensational mic locker , and racks brimming with the coolest outboard made for an outstanding recording experience . Add great vibes , easy freeway access , and awesome décor to the mix and that begins to explain why 25th Street has flourished while other studios have shut their doors .
In addition to attracting all-star clients like
Joe Satriani and Grammy Award winning producer Joe Chicarelli , 25th Street has also found innovative ways to utilize their space to generate additional revenue streams . While he would never say it himself , the following interview with studio manager John Schimpf really reveals how important his role has been in the studios ’ success .
The Ultimate Speaker Demo // Photo : Sam Crayne
[ GTR ] John , always a pleasure ! Although the studio is beautiful visually speaking , when you walk through the door it really feels like an inspiration place to make music . This is obviously not an accident , so tell us a bit about what atmosphere means to you ?
Studio A Control Room [ John Schimpf ] First of all thanks , it ’ s great to be a part of the magazine ! Aesthetics and atmosphere are very important to us . Owner David Lichtenstein was deeply involved in all aspects of the buildout , and paid very close attention to the design . The goal was to make the studio feel like home , not an office . Our clients and our staff spend countless hours in the building , so it was crucial that the environment be comfortable . We developed different spaces for people to work or relax in outside of the recording spaces as well . We spend a lot of time refining the rooms to better suit our clients , and we also make sure that every inch of the building is utilized in the best possible way . We are also hyper-critical about keeping things clean , organized and super-efficient . Our ultimate goal is to make everyone ’ s experience here special and memorable .
[ GTR ] Your collection of outboard gear is pretty breathtaking . Which pieces are you guys most excited about and are there any cool stories behind how they came into your possession ?
[ John ] First and foremost , every single piece
54 Sep � Oct 2017 GearTechRec . com