STUDIO A
Studio A
Studio A is The Hideout ’ s spacious large-tracking room , purpose-built for tracking and mixing . The space features 11-ft . ceilings , a 96-channel SSL Duality console – the largest Duality in North America – and an Ocean Way monitor system , in addition to a live room , control room , stone drum room , two vocal booths , and a comfortable lounge .
Console
96-channel Solid State Logic Duality
Recording Devices
Avid Pro Tools 12 HD 64 I / O
Monitors
Ocean Way Monitor System Yamaha NS10M Nearfield Monitors M & K MPS-2510P Midfield Monitors
Microphone Preamplifiers
Avalon VT-737ST BAE 1073A ( x 10 ) Millennia HV-3D ( 8-channel ) Tube-Tech MP1A ( 2-channel ) GML 8302 ( 2-channel ) Grace Design 801R ( 8-channel )
Equalizers
UTA MPEQ – 1 ( x 2 ) Pultec EQP-1A3 ( x 2 ) Pultec MEQ-5 API 550B ( x 6 ) GML 8200
Dynamics
Universal Audio UREI 1176LN Peak Limiter ( x 2 ) Tube-Tech CL1B Compressor SSL G-384 Bus Compressor Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Teletronix LA-3A Leveling Compressor ( x 2 ) Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifier GML 8900 UTA UnFairchild ( x 2 )
Effects Processors
TC Electronic System 6000
AD / DA Converter
Avid 192 HD I / O D / A Converter
Hideout is “ surrounding himself with good people ” – many of whom are trusted family members . Son Kane plays a big role on the creative side , while daughter Khloe takes care of day-to-day operations as the studio manager .
“ Khloe is completely indispensable around here . She ’ s the one that enables Kane and I to just concentrate on making music and not worry about the day-to-day . I am very lucky to have someone I can trust captaining this ship in such a productive way . Outside of my own business , she ’ s already doubled the studio income through largely her own efforts . It ’ s been wonderful to see her blossom into a true businesswoman ,” Kevin says .
Always open to experimentation , Kane ’ s initial work with Pro Tools began at age 14 after previously fiddling with Cakewalk . He has also shared time in the studio with producers Mutt Lange and Eric Valentine , the latter of whom boasts credits with the likes of Queens of the Stone Age and Slash .
“ I think I was always on a musical path even before high school . I was already recording my own demos and writing songs ,” shares Kane . “ In a lot of ways , music chose me more than I chose music . There was never a time where I thought , ‘ I ’ m going to do this ’; I just always sort of did it and became reactive to the opportunities it created for me . Recording my own songs led me to playing in bands which led me to recording them and eventually recording other people ’ s bands .”
Now , the list of artists with whom he ’ s worked is as eclectic as it is impressive , from Shania Twain to Bob Dylan to Ozzy Osbourne and Five Finger Death Punch . In fact , his work with FFDP resulted in a shared Juno Award for Engineer of the Year with his father . Kane is also the frontman and songwriter for alternative pop outfit Modern Science , who have also been nominated for a Juno .
“ My father is my number one mentor ,” Kane offers . “ He has taught me nearly everything I know about music , recording , and navigating the business . I ’ ve worked with other incredibly talented people , but never anyone who has the level of attention to detail that he has . I am grateful for every day that we get to make music together .”
Kane enjoys mixing and the solitude of working alone when it permits . “ When I started recording , I didn ’ t know what exactly I wanted to do in terms of being a musician , engineer , producer , mixer , or a songwriter . I spent time trying to learn how to do all of those roles . Now , I ’ ve arrived at a place where people hire me because I can play all of them .”
In a business that often tosses failure in one ’ s face , “ Mr . Kane ” insists on a persistent attitude . “ Set realistic goals for yourself , but also be reactive and adapt to new opportunities as well . Recording my friends , neighbours , and anybody who would let me is what prepared me to work with some of the biggest names [ in music ]. Find people to make music with and make as much of it as possible . Volunteer your skills everywhere you can and be polite and respectful to everybody you meet . The music business is a business of nomads that keeps going on and on … so the same people that might fire you one day may be the same people you need on your team later . There will be a lot of days where you will want to quit ; that ’ s normal , but the people that succeed are the ones that don ’ t quit .”
In addition to Kevin , Kane , and Khloe , The Hideout is the professional home to a number of other talented people . Rounding out the staff are : MeShawn Wright , who handles marketing , social media , and graphic design ( and is also Kane ’ s fiancé ); Kevin ’ s wife Kemnay , the studio ’ s interior decorator ; gear tech Ed Evans , who maintains , troubleshoots , and repairs equipment ; Luis Pacheco , the in-house engineer who handles most of The Hideout ’ s clients that are not Kevin and Kane ’ s ; Tristan Hardin , the other in-house engineer who primarily works under Kevin ; and assistant studio manager
Taylor Keith , who works closely with Khloe .
The initial spark in the recording process at The Hideout can often start with an informal lunch between the Churkos and their potential clients – no real agenda other than building up or rekindling a relationship and possibly finding out what the primary goals for the project are . Once in the studio , there is generally no pre-production . Mixing often occurs on-the-fly during recording with cleanups at the end as needed .
As for their signature style of work , the Churkos generally avoid compression , and the low , fat drum sound they ’ re known for actually arose while working on Kane ’ s solo work , which Kevin produced and Kane later tweaked . The layering of whispers over vocal tracks is also used on occasion .
While continuing to evolve with the times , two rules stay the course : “ Use your ears ” and “ Simpler is often better .”
While obviously offering the world-class services and expertise of audio wizards Kevin and Kane Churko , The Hideout has an extensive list of recording equipment and instruments available to clients , including hosts of state-ofthe-art and vintage microphones , amps , grand
“ Working with Kevin has been a game changer . He ’ s never let us down and brings so much to the table . The Hideout has become our second home and the results speak for themselves . The place is top notch and I love working there .”
-Jason Hook , Five Finger Death Punch
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