Welcome
Reel Recorders is an analog based project recording studio located on the far southwest side of Chicago near Oak Lawn and Alsip.
The centerpiece of the studio is a Neotek Elite II console formerly owned by the renowned recording artist, musician, engineer and record producer Todd Rundgren. Every channel features Neoteks famous mic-pre's, a very flexible signal path and equalizer. This, in combination with Todds modifications and automation make for a highly creative mixing platform, whether analog or digital. Neotek consoles have been used by some of musics top studios and artists such as Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne and the aforementioned Todd Rundgren, just to name a few.
It's worth it to note that some of todays top recording artists have gone back to analog recording. Jack Whites latest solo release "BLUNDERBUSS" was recorded at Third Man Studio, his analog studio in Nashville. Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters latest release "Wasting Light" a great example of the magic of great songs, analog recording and phenomenal performances.
The tape recorders at Reel Recorders are all Studer.
Studer recorders have been present at history making moments in music. The Beatles recorded on Studer J-37 4 track machines all though-out their career. Yep. its true, The Beatles recorded "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" (the entire album) on a pair of Studer 4 track machines. Think about it. Pink Floyds "Darkside of the Moon" was recorded on Studer A 80 2" 16 track machines. These were just some of the pivotal recordings in the history of music and the recording arts in which Studer Machines were used. The list goes on and is far too long and beyond the scope of this page.
At Reel Recorders we offer two Studer A-80 multitrack machines. One is a vintage Studer A-80 VU 2" 16 track (got bass?). Man, nothing sounds like it. Punchy and plenty of tone. The second machine is a Studer A-80 MkII 2" 24 track with a full remote and track select. Both are wonderful sounding decks and can be sync'd together to make a formidable analog platform.
The 2 machines can be joined and operated simultaneously through the use of a ADAM SMITH ZETA 3 synchronizer. 40 tracks of analog sound. The ZETA 3s were recently modified and upgraded by Zeta Master Rick Austin. www.rickaustin.com
The master deck, is a Studer B-67 1/4" 2 track machine. Again, a truly great sounding mix down deck. It is commonly acknowledged that as a result of 1/4" tapes natural compression, 1/4" tape IS the sound of rock.
A word about tape. Contrary to popular belief, tape, is alive and well. While it's true the pioneers of analog tape (Scotch, Ampex/Quantegy, 3M and AGFA/BASF etc.) have gone from the music / recording scene, the good news is that new tape is being manufactured by visionary companies such as ATR and RMG.
Lastly, at Reel Recorders we offer a diverse collection of outboard gear. Featuring such names as Focusrite, Drawmer, dbx, HHb, Lexicon, Eventide and the list goes on. Additional mic-pre's such as vintage all tube Altec 438c's (circa 1966) and True Systems Precision 8, Focusrite and Drawmer.
Microphones by Neumann, AKG, Sennheiser, Shure, Altec, EV and Cascade. The selection runs from condensers to dynamics and ribbons. There is even a Yamaha SKRM-100SFV Sub-Kick.
Finally, the topic of digital recording. Reel Recorders has a ProTools system available. Though personally I'm not a fan of digital recording I have used ProTools for pre-production recordings and special (on the fly) effects. However, I prefer the sound of tape.
A Cuebase system is also available. For further information feel free to contact Charlie Piper. N'uff said.
The studio offers a Mac with Reason and a raft of re-fills for the MIDI inclined. Sometimes, you just never know when a cello, a string section or for that matter a spacey pad might come in handy production wise.
Thank you, for visiting Reel Recorders. Whether it's a demo, an indie project, an analog remix or a major label release, jazz, blues, rock or solo. I hope to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Steve Witt ........(long live tape)
