Check out these Amps! We just finished recording some clips for David Allen and we are blown away by his designs. Check his website http://www.allenamps.com for more info on his awesome updates to classic amps that you can build yourself. These clips are from his Chihuahua model which is based on an amp that rhymes with pender frinceton. Enjoy!

We’re excited to announce some new equipment at the studio:

Wechter Nashville Guitar

• This guitar’s unique tuning allows the creation of wide stereo and spatial ambience. A great addition to nearly any acoustic guitar track.

T.C. Electronics Nova Delay and Nova Modulator

• The delay and modulation effects of T.C.’s awesome G system. These incredibly lush yet transparent effects are perfect for recording.

GDS ’65 Marshall 18 Watt Guitar Amplifier Clone

• Mark hand-built this clone of the famous ’65 Marshall 18 watt guitar amp. Watched with a G12H Celestion vintage 30 watt speaker, this combo delivers real Marshall crunch at an ideal recording volume.

Look forward to an updated and expanded gear list!

Thanks to WNRN for bringing Free Energy into the studio for a live set. Check them out playing with Titus Andronicus and Drunk Tigers at the Jefferson Theater tonight.

Upstairs:

A more intimate space with access to the same world-class recording equipment, instrument, and amplifier choices as our ‘Downstairs’ facility. Ideal for full band, solo artist, overdubs, film scoring, voice-over, mixing and post work, the Upstairs offers a more affordable option without sacrificing quality of craft. The Red and Blue recording rooms compliment the Roger D’Arcy designed control room with beautiful natural light throughout the facility. Our extremely rare BBC-commissioned Audix MXT 1200 console provides vintage pre-amp and EQ options for the most discerning ear, in addition to a plethora of modern and vintage outboard gear and plug-ins. Upstairs is available as a separate studio or in conjunction with the Downstairs facility to service any size project.

Downstairs:

Our flagship recording facility featuring stunning acoustical spaces designed by noted acoustic architect Roger D’Arcy (Recording Architecture of London). Offering the finest in recording equipment, instruments, and amplifiers, Downstairs can accommodate projects of all descriptions from solo artists and bands to orchestral work, voice-over, and a myriad of post-production needs.

Live Room:

Providing a large space for rehearsal, video shoot, showcase, CD Release Parties, private parties, and home to the Charlottesville Rock Academy, the Live Room is equipped with professional stage, backline, PA and lighting systems. This is a perfect space for pre-production work to fine tune recording arrangements or to perfect a live show. In addition, The Sound provides all levels of service for the Live Room, including fully catered events and full time sound engineers and technicians, to just turning on the PA for a comfortable, acoustically outstanding, creative atmosphere for your next project.

Mark Graham:
Mark Graham has been making music professionally for over 20 years. Growing up in the Shenandoah Valley, Mark played with many local artists and at age twenty, moved to Nashville. It was there that Mark developed a friendship with an employee of Quad studios, where they would spend nights tweaking tape machines, doing mic tests and generally getting hooked on all things to do with music studios. While in Nashville, Mark was fortunate enough to study bass guitar with Regi and Victor Wooten. While pursuing his musical education, Mark worked in every facet of music production from the construction of road cases to running sound in a world class rehearsal facility that was home to such acts as The Allman Bros. and Garth Brooks. In 1996, Mark moved to Los Angeles and attended a year at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood. After completing school, Mark opened a professional rehearsal studio in 1998 to be followed a year later by a ProTools HD based recording studio. Either as a performer or in his studios Mark has worked with such artists as Hoobastank, Tre of Pharcyde, L.A. underground hip-hop queen Medusa, producer Dwayne Barron, Poison, Great White, Vanilla Fudge, Grammy nominee Scott Murray, Lionel Cole, Bernard Fowler, John Blackwell, Johnny Rabb, Brett Chassen, Tasha Taylor, Carbon-9, Numira, and many other diverse and successful artists. Mark was also a founding member of the experimental jazz improvisational band Erroneous Funk. After 12 years in LA Mark moved home to realize his dream of opening a world class studio in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

James McLaughlin:
James began playing drums in a high school jazz ensemble near Boston, MA. He then pursued his musical interests at St. Lawrence University, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Music in 2000. While at S.L.U. he studied composition, performance, theory, and ethnomusicology. Experiences both in the classroom and on stage provided him great exposure and appreciation of many musical cultures from around the world. A semester abroad afforded him the opportunity to work as an intern at Stanley House Recording Studios in London, England. After a successful internship, he returned to the UK for most of 2001 working as an assistant engineer and producer to A-list pop producer Tim Laws. Since returning to the US he has lived in Charlottesville, VA and has been a regular on the music scene as both a drummer and engineer/producer at his project studio, Mountainside. Teaming up with Mark Graham, he has finally fulfilled his dream of opening a professional music production facility, The Sound. In addition to recording albums, music for film, video work and various demo songs in many genres, he has performed hundreds of gigs from New Mexico to New York and has shared stages with Blues Traveler, Little Feat, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Tea Leaf Green, Toubab Krewe, John D’earth, Greg Howard, Darrell Rose, RAQ, and many, many others.

The Sound: A complete music production facility in Charlottesville, VA.

Welcome to The Sound. We provide professional services at affordable prices to Central Virginia and beyond. We offer rehearsal space, recording, mixing, and mastering in 2 recording studios, CD/DVD replication and graphics, video services, private parties, workshops, live event services and even a Rock Academy for musicians of all ages. Thanks for checking us out, we look forward to providing a quality experience for your next project.