Multibeat Music - The Studio
Last update May 2009
The operating studio has found many different configurations, with 27 locations over the past 22 years, including Québec, Austria and Scotland. Yes, this is slash'n'dash guerrilla tactics! The studio is currently in the High Park area of Toronto, Ontario.
The focus is on techniques and knowledge, rather than boutique gear. In this way, we can offer reasonable prices for immaculate work. We strive to keep our equipment list as short and efficient as possible - computers have allowed for a ridiculous divestment of studio gear without compromising on the end product.
We do our work in a modest basement-level space with configurable control room and recording room. We can accommodate a maximum of four musicians comfortably, ie. a string quartet.
Record, Mix
Our solid Apple G5, Warehouse, runs Pro Tools LE 7.3.1cs5 / DV Toolkit as well as Apple Logic Pro 8. Audio interfaces include Digidesign MBox2 Pro, MOTU 896, Echo Audio Gina 24.
A Ramsa WR-T820 analog console is used for additional analog mixing, treatments, monitoring and bussing.
A Vestax PMC-50A professional DJ mixer is used for monitoring and line signals.
Sound Modules
Besides the wealth of music/sound generation available from our primary workstation, our top sound modules are actually four re-purposed Apple G4 computers: Neon, Mars, Vox Imperium and Multibeat workstations all run Native Instruments samplers, synthesizers and drum modules. We're huge fans of Kontakt, Absynth, Massive and Battery. Our sound library is vast.
Our secondary sound modules are: fully-loaded Akai S5000 sampler, fully-loaded E-Mu E6400 Ultra (E-IV) sampler, E-Mu Mo'Phatt ROMpler, Yamaha P60S stage piano, Roland SH-32 compact synthesizer, Roland PMA-5 handheld synthesizer, Yamaha SHS-10 cheese machine.
Processing
While most digital processing is effected by Waves, DigiRack and native Logic plug-ins, we also have some analog-domain devices: Joe Meek VC6Q British Channel, Ashly CL52 compressor, (2x) Yamaha digital parametric equalizers, Antares ATR-1a pitch corrector, Line6 POD 1.0, DOD Death Metal pedal, Boss OD-2 Turbo Overdrive pedal, Boss DSD-2 digital delay pedal.
Microphones
Our mic cabinet is sufficient to do off-site recording including coverage of a full acoustic drum kit. Microphones include: Sennheiser e902, e905, (2x) e614, AudioTechnica AT-4033CL, StudioProjects C1, AKG C3000, AKG D19 (rare), various plug-in power and lav mics.
Instruments
We have a range of acoustic and electric instruments that we use for acoustic recording (guitars, percussion). If we don't have what we need, and there is a budget, we hire musicians for a recording session on their instrument.
Bric-a-brac
Some of the other things we have: Thorens TD280 hi-fi turntable, cassette recorder, SCSI-1, -2, and -3 access, OS9 compatibility/apps.
