Audio Engineering

Audio engineering has been our bread n' butter since 2005! Through the years we've recorded, mixed and mastered countless projects, developed proprietary techniques and built a world class studio. We deliver professional products that get results! Today, we can engineer projects for clients in the studio or live with anyone in the world via Skype, Source Connect, ISDN or Zoom!

Asaf Fulks is an industry leading audio engineer and music producer with over 20 years of experience. He earned his Juris Doctor Degree in Law (Taft Law School), BA in Computer Science (Denison University), Pro Tools/Waves Audio certifications and many awards/credits. His services are included with your session. We work with all styles of music, post production and pretty much anything related to capturing sound and manipulating it. Projects are delivered at uncompresed (.wav) resolutions of up to 192khz/32 bit, uncompressed (.mp3) up to 320kbps and via CD.

 

Our audio engineering services break down into five categories: recording, editing, mixing, mastering and post-production. When you book a session you can choose any combination of these services.

Recording

Recording is the first step in the audio engineering process and arguably the most important. Getting this right makes the subsequent steps much quicker, more seamless and yields a better product. We've got the ears, sound rooms, equipment and experience to make it happen!

- Mics: Sony C-800G, Telefunken U47, Neumann U67, U87, M149, Manley Gold, AKG C12, Sennheiser MK416, AEA R44, Royer R121, etc.
- Pres: Neve 1073, Avalon 737, DW Fearn VT-1, Aurora Audio GTQ2, Tube Tech MP 1A / MMC 1A, BAE 1122, Summit TPA-200B, etc.
- AD/DA: Lynx Hilo, Lynx Aurora (n) 16 HD and (n) 32 HD (50 total AD/DA Channels)
- DAW: Pro Tools Ultimate HDX 2021.10 (384 Audio Tracks, 1024 MIDI, 2048 Voices). Avid HDX Pcie. NI Maschine, Reason 12, Wavelab Pro 11.0
- Headphones: Neumann HDN20, AKG, Beyerdynamic, Shure, Sony. Studio grade, closed back
- In-house instruments: Gibson Les Paul Studio, Fender P Bass, Fender Rhodes, Martin acoustic, upright piano, various percussion
- Synths and Sound Modules: Nord Grand, Drum 3P, Rack 2X, Moog Grandmother, Minitaur, Access Virus TI, Akai MPC, Spectrasonics Collection, etc.
- Track in low latency through plugins including Auto Tune Hybrid, Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor, Cranesong Phoenix, etc.
- We record Vocals, voice overs, audio books, ADR, small to large instruments, bands, sound design, MIDI instruments, and more
- State of the art acoustically designed sound booth and control room

Editing

Editing is a precision process where fine details are refined before mixing. This is the dirty work that often goes unnoticed, but can make the biggest transformation in the sound of the recording. Sometimes editing is simply considered mixing, but there are distinctions. And, because it plays such a major role we like to differentiate. Editing includes:

- Timing control / quantization using Pro Tools, Beat Detective, Revoice Pro and Melodyne
- Pitch correction using Melodyne, Auto Tune and Waves Tune
- Noise reduction and audio restoration using Izotope RX, FabFilter and Waves Mercury Bundle
- Sound replacement, sequencing, alignment, splicing, fades
- Stutter FX, chop and skrew, harmonies
- Organizing tracks, markers, busses, groups

Mixing

Mixing is the process where all the elements of a recording are combined into a single stereo output. It's an art form that's all about balance and detail, but also creativity! The complex sonic characteristics of every mix are different. Each one takes a unique approach, but we've developed a template to speed up our process and deliver stunning results. The OC Recording Company is an SSL equipped studio, with an acoustically balanced control room and the finest analog/digital mixing equipment in the world, including:

- DAW: Avid Pro Tools Ultimate 2020 (384 Tracks). Avid HDX
- CPU: Custom built Threadripper 3960X PC. 128gb RAM. 20TB Nvme/SSDs/SATA
- AD/DA: Lynx Hilo, Lynx Aurora 16 (n) HD, Lynx Aurora 32 (n) HD's (50-Channels)
- Summing: Solid State Logic Sigma 32 Track Analog Summing Amp
- Comps: Tube Tech CL-1B, Purple Audio MC77, Manley Variable-Mu, API 2500, Aurora Audio GTC2, Retro Doublewide, etc.
- EQ's: Neve 1073, Great River EQ-2NV, SSL XR727's, Avalon 737, TK-Lizer 2, API 550, etc.
- Saturation: Zulu, Roberts 770x Reel to Reel, Egnater Rebel 30 ii, Fender Deville
- Monitoring: Focal SM9, ATC 15" Sub, Yamaha NS-10's, Mixcubes, Dangerous Monitor ST
- Plugins: Waves Mercury, FabFilter, Soundtoys, Eventide, Antares Auto Tune Hybrid, Melodyne, Empirical Labs, Plugin Alliance, Softube, etc.
- Acoustically flat control room. All frequency dips and peaks are within a 10 db range

Mastering

Mastering is the final step in the recording process. The goal is simple...make the record sound great on every sound system, in every location, playing from every platform! However, it's no small task. Here, mixes are enhanced and made ready for distribution: CD, vinyl, digital distributors, internet, media, radio, television. Just like mixing, each master has a unique sonic structure. In addition, there is an ever evolving format and specs for distributing digital music that must be followed carefully. We're up to date on the latest guidelines and have developed an intuitive analog/digital process to yield top-quality results, efficiently. Mastering is vital to meet specs and to achieve competitive loudness, fullness, spatial separation, depth and tone. Mastering also involves sequencing songs on an album, editing transitions, adding CD-Text and metadata. The OC Recording Company provides top quality masters in all necessary digital formats. Equipment includes:

- DAW: Avid Pro Tools Ultimate HDX 2021.10, Steinberg Wavelab
- AD/DA: Lynx Hilo, Lynx Aurora (n) 16 HD, Lynx Aurora 32 (n) HD
- Comps: Manley Variable Mu, API 2500, Tube Tech CL-1B, Aurora GTC2, Roll RMS 755, etc.
- EQ's: Avalon 2055, Great River EQ-2NV, SSL XR727's, Summit EQP-2, TK-Lizer, etc.
- Monitoring: Focal SM9, ATC 15" Sub, NS-10, Mixcubes, Dangerous Monitor
- Limiters: DMG Limitless, AOM Invisible, FabFilter Pro-L2, Izotope Ozone 9, Weiss, Limitless, etc.
- Saturation: Handsome Audio Zulu's, Empirical Labs Fatso 7, Cranesong Phoenix, analog tubes, reel to reel, etc.
- Metering: Analog Dorrough meters, TC Clarity, WLM Plus, LUFS, RMS, etc.
- Acoustically flat mastering room. All frequency dips and peaks are within a 10 db range.