Sep 18, 2005 8:00 AM, By Mix Editors

The Saint Claire control room

Musician and sound engineer John Parks is aiming to lure clientele to the rolling hills of Lexington, Ky., where’s he has officially opened Saint Claire Recording, an 8,000-square-foot recording/retreat complex situated on 14 scenic acres. On the heels of its grand opening, the studio recently hired Ron Bennett as studio manager.

The brainchild of Will Parks and his 26-year-old recording engineer son John, the Parks believe that “enhancing musicians’ creative output” is job one at the newly built studio, which was reportedly completed at a cost upwards of $3 million.

Amenities include four well-appointed on-site guest rooms, recreational facilities, and a fully stocked kitchen with available catering, a spacious patio with hot tub, a conference room, as well as a lounge area with a fireplace. “We want musicians from all backgrounds to be inspired to work hard and play hard while at Saint Claire,” says John Parks.

Designed by renowned Canadian studio designers Pilchner-Schoustal, the centerpiece of Saint Claire’s spacious control room is an 80 input SSL 9000J mixing console. All-digital recording is handled by Pro Tools HD|3 and RADAR systems. Rounding out the studio’s extensive equipment array are pieces from Neve, Tube-Tech, Lexicon, API and UREI. The main tracking room features 18-foot ceilings, four isolation booths and ample natural light.

According to Martin Pilchner, Saint Claire’s control room uses an evolved form of “controlled reflection geometry” that has been in use the last few years in response to surround sound production requirements and offers the most refined technology response to date. “The facility as a whole and down to the smallest detail is second to none in the pantheon of world class facilities,” Pilchner adds.

“I wanted to build a facility here in Kentucky to compete with major studios all over the country,” says John Parks. “The people who reap the greatest rewards are those who stick their necks out and do the unbelievable.”

For more information on Saint Claire Recording, visit www.saint-claire.com.

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