San Francisco-based engineer/producers Justin Phelps, Jaime Durr and Mike McGinn have reopened Hyde Street Studio’s legendary Studio C, the first room to go online when the facility opened as Wally Heider Studio in April 1969.
Engineer Matt Kelly has occupied Studio C’s live room for the last few years to record Digital Underground, the Hieroglyphics confab and many other hip hop, rock and rap acts. The control room has served as not much more than a storage room since the departure of Sandy Pearlman, who worked out of Studio C as Alpha and Omega studio from 1985 to 1990.
But when Kelly decided not to renew his lease on the live room, Phelps and crew took over Studio C, including the control room. They renovated the space, moved in some outboard gear from Studio B, as well as their own equipment, and installed a modified Sony MPX 3000 console with Hardy mic pre’s and Uptown Automation. The room also offers a Pro Tools|HD rig and a Studer A820 analog machine.
Jefferson Airplane christened Studio C in April 1969 when they recorded Volunteers with producer Al Schmitt, booking the room before it was even finished. The wildly popular Wally Heider Studio then served as the recording site of such classic albums as the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty, Santana’s Abraxis, four Credence Clearwater Revival albums and Crosby, Stills Nash & Young’s Deja Vu, all in studio C. Through the years, the studio hosted projects for Joe Satriani, the Dead Kennedys, Exodus and many more. Recent visitors include Chuck Prophet, Rat Dog, Jerry Garcia Band, Secret Chiefs 3, Slough Feg, Matt Nathanson, Norton Buffalo, Crafty Foxes, The Court and Spark and The Girlfriend Experience.
Visit www.hydestreetstudios.com for more information.
