Dream Theater mixing in Avatar’s Studio G in January. From left to right: Assistant engineer Chad Lupo, Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci, James LaBrie and engineer Paul Northfield.
Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy invited the band’s fans to do some “chants” on tracks to be included in Dream Theater’s Systematic Chaos, scheduled for release in June from Roadrunner Records. On January 26, 2007, after turning away hundreds of Dream Theater faithful, 40 lucky fans joined Portnoy at Avatar Studios’ Studio B to record chants and yelling.
The band had been holed up in Studio A and Studio G, where they tracked and mixed the new album with engineer/mixer Paul Northfield (Rush, Queensrÿche, Porcupine Tree). Portnoy and John Petrucci are co-producing the seven-song effort. Chad Lupo served as assistant engineer. Afterward, the band mixed the album in Studio G with Northfield assisted by Lupo.
Dream Theater fans line up for a chance to “chant” on Dream Theater’s new album.
In other sessions, Counting Crows were in Studio A tracking songs for the band’s upcoming release. The album is being produced by Gil Norton with engineer James Brown, assisted by Bryan Pugh. Walter Becker was in Studio B doing overdubs with producer Larry Klein for his upcoming release. Helik Hadar engineered, assisted by Justin Gerrish (in January) and Lupo (in February). Chris Shaw was working on a project for Waking Ashland in Avatar’s Pro Tools Suite, Studio E.
Music for Warner Bros. film Music & Lyrics was recorded in Studio A with producer Michael Rafter and engineer Jonathan Duckett, assisted by Anthony Ruotolo. Music for a film about Buddy Bolden was tracked in Studio A with producer Delfeayo Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis. Ed Cherney was the engineer, assisted by Pugh.
Manuel Valera recorded tracks for his new release in Studio A with Joe Ferla engineering and Pugh assisting. Producer Manfred Eicher was in Studio C recording upcoming releases for Manu Katche and Meredith Monk. James Farber engineered, and was assisted by Brian Montgomery. Farber and Montgomery mixed Katche’s album in the same room for Eicher.
In February, Celine Dion recorded vocals with producer/engineer Humberto Gatica in Studio C assisted by Ruotolo. The Dead 60s recorded in Studio A with producer David Kahne. The session was engineered by Joe Barresi and assisted by Montgomery.
Grey Gardens Cast Ensemble recorded in Studio C with producer Steven Epstein and engineer Richard King, assisted by Montgomery and Colin Suzuki. Raul Midon recorded in Studios A and G with producer Joe Mardin. The session was engineered by Michael O’Reilly and assisted by Lupo. Morley recorded in Studio C with producer/engineer Jay Newland assisted by Ruotolo.
In January, Fred Kevorkian mastered albums for Last Train Home, Nicole C. Mullen and Goodbye Girl Friday in his mastering suite. In February, he mastered an upcoming live album for moe., and also mastered upcoming albums for The National, Ladybug Transistor and Boondogs.
For more information, visit www.avatarstudios.net.
