Delaware Water Gap, PA (September 8, 2026)—Don Sternecker is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of his Mix-O-Lydian Studios, which started above his father’s Italian hat importing business in New Jersey in 1975.
Mix-O-Lydian is now situated on the third floor of The Castle Inn, the last remaining grand resort hotel in Delaware Water Gap, a Poconos retreat for tri-state residents. The Inn has turned into something of an artist collective, serving as a creative hub not only for Mix-O-Lydian, but other musicians and engineers.
”Tim Carbone from Railroad Earth had been renting a few rooms here and told me to check it out. At the time, I had to move from my previous studio, which was situated on an eight-acre farm. When I first came here, I didn’t know if I could make it work. But then within a day or two I secured the rooms,” Sternecker says. “I had to wire every room, compromise and improvise to make it all work.
• Discover more pro audio news—get a free Mix SmartBrief subscription!
Sternecker soon completed setting up several rooms on the third floor of the hotel, including a state-of-the-art control room, dedicated drum and keyboard rooms, a tracking room for vocals, and more. His most recent acquisition is an API The Box 2 console, which complements a diverse collection of mic pre/EQs, compressors, reverbs and other effects he has accumulated over the years.
• RIAA Releases H1 2026 Revenue Report
Sternecker became passionate about equipment and audio innovation on his own terms, reading manuals and experimenting with gear he was able to purchase or borrow. Before long, Mix-O-Lydian had a loyal clientele including Leslie West, The Feelies, Luna, The Bongos and Railroad Earth.
“I just mixed the new Railroad Earth record which was just released marking the band’s 25th anniversary,” he reports. “It was recorded pretty much live with a few overdubs, and then they decided to add guest artists to about five or six songs.”
Sternecker also recently wrapped up recording several tracks and mixing a new album for longtime Patti Smith collaborator and multiple Grammy Award nominated artist Lenny Kaye. “One of the reasons Lenny loves coming here, besides working with me, is because he says it’s eight minutes from his house; he likes the commute!”
