The Mastering Palace Adds Second Studio
Mastering engineer Dave Kutch built The Mastering Palace in 2007 as a one-room mastering facility in Harlem. Kutch recently decided to upgrade the studio by adding a second room. Designed by Martin Pilchner of Pilchner Schoustal International, Inc., construction on the 500-square-foot room began in summer 2014 and was completed in the fall.
Since moving into his new room, Kutch has worked with multiple artists, including Miley Cyrus, A$AP Rocky, Pentatonix, Vince Staples and Jidenna. Gear-wise, Kutch’s new studio continues his long relationship with Focal, utilizing the Focal Trio 6 Be speakers, as well as Dangerous Audio (Console, Master, Liaison), Mutek clocking, Prism conversion and Sequoia (DAW).
The Mastering Palace has also announced the arrival of mastering engineer Sarah Register, as well as studio manager Kimi Ryan and assistant engineer Kevin Peterson. Register brings 15 years of experience and a discography that includes Grammy-nominated artists such as Lee “Scratch” Perry and The Shins. Peterson has three years under his belt as an assistant mastering engineer, and Ryan hails from legendary audio establishments such as Electric Lady, Rogue Music and, most recently, Platinum Sound. The new crew joins mastering engineers Tatsuya Sato (Aleks Syntek, 88-Keys, Danny Brown) and Mark Santangelo (Neon Trees, Neal Diamond, Blessing Offor).
Threshold Recording Studios Hosts Will Calhoun and Doug Wimbish
Threshold Recording Studios hosted Will Calhoun and Doug Wimbish of Living Colour in August. Calhoun and Wimbish were working on new material with engineer Alan Labiner, who tried out some Sennheiser e 604 microphones with clips on the sessions with Calhoun’s Mapex drum kit. They also used a Trident 80B console.
There were also some vocal sessions with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in August with Mack Wilberg, Rebecca Wilberg and Trent Walker. Engineer Mike Wuerth handled the sessions, and used Daking compressors and API mic pre’s with a Neumann U 67 for vocals.
In June and July, engineer Wuerth wrapped up additional tracking and mixing for Denis Leary’s series debut on FX called Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll.
The studio is also part of a mentor program with Road Recovery, an organization dedicated to helping young people battle addiction and other adversities by working with entertainment industry professionals who have confronted similar crises and now wish to share their experience, knowledge and resources. Specifically, Threshold is involved with the Recovery Trax sober youth program, which currently runs on Mondays and Fridays at the studio, and there are several mentors of note—including Peter Frampton, Slash and Simon Kirke (of Free, Bad Company fame)—working with approximately 12 participants per night.
Producer/musician/Threshold studio owner James Walsh is a mentor with Road Recovery. “I am also on the board of directors at Road Recovery, so the program is something that I have personally helped develop and have a hands-on, personal involvement in,” Walsh says. “A big part of Threshold’s mission is to give back in an active way to today’s youth.”
