With more than 90 Grammy Award nominated projects and numerous winners under its belt after 26 years in business, Airshow Mastering has proven its talent and expertise in the art of mastering. In November, Airshow Mastering will take it to the next level by cutting the ribbon on a new studio in Takoma Park, Md. From tracking to mastering, Airshow Takoma Park will provide a comfortable and flexible space for artists to realize their creative visions.
“Offering audio production services beyond our core business of mastering has worked well for us in Boulder [Colo.],” says David Glasser, Airshow Mastering cofounder and chief engineer. “In Takoma Park, we’re responding to needs expressed by some of our long-standing clients for a new recording space and for a well tuned mix room for hire. We’re excited about the creative possibilities.”
Having maxed out the space at their original Springfield, Va. studio, Airshow’s staff sought a location with urban amenities that make it enjoyable to spend time there throughout the entire recording process. Located near restaurants and shops, and a short walk from the Metro station, the Takoma Park facility offers a convenient urban destination studio.
“I wanted to build a creative work space in the center of an artistic and music community,” says Charlie Pilzer, Airshow Mastering co-owner and engineer. “Takoma Park offers that, and our studio is a place where artists can really dig in. Expanding into recording and mixing was needed to make our new studio a place that’s truly useful to working musicians. Technologically, it’s capable of delivering the highest sound quality standards from start-to-finish.”
Pilzer continues his mastering and restoration work while Frank Marchand, formerly of Waterford Digital, adds tracking and mixing to the fold. Marchand has been an Airshow client for years and is now a co-owner of Airshow. He brings to the studio an extensive collection of microphones, preamps and vintage gear, as well as a selection of guitars, amps and drums (including 20 snare drums). The studio also offers a recently restored 1943 Steinway B grand piano. Associate engineer Mike Monsieur rounds out this experienced group, and the facilities will be open to visiting engineers as well.
Designed by noted acoustician Sam Berkow of SIA Acoustics, the studio comprises a tracking room, control room, mixing room, and the largest mastering facilities in the mid-Atlantic region. Berkow designed Airshow’s Boulder facility and has years of experience tackling difficult acoustic spaces, such as the Frederick P. Rose Hall in the Lincoln Center. Inside Airshow Takoma Park, Berkow used the latest in acoustical treatments and brilliantly interconnected each room to the others.
Two mastering studios feature a Sonic Studio soundBlade Workstation, Metric Halo ULN-8 interface, and Maselec MTC-2 mastering console. The surround mastering room uses Duntech 2001 monitor speakers with Bryston amplifiers. Tracking and mixing take place on a Digidesign ICON console with Pro Tools HD3 Accel and Klein+Hummel monitors. Headphone monitoring is via a Mytek Digital Private-Q System. As at Airshow Boulder, secure file transfers will take place via Sonic Studio secureDDP software and Digidelivery server. The entire studio is powered by an Equi=tech balanced power system. Airshow Takoma Park provides working musicians with top-of-the-line technology, highly experienced staff, and an ultra-creative studio space.
For more information, visit www.airshowmastering.com.
