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WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: For quite some time, accomplished vocalist and music industry entrepreneur Suzie Schomaker has desired to open the studio of her dreams.
Upon founding Stardum Music, an entertainment company focusing on the development of emerging musical talent, Schumacher felt that the next logical step was to open her very own world-class recording facility to better serve the artists
she is dedicated to assisting. Now, after nearly three years of planning, designing,
building, and equipping, the API Legacy Plus-equipped Stardum Studios is approaching
its grand opening.
"I wanted a studio that I could play in," jokes Schomaker in regards
to her
motivations behind building Stardum Studios. "I've performed in a lot of
studios, most of them being in New York, and I just felt that I wanted
someplace where I could work creatively and attract other artists that would
feel the same. I am targeting potential clients - anywhere from indie to
national acts - that enjoy a great analog-based room with all the freedom
and capabilities digital has to offer."
The analog centerpiece of Stardum Studios is its 48-channel API Legacy Plus
console, which, according to Schomaker, was not chosen because of its
notable features like reasonable price, or legendary build quality, but
primarily because of its unmatched and pristine sound. "There was no
decision to make," recalls Schomaker on the choice of the Legacy Plus.
As a
vocalist, I've performed in studios with all sorts of desks, and the ones
with APIs were always the ones that I really loved. My ears made the choice
for me."
Schomaker says that her ears' choice of API became final upon recording an
album at Woodstock, New York's Dreamland Studios. After briefly considering
the purchase of a vintage API board, she quickly decided to spring for a
brand-new Legacy Plus. "I thought about buying an older, classic API at
first," she explains. "The more I thought about it, the more I felt
the need
to just go for it and buy a new Legacy Plus. That's what I did, and I'm
thrilled with it!"
Stardum Studios' Studio A features a large tracking room, sizable ISO room,
machine room, large control room and a lengthy hallway that can serve as
additional recording space. "Each space has a different acoustical feel,"
describes Schomaker. "The ISO is a bit deader than the tracking room, and
the hallway has a wonderful sound quality that I really love."
For monitoring purposes, Schomaker loves her Quested for both main and
nearfield positions. "It's Quested all the way," she declares. "Their
sound
is so natural that you don't need eight pairs of speakers - all these
different sources - to come out with a great final product. Just listen to
great monitors like Questeds and if your ear tells you that it sounds good,
it actually is."
Elsewhere in Studio A, the available equipment supports Schomaker's claim of
offering the best of digital and analog worlds. Stardum's full Pro Tools HD
Accel system is bookended by 40-inputs and 48-outputs of Prism Sound converters.
For fans of analog recording medium, a Studer A827 24-track recorder and an
Ampex ATR-102 two-track recorder with a one-inch headstack are also available.
A multitude of outboard gear, such as Neve 1081R mic pre-amps, Teletronix LA-2A
limiters and a GML 8200 equalizer, offers impeccable signal paths for a well-stocked
microphone cabinet featuring a dozen varied and classic Neumann, AKG, Sennheiser,
and Shure microphones.
An API 48-channel Legacy Plus console was recently
installed in Suzie Schomaker's Stardom Studios, West Palm Beach, Florida.
Schomaker is also building a smaller Studio B that will be surround sound
capable and fiber connected to A. She also has accommodated songwriter's
with the "songwriters room". A 15' x 17' room with Pro Tools Digi002
and
Mackie HR824 nearfield monitors for songwriting, artist development, and
demo recording needs. Schomaker says, "there is no recording without the
song!" Creature comforts are also plentiful at Stardum. A fully equipped
kitchen and cozy lounge are on-site.
Stardum is situated in the recently rejuvenated downtown area of West Palm
Beach and resides on the third floor loft of a live/work building featuring
20 foot ceilings. Upon seeing the space for the first time, Schomaker knew
that it would be perfect for her studio. "As soon as I walked in I thought,
'Oh, this is going rock!' I soon figured out that I would need experienced
design help with the studio and since it was on the third floor of the
building, I learned all about weight load and a host of other issues I never
dreamed of. I admit, that I didn't know half the information I do now about
studio construction. What a journey!"
So what advice would Schomaker offer other musician-types with little studio
construction experience that desire to build their own high-quality
recording facility? "Don't think that you can ever know enough about
building and construction," she asserts. "Make sure that you surround
yourself with people that know a whole lot more than you do. In the long
run, you'll be glad that you did."
For more information about Stardum Music - offering recording, publishing,
artist development, and Internet-based artist showcase services to the music
industry - call (561) 655-7060 or visit their website at www.stardum.com.
API remains the leader in analog recording gear, such as the groundbreaking
API Vision Surround Mixing Console, the famed Legacy consoles, the TEC
Award-winning 7600 Input Module, and award-winning 2500 Stereo Bus
Compressor. The ATI Group is the parent company of Audio Toys Incorporated,
API Audio and Uptown Automation. Audio Toys manufactures the industry
leading Paragon II monitor console, the Paragon II production console and
associated rack mount gear.
www.apiaudio.com
