The recently completed Sound Temple Studios is now open in Asheville N.C.
In many ways Sound Temple Studios is probably unlike any other studio you have experienced. Wes Lachot Design out of Chapel Hill N.C. designed the studio. He has created world class studios all over the world, but for this studio he was asked to create a sacred recording space - a “Sound Temple”, if you will. As it turns out, Wes has been studying the ancient temples for many years as part of his passion - architecture. He has included Sacred Geometry, a balance of the Four Elements, the four directions, Feng Shui, a clockwise energy flow, various other sacred techniques and 20 years of studio design experience to create an amazing vibe in this studio.
Here’s Wes in his own words:
“I decided to embrace the square - the ultimate expression of Unity - as the main design element. The 1 : 1 ratio, or the Unison in musical terms, is represented in the Music Room Cloud, as well as in the individual cloud panels. The Trinity concept is introduced by the fact that the overall Unison of that cloud is divided into three individual cloud panels in each dimension (nine total).
The Control Room Cloud takes all of that a step further by creating a 3 : 2 ratio, which is musically speaking a Perfect 5th, (extremely harmonious), and in Sacred Geometry terms is one of the Fibonacci Series expressions of the Golden Ratio. The two clouds add up to the next Fibonacci Series Golden Ratio, and so on. There's stuff in there you will be discovering for years to come, trust me.”
So even if you don’t understand what he is talking about (it’s a little over my head, too) you will love “the vibe” in this studio.
The acoustics and the layout of the studio space are impressive. The large control room is treated with RPG diffusers, RPG Bad Panels, custom bass traps and absorption. Tracking and mixing in the control room is truly be a wonderful experience. A prominent engineer recently commented that it was the best sounding control room he had ever heard and that he has worked in some great studios. The rather large live room (10' ceilings) is great for recording drums, solo instruments or ensembles that want to record in one big room. The three roomy iso-booths (yes I said three) each have a unique sound with the middle booth having the most lively acoustics with one entire wall of RPG Bad Panels for diffusion. Overall there are a total of six recording/isolation spaces including the two sound locks - all with great sight lines no matter where you are in the studio. If you would prefer to let everything “bleed” in one big acoustical space, the double doors in the 3 main iso-booths can open up for tons of ambient bleed right into the live room. There is also be a very cool lounge with a kitchenette. In addition there's a meditation room/artist's bedroom and full bath with laundry facilities. The double doors that close into the lounge create a wonderful "artist or producer's suite" for people to come and stay in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina while recording at Sound Temple Studios.
In terms of equipment some of the highlights include an SSL Matrix mixer (also a great DAW controller), 24 I/O of SSL converters and Apogee Duet converters. Microphones include an AEA R-84 ribbon mic, (2) Neumann Km-184s, Neumann TLM103, Brauner Phantom, Shure KSM-32 and SM-57, CAD E-350, Audix SCX-25A pair, Lawson L-47, Lawson L-251, Lawson Fet 47, Lawson Fet 251 and a custom Lawson MJE K-47 capsule with Fet or tube, Audio Technica, Heil, CAD and Audix drum mics, (2) Cascade Fathead IIs, Cascade Vinjet ribbon mic (all with Lundahl transformers) and an Oktava 012 pair with Lundahl transformers. Mic preamps include an 8 channel DRS-8 pre from Phoenix audio, (2) Safesound P-1s, (2) A-Designs Pacificas, Focusrite ISA-430, Focusrite Liquid 4 Pre, Atlas Juggernaut Twin, Aurora GT2QmkII. Compressors include a Tube-tech CL-1B, A-Designs Nail, Neve Portico 5043 , (2) Empirical Labs Distressors, Focusrite ISA-430 and (2) Safesound P-1s. There's plugins from URS, PSP, Bias, Sonalksis, Sonnox, Redline, Overloud, Universal Audio, Flux, Izotope, Audio Ease, Avox, Audio Damage, IK Multimedia, Cytomic and others. Virtual instruments include the Vienna instruments Strings, Omnishpere, B4II, Lounge Lizard, Ivory Piano, Superior Drummer 2, Miraslov Philharmonik, Kick Ass Brass, Sample Tank, and Sonic Synth (controlled by a weighted 88 key CME controller).
The main monitors are soffit mount Dynaudio M3As that are bi-amped with Hafler 9505 amps (Bryston crossovers) along with Mackie HR-824 for nearfields and a Hearback system for headphone monitoring. Computer duties are handled by an 8 core 3.2 Ghz Mac Pro with a UAD-2 Duo card running Protools 9, Cubase and Nuendo daws and Peak Pro for additional processing. Sound Temple Recording Studios also has a mint C6 Yamaha Grand Piano (6'11"). This is an awesome recording piano with amazing action that has been specially voiced ("less bright") for all styles of music and solo piano. The C6 is considered by many to be more balanced in the bass end for recording than the bigger C7. We agree. We also have a Taylor Special Edition Acoustic Guitar and a custom set of Phattie studio drums (hand made in Asheville).
There's also a very talented and likable owner/producer/engineer (Robert George) to help bring your music to it’s highest level (gotta plug the guy who's paying for all this). Of course, other producers and engineers are also very welcome.
Bottom line, whatever style of music you play and whatever recording style you prefer, Sound Temple is the recording studio in Asheville N.C. you'll want to record in. (BTW, it's also quite affordable considering what it has to offer).
Namaste and blessings to all,
Robert George
