For sweet sounds, the sweet 16

By Michael Corcoran
AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Thursday, October 09, 2008

The current recession in the music industry, where CD sales are down 20 percent from last year, ironically seems like a good deal for the local recording scene. The days of the million-dollar recording budget are gone; to save money, some acts are coming from Los Angeles and New York to Austin to record. "We can make a really great record for $20,000 to $50,000," says Wire Recording owner Stuart Sullivan, who said 2007-2008 is the busiest year he's ever had.

Meanwhile, the weak dollar exchange rate has made recording in the U.S. a bargain for foreigners, who have learned to love Austin from visits to South by Southwest. Check it out: just last week our city's recording studios were hosts to U2 producer Steve Lillywhite, Australia's Jet and former Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss producer Gary Paczosa. Exciting things are happening behind closed doors.

Here's a guide to some of the best recording joints in town. The list ranges from state-of-the-art studios where multiplatinum albums have been produced to spare bedrooms with laptops instead of consoles. A complete list of studios in Central Texas and throughout the state is available at http://governor.state.tx.us/music/directory/studios/recordingstudios-austin/.

BISMEAUX STUDIO

South Austin. 444-9885, fax 444-4699

Owner: Ray Benson

Recorded here:'Miss Understood,' Carolyn Wonderland; 'Reinventing the Wheel,' Asleep at the Wheel; 'What's Going On,' the Dirty Dozen Brass Band; 'All Hat, No Cattle,' Trace Adkins

Current project: 'Willie and the Wheel' with Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel

BLUE ROCK STUDIO

Wimberley. 512-847-7440

Owners:Billy and Dodee Crockett

Recorded here: 'String,' Johnny Bush; untitled, Antony and the Johnsons; 'Red Hot From Blue Rock,' Lucky Tomlin Band

Current project: Sarah Jarosz produced by Gary Paczosa

THE BUBBLE

Central Austin. 420-0170

Owners: Frenchie Smith, Alex Lyon

Recorded here: 'Earth To Dandy Warhols,' Dandy Warhols; 'Becoming All Things,' Zookeeper; 'Pardon Me Are Those Your Claws On My Back,' Faceless Werewolves

Current project:Jet

CACOPHONY RECORDERS

East Austin. 771-9863

Owners:Erik Wofford, Darwin Smith

Recorded here: 'Fortunately,' Brothers & Sisters; 'What Doesn't Kill Me,' What Made Milwaukee Famous; 'Directions To See a Ghost,' Black Angels

Current projects: Roky Erickson with Black Angels, the Octopus Project

CEDAR CREEK RECORDING

South Austin. 444-0226

Owner:Fred Remmert

Recorded here: 'Changing Horses,' Ben Kweller; 'Comal County Blue,' Jason Boland; 'Cimarron Manifesto,' Jimmy LaFave

Current project:major remodeling

CONGRESS HOUSE STUDIO

South Austin. 444-5762

Owner:Mark Hallman

Recorded here: 'Beautiful World,' Eliza Gilkyson; 'Gulf Coast Blue,' Denise Franke; 'The Phenomenal,' Ruthie Foster; 'Dilate,' Ani DiFranco; 'What I Deserve,' Kelly Willis

Current project: mixing new Hot Club of Cowtown

FLASHPOINT RECORDING STUDIO

Downtown Austin. 476-7009

Owner:Bennet 'East Side Flash' Spielvogel

Recorded here:'Wayward Lady,' Will T. Massey, 'Sixth Generation,' Allan Chatman; "A Cure For the Hiccups,' Zoe Lewis

Current project:Kori Jean Olsen

MUSIC LANE RECORDING

East Austin. 476-1567, 289-4333

Owner: Jason Demetri

Recorded here: 'No Deliverance,' Toadies; 'Wildflower,' Sheryl Crow; 'Foiled,' Blue October

Current projects:Andy Hardy, Jon Burkland

PEDERNALES STUDIO

Briarcliff. 447-2337

Owners: Lisa and Freddy Fletcher

Recorded here: 'Nelo,' Nelo; 'Lovers,' Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel; 'Summerteeth,' Wilco; 'Wave on Wave,' Pat Green; 'Strange Invitation,' South Austin Jug Band

Current project: Blue October produced by Steve Lillywhite

PREMIUM RECORDING SERVICE

Hyde Park. 454-3180

Owners: Bruce Robison, Andrew Hernandez

Recorded here: 'Gods of the Earth,' the Sword; 'Earth Junk,' Howling Hex; 'Translated From Love,' Kelly Willis; 'New World,' Bruce Robison

Current project: Western States

PUBLIC Hi-FI

Tarrytown; info@public-hifi.com

Owner: Jim Eno

Recorded here: 'Gimme Fiction,' Spoon; 'Team Boo,' Mates of State; 'Unite Tonight,' Those Peabodys

SWEATBOX STUDIO

East Austin. 762-9258

Owner:Mike Vasquez

Recorded here: 'Come and Get It,' Meat Purveyors; 'Scorpion Stomp,' Golden Boys; 'Beauty School,' Crackpipes

Current project:Larry Lange and His Lonely Knights

TEXAS TREEFORT STUDIOS

Hill Country. 342-1001

Owner:Jack Rock

Recorded here:'Outside Inside,' String Cheese Incident; 'Subhuman,' Recoil: 'Heard It On the X,' Los Super Seven; 'Bastardos,' Blues Traveler

Current project:Maggie Walters with Paul Leary producing

TOP HAT RECORDING

Travis Heights. 441-3021

Owners: John Harvey, Mary Podio, Ron Ellis

Recorded here:'Reddhead,' Redd Volkaert; 'Jon Dee Graham: Swept Away' soundtrack, Jon Dee Graham; 'Carried to Dust,' Calexico (mixed)

Current projects: Warren Haynes, Jimmie Vaughan

WIRE RECORDING STUDIOS

South Austin. 442-7073, fax 442-7892

Owner:Stuart Sullivan

Recorded here:'Stage Names,' Okkervil River; 'Noble Creatures,' the Gourds; untitled, Slightly Stoopid; 'Sonidos Gold,' Grupo Fantasma, 'Space Punk Starlet,' Frontier Brothers

Current project: Josh Tatum

THE ZONE

Dripping Springs. 619-3565

Owner:Mike Morgan

Recorded here:'Spiritual Kind,' Terri Hendrix; 'Snake Farm,' Ray Wylie Hubbard; 'Ten Years,' Cory Morrow

Current project: Flatlanders with Lloyd Maines producing

MORE STUDIOS THAT MAKE IT INTO THE LINER NOTES

Austin School of Music Studio.476-7666. Dave Sebree, owner.

Aerie Studio.924-9671. Mark Addison, owner/producer.

Alta Vista Recording. 326-5490. Tom Johnson, owner.

Arlyn Studio.447-2337. Lisa and Freddy Fletcher, owners.

Audiomoxie.835-8735. James Laurance, owner.

Austin to Boston Recording.219-9053, 431-4881. Mark and Linda Donovan, owners.

Balderrama Recording Studio.Manor. 512-835-5886. Arturo Balderrama, owner.

Bee Creek Studio. Spicewood. 264-1379. Spencer Starnes, owner.

Ben Blank Audio.263-2936.

Boiler Room Studio. 314-9653. David Dickenson, engineer.

Brain Machine Recording Studio and Mastering Suite.836-3100. Randy Avenell, owner.

Broken Arrow Studio.796-5843. Michael Hickman, owner.

Castle Zeek Recording Studios.Cedar Creek. 512-303-7611. Dmitri Thomann, owner.

Chicken Shack. 773-8976. Phil Anstrom, owner.

Coinhead Studio.466-0762. Courtney Audain, owner.

Cribworks Digital Audio.452-3047. Merel Bregante, Sarah Pierce, owners.

Curly Head Music.445-2694. Monte Mann, owner.

Deceptive Sound Recording.301-7203. Mike Jasper, Karin Stephenson, owners.

Digital Domain of Austin.328-9058. Chris Erlon, owner.

5th Street Studios.422-5561. Ryan Joseph, president.

Figment Studios.419-0193. Rick DeLellis, owner.

501 Audio.485-3181. Corey Roberts, owner.

Folkreel Studio.323-9660. Eric Blakely, owner.

Infinity Recording Studios.784-0615. Barrett Walton, owner.

Jumping Dog Studio.257-7165. Ron Flynt, owner.

Lava Studio.560-4566. Scott Rehling, Kevin Kielian, Bryan Anderton, owner.

Lorien Sound Studio. 282-2734. Gordon Garrison, owner.

Love Monkey Studios.731-3163. David W. Love, owner.

Markilepsy Studio.293-4699. Mark DuFour, owner.

The Means of Production.698-7439. Adam Whaley, owner.

Mixture.462-2611. Mark Younger-Smith, owner.

Music Lab Inc. 326-3816. Danny Cabela, president.

Ohm Recording Facility.567-6273. Chico Jones, owner.

Parrot Tracks Studio.292-8729. George Coyne, owner.

Porchlight Recordings. 657-2683. Jeff Jones, owner.

The Production Block.472-8975. Joel Block, owner.

Promiseland Studios.451-6607. Michael Hersh, studio manager.

Room-Space for Sound.656-5505. Mark L. Fishman, owner.

Singular Audio.923-3162. Alex Keller, owner.

Stardog Studio.338-1964. Mike Castoro, owner.

The Still.462-0408. Doug Ferguson, owner.

Stinson Recording Studios. Recording Conservatory of Austin. 231-0344. John Stinson, owner.

Studio Illusions.Cedar Park. 258-9100. Tom Parker, operations manager.

Larry Telford Digital. 444-6464.

Tequila Mockingbird.499-8655. Wally Williams, Danny Levin, owners.

Wonderland Studios. 444-8030. Eric McKinney, owner.