RSR368 – Chris Mara – Analog Tape, Tubes, and Tunes at Welcome To 1979 - Recording Studio Rockstars

RSR368 – Chris Mara – Analog Tape, Tubes, and Tunes at Welcome To 1979

Analog is instant audio! Chris talked about how much acoustic guitar players love recording to analog, how to capture vocals and harmonies, ribbons vs condensers for drum overheads, recording an upright piano, and the annual recording summit.

My guest today is Chris Mara who says in his own words, “Well, basically... I'm the luckiest guy in the world. My "job" (I'm a recording engineer and producer) is to find cool artists & bands and help them make cool music. How frickin' awesome is that? I've been doing this music thing here in Nashville for over 20 years (since I was 19 years old), and it's the only real job I've ever had. I absolutely love helping people make music and also take a lot of time to help them make some wise career decisions too. There's a lot of bullshit. in the music biz, so I try to keep things really straightforward and simple for the people I come in contact with.

I really dig the art of getting artists comfortable and then capturing great performances in the studio. Although I use all types of technology to record, tend to gravitate to the "old school way of doing things and record on analog tape whenever I can. That's probably the reason I built my retro, all analog recording studio called "Welcome to 1979".

I also record in other studios all over the country, as well as in barns, cabins, old churches, hallways, highways, byways, parks, and garages....basically wherever people are making good music!”

Chris also runs a tape machine restoration company called Mara Machines and In early 2016, Mara launched a vinyl electroplating facility offering vinyl mastering and electroplating under the same roof to allow for the highest quality vinyl to be produced. And every November you can travel to Music City to attend the annual W21979 Recording Summit for panel discussions on all things studio.

Chris has been a guest on the show before RSR027 and later his wife and studio manager Yoli Mara joined us for episode RSR180. 

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Website Links:

RSR027 – Chris Mara – Welcome to 1979

RSR180 – Yoli Mara – How To Manage A Pro Studio – Welcome To 1979
www.chrismara.com

Additional podcast editing and production by:
Brayden Stremming
Vlad Vasilcenko
Jon Richardson

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