Gear

 

 

 

 

Equipment is a vital ingredient in the recording recipe. An experienced engineer, with good ears, who interfaces the equipment with artist is essential. Dale Price makes every effort to help musicians forget about the technical aspects of recording and concentrate on what truly matters most; capturing good performances with quality sound and mixing them into the artists' vision.

Gear Philosophy:  Analog/Digital Hybrid
Electric Canyon records in digital format using Class A analog equipment before digitizing the audio signals.  The digitized signal is recorded into ProTools recording software on computer. 
There are many advantages to recording digital, such as on board effects (plug-ins), powerful editing capabilities, no rewinding and huge storage capabilities.  We also use analog standalone equipment, like vintage  effects, compressors and equalizers and a large format mixing console.  This analog-digital hybrid of gear combine with a great sounding rooms and an experienced engineer creates the ultimate professional recording environment of today.
 
Microphone Preamplifiers
Several Class A Tube and Discrete and Integrated circuit microphone preamplifiers are on hand to broadening the sonic possibilities of the microphone, instrument, the room and placement.

Microphones/Direct Boxes
We have a variety of contemporary and vintage microphones.  Tube, condenser, ribbon and dynamic designs are featured from many brands offering a broad palette of sonic flavor to record instruments.

 
Signal Processing

Today's compression, equalization, reverbs, delays and other effects are created in computers digitally and analog in stand-alone hardware. Electric Canyon has a multitude of effects available ranging from the early 80’s through this year. Modern software plug-ins that faithfully replicate classic gear of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s is used offering unlimited sonic directions a recording can take. Today’s signal processing is one reason it is a great time to be recording in history.
 
Monitoring
In-wall, concentric speakers are the primary monitoring source to which the reflective free zone control room are designed around. Near-field monitor speakers are also used along with headphones and a boom box for real world checking of mixes.

Headphones/Headphone Mix Stations
A selection of professional headphones are available. 

Instruments/Amplifiers
Artists and bands typically bring their instruments and amplifiers and drums to recording sessions as personal gear typically adds to the artists’ unique sound and increases playing comfort.
Electric Canyon has drums, bass, guitars, keyboards, a digital piano, and amplifiers on hand if desired for a session.  Inquire with Dale Price beforehand to ensure an instrument is available and ready to at the session.

Wiring
Electric Canyon is hand wired with high quality audio cabling and carefully planned AC outlets throughout. Lighting takes the form of bright functional lighting and a variety of dimmable, indirect, and mood lighting.

Air Conditioning/Heating
An oversized heating and cooling system cycles the entire studio several times per hour. Extra large ductwork allows quiet operation while recording. The studio keeps warm in the winter and cool in those
Chico summers (crucial).