Bop Stop Recording Studios

Hi Friends of Bop Stop, just some pictures and description of our ongoing recordings with DIS N DAT Band this month.

Well, so much to say in regard to these recording sessions with DIS N DAT Band.  You can see by the title, that this studio is now a new home for the DIS N DAT Band and their multifaceted productions!  I can say it has been an incredible pleasure hosting the recordings of DIS N DAT at every level.  I can say personally, Sista Dee and Rango are two of the finest people you will meet in addition to being incredible musicians.  At first meet, I felt a warmness and lightheartedness, along with a strong level of professionalism.  Sista Dee being born in long line of legendary steel pan players in Trinidad, the birthplace of steel pan, her playing displays a beautiful blend of virtuosity and musicality that is just a pleasure to record.  Beyond that she sings and plays just about every instrument and not just adequately! She is a talented musician, songwriter, and producing team with her synergistic counterpart, Rango.  Rango within minutes opens your eyes to Reggae drumming at the professional level.  His elegant and musical fills an ROCK SOLID rhythms right away communicate SOLID TASTE!!  He has been on several Albums and tours with the legendary Reggae bands Black Uhuru and Sy & Robbie.  Their band consists of highly talented musicians, two of which I knew personally before, Laurie Goldsmith (Laurie Goldsmith Project) and Joanne Maria (Zili Musik).  Special Thanks to Laurie for all her support and sharing her talent!

I can say that preparing for our first meeting brought me back to listening to Reggae.  Years ago I was what you might call religious or at least devoted in my constant listening to Reggae.  Well over 10 years ago I became engulfed and enamored with Jazz.  Growing up in Long Island, NY I remember having my  ear pinned to my beatbox for the very first Hip Hop recordings and radio studio performances as well as the first beginnings of Dancehall Reggae.  

Anyways, it has been a such a pleasure working with this band.  We have had numerous extremely productive sessions now and already we are like family!  

We have tracked an amazing amount of high quality material that I know people are going to love.  They have an incredible balance of ROOTS REGGAE with modern sound.  I think you all are going to be blown away! 


SO some pics below and some amazing MUSIC TO COME.  

SO just to update my ongoing acoustic treatment implementation and development.

Here you will see finally the finished three QRD stack made up of two units purchased from RPG and a custom bottom larger QRD.  It ended up being 9ft and 6 inches tall!!!! Let me say, me and my wife lifted the top two QRD section with the added Period wings and it was about 60+ lbs alone onto the bottom QRD and wedged it between the two stabilization brackets on the sides.  Once we lifted it I really didn't think we were going to be able to do it and I suddenly had immediate visions of a trip to the emergency room as this thing was heavy and if it fell we would be at the hospital for sure.  None the less it is done.  The back section is 6 inch thick Broad band absorption panels.

OK, so here are the purchased Skyline Primitive Root diffusers purchased from SoundArt.  They were kind of yellowish in the original state.  I began to spray finish these with white primer, must be water based, which I prefer for clean up reasons.  Well, as many have mentioned these type of diffusers just suck up paint and finish.  This after 5-6 coats of sprayed white primer.  I will apply another 5-6 coats looks like, whew.  Even with my new hi volume low pressure spray machine, this takes lots of time and paint!!  Getting close and still debating painting them black or just keeping them white, but they will be mounted into stained wood frames.

Next are SIX Auralex T-Fusers.  They were WHITE originally and now they are STILL WHITE, but this is an oil based primer, they I sprayed on very light coats.  It looks really nice and flat.  I will paint these flat black next.

OK, so this is for those who like MDF finishing and pure wood staining.

First is the raw cut sanded MDF boards that will be the 4'x10"x.5" WINGS for the QRD.  You can see them go from light brown to three coats of white primer, with sanding in between.  This was a lot of work, but it is not easy to get MDF nice and smooth on the cut edges.  I used oil based primer, can't be water based.  Then I sprayed a water based Black flat paint, but was learning how to use my new paint machine, so it was thick and had to brush it.   This is just the first coat, but already looks pretty good.  I will apply one more to all sides. 

Last is the outer frame of the QRDs, which will be stained Spruce.  
You can see the first coat of miniwax golden oak stain.  and the finished second coat.

Some more Acoustic Science Development for the studio.  Meaning more acoustic treatment porn!  Raw implementation, unreserved customization, and some down right nasty DYI.

So I will be updating from the last post some progress on those projects, some new projects in development, and some more steamin Hot tool toys!

OK, 
If you are an Acoustics Geek please read on, as this post relates to our most recent acoustic treatment implementation.  While even some very large established commercial studios have put developing equipment ahead of acoustics, we know that a $40,000 mic is not going to overcome even a great instrument played in a poor sounding room.  It will always be better to track with an average microphone in a great room, then a studio filled with premium equipment with poor acoustics.  We never put the acquisition of components ahead of room acoustics, as the interaction of instrument and the environment is the most critical.  In turn we have invested thousands of $ into acoustics.  We began for example with installing over 40 acoustic broadband absorption panels.  We have been furthermore acquiring and implementing the optimal balance of acoustic QRD, Fractal, and Binary acoustic diffusion.  These approaches yield a room that sounds lively, larger than its dimensions (without echo), and a relatively flat response across the sound frequency spectrum.

So, these last few weeks, I have been working on several projects.

1) I bought 2 large approx 9'x6' and 2 smaller 6'x4' ceiling clouds that were custom built by Acoustech in NH.  Despite buying them, they still need to be mounted and I can't leave well enough alone, so I had to add about 3-6 inches of Roxul broadband absorption to them.  Sounds good but required adding additional support as now they weigh about 30-40lbs each.  I will be hanging them over the drum kit and in the center of the tracking room with diffusion across the front.  Pics below will show the final product goal.

Check Back Again, as these projects are set to be complete in 1-2 weeks max.  Next will be more large scale CUSTOM Skyline diffusers and some Unique Binary Sequence Diffusers!!!  I will be drilling about 6000 1/2 inch holes, but don't worry I bought a heavy duty hi velocity power drill!!  Also more QRD diffusers and next big project will include HUGE soffit Monitor/subwoofer mounts!!!!

Since announcing the public opening of Bop Stop Studios we have received a lot of support and interest, which we are thrilled about.  Many thanks to our friends and colleagues!  Of course, we strive to support local artists and provide rates that reflect our helping nature.  Bottom line we are in this to make beautiful music and become a resource for the music community!!!!

We have been setting up consultations and nailing down final scheduling on several upcoming projects.  We are excited to already have a range of artists covering music from Jazz to Hip Hop to Reggae and Pop!  In turn we have added a web page for "upcoming studio projects".

I will also be adding a personal BIO for the website to give you all a brief perspective into my how my path has become directed towards music recording and production and my hopes to expand to artist management/promotion.  

I will periodically be posting updates to this blog site so check back, subscribe to our page here, or like us on FACEBOOK.  You can also look me up on Facebook.