Recording Studio Sweet Spot: Teaneck Sound — Teaneck, New Jersey
Watch out when the drummer runs things.
Although they 100% deserve to be the butt of every drummer joke ever written, drummers are also detail-oriented multitaskers who are confident being in control. They steer the ship, react and solve problems in real time.
That’s why drummers like Andrea Valentini start recording studios like Teaneck Sound in New Jersey. After 15 years of touring with Blood, Sweat & Tears he’d had enough of life on the road. By building a studio, he correctly reasoned, he could be working every day without leaving his hometown, one of those peaceful near-to-NYC New Jersey towns that groove to their own bucolic beat.
Plenty of heavy musicians, bands and producers live in these parts, and they’ve kept things humming at the unassuming Teaneck Sound. It’s home to a Musgrave-modified Neve VR60; highly flexible live space with seven iso booths that can work separately or as one room; mega-monitoring via Atomic Instruments; a strictly curated mic selection, including a certain Neumann with a superstar following; and an indulgently oversize collection of drumkits and snares.
Recently extensively renovated, Teaneck Sound is an under-the-radar room that’s breaking through. Now get the skinny from Valentini and his crew.
Drums (and drummers!) rule at Teaneck Sound.
Recording Studio Sweet Spot: Teaneck Sound
Facility Name: Teaneck Sound
Location: Teaneck NJ, 15 Minutes from the GWB. Accessible from Port Authority & the GWB bus terminal via NJ Transit.
Neighborhood Advantages: Free Parking, no nosey neighbors.
Facility Focus: Tracking, Mixing
Date of Birth: January 2010
Mission Statement: A studio by musicians, for musicians.
You Wanna Be Startin’ SOMETHING – why Valentini took the leap to found his own facility, and go from touring drummer to studio owner: Touring the world with Blood, Sweat & Tears as their drummer for 15 years, although the gig of a lifetime, the road started to take its toll. I decided to open a studio so I could still be a part of the music business and sleep in the same bed every night.
Clients/Credits: Brian Newman (Verve), Nick Biello (Truth Revolution), Jay Pharoah (SNL, White Famous), Freddy Cole, John Gallagher Jr., Lenny White, Steve Smith & Neil Schon (Vital Information, Journey), Tru Life, Future, Ruff Ryders.
For Example: Check out sounds by Nick Biello and Brian Newman, for starters.
(l-r) David Kowalski, Brian Chirlo, and Andrea Valentini, flanking Teaneck Sound’s Musgrave-modified Neve VR60.
Key Personnel – here’s how Teaneck Sound added two key engineering talents, Dave Kowalski and Brian Chirlo: Dave had been chief engineer at the legendary Bennett Studios, and when they closed, was introduced to me by a mutual musician friend. As business grew he introduced me to Brian Chirlo, another engineer from Bennett Studios, who also was looking for a new place to work out of.
These two guys have backgrounds that span all genres of music, are musicians themselves, and keep the studio alive.
Renovations/Renewed – Teaneck Sound just finished a major renovation: New acoustic treatment in all of the live rooms, and a revamping of the control room for more accurate translation has just been completed.
Diffusion in the control room and a relocation of the outboard gear has drastically improved the listening environment. Aside from audio, we recently added an eight-channel video system to alleviate any line-of-sight issues that may occur. Everyone has their own display and can see everyone.
Console Role – a pristine Neve VR60 helms the control room: The console was originally from The Hit Factory in NYC. It was later at the House Of Blues in Memphis, where I bought it. The console is maintained and modified by John Musgrave. This console requires zero toothpicks.
Live Baby – Teaneck Sound has 1400 sq. ft. of live room space with seven iso booths: I wanted the ability for large bands to come in and record, but also have the most separation as possible. So the studio has seven isolation rooms to achieve that, or we can keep all the doors open and do it live.
We’re all connected — seven iso booths open and close to each other as needed.
Making the Monitors – an organic path to Atomic Instruments monitors: I replaced my old Neve power supplies, with one Atomic power supply, which is a beast. Norman Druce, the founder of Atomic Instruments, asked me if I wanted to demo his new line of monitors, the 610’s.
They quickly became the favorite of both clients and us. Their ability to recreate full frequency playback at low levels is unmatched.
Secret Weapon – Mic Collection – a very tasty mic collection resides in-house: All of our mics are hand-selected. We don’t just buy mics because someone liked it once in a session 17 years ago. We test them on many sources, using different pres, compressors, and EQ’s. We make sure they are going to be an asset to our mic locker, not an expensive paperweight.
Our Neumann U 47 was the personal favorite of David Bowie and Mariah Carey, according to the previous owner, who shall remain anonymous…
Additional System Highlights:
Dave Kowalski — We have at least two to four of everything you would ever want from UA, BAE, Retro, Focusrite, API, Millennia, etc. but the console is so well maintained, many times I find myself grabbing the VR preamps. If you want to see everything, check out our Website with all the outboard gear.
Brian Chirlo — My vocal chain as of late has been the Telefunken 251, BAE 1272, into a Distressor or a Retro 176. When I find a better combo, maybe I’ll let you know.
Drums on Site – there are 19 drum kits and 43 snares currently onsite at Teaneck Sound. Here’s why too much is never enough: I’ve been a drummer all my life. These drums are my life’s work of collecting my favorite kits over the years. My Yamaha Maple Custom is my favorite pop kit for recording. The 1960’s round badge Gretsch kit is the most popular for jazz drummers.
The building is on fire, you only have time to grab ONE thing to save, what is it?
Mics are a top priority.
Dave — Besides the daily backup drive, I’d grab the 251, U 47 and the U 67, which are all locked in the same safe. That counts as one, right? That would make a nice down payment on the rebuild.
Brian — I’m going to take the 251. There’s just something magical about ours that I haven’t found anywhere else. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind mic.
Andrea – I’ll let them grab the gear. I’ll grab my dog, Alfredo.
Rave Reviews: All our mics are included in the session. For real. Want to use that U 47, fell in love with a 251 once? Saw a U 67 on your favorite bands making the album video? Use it. Just please don’t break it. Most people say this place feels like home.
Most Memorable Session Ever :
Dave — There are too many, but most recently actor Dominic Chianese of “Sopranos” fame showing up with a surprising blend of original and classic Americana tunes.
Session You’d Like to Forget:
Andrea — A couple of years ago, an outside engineer booked a session. They swore they didn’t need an assistant, and ended up patching everything incorrectly and blamed the studio in front of the client. I then had one of my guys come in, and repatched the whole session the correct way…in front of the client.
Dream Session:
Andrea — The Rolling Stones
Dave — Jimi Hendrix
Brian — Billy Joel
- Interview by David Weiss
A full view of the control room, including the Neve VR60 and Atomic Instruments monitors.
Gear from Brent Avril and Retro makes the cut…
Plus plenty more choice units from Universal Audio, Focusrite, API, Avalon, Empirical Labs and more.
O what talented lips this Neumann has kissed.
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