Recording Sweet Spot: Subcat Studios — Syracuse, New York

The constant quest for a destination studio within striking distance of New York City leads logically to Syracuse.

A renowned college town, it’s no wonder that the recording scene is on the rise here. For the myriad regional musicians, as well as artists seeking a respite a few hours drive outside of NYC, Subcat Studios — originally founded in 2001 followed by an upscale relocation in 2011 — has arrived to surprise you.

Overnight accommodations are right onsite ensconced within a highly modern design by the architecture firm Fiedler Marciano, and backed up by acoustical accuracy courtesy of Lally Acoustical Consulting. There’s a café downstairs, a theater affixed, experienced ears onstaff, and youthful enthusiasm abounding.

The result is a recording/mixing/post facility that captures the eyes as effectively as the ears. For serious upstate inspiration, explore this tour of Subcat.

An atypical acoustical environment resides in Syracuse — Subcat Studios. (Photo: Chris Cooper)

Facility Name: Subcat Studios

Website: http://www.subcatstudios.com

Location: Syracuse, NY

Neighborhood Advantages: To start, Subcat is located just four hours north of New York City. This is close enough to the city to make travel easy, but allows the studio to avoid the high overhead of a major metropolitan area. Subsequently, Subcat is able to offer world-class service at an extremely competitive hourly rate, and also a peaceful relaxed environment. Subcat is also just a footstep away from the historic and boutique Armory Square and a leap from wine/spa country.

Date of Birth: September 2001

Facility Focus: The facility is fully equipped for tracking, mixing, mastering, and voice over work.

Mission Statement: Our goal is to provide a comfortable and relaxed environment where artists can concentrate solely on their music and creative process.

Clients/Credits: As far as national/international acts go, Subcat has recorded sessions with: Switchfoot, Halestorm, A Day to Remember, Everlast, Red Light King, and Nonpoint. Subcat has also done voiceover work with Otep, Robert Irving, and Food Network’s Guy Fieri. Besides these artists, Subcat has also worked with international finger-style guitar players Loren Barrigar and Mark Mazengarb, Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown, Professor Louie, Bobaflex, Al Chez, and ‘Studio Jams.’

Key Personnel: Ron Keck is the principal owner of Subcat and an engineer. Jeremy Johnston is the co-owner, who is also an engineer. Derek Yackel, who engineers on occasion, manages the business end for the studio. Finally, there is Patrick MacDougall, who is an engineer that recently moved back after thirty years in LA.

Inside the Studio A live room. (Photo: Chris Cooper)

System Highlights: For outboard gear, our specialty items include: Neve 1073’s, Tube Tech Stereo Multiband Compressor, Crane Song LTD STC-8, Benchmark System 1000, two Universal Audio 1176 Anniversary Editions, Stereo Summit TPA 200B, Manley Vox Box, eight Ampex 351 Tube Pre’s, two Teletronix LA-2A’s, GML 8900, and two Manley Vari-Mu’s.

For microphones, we have the bases covered with the standard Neumann’s, AKG’s, Royers, Shure’s, and Sennheiser’s, but two of our more outstanding microphones are the Sony C800G and the Sounelux 251 with an original CK12 Capsule, modified by David Bock.

A few key pieces from our instrument/amp collection include our: 1955 Gibson Les Paul Special, Gibson Mastertone Banjo, Adams Concert Grand 5 Octave Marimba, Santa Cruz Acoustic Guitar, Gibson The Ripper Bass, 1970’s Music Man Stingray Bass, Shifty Gentlemen custom snares, Marshall JCM 900 SLX, Matchless Chieftain, Limited Edition Vox AC-30, and Gibson GA-20

Distinguishing Characteristics: What everyone seems to love is the natural light in the control rooms provided by ceiling to floor windows, which also have the ability to become opaque. Also, there is an excellent line of sight between all rooms in the studio. More distinctive features of the facility are the three fully furnished lofts capable of housing twelve people located directly above studio, the café downstairs, large on-site rehearsal spaces, and the one hundred-seat theatre attached to the building.

The building is on fire, you only have time to grab ONE thing to save, what is it? We would grab one of the 1176 Anniversary Editions, for it would be hard to engineer after having once used its program dependent release characteristics.

(l-r) Subcat co-owner Jeremy Johnston and artist Nick Piccininni in the Studio A control room.

Rave Reviews: People love most the extremely comfortable environment created by the location, staff, facility, and studio design. Also, artists love the rooms because they not only sound great, but are easy to traverse and beautiful (the rooms were featured in Interior Design magazine).

Most Memorable Session Ever: Our session with Bobaflex was one of the most memorable sessions for a variety of reasons. First off, Bobaflex is a full band that did a live radio broadcast from the studio. Second, while not only fun people, the group consists of incredible performers that nailed every little part live. Also, the group was extremely relaxed and comfortable for a performance of such high importance. Finally, we were able to go all out with our gear and use just about all of our favorite pieces.

Session You’d Like to Forget: Can’t quite recall one…

Dream Session: Owner/Engineer Jeremy Johnston’s dream session would be tracking Tom Waits because, “Who else is there?” Or, even better, would be Scarlett Johansson covering Tom Waits. Yet we all concur that our dream session is any session that results in great music, no matter who it is.

— Ian Brooks, Subcat Studios

Another angle on Live Room A

Setup on the side (Photo: Chris Cooper)

The guitar stars

Expansive acoustics (Photo: Chris Cooper)

Control your inner cat.

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