Recording Sweet Spot – Triple Colossal Studios, Hoboken, NJ

When it comes down to it, drums are at the core of what makes an NYC studio essential.

Dylan’s got your gun. (Photo by Jonathan Cole, http://www.jonathancolephotography.com)

In the heart of Hoboken, Triple Colossal Studios is seriously specialized in that sector, providing not just premium rhythm instruments but an elite player – one Dylan Wissing — to go along with it.

A fiercely dedicated player who has played on GRAMMY-winning tracks, Wissing has set up his NJ facility to stand up as one of the top rooms for drum recording on the East Coast.  From the looks of his client list – Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Drake, and many more – he’s met his objective and then some.

But there’s flexible strategies to go along with it: clients can work with Wissing remotely via his plugged-in drum den (don’t miss his diverse player-portfolio below). And what’s more, the stylish digs provide full-service recording, rehearsal, and podcast support.

Laser focus and versatility in one place – it’s a double whammy that makes Triple Colossal worthy of a Sweet Spot.

Overhead in the Triple C. (Photo by Johathan Cole)

Facility Name: Triple Colossal Studios/Indie Studio Drummer

Website: http://www.indiestudiodrummer.com/triplecolossalstudios

Location: Hoboken, New Jersey

Neighborhood Advantages: We’re five blocks from the Hoboken PATH train, one subway stop from Manhattan, surrounded by gourmet coffee shops and amazing restaurants, in a great town full of talented, creative people. And our Manhattan skyline views are unparalleled!

Date of Birth: 2009

Facility Focus: We focus on tracking drums, but function as a full service recording, rehearsal and podcast studio.

Mission Statement: Our primary objective is to excel as a remote drum room for artists and producers everywhere, through http://www.indiestudiodrummer.com. We provide Grammy winning, Platinum selling, #1 charting drum tracks for everyone!

Clients/Credits: We’ve tracked drums for clients such as Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Jay Z, Rick Ross, Fabolous, “Glee,” CKO Trainer,  Alpha Kids, Kirsten Thien, Michelle Citrin, and Elizabeth Chan;  producers such as Ken Lewis, Tommy Faragher, Riley McMahon and Steve Addabbo; and dozens of independent artists and producers around the globe. Recently won a Grammy for drums on “Take Care” by Drake, too.

Dylan Wissing in his favorite zone. (Photo by Kristie Andreula of http://www.frontkickproductions.com)

Key Personnel: Primarily it’s Dylan Wissing (session drummer/engineer and owner) and Matt Teitelman (drum tech and assistant engineer). Cooper Anderson and Mike Judeh engineer here occasionally as well.

System Highlight: The centerpiece of Triple Colossal is a world-class collection of drums and percussion, both modern and vintage. We have amazing kits from GMS, Drum Workshop, Ludwig, Slingerland ,Tama, Pearl, Gretsch and so on. Over 15 drum sets, 40 snares, and a mountain of cymbals and percussion. We can cover just about any percussive sound you can imagine, from the entire span of recorded music!

For tracking we use an API 3124, A Designs Pacifica, UA 4-7110d, SCA rack with A12, N72 and T15 pre’s, and vintage Magnacordette Stereo Tube Pre’s, through an RME Fireface UFX into Logic 9. We have a nice collection of microphones from AKG, Audio Technica, Audix, BLUE, CAD, Cascade, E/V, and Shure, both vintage and new. And we have great-sounding compressors from dbx, Valley People and FMR. Everything is monitored through Dynaudio BM15As.

For rehearsals and writing sessions, we have a vocal PA by Bose, amps from Fender and Hartke, and a Privia electric piano.

We take great pride in the condition and maintenance of our studio and equipment, as well.  Everything works as it should, and is immediately accessible.

The building is on fire, you only have time to grab ONE thing to save, what is it? After rebuilding our studio in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene (our original location was completely destroyed by flooding from the storm), then weathering the massive flooding from Sandy when our new location was surrounded by three feet of water, the only thing we would save in a fire would be any living creature in the facility. Gear is easily replaced, people are not.

Having said that – musicians, please INSURE YOUR EQUIPMENT!!! It’s way cheaper than you think, and you will never regret the modest expense on the day that you need to make a claim. Please contact us at info@indiestudiodrummer.com if you need advice on where to turn, we can definitely make suggestions based on our experience.

Artillery at the ready. (Photo by Kristie Andreula)

Rave Reviews: What do people tell you they like/love about your studio? Most importantly for us, people love the drum sounds that they get out of our studio. We have a nice, balanced neutral-sounding room that is very easy to configure for a wide range of sounds. And of course, we have a huge collection of drums, percussion and recording gear to achieve just about any sound imaginable.

We’re passionate fans of great graphic and industrial design as well, and have designed the room inspired by both Machine Age 1930s and groovy analog 1970s. People seem to instantly get what we’re going for here, and dig it. That definitely translates into the music we make.

Most Memorable Session Ever: Recently had the Rolling Stones’ horn section in to track for a client – that was pretty damn fun (and exhausting – those guys are amazing, and FAST). We hosted a roundtable podcast discussion with professional kickboxers arguing diet with a nutritionist, which got fairly heated – the nutritionist had them on the ropes for a while there…

Session You’d Like to Forget: While there have been a few long and difficult tours I’d prefer to erase from memory, we’ve found something interesting and compelling in every recording client that has come through the door.

Dream Session: If John Legend and the Roots record a follow-up to “Wake Up!” I’d love to host and play drums when Questlove is on a coffee break. If I could get Duke Ellington’s Blanton/Webster-era band in here as well, that would be ideal. And after having tracked drums at Alicia Keys’ personal studio, I’d love to have her out to Hoboken to do some tracking at my place!

Dylan Wissing — for more information on Triple Colossal Studios, or to contact Dylan Wissing for drum tracking, please visit http://www.indiestudiodrummer.com.

Gear to go. (Photo by Kristie Andreula)

A closer look at the total workstation — DAW control is directly behind the drums. (Photo by Kristie Andreula)

Over-the-shoulder view of the room. (Photo by Kristie Andreula)

Always check the mix on your boom box! (Photo by Jonathan Cole)

Pull up a (drum) chair. (Photo by Kristie Andreula)

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