I just uploaded a couple songs from the forthcoming Fireman's Daughter EP entitled "Road To Tennessee".  All 7 songs on the EP were recorded at "Welcome To 1979" on analog, and also mixed/mastered on analog tape- which is very rare these days.  

Wow- Time Flies!

Come help us celebrate one year of doing it like they did in 1979!!!

http://www.myspace.com/welcometo1979.com

Check out the wide world of Analog @ "Welcome To 1979", my all analog vintage recording studio. www.myspace.com/welcometo1979.com

I show you Analog Tape Delays in action!

Always something new being added at '79....or should I say always something old! I've teamed up with Studio Guitars, a Nashville-based vintage guitar/guitar amp rental company to offer great vintage amps and cabinets right at the studio. Pretty sweet. Check out the pic!

Also, my vintage Gates Level Devil tube compressor is up and working--- the thing runs so hot I decided to use the heat to my advantage and offer HOT PRETZELS! (see photo below)

Last week Noel Golden (who has engineered and/or produced records for Matchbox 20, Sister Hazel and Edwin McCain) cut tracks on a new artists he's working with at my studio, "Welcome To 1979".

Noel commented that he hadn't recorded on analog since he worked with Meatloaf!

It was great to see someone of Noel's caliber enjoying the studio- and everything sounded awesome!

I had the extreme pleasure of tracking The Jakals next release (London, UK) last week at Darkhorse Recording and had a frickin' blast. Most of the band head back to the UK in a couple days, but a couple of them will remain here working with their producer Freddie Wall until late December. This is kick ass rock and roll- can't wait for it's release date!


oh yea, and we cut on ANALOG.

Since there's always the old analog vs digital debate going on...I thought I'd start offering something "new" out of my studio. Here's the deal:

I have a vintage, all analog studio in Nashville, TN called "Welcome To 1979" (www.myspace.com/welcometo1979 ) which features a vintage MCI 428 analog console, MCI JH 24 2" 24 track analog recorder, and several MCI and Ampex analog mix down decks. They sound great, are always on, and are always aligned- because I use them all the time.

I've had several local engineers/artists book some time at the studio to come in simply to run their digital tracks through the console and tape machine(s) and/or run their mixes through my mix down decks - which are awesome ideas.

So here's my thought-If they felt the need to do that, I bet other people do too. Why let something as trivial as geography get in the way?

I also have a Pro Tools rig (I know, that's not really "1979") and tons of server space. If this idea appeals to you, just hit me up and I'll set up a secure folder that only you and I have access to- you upload whatever [timestamped] individual tracks you'd like to hit tape (kick, snare, bass, vocal, whatever), I'll download them, run them through the console and tape machine (then line them up with the original and re-timestamp them as such) and upload the "vintage versions" of the tracks for you to download- they'll line up just fine with the rest of your tracks.

This also works for final mixes too and is even more simple (since there's no time stamping to do) I can run them through my console and to my main mix down deck and upload them for you.

I wanna keep this affordable, something where anyone who wants that analog sound (but doesn't have much of a budget) can afford to send me a few individual tracks from each song of their full length, or all of their mixes and not break the bank, so I'm doing this for a flat fee of $10 per individual track (kick, snare, etc) and $25 per stereo mix. This is an all inclusive price- no hidden costs what so ever, and I offer discounts for bigger projects.

Everyone knows that analog sounds best but don't always use it for a variety of reasons...I hope this idea will eliminate many of those factors for you folks.

Anyone interested in getting the analog sound that everyone talks about without spending big bucks? Just hit me up and I'll make it happen.

If you want to hear a great before and after example just download a free FTP program (if you don't already have one) like cyberduck for mac or smartFTP for PC.

server: www.chrismara.com
username: marademoreel
password: Hearthis247 (case sensitive)

you'll see a folder named "FTP Analog Before and After), download the entire folder (just under 700 mb) and import the high res (24bit/48k .wav) files into a new project in your DAW.

It's pretty straightforward and self explanatory and includes before an after of a few individual tracks, before and after of a stereo mix, and a digital mix will all digital tracks followed by the same mix with kick, snare, bass and electric guitar post console/tape.

now there's NO excuse for not getting that great analog sound!

hit me up and we'll make this happen.

chris

Well, after 3 months of being open, I finally have a break in the action...so I'm throwing a PARTY!!

So come on over on Thursday September 4th at 8pm for some drinks, food and good times!

Check out the site at myspace.com/welcometo1979

It's right in Nashville and easy to find, so what's your excuse??

1110 48th Ave North
Nashville, TN 37209


Need directions? Just follow this

link.

I hope to see you there!

Chris Mara

WOW! What a summer! I spent all of June and July recording 3 projects in a converted barn in Northern Wisconsin! It was a blast, and is more proof that I go WAY off the beaten path to find creative and affordable recording solutions for independent artists on a budget! There are a TON of pics under the photo album called "the barn", as well as a barn video tour that starts in the OUT HOUSE!! LOL.

Also, my studio "Welcome To 1979" is catching on like mad! It was booked solid for all of June and July, and I have many other people looking at chunks of time for later this fall too! I recently acquired a ton of 2" analog tape, so I'm able to offer FREE TAPE (up to 3 reels, a $450 value) for anyone that books 3 or more days. LONG LIVE ANALOG!

The studio has also been making some waves in the recording industry...I guess that's what happens when you buck the digital recording trend! Check out the article in EQ Magazine:

1979 in EQ Mag

Enjoy!

-Chris

Here's some barn pics:

Yo! I've been blogging quite a bit on my studio's site = myspace.com/welcometo1979 . So please check it out to learn more about what's going on in 1979!

Here's an updated pic: