New York is one of the cultural epicenters of the world. Talented people of different professions and social strata gather in this big city and create incredible things. Thanks to this, the city became one of those places where culture has been created with its recording studios, art galleries, theaters, etc. Read more on new-york-trend.
People didn’t always have recording studios to make their musical dreams come true. However, as technology continued to advance, the benefits of being able to record and reproduce sounds became obvious. Thus, recording studios started to appear. Nowadays, they are an integral part of the world music scene. Some of the most famous artists and musicians create music in New York’s best recording studios. Artists like Sonic Youth and Lana Del Rey have made some iconic recordings in the metropolis’s coolest studios.
When it comes to famous recording studios, New York City has some of the best in the world. High-class professional studios invite popular artists to record the newest tracks.
Let’s dive into the history of American recording and learn how this industry developed in New York.
THE BEGINNING OF SOUND RECORDING IN AMERICA
The idea of recording music first arose when American scientist Thomas Edison invented the phonograph to improve the quality of the telephone in the late 1800s. It consisted mainly of tinfoil cylinders and could record sounds. Then, American inventor of German origin Emile Berliner invented a technology to mass-produce recorded discs. This opened the way for great artists to record their masterpieces.
In 1889, special boxes were invented with the possibility of reproducing recorded sounds. A year later, the first recording studio called the New York Phonograph Company was created. Over the next two decades, several recording studios appeared that produced records on wax discs.
After music began to be recorded electronically, the American company Western Electric launched amplifiers and microphones for recording. It was a huge achievement in the history of recording studios. Before, people had to sit in a close circle near the equipment to create music, which was very uncomfortable for all participants.
A little later, this industry began to use magnetic tapes, which allowed the editing of recordings. This development was soon followed by multi-track recorders, which allowed sound engineers to mix different tracks recorded at different times. Today’s digital age allows most of the recording process to be done on a computer, where the possibilities are endless.
THE FIRST RECORDING STUDIO IN NEW YORK
The New York Phonograph Company was organized by brothers John and Richard Haines. Their studio was set up to serve certain areas of New York State. At the end of 1890, due to financial difficulties, they were forced to join the Metropolitan Phonograph Company. Since then, they have had the exclusive right to use the phonograph in the state of New York and played an important role in the development of the recording industry. In September 1893, John and Richard Haines fulfilled the orders and created recordings of very high quality. The company invited well-known star artists of opera, musical theater, dramatic and artistic music to cooperate.
In addition, several well-known collectors bought various records. For example, a November 1892 Phonogram article describes prominent New York record collectors Leopold Godowsky, actor Lawrence Barrett, and poet Amelie Rives, who owned records of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
Most of the recordings of the combined New York Phonograph Company and Metropolitan Phonograph Company were made by local independent recordist Charles L. Marshall. He was an ambitious and talented recording director in the 1890s who made quite a few quality recordings. Later, Charles Marshall moved to New England, where he opened his own salon and developed a theater of scenes, combining a phonograph and a cyclorama.
EDWARD GERMANO AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW YORK SOUND RECORDING
American producer and songwriter Jerry Ragovoy (Piece of My Heart) opened the original recording studio The Hit Factory in 1968 near Broadway.
In March 1975, Edward (Ed) Germano bought The Hit Factory and later moved it to another street. One of the new studio’s first major clients was Stevie Wonder, who recorded Sir Duke for his multi-platinum 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life.
In the early 1991’s, Ed Germano bought a nearly 100,000 square foot building where he opened the new The Hit Factory. Each of the five floors housed a separate recording studio. There were seven recording studios and five rehearsal rooms in total. The subsidiary company Hit Factory Mastering, a fully equipped gym with a sauna, studio executive offices, storage facilities and a tape library were also located there.
Big studios, as well as Germano’s high reputation, made The Hit Factory a cult recording venue. Ed Germano’s company did everything to make it easy and comfortable for musicians to record music tracks. For example, the company’s employees easily tore up the carpet if it obstructed the client’s eyes or filled the studio with hay to make the country musician feel at home.
The Hit Factory has attracted a large number of famous artists, including Tony Bennett and Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and 50 Cent. Michael Jackson, U2, Paul Simon, Run-DMC, Jay-Z and Beyonce also recorded tracks in the studio. In 1994, the studio’s production received 41 Grammy nominations thanks to the powerful soundtrack to The Bodyguard.
Before opening its current Noho location in 2008, The Hit Factory relocated several times throughout New York City. In addition, The Hit Factory has offices in other major cities such as Los Angeles and Miami.
NEW YORK MODERN RECORDING STUDIOS
New York is the epicenter of music creation and recording studios in the Empire State. More than 200 studios are located in five districts of the modern metropolis. New York surpasses the rest of the states, having the largest number of recording studios in one region.
Most of them offer top-notch recording facilities with fantastic equipment. Experienced and knowledgeable recording engineers work in great comfortable facilities to record a single, soundtrack or full album.
In addition, recording studios play a crucial role in creating good songs and music. They are one of the determining factors of success in the music industry. Although famous stars have record label deals and use the most up-to-date studios, independent studios are also not far behind in terms of quality.
It’s really hard to name the best modern New York recording studio because it all depends on many factors. For example, choosing the location that best suits you is one of the main things. Not everyone wants to drive an hour for a single studio session. Also, studios in the New York suburbs offer lower prices.
One also needs to make sure the studio has the proper equipment to suit all needs. It is worth noting that some studios specialize in certain genres and types of music. Another important aspect is budget, as some popular and high-class studios charge much more than simpler ones.
