Catamount's
Studio B is dedicated to digital recording
and mastering. It features Pro Tools and ADAT multitrack recording
systems. Construction and acoustic treatment are similar to Studio
A, but modified to accommodate the realities of a physically smaller
space. The control room and studio both have large bass traps
above the ceilings to eliminate muddiness. Each is built on its
own concrete slab so bass can't resonate from room to room.
The Studio B acoustics are not as "live" as Studio A, but not "dead"
like many small padded-wall environments. The designer accomplished
this by applying a diffuser system to the studio walls in order
to diffuse midrange and treble frequencies throughout the room
rather than
absorbing them. The result is a pleasing, balanced acoustic environment
that is great for recording instruments and voices. The Studio
B control room is spacious and accurate, with large bass traps
above the ceiling to keep the low end tight and clear.
Studio B equipment. All of Catamount's extensive collection of mics and instruments are available for use in Studio B. Monitors and outboard gear include:
Tannoy SRM 15X main monitors, and vintage KRK 9000B midfield/nearfield monitors, each powered by a Hafler P-7000 Transnova Reference Power Amp.
Manley Variable-mu stereo tube compressor.
(2) Chandler TG Channel mic preamp/passive equalizers.
Focusrite Octopre eight channel mic preamp/compressor.
Aphex Tubessence stereo mic preamp.
dbx 166 stereo compressor.
Digidesign 002 Rack ProTools interface with an extensive collection of mastering and mixing plug-ins, installed in a Mac Dual Processor 2.5Ghz G5 computer. Lucid AD9624 and DA9624 for digital to analog and analog to digital conversion.
Mastering is also a primary activity in Studio B. Acoustic accuracy is of the utmost importance in this crucial final stage of the recording process, and Studio B's control room is very accurate. This ensures that the final product will translate well to home audio systems, car stereos, boom boxes, and anything else on which it might be played in the "real world."