Mediasound Studios

Last updated
Mediasound
Company type Recording studio
Industry Music
FoundedJune 1, 1969;54 years ago (1969-06-01) in New York City, United States
FoundersHarry Hirsch, Bob Walters
Headquarters311 West 57th Street,
New York City
,
U.S.

Mediasound was an American independent recording studio facility located at 311 West 57th Street in New York City established in 1969 by Harry Hirsch and Bob Walters with financial backing from Joel Rosenman and John P. Roberts. [1]

History

The studio was founded by former JAC Recording engineer Harry Hirsch and Bob Walters, [2] with financial backing from Joel Rosenman and John Roberts. The search for a suitable location for the studio began in 1968 and resulted in the acquisition of the former Manhattan Baptist Church building. [2]

Originally conceived as an 8-track studio, the concept was expanded to a 24-track state-of-the-art facility, increasing the budget from $100,000 to $700,000, [3] and the studio opened in June 1969 with the former church's large wooden front door and 2,000 square foot main room with high ceilings and stained glass windows. [4]

Sessions at Mediasound ranged from commercial jingles and movie soundtrack work to album projects, [5] with the studio hosting a wide variety of artists in the 1970s, including Barry Manilow, Kool & the Gang, Stevie Wonder, Frankie Valli, Lou Reed, Gloria Gaynor, Engelbert Humperdinck, Ramones, and Blondie. [3] Additionally, most of the music for Sesame Street was recorded at Mediasound, as a standing session was booked at 9 am with engineer Fred Christie for years. [6]

Session musicians who worked at Mediasound included Paul Shaffer, Bob Babbitt, Allan Schwartzberg, Will Lee, and Marcus Miller. [7] Numerous recording engineers worked at Mediasound, including Bob Clearmountain, [4] [8] Tony Bongiovi, Godfrey Diamond, Michael Barbiero, Michael Delugg, Harvey Goldberg, Ron Saint Germain, Michael Brauer, Don Wershba, and Ed Stasium, among others. [1]

Harry Hirsch left Mediasound in 1973, and would go on to later found Sound Mixers, GRP Records' corporate studio, and Sound Tracks. [4] In 1977, Bob Walters left to co-found Power Station with Tony Bongiovi. Joel Rosenman continued to oversee daily operations, with John Roberts overseeing finances for the studio. [3]

In 1983, the studio was bought by Michael Hektoen, who managed it until it closed in the 1990s.

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References

  1. 1 2 Bank, Bobby (October 2005). "Mediasound Studios" (PDF). MIX. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 Jennings, Steve (1 October 2022). "New York '77". MIX. Future plc. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Paige, Earl; Nusser, Dick (17 December 1977). "Mediasound". Billboard. Billboard Publications Inc. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Daley, Dan (October 1989). "From Caruso to Hendrix: A Brief History of the New York" (PDF). MIX. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Barbiero, Michael (1 January 2006). "Jeffrey Lesser: Doing it All - from Kool & the Gang to Kids' TV". MIX. Future plc. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Easlea, Daryl (7 April 2010). Talent Is An Asset: The Story Of Sparks. Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-237-7.
  7. ↑ Crane, Larry (May 2019). "Michael Brauer: The Emotion of a Mix". Tape Op. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Lawson, Alexander (July 2011). "Bob Clearmountain: The King of Mixers?". Tape Op. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
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