CASE STUDY:
Built on 20 acres of land in idyllic Woodstock, NY, Levon Helm Studios is legendary not just in clientele – Muddy Waters, The Band, Eric Clapton, My Morning Jacket, Elvis Presley Band and The Black Crowes to name a few – but also in architecture. Built using no nails, only wooden pegs and locally quarried bluestone, the studio has optimal sound quality and a unique, creative vibe. Earlier this year, Production Manager and Chief Engineer Justin Guip was looking to update the studio’s DAW setup and acquire a few pieces of boutique gear for his own studio; he and Vintage King Audio’s Drew Townson connected to get the ball rolling.

Justin and I spent quite a bit of time consulting and formulating the new system,” says Townson. “Levon's barn has been there for decades as a live music venue and recording studio, so there was already some nice classic analog gear in there. But it was time to upgrade and freshen up the rig, especially as far a DAW goes. We did that in a way that it would integrate smoothly and transparently with the existing outfit, and this is why Justin called on Vintage King in the first place.”

Guip also added HD Native at his home studio for post production/mixing, which has enabled him to work through transitions seamlessly from is PT HD 3 Accel System without sacrificing quality, speed or power. Additionally, Guip also purchased a Shadow Hills Equinox summing system, which he’s been incredibly pleased with since its integration.

Justin was a pleasure to work with – he’s both professional and down to earth,” says Townson. “He tells me the sonic improvement is more than subtle. Levon is a huge hero of mine, so it was especially gratifying for me to be part of this, and I look forward to working with Justin and Levon Helm Studios again in the future. As Neil Young would say. ‘More barn!’”

For more information on Levon Helm Studios, visit Levon Helm Studios

LINKS: Avid HD Native, Shadow Hills Equinox summing system, Universal Audio UAD-2 Quad DSP card

CASE STUDY:
Renowned Austin based guitar player David Abeyta worked with Vintage King’s Drew Townson on acquiring a few pieces of used gear to supplement his studio setup with his band Reckless Kelly. Abeyta and Townson immediately connected on a musical level; after some great gear talks, Townson was confident that Vintage King Audio could help Abeyta achieve his musical goals. Having heard a Germanium Compressor and admiring its aggressive sound and “in your face” applications, Abeyta’s gear search began. When the Germanium Compressor became available through Vintage King Audio, Townson immediately let David know, just in time for their work on the Reckless Kelly album, Good Luck & True Love.

“The Germanium Compressor’s sonic characteristics suit Reckless Kelly perfectly,” says Abeyta. “I’ve used it to toughen up everything from acoustic guitars to Wurlitzer piano and have been really happy with the color it brings.”

Drew also worked with Abeyta on choosing different converters for the studio. While mixing at Wire Recording in Austin, TX, Abeyta became familiar with and a fan of the Auroras. As luck would have it, a unit became available through Vintage King Audio and Drew let David know immediately.

Acknowledging that the search for used gear can be a harrowing process, Abeyta continues, “I feel really confident buying used pieces from Vintage King thanks to the profess all of their used gear goes through once it’s sold. It goes to the tech bench and gets a complete work through, so I totally avoid the feeling of dread I usually have when buying used gear. I can’t say enough good things about the used gear process and the confidence Vintage King gives you while purchasing.”

For more information on Reckless Kell