Tracksheets: An Avatar Studios Newsletter

====================
AVATAR TRACKSHEETS
====================

Avatar Studios Newsletter
     Summer Issue 2005

-----------------------------------------------------------
Visit us at http://www.AvatarStudios.net
-----------------------------------------------------------

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Kevorkian Mastering Opens at Avatar Studios
2. "Hall of Fame" Photos
3. Session News
4. Quick Mentions
5. Book a Session / Contact Us / Feedback
6. About Avatar Studios
7. Subscribe / Unsubscribe

-----------------------------------------------------------

As quickly as it came, spring is now gone and the sweltering summer is  
here.  We've already enjoyed bringing out our grill a few times up on  
our rooftop patio for burgers.

According to an annual recording studio survey done by Music Connection  
magazine, it seems that "artists and producers are starting to  
appreciate and accept that there is a big difference when they run  
their tracks through a good console."  We couldn't agree more.

We apologize to our clients as some could not book a room with us  
recently.  We have been extremely busy with activity since last fall.   
We want to thank you for your support these past years.  We will do  
everything we physically can to honor your requests.  Your patronage is  
important to us.


1. KEVORKIAN MASTERING OPENS AT AVATAR STUDIOS

We are proud to announce the grand opening of the Kevorkian Mastering  
facility.  Mastering engineer Fred Kevorkian joins Avatar's Creative  
Community of audio professionals with the completion of this new room.

Located on the 3rd floor at Avatar Studios, Kevorkian Mastering now  
provides clients the option to also master their projects at Avatar.   
Avatar's President, Kirk Imamura commented, "We can now offer our  
signature, high-quality service from tracking to mixing to mastering,  
all under one-roof.  Package deals are now possible."

The mastering room is approximately 300 square feet.  The room was  
constructed from a design originally conceived by Sam Berkow of SIA  
Acoustics and was further enhanced and refined by Roy Hendrickson,  
Avatar's Chief Engineer.  Roy also designed Avatar's Studio G.   
Membrane absorbers were incorporated into the walls of the room and  
Skyline diffusors made by RPG are used on the rear and side walls of  
the room.  Randy Merrill, from Avatar's technical staff, worked with  
Fred to fine-tune the room acoustically and helped put the finishing  
touches to the installation of his equipment.  The room features state  
of the art analog and digital equipment such as the Muth transfer  
console, Sontec equalizer, Weiss and Z Systems processing units.

Fred began his career in France, where he worked for Sonofrance, a  
well-established sound company in Paris.  His background in electronics  
and passion for music led him naturally into the field of audio  
consulting and studio design.  After several years, Fred decided to  
specialize in engineering.  He became a freelance broadcast engineer  
working for major television networks as well as a staff engineer at  
Parisign Records.

In 1989, Fred came to New York where he spent a total of nine years at  
Sear Sound.  He was the chief recording engineer there, and also  
collaborated with Walter Sear in building and customizing unique pieces  
of vintage gear during the first four years.  He then turned his focus  
to mastering, which really suited his talent and interests.  Walter  
Sear decided to build Studio B where Fred spent the next five years  
there, mastering albums for independent and major label artists.

In 1999, Fred joined Absolute Audio where he was on staff for five  
years before founding Kevorkian Mastering, Inc. in 2004.  At Absolute,  
Fred sharpened his mastering skills and built up quite an impressive  
list of clients.  Now, in 2005, Kevorkian Mastering joins forces with  
Avatar Studios.  "I am very excited about being a part of this  
legendary studio team," said Fred.  "I hope my experience can help  
clients think about how best to record and mix from the mastering  
perspective."

Fred's recent credits include albums by Ryan Adams, The White Stripes,  
Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Iggy Pop, The Walkmen and Jesse Malin as  
well as Cassandra Wilson, Dave Holland, Clark Terry, Danilo Perez and  
many others.

Kevorkian Mastering is available right now for bookings.  Check out his  
room at http://www.avatarstudios.net/rooms/studio_k.html.  For more  
information, call Tino at (212) 765-7500 or email him at  
mailto:Tino@AvatarStudios.net?subject=Mastering.


2. "HALL OF FAME" PHOTOS

=> In this issue, we feature two photos.  The first is from a recent  
DOLLY PARTON session with NORAH JONES.  Since Dolly Parton's  
participation in Norah Jones' album, Feels Like Home, Norah returned  
the favor by participating in hers.  The photo was taken in Studio A's  
control room.

The second is from a reunion of sorts from the Power Station era.  On  
the same day, we had sessions with Tony Bongiovi, Neil Dorfsman, James  
Farber and Roy Hendrickson.  The Power Station alums posed for a  
commemorative photo in Studio A's live room where it all started 26  
years ago.  For these photos and others, please visit  
http://www.AvatarStudios.net/aboutus/gallery.html.


3. SESSION NEWS

=> JOHN MAYER stopped by with producer Steve Jordan and bassist Charlie  
Hunter to record his upcoming release.  Dave O'Donnell engineered  
assisted by Anthony Ruotolo.  John Mayer also stopped in to play on a  
BB King tribute record.  The session was engineered by Avatar's Anthony  
Ruotolo with help from Peter Doris.

=> DONALD FAGEN has been doing various overdubs with Avatar engineer  
Brian Montgomery, assisted by Chad Lupo.

=> Producer/engineer David Bendeth mixed a track for Hollywood Records'  
BREAKING BENJAMIN assisted by Chad Lupo.

=> Windup band, OMNISOUL is in Studio C for recording and overdubs for  
their debut release.  Gregg Wattenberg is producing, Greg Gordon  
engineering assisted by Eddie Jackson.

=> Producer Todd Barkan was in with Calle 54 artist NINO JOSELE.   
Avatar's Roy Hendrickson engineered assisted by Eddie Jackson and Peter  
Doris.

=> Pianist MAKOTO OZONE was in with engineer Joe Ferla recording a new  
disc using Sony's DSD format.  Makoto produced the sessions and Aya  
Takemura assisted.

=> Producer/engineer Al Schmitt was in with Concord Records' pianist  
TAYLOR EIGSTI.  Brian Montgomery handled the Pro Tools operation.

=> A series of live performances by PHISH were mastered by Fred  
Kevorkian in his new mastering room.

=> Virgin Records' RICKY FANTE was in with producer Josh Deutsch and  
engineer Vaughn Merrick.  Anthony Ruotolo assisted.

=> Sh'K'Boom Records was in recording the cast of the Broadway show  
SPELLING BEE, which recently won a Tony Award.  Joel Moss engineered,  
Kurt Deustch produced, Jan Folkson operated Pro Tools with Aya Takemura  
assisting.

=> Universal Music's EAST VILLAGE OPERA COMPANY was in with  
engineer/producer Neil Dorfsman.  Anthony Ruotolo assisted.

=> BRAD MEHLDAU was in recording and mixing with James Farber assisted  
by Aya Takemura.

=> ERIC CLAPTON with producer Simon Climie and engineer Alan Douglas  
was in recording for an upcoming release.  Brian Montgomery assisted.

=> BILL FRISELL recording with his trio, Ron Carter and Paul Motian,  
for Nonesuch Records.  Lee Townsend produced while James Farber  
engineered.  Ross Petersen assisted.

=> LUCIANA SOUZA recorded with James Farber engineering.  Aya Takemura  
assisted.

=> Mixer Rich Costey mixed the new WEEZER album produced by Rick Rubin.  
 Ross Petersen assisted.


4. QUICK MENTIONS

=> Nominated for 2005 TEC Award
Avatar Studios has been nominated for a 2005 Outstanding Creative  
Achievement Award in the category of Record Production / Album for  
Norah Jones' Feels Like Home.  The award recipients will be announced  
at the 21st TEC Award Presentations on October 8 as part of the AES  
Conference, which will be held in New York this year.  For those  
planning to attend, drop by Avatar Studios and check out all the new  
changes.

=> Check Out "Avatar Studios Presents" Podcasts
Avatar Studios has put out a few 30-minute music podcasts called  
"Avatar Studios Presents."  The program features great music and  
interviews by the people who recorded the music.  The aim of the show  
is to help introduce music that may not be widely known or heard, but  
of great quality.  The intent was also to present a professionally  
produced show with superb audio quality.  The show is hosted by Wade,  
the voice of Avatar.  Past shows have featured pianist Don Friedman,  
vocalist Pamela Driggs and keyboardist Philippe Saisse.  The next batch  
of shows will feature Hank Jones and engineer James Farber among  
others.  For more information, please visit  
http://www.avatarstudios.net/podcast/index.html.

If you like what you hear, please cast your vote for us at Podcast  
Alley (www.podcastalley.com) or other popular podcast directories  
online.

=> Looking for a Few Good Techs
Avatar is now accepting resumes for part or full time maintenance tech  
position.  For more information, please contact  
mailto:TechJob@AvatarStudios.net?subject=TechResume.


5. BOOK A SESSION / CONTACT US / FEEDBACK

=> To book a session, call Tino at (212) 765-7500 or email him at  
mailto:Tino@AvatarStudios.net?subject=book_from_newsletter.

=>We welcome any feedback you might have regarding our newsletter or  
the services that we offer.  For feedback:  
mailto:clientservices@AvatarStudios.net? 
subject=feedback_from_newsletter.


6. ABOUT AVATAR STUDIOS

Avatar Studios is a 33,000-square-foot multi-room facility on  
Manhattan's west side providing the highest possible quality audio  
recording services to the recording industry. The studio houses four  
premier recording rooms with unparalleled acoustics containing a Neve  
8068, a SSL 9000J, a Neve VRP and a SSL 4000G+ Special Edition.  We are  
all Pro Tools HD, all the time.  AVATAR also has several project rooms  
available including a Pro Tools editing suite.  Mastering services are  
also available, individually or part of a package.  High-speed DSL and  
ftp services are available for file uploads and downloads.

History: http://www.AvatarStudios.net/aboutus/history.html
Clients: http://www.AvatarStudios.net/aboutus
Gear: http://www.AvatarStudios.net/gear


7. SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE

=> To Subscribe or Unsubscribe, go to  
http://www.AvatarStudios.net/news/newsletter.html.

We respect your privacy.  We will not give out your e-mail address.  If  
you wish not to receive this newsletter, please follow the instructions  
below to unsubscribe.

If you think you know people who would be interested in receiving this  
newsletter, please feel free to forward it to them.

-----------------------------------------------------------

This newsletter is published by Avatar Studios
http://www.AvatarStudios.net
Copyright (c) 2005 Avatar Entertainment Corporation, all rights  
reserved.

"We Are Analog Retentive"