Prof heads recording studio effort
ETHAN HENDRICKS
Staff Writer
staffwriter3@occc.edu
Plans for a recording studio that were put on the back burner for lack of fundinghave resurfaced and are pregressing quite nicely, said Michael Boyle, music professor.
“A recording studio was slated for construction with the Visual Arts and Performing Center,” he said. “However, [it] got slashed due to the economy.”
So, Boyle said, he and several music students worked together and began building a recording studio in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on their own this past summer.
“The studio may not have been built by the college,” he said, “but there are funds available that we can use to build the studio.”
Boyle said they buy the components they need, such as speakers, cables, and microphones and then assemble them in the studio room.
“We used money from our regular spending budget and student technology fees to pay for most of it,” he said.
Boyle said the Film and Video Department even chipped in to pay for several speakers and to have the room acoustically treated.
Overall, he said, they have spent about $19,000 so far.
However, they still need another $90,000. They hope to attain part of this money through a government grant, Boyle said.
“We have applied for the Federal Stimulus Plan,” he said. “It’s a massive program that President Obama has set forth, in which he is going to send $12 billion to community colleges over the next 10 years.
“We are hoping to be [the lucky] recipient of probably $25,000 to $35,000 of that $12 billion.”
Boyle said he is a firm believer in having students practice and record using the same software that potential employers will be using.
In order to achieve this, he said, he wants to have the most up-to-date technology in the studio.
“Our recording software, Logic, is a professional recording software made by Apple,” Boyle said. “This is the same stuff that Hollywood recording studios use.
“The software itself was $500. So, you know, this equipment isn’t cheap.”
Music and Film and Video students are excited about the studio and what they will be able to do with it.
“The studio looks pretty cool,” said Jean Locke, film and video major.
“It’s still got a little way to go, based on what we’re learning about sound. It’s still missing a few components.
“I haven’t recorded anything in the studio yet but today I’m hoping to record some bytes in there … ”
David Traxler, music major, said the studio looks cool.
“It’s amazing what we can do in there,” Traxler said. “I was surprised when we were told last semester we were getting a studio.
“It’s really white though,” Traxler quipped. “Definitely needs some color.”
Boyle said the only downfall is that the project has forced him to cancel the December Jazz Concert after the studio project absorbed the practice hours they would have spent preparing for the fall concert.
