Jock Of Rock Review: Mackay Productions - Local Recording Studio Thrives

SPRINGFIELD, VT. - The last time I caught up withlocal musician Chris Mack, singer and guitarist of the Springfield-based metal outfit Element Of The Machine, was in the winter of 2010 after the band had released their debut CD titled "Our Last Hope" on the independent Deka Records label.

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Photos courtesy of Chris Mack

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The disc had been recorded,produced, mixed and mastered at Mack's Springfield-based home studio - Mackay Productions - with his Element Of The Machine band mates as co-producers. In fact, Mack has been into recording, producing and working with other bands since his high school days.

Flash-forward to the present,as the band is currently recording the next CD on the Your Label Records, which is their first release for the Rutland-based music and promotions label and third overall. "We are currently working on the first release for Your Label Records," Chris Mack said in a recent interview. "It is the follow-up to our second CD which was titled Ghosts Of The Highlands and recorded in 2011."

Collaborating with Daryll McKeighan and Your Label Records has opened new doors for the band. "But not only has it opened doors for Element Of The Machine, but also for myself as a producer and recording engineer," Mack continued.

"Just like it states on the Your Label Records' web site, it’s a family atmosphere in that all the bands and artists help each other. Your Label gets our CDs out there and not just locally, but around the world. Also, through the label, Daryll will send bands my way who are looking for recording services.

Featuring Mack on lead guitar and vocals, Derek "pip" Burpy on guitar, Mike Descoteaux on bass guitar, Jeff Bixby on drums and new-comer Derek Stribley on guitar, the members of Element Of The Machine came together in 2009 from two previous, popular local bands - Mercy Machine and Broken Mindz.

The band currently has nine tracks nearly completed, with another three-to-four tracks to go. "Nine of the 12 or 13 tracks are almost done, we just need to lay down vocal tracks, some guitar solos and round it out," Mack said. "We had taken a break for a bit to write more music and get geared up for playing shows again, and we're now recording nearly every day for the new CD."

Along with the Element Of The Machine recording sessions, the Mackay Productions studio is also staying busy recording other projects as well. "I've been really busy in the studio which has been great," Mack said. "Recently, I've been recording a local band that is comprised of former members of Twisted Legacy and Anger Rising. It's been a really cool project to work on."

Mack has recorded, produced and mastered many types of music over the years - from hip-hop, to classic styles of rock, to the heaviest of the metal genres and therefore, is very well-rounded to take on the recording of any style of music.

"I have recorded everything from classical, jazz. bluegrass, rock and fusion, as well as solo ensambles. However, I am primarily known for recording metal music and the like. From metal and hard rock, to Norwegian, black-metal styles… every genre of metal.

I must also mention my long-time friend Bryce Chiccione, who is my biggest recording and engineering inspiration, as well as the almighty, mega-metal producer Andy Sneap. I could never thank Bryce enough, for he has made a huge impact on my love and passion for music and music production."

Since last spring, Mack has made several equipment upgrades along the way. "I'm currently running two different set ups, Cubase 5 on one computer and Protools on the other, "Mack said. "We also have tons of hardware and rack effects available as well - compressor limiters and gates, mic pres, a variety of multi-effectsat my disposal and I have also recently upgraded our growing collection of state-of-the-art microphones.

"I still use my big, analog8.Bus recording console for the front-end, going into Cubase or Protools in order to pick up that fat, analog-console sound. We also offer drum-replacement software in which I record drum samples from each band at every session, so if we need to replace a single drum, I can replace it with a sample from that very drummer and exact recording session... not with a sample from some random guy in Los Angeles or New York City!"

Watch for the new Element Of The Machine release coming soon, and to learn more about the Mackay Productions studio and Your Label Records, contact Mack at elementofthemachine@hotmail.com or McKeighan at www.yourlabelrecords.com