West Street Digital: High Tech Recording Studio, Peaceful Vermont Setting
The Message For The Week Chester, VT June, 2007
FAIRFIELD, VT. - Nestled in the outskirts of Burlington, tucked away on a quiet rural road lies West Street Digital,a 24-track recording studio as unique as the beautiful Vermont landscape surrounding it. The studio was established in 1994 by Andre1 Maquera(guitarist)and Frank Barnes(bassist),two area-musicians who both possessed a passion for music from an early age.
Photos Courtesy of West Street Digital
"I think I always wanted to play guitar, even though at age 11 a preeminent local guitar teacher suggested I had no aptitude for the instrument," Andre Maquera said in a recent interview. "It wasn't until high school that I really picked up the instrument again, and totally immersed myself in the guitar. I played in several high school bands before detouring to become a pre-med major," Maquera continued. "But with a lack of sufficient funds to maintain my medical pursuit,I dropped out of college and back into music, never looking back."
West Street Digital was originally created as a vehicle for their own rock band, 8084, but as their recording skills developed and the marketplace became more apparent, Maquera and Barnes decided to open up the facility to other clientele.
"West Street Digital was the brainchild of Frank and myself, originally earmarked as a personal recording playground for 8084," Maquera said. "But the potential for growth led us to become a full time commercial facility. Through my early years as a recording artist, I was lucky enough to have worked with world class engineers and producers who were always willing to answer the questions of a curious guitarist, and it's an attribute I aspire to now with my own client base."
So what makes the West Street Digital studio so unique, besides its' beautiful surroundings? On the technical side,(without getting too technical)the studio offers superior digital sound, state-of-the-art microphones, pre amps and signal processing, recorders, mixing boards and computer software.
Most experts in the field, however, believe that a pure digital sound eliminates some of the warmer aspects of recorded music, and that's where West Street Digital makes their mark. The studio also offers a superior analogue audio pathway from the microphones right through the signal processing, allowing the warmth and personality of the musicianship and sound to shine through.
"From the outset, with its' natural wood appointments, the studio was designed to be a relaxed yet stimulating environment for artistic creativity, a musical safehouse if you will. On the less nebulous side, we're also on the cutting edge of technology. After 12 years in a business where the usual life expectancy is less than that of a goldfish, we've been able to develop relationships with many of the industry's leading manufacturers."
On the more personal side of things, the staff at West Street Digital takes pride in creating a more personalized atmosphere for each band, artist or commercial client they work with. After all, who has a better idea of the way a song should sound than the artist themselves?
"The most important and often intangible quality of any studio is 'the vibe,' how you feel when you first enter," Maquera states. "Is it warm and inviting? Is it conducive to artistic creativity? From its' inception, we tried to embody these qualities into our atmosphere.
"Having spent many years on 'the other side of the glass,' I understand the anxiety and trepidation an artist feels in the studio. Job one for me is to create a 'comfort zone' that allows the musician to fully realize their potential. People skills are nearly as important as audio engineering chops.
"The bottom line: having the right tools, in the right place, with someone who knows how to use them and still nurture the artists. I also believe in the seemingly antiquated concept of quality control. When the client leaves with their finished product, they are satisfied that they have realized their musical vision and are proud of the result. If I may be so bold as to steal a line from the U.S. Army, we try to help the artist, band or client 'be all they can be'."
Over the years West Street Digital has steadily developed a diversity in their clientele, which would seem essential for a studio not located in 'the big city' so to speak. However, despite its' rural location the studio is in fact, an ideal setting to tap into several larger markets including a 30-minute drive from Burlington, 90-minutes from Montreal and about four hours from Boston.
"We learned early on, the importance of diversifying and developing a vast commercial clientele to go along with a strong music-related base," Marquera proclaimed. "With strong ties to the local CBS-TV affiliate WCAX in Burlington, we quickly became the local go-to studio for complex audio production for video, as well as numerous jingles and voice-overs."
Some of West Street Digital's notable clients include hip hop legend KRS-One, the solo release of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals guitarist Scott Tournet, local blues legend Nobby Reed, and jazz guitarist Steve Blair.
"I am currently working with a Vermont-icon, pianist John Cassel, producing a Vermont-based country musical which features several local luminaries, and I am also producing and developing rising country phenom, Keeghan Nolan."
Others current and past projects have included the solo project of local bassist extraordinaire Aram Bedrosian, the mixing of the first 'Burlington Blues Festival' for WCLX, Will Patton and Jamie Masefield. Various commercial clients have included Vermont Public Radio, Smuggler's Notch Resort and the Coors Brewing Company.
Maquera also plans to release a solo project as well, which will include
the services of his talented client base. "Don't expect it right off the bat though," Maquera concluded with a grin. "I'm doing it in my spare time, so it might take a while."
- Login to post comments