powerhouse studios

THE PROJECT STUDIO (As featured in Mix Magazine) A Florida Drummer Comes To Rest In Rural Massachusetts by Chris MichieMix Magazine Cover"I guess it was The Beatles on Ed Sullivan," says Stuart Covington when asked how he got started in the music business. "I always loved music as a kid, and seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan was bigger than life." By the time Covington reached high school, he had saved enough money to buy a drum set, and he played in a band called The Epics through the mid- to late '60s. Citing Ringo Starr, Ginger Baker and Mitch Mitchell as influences, Covington picks Vanilla Fudge's Carmine Appice as his all-time favorite drummer. Growing up in Jacksonville, Fla., Covington went to high school with future members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and later played with Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkerson in The King James Version.After spending his college years in Atlanta, he returned to Jacksonville and formed a band "with some guys out of Indiana."The group, Powerglide, stuck together for 12 years. "I always loved recording, so as Powerglide progressed, I kept buying more recording gear," recalls Covington. "I was always the person, in all the bands I was in, who put the P.A. together. I was the audio tech in the band, even though I didn't run sound."By the time Powerglide broke up, Covington owned a major portion of the band's recording gear, and in 1991, having paid off the debt on the remainder of the equipment, he found himself with the components of a 16-track, 1-inch studio setup. "I said, 'Well, what the heck, I might as well make some money out of the studio business,'" he recalls. "I haven't quit spending money on it since!"Occupying about 1,000 square feet in the basement of Covington's house in rural Ayer, Mass., Powerhouse Studios consists of five rooms: a 13x20-foot main room with an attached 12x14-foot amp room/iso booth; a 13x18-foot control room, also with an attached 5x7-foot iso booth; and a 12x20-foot lounge that can serve as an additional recording space.An experienced carpenter, Covington designed the studio with the help of a friend "who sells audio gear" and built most of it himself, including a floating ceiling and double-thickness sheetrock insulation throughout. "We didn't use any technical equipment to tune the rooms," says Covington of the acoustic design."We basically just used our ears and experimented with sound treatments until we liked the way it sounded."Though Covington may sound casual about the studio's design, the equipment list is serious. The console is a 48-channel Soundcraft Ghost (24-channel mainframe with 24-channel expander), and monitors include Genelec 1030s, Tannoy 6.5s and JBL LSR32s in soffits. Recorders include an Otari MTR-90 MkII 24-track (15/30 ips) and 24 tracks of Panasonic ADATs. Covington typically mixes to Panasonic 3700 and 4100 DAT machines and also cuts reference CDs.Outboard racks are crammed with modern and vintage processors. Reverbs and multiprocessors include units from Lexicon, Yamaha, Eventide and SPL Electronics. A Korg 2000 and an Ad/a D4 round out the delays. Compressors include two UREI LA-4s, a UREI 1178 (stereo), an Audio Arts 1200 and four channels of dbx. The studio also boasts a UREI 546 stereo 4-band parametric EQ, gates from JBL, Ashly Audio and Symetrix, and a TC Electronic Finalizer for tweaking final mixes and mastering CDs.The microphone selection is comprehensive. In addition to prime recording mics such as a Neumann U87, two AKG C414 EBs, and an AKG SolidTube, Powerhouse offers a range of Beyerdynamic ribbons and condensers, plus such staples as Shure 57s and 58s, Sennheiser 421s and EV RE20s. Keyboards include a Hammond C-3, Yahama CP-70, Fender Rhodes and Arp Odyssey. An IBM 166MHz computer with a 5GB hard disk runs Cakewalk Pro Audio and Sound Forge 4.0, and the MIDI setup includes a Kurzweil PC88 keyboard, Alesis and Kawai drum modules, an Akai sampler and a Roland Octapad. Covington also owns a vintage Linn drum machine. Among the many vintage amplifiers on hand are Ampeg SVT and B-12 bass amps and Mesa/Boogie, Fender, Marshall, Silvertone and Kustom guitar amps. Drum kits include both new and vintage Ludwig sets. Additional amenities include a private yard, Sega Genesis and Sony Playstation video games, TV, VCR and microwave, a coffee maker and a fridge.Covington records all types of music, including gospel, blues, jazz and singer-songwriters, but his most frequent bookings are with Boston-based rock bands. "Sometimes I engineer, sometimes I produce, sometimes I co-produce, and occasionally I play drums or keyboards for the artists that come in,"says Covington. "In general, though, I try to help the band realize what it is they're after and guide them into making things sound good.Bed & StudioPowerhouse is located on a private 4 acre setting in Lunenburg MA. and we have all the tools you need for a creative, relaxing session totally removed from distractions. You don't have to be rushed and under the gun during the recording process ever again. Lose the stress. You know how it its trying to get everyone on the same page, get tonality right, the head phone mix and levels and and blockout the aniexty of the day. Get those basics down right the first time and give yourself the chance to succeed in getting what you truly want.AmenitiesThere is an artist apartment for overnighters just the remedy for what band unity needs to complete the expereince. You're on your own for breakfast though!Artist Suite - Sleeps 6 with Kitchenette* Full Bath * Cable TV, VCR * Sony Playstation * Fouton Convertible Couch/Beds.The warmth of wood-oak parquet flooring, pine and birch paneling, birch venere doors and maple trim. Enjoy your privacy in a completely relaxing atmosphere. Rock and roll art collection, black lights, lava lamps and quartz halogen trak lighting for variable schenes.Software* Digital Performer * Pro ToolsMixing Board* SONY DMX R100 * 48 Channels of Sony EQ, Compression and GatesRecording Gear Motu* RADAR 24 -96k * Powermac G5 w/Digital Performer 4.6.1 * Sac-2k control surface for DP * MOTU 2408, 2-1224's and MIDI Time Piece A/V * Antares Auto Tune * Universal Audio Producers PackMic Pre's* Chandler EMI Abbey Road 2 channel * 2-Focusrite 110's * Universal Audio 2610 - 2 channel with EQ * 3 - 1961 Telefunken v76 tube mic pre's * 2 Cal-rec PQ 15s vintage mic pre/E.Q.s * 2 channel SPL Pro mike mic pre's * 12 Channels of Sony Mic Pre'sCompressors and EQ Compressor* Tube-tech LCA-2b stereo tube compressor, * 2 Urei La-4 compressors * 2 Urei 1178 stereo compressor * dbx Blue 160SL 2 channel compressor * dbx 160A compressor * dbx 160x compressor * dbx 162 stereo compressor * 2 dbx 160 compressors * dbx 263x de-esser * Audio Arts 1200 compressor * Urei 546 stereo parametric E.Q * 2-Symmetrics 5 band parametric EQ'sMicrophones* AEA Ribbon (RCA Re-issue) * Earthworks 30K's matched pair * 2 Vintage Nuemann U-87's * 2 AKG C 414 EB silver face * 1 AKG Solidtube * 1 AKG D112 * 2 AT 4033 special edition * 2 E.V. RE 20's. * 2 Senheiser 421's. * 1 Senheiser 441 * 2 Beyer 160 Ribbons. * 2 Beyer 703's. * Beyer 500 ribbon * 1 Beyer 260 ribbon * 1 Beyer 834 large diaphragm condenser * 3 Beyer 201's. * 2 Beyer tgx 5's. * 2 Beyer 83's. * 1 Shure Green Bullet. * 1 Shure SM 85. * 5 shure SM 58s * 5 Shure SM 57'sProcessing Processor* Lexicon 200 Reverb. * Lexicon PCM 90 Reverb. * Lexicon PCM 80 Multi Effects. * Lexicon PCM 70 Multi Effects. * Lexicon PCM 60 Reverb. * Lexicon Prime Time DDL * Symmetrics dual channel delay * 2 Yamaha SPX 90 II's * Korg SDD 2000 AD/A D4 DDL's * Eventide 949 Harmonizer * JBL, Symmetrics Ashley Quad gates * The Pod by Line 6 * T.C. Electronics Finalizer/Wizard mastering unit * SPL stereo vitalizer aural exciterKeyboards/Computer/MIDI Piano* Marshall and Wendell baby grand piano * Hammond C3 organ with 122 Leslie * Kurzweil PC88 Piano action midi controller * Alesis D-4 drum mod and HR16 drum machine * The original Linndrum machine * Akai S3000xl stereo sampler, library of classic tomodern sounds * Powermac G5 w/MOTU hard disk * MOTU 2408, 2-1224's and MIDI Time Piece A/V * MOTU Digital Performer 4.6.1 * Soundforge CD architect * Soundforge 5.0Musical Equipment Gear* Gibson Les Paul * Fender Sratocaster * Classic Fender Twin Reverb * Early 70's Fender Champ amp * Dan Electro Longhorn Bass * Marshall 4x12 cabinet, slant front with greenbacks * Marshall JMP-1 preamp * Marshall 9100 Power amp * 1964 Ampeg SVT 300 watt tube bass amp * Mesa Boogie amp * 1962 Ampeg B12 bass amp * Kustom 200 bass amp w/3-15 cabinetDrums Drum Rack2004 Ludwig Mod Orange:22x18 kick,8x10,8x12,12x14,14x16 quick toms 90's Ludwig red sparkle:(2)24x14 kicks, 22x16 kick,8x10,8x12,9x13,10x14,14x14,16x16,16x18 toms 60's Ludwig Psychedelic swirl:22x14 kick,8x12,9x13, 16x16 tom 70's Ludwig Blue sparkle:20x14 kick,8x12,16x16 toms 70's Slingerland black diamond:20x14 kick, 8x12,9x13,16x16 toms 70's Ludwig Rainbow Vistalite: 22x14kick,11x13,12x14,13x15,14x15,16x18 concert toms Snare drums: 40's Slingerland 7x14 'Gene Krupa' Radio King;1-60's and 1-70's Ludwig 5x14 chrome supraphonics;60's Ludwig aluminum supraphonic; 60's Ludwig 6.5x14 supraphonic; 2002 Ludwig psychedelic swirl 5x14 Maple; 2004 Ludwig Mod Orange 6.5x14 Maple; 80's Ludwig 6.5x14 hand hammered Bronze; 60's Premier 5x14 Chrome; 70's Ludwig rainbow vistalite 5x14 Cymbals: Paiste Rude:12 splash 16,17,18,19,20 crash;21 ride, 21 power ride,18,20 China Paiste Red Color Sound:14 hats,10,12splash,16,17,18,18,20 crashes,21 heavy ride,18, 20china Paiste 2002: 14 sound edge hats,16,17,18 Crash, 24 ride Paste Formula 302 14 heavy hats Zildjian 20 Ride Latin percussion Congas, Latin Percussion Bongos, Latin Percussion Timbales* 14 x 20 control room, 7x20 entry room/ambient hall,21 x 26 large room with 12 foot ceilings, * 10 x 10 iso room, two 4 x 6 iso booths.Monitors* Genelec 1030 * JBL LSR32 * Tannoy 6.5 * JBL SR47-X * QSC 300 watt Amp * Moscode 300 watt tube ampLayout made by ..