Allen profile picture

Allen

Starrfire Recording Project

About Me

My life evolves around the world of music. I am a long-term veteran bass player, having played just about every genre of music found on the planet. Myself along with Chris Portman (Co-Enginner/Producer/Musician) also operate an upper-end home project recording studio, which has accelerated and has migrated from being just a hobby into a full-time business. Starting the studio, initially, was more of a hobby for recording our personal band's projects, but soon took-off with activity and with incredible results occurring. The studio now stays pretty busy most of the time.Coupled with the studio business and playing the bass, the world of music is now the focus of doing what I enjoy the most, music. I have recently finished several entire projects for clients that are doing quite well. I have, too, been blessed to have access to some of the greatest musicians (Nashville Quality), that I can resource when anytime to assist and support high-level projects. Each of these musicians are unbelievable and impeccable in their music ability, and too, are some of the most meek and humble people you will ever meet. They are always willing to come and assist with any complex live instrument project that I have.Spending time in the studio is one of the most enjoyable, exciting, rewarding, and enjoyable things I do. I am addicted to the world of music, and always will be. I have actually attempted numerous times to walk away from music, but always find myself strapping back on the bass and start working on tracks. It is impossible to walk away from the art of music once it becomes an intricate component in your body, soul, mind, and spirit. If you are in the Houston, Texas area, and are interested in doing a high-quality project for affordable cost, please consider giving me the opportunity.For information on recording a project, please email on my MySpace page. You can also email me at any one of the below email addresses.Thanks!Allen Portman Starrfire Recording Studio League City,Texas [email protected] [email protected]

My Interests

Playing the bass guitar, audio engineering, sequencing electronic music, and promoting my personal recording studio. At the moment this consumes almost every minute of free time I have. And I love it. is at the top of my current interest list. It is my philosophy and desire to provide access to artists that may not have tons of money to plop down as it cost for an upper-end recording studio, but can pay much lesss and still achieve a high-quality sound to have a few thousand that can be spent on developing and produce a quality recording. I will be placing a few of my personal projects on my web-site very soon so that you can listen to for referencing the quality. I am always open to postive criticism.

I'd like to meet:

I love to meet all kinds of people, especially those having a deep interest and love for the art of music. I live to listen, play, and record music in my personal recording studio or in a large-scale studios. I typically do smaller-scale projects, editing, post-production, pre-mastering, sequencing, mixing, recording, etc. in my personnel studio (Starrfire Recording), but at times will go to a local large-scale studio in Houston (Sugar Hill Studio) to record bass and drums. It is all project dependent, and what type of recording I am doing. Working with Sugar Hill is a pleasure. They have great Engineers, and also, great attitudes. Large or small. It does not matter, I can handle it!I love sequencing ambient electronica-based music. As a bass player, my favorite style to play, is alternative rock (i.e. U2, The Cure, Cold Play, Foo Fighter, Radio Head). The band that I previously played with won the number ..1 spot in the praise and worship category for Christian Independent Artist (CIA) in Franklin, TN. We give God the glory for this success! We humbly accepted this award this past year (2006)at the CIA Summit in Franklin, Tennesee. Christopher Portam (My Son), who is also one incredible musician (drummer, precussionist, sequencer, guitartist, etc)has teamed-up with me in the project recording business, which has made it that much more exciting, being able to work together in accomplishing joint projects. This has made it even more of a pleasure in having a persoal studio. So far, I have not had to promote or work hard or beg for business. The door just seems to open every day for increasing sudio projects. Enough of me. Anyone wanting to talk music or recording engineer lingo - I am all ears. If you are a recording engineer, musician, or vocalist, then you have my attention.

Music:

Cold Play, U2, The Cure, Madonna (newest), Evenecence, Alanis Morissette, Mute Math, Dredge, Death Cab for Cuties, Moby, Goo Goo Dolls; Foo Foo Fighters; Rascle Flatts, Snow Patrol, Muse, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, and many many others...! I like a variety of music genres, which helps to maintain a broader, not boring fixation on just one style. I tend to stay much fresher in my intellectual approach to music by mixing it up.

Movies:

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SeeqPod Music beta - Playable Search

Television:

I love all the CSI shows and watch the news on daily. Any good concerts coming on TV I will also watch. Mainly only have time to watch CNN, ET, & Weather channel briefly when not in the studio. So busy at the moment about all I have time to do is come in and watch the news. That's about it for now! Watching excessive television to me is a waste of time when I could be in the studio making music!

Books:

Music books and magazines is about all I read. Occasional noval I will pick up and read. Currently reading a novel by Tess Gerritsen, The Mephisto Club. Awesome book!

Heroes:

My heros are my Wife and Son. They always will be on the top of my hero list. I guess mainly for putting up with the crap that I have dished-out all the years, working and doing projects, many times, only spendig a few hours a day (or week) at home. They deserve the crowns! My Son is my hero, is my pride and joy, is one of the greatest percussionist (drummers), and can play just about anything he picks up! He is a great asset to the music recording business.

My Blog

Nashville, TN Trip

Just returned from Nashville, TN late last night, after spending several days, collaborating with studio and multi-media friends about doing future joint projects. While there, I had the the opportun...
Posted by Allen on Fri, 21 Dec 2007 05:34:00 PST

Starrfire Recording Studio Update!

Its been a while since I took the time to update the blog on what's been happening in the studio. Partly because the studio has been non-stop and extremely busy working on multiple projects, with 2 mo...
Posted by Allen on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:32:00 PST

Starrfire Studio Update

I apologize for being a little slack in posting on updating my blog. Things are going great with continued work and progress on several projects. Chris is also working and collaborating on several of ...
Posted by Allen on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 11:28:00 PST

Starrfire Recording Update

Very busy in the studio working on multiple projects. Things are going great at the moment, with continued work on MTM's Project, Frank Francis Project, Ed Suddeth (Starting Soon), along with my perso...
Posted by Allen on Sat, 19 May 2007 09:44:00 PST

Mute Math Concert

Just got home from the Muth Math Concert at the Merdian in Houston, Texas. These guys are some of the most phenomenal musical geniuses you will ever see or hear perform. They will simply rock every fi...
Posted by Allen on Mon, 07 May 2007 11:43:00 PST

Post Nashville, TN Trip!

Just returned from Nashville, TN. It was a very exciting and rewarding trip. It is definitely a music morale booster, interacting and interfacing with some of the best artists in the world. We had the...
Posted by Allen on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:18:00 PST

Dining-Director CMT On-Air Operations

A very exciting evening in Nashville, TN, this day, as we went out and had dinner with Tracy Todd. Tracy Todd is a relative of my daughter-in-law, and is also The Director of On-Air Operations for the...
Posted by Allen on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:53:00 PST

Update

A quick update on how things have been going lately. Starrfire Recording Studio has been extremely busy with multiple projects going simultanously, with several others to start soon. Chris has been ma...
Posted by Allen on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:32:00 PST

Frank Francis Project!

Coninuing to work on the Frank Fancis Project. I am very excited about this project. Frank has an incredible meek and humble spirit, besides being a tremndous praise and worship musician and song writ...
Posted by Allen on Sat, 03 Feb 2007 10:20:00 PST

The Whistler!

I have always heard that Audio Engineers/Producers have to be prepared for recording and producing almost anything in the world of recording, but I will have to say this is my first. Starting today, i...
Posted by Allen on Sat, 03 Feb 2007 10:13:00 PST