Sin City’s Serious Sounds
Local audio production studios step it up a notch

For years Las Vegas talent has taken to Interstate 15 south in an effort to find the equipment and facilities capable of capturing and producing a quality record. Recording, mixing, mastering, many local artists continue to make the pilgrimage to Southern California in an effort to turn out a top quality product. Recent moves and shake-ups in the Vegas valley have led to the creation of some serious studios run by some serious players looking to attract more than just the locals.

Amongst additional expansion features inside the Palms, they’ve also announced plans to open a world-class recording studio offering amenities far beyond those of your typical pro-setup. Visionaries of the project, Palms owner George Maloof and Brittney Spears Manager Larry Rudolph are taking the project on under Maloof Music and Entertainment which currently resides as part of the Interscope family. Specs on the facility include an SSL 9000K, 80 input mixing desk, a second studio with an acoustically identical control room and a mid-sized overdub booth, highly portable equipment for a more private experience (in your room) and an extensive selection of vintage equipment. (visit: www.palms.com)

Many local artists may also remember Tom Parham Audio of East Sahara. Back in December of 2003, the company packed it in and headed to new facilities in Henderson (Sunset and Sunset). Newly renamed “Odds-on recording,” Parham and company have established makeshift accommodations for Parham’s “Embryo Records” artists and begun construction on not one but two enormous warehouses. The first will house three high end recording studios will all the goodies including an SSL 9000xl, electronic curtains for room/sound shaping, and multi-level sound booths. The second building will be home to one smaller studio and a full-blown manufacturing plant covering everything from physical disc creation to finished product. The multi-million dollar setup is expected to be one of the largest build-outs seen on the West Coast in the past 30 years. Throw this together with your larger than average Sea-world style fish tank and all bets are off as Odds-on includes all the candy a brain can handle. (visit: www.oddsonrecording.com)

Long-time hit producer Mike Mancini has setup shop in Vegas and established Platinum Sound Lab for aspiring musicians ready to take it to the next level. Approached by local M.D. Michael Clifford, Mancini quickly jumped at the opportunity to build exactly what he felt Las Vegas was missing. Mancini has a personally impressive roster that includes huge records with everyone from Tom Petty to the late Marvin Gaye. Today his studio works with the old and the new as mentionable projects have included Chicago and local heavyweights Clockwise and Happy Campers. When asked why he chose Vegas as the place to build Platinum Sound Lab he said: “…LA, New York, Nashville, they’re all great places but there’s just too many studios out there. (Clifford and I)-really think that Vegas is the next place for things to happen.” Taking a decidedly more new school route, Platinum Sound Lab runs the latest Pro Tools setup available in two studios, a midi-room, and in one suite you’ll find 5.1 surround sound. For the history in you, vintage equipment is also available. (visit: www.platinumsoundlab.com)

As for now, Platinum Sound Lab is the only facility fully built and running but you can be sure that others will be quick to follow. With a continual boom in business and growth in the valley, it’s anticipated that more and more high profile national recording acts will find their way to our glitter gulch as an escape from their record labels studio and an outlet for the amenities they’ll only find in Vegas. Mancini suggests that artists looking to record should be booking studio time at a minimum of 2-3 weeks out as they can always set something up. Smash reminds you that many places can be booked up to 2-3 months in advance so those looking to do something a bit more serious may want to allocate enough time to get the job done. Look for a top-notch setup springing into action on a corner near you. Just don’t be surprised that there isn’t a $350 local band super CD special.