phantom powers studio
As we’ve entered the digital age, how people record, produce and listen to music has changed immensely. What hasn’t changed for the artist is the need to find a comfortable and creative place to record their vision. To make that happen, I’ve focused on creating a space that offers studio-quality sound in an affordable working environment. It’s optimized for artists, singer/songwriters, and anyone who values creative working relationships.
In the digital age, many artists have tried to setup home recording, only to find the process frustrating and the quality underwhelming. On the flip side, a large studio can feel like a ticking clock where the artist is under pressure to finish before the money runs out. My studio is a blend of both, creating a high end sound but within a budget.
I believe what makes a great album and a rewarding recording experience is not just a big studio with lots of great gear. There are other intangibles that don’t get listed but are even more important:
- Communication: It’s vital that ideas and discussion flow freely. All too often, I have encountered studio engineers or producers that aren’t effective communicators. Oftentimes they may end up intimidating and restricting the artist creatively.
- Vision: I believe a good producer is someone who brings the artist’s ideas and concepts into reality while not being afraid to push them into new territory. A good producer also helps to create a unique stamp on the overall project so it stands out from the crowd.
- Experience: As a musician (primarily a drummer), I’ve recorded in studios for over twenty years and began serious engineering more than five years ago. I love the process and the unique set of challenges each project presents.
- Affordability: There are lots of ways for the cost of recording to go up and up and that can put a serious cramp on the creative process. Here are some of the ways I keep costs down:
- Low overhead: I purposely kept the studio small to keep costs low. Over the years, I’ve assembled a list of great players that can work with small budgets.
- In-house mastering: While I recommend that you have your project ultimately mastered at a professional facility, I have been trained in mastering from the Berklee School of Music.
- CD design: I’ve designed CD packages for several other artists and know what to do to minimize cost and still make a great finished product.
- Web design: I’ve also built websites and focus on creating sites that look great but are easy for the artist to maintain and update themselves.
About the Studio: I custom built this studio from the ground up to create an intimate but live space that is great for recording. I use microphones from Neumann, Manley, AKG, Rode, and more. I prefer to record using Cubase / Nuendo but can record in Pro Tools as well. The studio is not designed for tracking a live ten-piece band and if that’s what you want I have other studio recommendations. It also boasts great coffee, a comfy couch, and lots of natural light.
a little background…
I was born and raised in Santa Fe, NM in 1971 and moved to Austin, TX 30 years ago because of the people and access to amazing music . I started playing drums when I was 19 and it changed my life. I love the artist tribe and I’ve played with all sorts of people in all sorts of bands. Most of my recorded work is under the name Cisco Ryder (Ryder is my middle name).
I come from a family of artists and musicians. My grandfather was a pop and folk singer named Terry Gilkyson. He had a band called the Easy Riders and he penned a few number one hits in his time, including “Memories Are Made of This,” “Marianne,” and “The Bare Necessities (from Disney’s Jungle Book movie).
He had three children, all of whom played or worked in music. His oldest daughter, Nancy, became a vice president at Warner Brothers Music. His second daughter, Eliza (I call her mom), is a singer-songwriter who’s on the road 180 days a year. The youngest, Tony, played guitar in the LA band X for over ten years, did much of the guitar work for the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, and has his own albums out too.
I’m proudly carrying on the tradition, focused on music production, and would love to work with artists of any genre that appreciate the value of a truly collaborative relationship.
