Veteran mastering engineer Michael Romanowski has re-opened the legendary Coast Recorders Studios in the heart of San Francisco, refurbishing the huge Live Room back to the roots of its original Bill Putnam design and materials from the late 1960s.
The updated studio complex also boasts a completely redesigned control room called Mix One that includes a new Rupert Neve Designs 5088 analog console along with a host of leading analog and digital outboard gear.
In addition to Romanowski’s own mastering suite, he has added a second mastering room and mastering engineer Piper Payne to the staff.
The complex is a busy yet comfortable environment with on-staff recording and mixing engineers including chief engineer Sean Beresford (Third Eye Blind, Vanessa Carlton), and chief technical engineer Desmond Shea.
Also within the complex are two mixing suites and the analog 2-track dub room for ‘The Tape Project’ – an audiophile tape-based record label owned by Romanowski and famed engineer Paul Stubblebine.
“I have always wanted to offer the San Francisco music community more than just mastering services,” states Romanowski. “I have an acoustic band myself and love to record live. Coast Recorders’ live room is a perfect place for that. It also has the right vibe and acoustics for rock recording, as well as jazz and small chamber music ensembles.
“By expanding our mastering services to two rooms we can cover more projects from start to finish all within the facility simultaneously. Mix One is stunningly appointed and sounds really great as a mix room. We’ve got a huge variety of outboard gear that even the biggest gear-head will be pleased with.”
Romanowski has already implemented a unique offering for the re-born Coast Recorders called the “Live at Coast” series, where artists perform and record in the studio with a live audience.
“There are so many great bands of all styles in the Bay Area, I want to give them a controlled live environment to make a record in. We’ve already had great success with it, the live audience has added a lot to the performances,” says Romanowski.
Check out photos of the revitalized Coast Recorders here.
