Gravity Studios

Gravity Studios
Genre Various (alt rock, indie rock, singer-songwriter, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, grunge, etc.)
Founded Chicago, Illinois (1993)
Founder Doug McBride
Key people
 Doug McBride, Mike Penny, Sam Fell, Tim Yamaya[1]
Services Recording studio, music production
Owner Doug McBride
Website Official website

Gravity Studios is a recording studio in Chicago, Illinois founded in 1993 by Doug McBride.[2] Starting with the single "Seether" by local band Veruca Salt, Gravity has hosted bands such as the Plain White T’s, Silversun Pickups, and Fall Out Boy. An adjacent mastering studio, Gravity Mastering, has been used by bands such as Augustana and producers such as Mike Clink, Bob Mould, Brad Wood, and Bill Stevenson.[3]

History

Gravity Studios was founded by producer/engineer Doug McBride in 1993, in Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.[4] McBride left his job at Chicago Recording Company to manage the new recording studio,[1] and picked Wicker Park because it was a cheap area to afford practice space, and also its central position in the local alt rock scene. He has stated, "[Wicker Park] was primarily composed of a bunch of starving musicians hanging out, going to each other’s shows, and influencing each other musically.”[3]

"We’ve modeled Gravity after places like Sound City in Van Nuys, Fort Apache in Boston, and even Ultrasuede, John Curely’s place, in Cinci. It just felt good to be there, to be in those places.”
— Founder Doug McBride[3]

The first band McBride encountered after finishing construction was Veruca Salt, who he met through friends before they’d played their first show. He recommended they record their single "Seether" at Gravity, and the song went on to become popular at Chicago’s Q101, and propelled the band to a deal with Geffen.[1]

Local bands such as Verbow, Dovetail Joint and Jamie Blake soon started coming to Gravity for production and recording. The Smashing Pumpkins spent two weeks with McBride, which contributed to the creation of their album Pisces Iscariot.Through the late 90’s the studio began booking major label clients,[1] producing recordings such as Rachael Yamagata’s “Collide”, Fall Out Boy, Rise Against, and Badly Drawn Boy.[3] McBride has stated, "I suppose Gravity found a niche as the place to go to get a big, warm, organic sound."[2]

In 2000 Gravity began construction on an adjacent B studio, which was offered at a lower price, allowing bands with smaller budgets to record. Some of the engineers and producers who have worked at Gravity include John Agnello, Mitch Easter, Jim O’Rourke, Peter Mokran, Mike Clink, Bob Mould, Brad Wood, and Bill Stevenson.[3]

On August 14, 2006 Silversun Pickups recorded new material at Gravity, which was released as The Tripwire sessions: Live in Chicago.[5] Recent clients include Filligar, Anna Fermin, and Lee De Wyze.[3]

As of August 2013, services include, but are not limited to, producing, tracking, mixing, mastering, forensic audio, noise reduction, drum editing and sample replacement, vocal tuning, re-amping, rock band programming, and mix consultation. McBride also teaches recording for Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy.[3]

Gear

By the late 1990s Gravity had a vintage 1976 Neve 8058 console, which McBride says was the only one in Chicago. The console had spent the late '70s at Automated Sound in New York, recording albums such as Steely Dan's Aja.[4] In October 2008 it was announced the studio had installed a Rupert Neve Designs 5088 Console.[6] As of July 2009 the studio uses Pro ToolsHD, often in conjunction with analog gear.[7]

As of September 2013, instruments include a five piece DW Drum Kit, a Fender Jazz Bass, a Fender Telecaster, and a Gold Tone Paul Beard Signature Dobro. Recorders include Pro Tools 10 HD Native, a Tascam 122 MKIII Cassette Deck, and a Sony PCM-2600 DAT. Outboard Gear includes a Shadow Hills Dual Vandergraph and a Shadow Hills Mono Optograph.[1]

Mastering

In 2005 McBride opened a second studio,[1] Gravity Mastering, adjacent in the same building. Among Gravity Mastering's first clients were Augustana, Building Rome, Filligar, Mirror Mirror, Showoff, Jim Peterik, and The Days.[8]

Artists

Artists that have worked at Gravity Studios include: Veruca Salt, The Smashing Pumpkins, Atari Teenage Riot, Rod Stewart, Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights, Silversun Pickups, The Walkmen, Rachael Yamagata, Umphrey's McGee, Tub Ring, Motion City Soundtrack, Kasabian, Dashboard Confessional, Ben Kweller, Less Than Jake, Rise Against, Buddy Guy, Live, Verbow, As Tall As Lions, Augustana, Badly Drawn Boy, Company of Thieves, Enuff Z'Nuff, Filligar, Kill Hannah, Lucky Boys Confusion, Urge Overkill, Skillet, Spitalfield, Brad Peterson and Story of the Year.

Staff

Discography

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year Artist Title Notes
1993 Veruca Salt "Seether," demo Production, engineering
2005 Rachael Yamagata "Collide" Used in the film In Her Shoes
2006 Plain White T’s "Hey There Delilah" Double 2008 Grammy Award nominee
2007 Silversun Pickups The Tripwire Sessions: Live in Chicago All recorded at Gravity

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Gravity Studios Gear". Gravity Studios. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Carlozo, Lou (December 10, 2012). "Gravity Studios’ Doug McBride still down to Earth". Reel Chicago. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "About/History". Gravity Studios. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chun, Kimberly (November 1, 1999). "Chicago Facility builds AB Room for Alt-Rock Clientele". MixOnline. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  5. ↑ "Silversun Pickups Live at Gravity Studios!!!". Gravity Studios. July 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  6. ↑ "Gravity Studios Installs Rupert Neve Designs 5088 Console". EQ Magazine. October 2008. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  7. ↑ Walsh, Christopher (July 2009). "Reducing the Console Footprint". ProSound News. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  8. ↑ "History". Gravity Mastering. Retrieved 2013-09-10.

External links

Coordinates: 41°54′37″N 87°41′03″W / 41.910403°N 87.684037°W